by Julie Hunter
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| random photo of Julie Hunter |
Killington Stage Race
(A very brief overview)
Stage 1: Patty 7th and Amanda in the QOM jersey!
Overall GC: Patty 8th and Amanda 12th
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Courier Champion and Killington Brief
North American cycle Courier Championships
by Julie Hunter
I took the weekend off from sanctioned road racing to compete in the North American Cycle Courier Championships held in Richmond, VA. Friday night's qualifying event involved racing to various checkpoints throughout the city over a period of about two hours. I finished 1st overall in the open (non-messenger) category and top-ten overall for both messengers and non-messengers. My placing qualified me for the championship event held the following day at Chimborazo Park, the site of our local cyclocross race. There were several checkpoints set up throughout the park where each racer had to pick-up or drop-off packages, including some very large boxes. After being passed at the last checkpoint because I almost dropped my box, I was the 1st female finisher and 4th overall in the non-messenger championships. This weekend was a great reminder of how I first started racing bikes five years ago and it was a blast!
Killington Stage Race
(A very brief overview)
Stage 1: Patty 7th and Amanda in the QOM jersey!
Overall GC: Patty 8th and Amanda 12th
by Julie Hunter
Killington Stage Race
(A very brief overview)
Stage 1: Patty 7th and Amanda in the QOM jersey!
Overall GC: Patty 8th and Amanda 12th
Monday, May 21, 2012
Race report- Wilmington and SPCR
Wilmington Grand Prix
by Emily who was not there, as told to her though a series of text messages...
The time trial on Friday was won by Patty! The grand prix was a part of the National Criterium Calendar (NCC) and so was well attended by pro's and top elite riders. We proudly had a full team (the max is 6 riders per team) attend and race. Debbie made a big first impression giving the crowd a good look at our jersey while she spent the first three laps out in front solo. After the pack pulled her back our riders fought for good position and reacted to the other attacks. VA native Rachel Warner (FCS Rouse) and another rider had a good break on the field with as much as 45 seconds gap that looked promising towards the end of the race. Lenore Pipes (RideClean) put in much of the effort to pull that attempt back and force a sprint for her teammate Erika Allar. The break was pulled back with about 3 laps to go and another Virginia rider Lindsay Bayer (XO) took the opportunity to make her move and attacked the field. This attack proved to be the winning move. The rest of the field fought for possition and set up for a sprint. The sprinters rounded off the podium with VanGuilder (Mellow Mushroom) in second, Allar (RideClean) taking third. Our riders placed well, with Patty 13th, Debbie 14th, Amanda W. 18th and Julie 26th. Amanda E. completed her first NCC race showing confidence and skill!
Considering there were a couple big races up north, the turnout for the Stony Point Circuit was pretty decent. Morgan pushed the pace high from the start, with Mallory, Julie Hunter, and myself falling in behind. After pulling the pack around the first lap, she pulled off and the pace slowed down just enough for me to get an attack off at the end of a false flat and into a left hand round about. On the other side of the fast sweeping descent, there was another short steep (ish) climb that leveled into another false flat. Knowing I couldn't hold the break for 14 more laps, I sat up a bit when I saw I was being chased. Joanna (RCV) had bridged and was followed by Morgan, and Alena (VCU) bridged and was followed by Julie H. The 5 of us pushed on, alternating pulls, and steadily increasing our lead until we lapped the field with only a few laps to go. On the last lap Morgan pulled double duty on the lead out, pulling through on the long descent and up part of the hill on the back side, only to drop behind me as I pulled around the 2nd false flat on the back side, and down to the base of the final hill at the finish stretch. Morgan pulled around me and started the difficult lead out up the short steep climb to the final left hand turn where Julie went around her for the final uphill sprint. Julie out sprinted Joanna for 1st place, Morgan continued her sprint for 3rd, Alena came in 4th, and I slow rolled it in for 5th. Great job to Julie for the win, and Morgan for an awesome leadout!
by Emily who was not there, as told to her though a series of text messages...
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| Debbie Dust out in front |
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| Leslie Winters right in the thick of it |
Stony Point Circuit Race
by AvanellConsidering there were a couple big races up north, the turnout for the Stony Point Circuit was pretty decent. Morgan pushed the pace high from the start, with Mallory, Julie Hunter, and myself falling in behind. After pulling the pack around the first lap, she pulled off and the pace slowed down just enough for me to get an attack off at the end of a false flat and into a left hand round about. On the other side of the fast sweeping descent, there was another short steep (ish) climb that leveled into another false flat. Knowing I couldn't hold the break for 14 more laps, I sat up a bit when I saw I was being chased. Joanna (RCV) had bridged and was followed by Morgan, and Alena (VCU) bridged and was followed by Julie H. The 5 of us pushed on, alternating pulls, and steadily increasing our lead until we lapped the field with only a few laps to go. On the last lap Morgan pulled double duty on the lead out, pulling through on the long descent and up part of the hill on the back side, only to drop behind me as I pulled around the 2nd false flat on the back side, and down to the base of the final hill at the finish stretch. Morgan pulled around me and started the difficult lead out up the short steep climb to the final left hand turn where Julie went around her for the final uphill sprint. Julie out sprinted Joanna for 1st place, Morgan continued her sprint for 3rd, Alena came in 4th, and I slow rolled it in for 5th. Great job to Julie for the win, and Morgan for an awesome leadout!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Weekend Report: DB Mtn Cross, RIR Crit, and Tour of the Dragons
Devil's Backbone Mountain Cross
This race starts and finishes at the Devils Backbone Brewing Company and follows a route through the back roads (paved and unpaved) of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The challenging course includes high ascents and fast descents including some 15% + grades and a total of over 6600 feet of elevation gain. Brenna went for the longer of the two race options at 65miles. She felt luck to be able to follow an experienced pro down some of the trickier descents, and managed to stay on her bike up even the steepest grades. She finished the race strong in 4 hours and 25 minutes and was the first woman to finish the race, only 30 minutes behind the first place men.
