French Broad Cycling Classic report

French Broad Cycling Classic
report by Amanda Watson

Julie and I went to NC this past weekend for the French Broad Classic - a sweet little 3-race omnium that has been on my to-do list for several years. 

Amanda on the 3rd place at the end of the weekend

It started Friday with a 20.5 km Merckx-style (i.e. no aero equipment!) TT along the French Broad River.  We took 5th and 11th in the TT and started preparing for the fun - the 40 mile road race full of beautiful mountains.  Saturday morning we started off the first few miles with steady climbing, followed by fun descents and beautiful NC country-side.  Julie patrolled the front early on and 20 miles into the race came the first big climb, which shattered the field.  3 climbers got away and I managed to grab on for a roller-coaster of a ride to the finish.  They didn't want to give up a single second of our lead and the 4 of us worked a brutal pace-line to the foot of the final climb.  I need a second to breathe but allowed a small gap to open between the others.  I kept the weakest of the 3 in my sights and ended up passing her with about 200 m left, but 2 had gotten away, which left me in 3rd place for the stage.  Julie's chase group did not ease off and came charging up the mountain shortly behind us and she took 12th. 

The last battle was Sunday's criterium in Asheville, which was a rather short, triangular-shaped lap with a descent into a hair-pin turn, followed by an up-hill sprint.  The race was at 1:40 pm, so the temperature was significantly hotter than the previous 2 stages and my legs were feeling it.  The fact that there were tons of primes made it even harder to relax in the pack.  But Julie chased down numerous attacks and I prayed for mercy from above, and that a brewing storm didn't blow in before we finished. The field stayed together until 2 laps remained, and the gambler's prime set the stage for 3 racers to open a tiny gap.  I couldn't muster the strength to bridge up, but managed to get to the front of the pack so that I could take my own line through the wicked turn, and then unleashed every ounce of energy that remained for the up-hill sprint.  I managed to get across the line 4th, which secured 3rd place for the omnium, and Julie came in 12th.  It was a great weekend!!!  :)

Franklin Omnium Race Report

Franklin Omnium Race Report
by Amanda E.


Amanda at the crit, photo by Scott Wood

Time Trial

The omnium began with a quick 10-mile out and back time trial.  The course began in downtown Franklin but then turned right out of town and up a false flat followed by a few rollers before turning around.  I felt off from the start either because I didn’t keep spinning around before my start or it had something to do with that deceiving false flat.  Either way, within a few minutes, I was able into a rhythm and tried my best to push my pace as much as I could up the hills and then recover on the downhill (A tip I learned from the Celerity boys).  I placed third in the Time Trial and, therefore, was sitting third in the omnium.  Both Ali Ingram (Velocita) and Jen Pope (Velocita) put in stellar performances and came in 1^st and 2^nd respectively.

Criterium

Julie and Mallory, photo by BJ Samuel

After the time trial it was time to relax and prep for the criterium.  And by prep I mean eat, drink, and nap in Dan Netzer’s (Celetrity Cycling) race hammock.  While I was “prepping”, Julie K. was on her way to the crit and saved an abandoned beagle from the side of the road.  The poor thing was covered in fleas, had ear mites, and was emaciated.  While racing the Netzer family fed and bathed “Stinky” so that she wasn’t so stinky.  By the end of the weekend Julie K. found Stinky a home with Gus Grissom.  Thanks, Gus!!



Mallory, photo by BJ Samuel

In-between finding Stinky a home we raced in downtown Franklin.  The course had six turns with one uphill, followed by a slight uphill into a fast downhill into a right turn.  From the beginning Julie K. would attack and either Mallory or I would counter.  Then after a few attempts, I countered and was able to get away with Ali Ingram (Velocita) and Kelly Bethony (Syn Fit).   It was a fantastic break to be in.  Early on we established our rotations and stuck to them, which was great since we still had 22 laps to suffer through.  Much to the displeasure of Joe Jefferson, who was trying to add some excitement to the race for the spectators, we even agreed to ignore the premes, keep the rotation smooth across the start/finish and split the premes at the end of the day.