Richmond International Raceway Criterium
contributed by Avanell, Leslie, and Morgan
After getting stuck in tunnel traffic, leslie set a new record for cutting it close, arriving at the race at 1:55 for a 2:00 start! Thankfully she was able to multitask while driving and arrived fully dressed for success, well, except for the mismatched shorts and jersey. The RIR is a 3/4 mile track near Richmond, VA that hosts NASCAR races and once a year a criterium that's a part of the Virginia BAR series. Tradewinds Racing had a good turn out for the race with 6 riders who enjoyed the open track and the nice weather. Amanda E went off the front early and with such a strong showing everybody else was on the front controlling the pace. Shortly after Morgan bridged up to Amanda. After they were about 1/4 lap ahead Julie K attempted to bridge. Getting stuck in the middle, Ava jumped and bridged to Julie. Leslie and Julie H did an amazing job of controlling the pace after that, allowing both breaks to lap the field with enough laps to go to attempt a couple more attacks and set up a strong lead out train. Leslie pulled us around the last couple of laps, and Julie K gave an awesome 1/2 lap lead out for Ava and Morgan who took 1st and 2nd in the field sprint. The team worked great together in breaks, controlling the field, and the sprint and we're definitely getting stronger and more cohesive every race! Awesome job ladies and thanks for getting me across the line!
Tour of the Dragons, VT
by Patty Buerkle
The weekend was a really fantastic time! The Tour of the Dragons is a super fun stage race with 3 great courses in beautiful Bennington and Manchester, Vermont. The first stage was a 10.7 mile TT. After warming up on the trainer I headed out of the parking lot which was 2.5 miles to the start. I had about 20 minutes to spare until I my start, although as soon as I pedaled off my bike stopped shifting. What?! The rear derailleur cable had apparently snapped. After a few of us looked at the shifter and realized it wasn't going to be a quick fix, John's teammate from Bikereg.com had his road bike available (50cm and we have the exact same seat height...what are the chances!!!) since he had a TT bike for the time trial. We switched pedals and I time trialed to the time trial about 5 1/2 - 6 minutes late for my start but my day had been saved and it was a scenic hilly TT, awesome!
I had about 2 hours before the crit to get my bike fixed and what an adventure that was! Let's just say it was as close as you as you could get as the announcer was saying, "One to go!", for the race before mine, my bike was coming out of the stand, I was heading to sign in, and at the start line. Whew! The crit course was 35 laps/21 miles, fast, technical, so much fun, and I came in 6th in the sprint. To top off the crazy day I ran over a piece of glass on the course, had a slow leak and my tubular went flat afterwards. Good timing!
The road race on Sunday was a 62 mile loop with a dirt section and 3 tough K/QOM's. The field broke apart on the 2nd QOM and shortly after that the GC leader soloed away and gained many minutes on us by the end. There were about ten of us in the initial group I was riding with and about three more ladies caught on about an hour later. With quite a few attacks and regrouping, it came down to a sprint with us and I ended up fifth in the sprint for another sixth place finish.
This race starts and finishes at the Devils Backbone Brewing Company and follows a route through the back roads (paved and unpaved) of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The challenging course includes high ascents and fast descents including some 15% + grades and a total of over 6600 feet of elevation gain. Brenna went for the longer of the two race options at 65miles. She felt luck to be able to follow an experienced pro down some of the trickier descents, and managed to stay on her bike up even the steepest grades. She finished the race strong in 4 hours and 25 minutes and was the first woman to finish the race, only 30 minutes behind the first place men.
Richmond International Raceway Criterium
contributed by Avanell, Leslie, and Morgan
Tour of the Dragons, VT
by Patty Buerkle
The weekend was a really fantastic time! The Tour of the Dragons is a super fun stage race with 3 great courses in beautiful Bennington and Manchester, Vermont. The first stage was a 10.7 mile TT. After warming up on the trainer I headed out of the parking lot which was 2.5 miles to the start. I had about 20 minutes to spare until I my start, although as soon as I pedaled off my bike stopped shifting. What?! The rear derailleur cable had apparently snapped. After a few of us looked at the shifter and realized it wasn't going to be a quick fix, John's teammate from Bikereg.com had his road bike available (50cm and we have the exact same seat height...what are the chances!!!) since he had a TT bike for the time trial. We switched pedals and I time trialed to the time trial about 5 1/2 - 6 minutes late for my start but my day had been saved and it was a scenic hilly TT, awesome!
I had about 2 hours before the crit to get my bike fixed and what an adventure that was! Let's just say it was as close as you as you could get as the announcer was saying, "One to go!", for the race before mine, my bike was coming out of the stand, I was heading to sign in, and at the start line. Whew! The crit course was 35 laps/21 miles, fast, technical, so much fun, and I came in 6th in the sprint. To top off the crazy day I ran over a piece of glass on the course, had a slow leak and my tubular went flat afterwards. Good timing!
The road race on Sunday was a 62 mile loop with a dirt section and 3 tough K/QOM's. The field broke apart on the 2nd QOM and shortly after that the GC leader soloed away and gained many minutes on us by the end. There were about ten of us in the initial group I was riding with and about three more ladies caught on about an hour later. With quite a few attacks and regrouping, it came down to a sprint with us and I ended up fifth in the sprint for another sixth place finish.
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