Amanda working hard inthe crit, photo by Scott Wood

Meanwhile, Julie K. was doing an awesome job of covering and countering attacks in the field, ensuring that the break stayed away.  Finally, the last lapped rolled around and we all kept our rotations until the last little uphill kicker, where Ali attacked us.  I followed right after her, but there was no way I could get around her on the downhill and she made the final turn to start her sprint and take the win.  I came in second and Kelly came in third.  Julie K. came in second for the field sprint and Mallory came in second for the Cat 3’s! 

Road Race

The Road Race was on Sunday a few miles outside of downtown Franklin.  The course was a 14-mile loop mostly flat but a few rollers here and there.  It was extremely hot and there were a few sections where the wind was pretty tough.  The road race was shortened from 56 miles to 42 due to the heat, which meant we only had three laps to do.  After the crit, I was sitting second overall in the omnium, so the goal was to keep that position or move up into first if possible.  The first lap of the race was uneventful but then at the beginning of the second lap Julie K. attacked and that’s when things started to get interesting.  For several miles there were attacks/counter-attacks but nothing was getting away.  After a while we all settled back down to recover and wait for the next move. 

Then, about a quarter of the way into the third lap, Jen P. (Velocita) attacked.  I jumped after her and Kelly Bethony (Syn Fit) followed behind me.   We got a great gap on the field and each of us buried our heads and charged along.  I’ve never been in a break in a road race and thought it was pretty cool when the motor ref would come along side us and tell us the time gap.  I especially liked it when he said “50 seconds!”  I wasn’t a big fan when it started to dwindle to “30 seconds!”  We worked extremely well with each other and we were able to stay away to the line, of course with the help of Julie K. and the women of the other teams represented.  When we got to the final stretch Jen P. jumped and I grabbed her wheel but hesitated to start my sprint and missed the win by about a wheel.

With the help of Julie K. I was able to secure 2^nd in the Omnium with Ali Ingram (Velocita) taking first and Jen Pope (Velocita) taking third.  It was a super fun weekend and big thanks to Celerity Cycling, Velocita, Tri Power Cycling, and the city of Franklin for putting on a great race!

PA state road race report

Pennsylvania State Road Race Championship
by Emily Joyner from text messages from Patty and Amanda

Patty in her cute Cutaway shirt on the podium

Patty and Amanda W. went to Chesco County for the Pennsylvania State Championship Road Race today. It was 40 miles of hot, fast racing. Lots of action from attacks throughout the race. By the 3rd of three laps there were only about 12 riders left in the pack. After the last turn Patty went for it, with about 1k to go she punched it up the climb. There was about 500 meters to the line at the top of the climb, when Dana Walton (team Alliance Environmental), snuck past for the win right before the finish. Patty held on to 2nd after a great race and Amanda finished in the front pack as well with 9th.

Next Race = Iron Hill Twilight, this Saturday night in downtown  West Chester, PA.

TOPC Stage Race and Ohio reports

Tour of Page County Stage Race
by Emily J.
Road race, time trial, criterium. The road race was cancelled due to the bad storm the night before. The time trial was hilly with turns so Amanda W. decided to Merckx it, which ended up being a goof decision because she won, with Erin S. (MVP Healthcare) in 2nd and Alexis Z. (NCVC) in 3rd. The criterium had several time bonuses that Amanda fought over with Erin (MVP Healthcare) and Kat K. (North Tek). Erin attacked for the win at the bottom of the big hill and got a gap which was closed by Stephanie S. (ProBikes) for a close win by Stephanie in the crit, followed by Erin in 2nd and Kat in 3rd. Amanda was 4th in the criterium and was able to hold on to the overall general classification win. The GC was Amanda (1st), Erin (2nd), and Stephanie (3rd). Nice work!!
 

Madeira, Hyde Park Blast, and Tour de Grandview
by Emily J.
Patty went out to Ohio for the weekend to race some fast crits. She also experienced the same crazy storm that hit Luray and the Tour of Page Valley, and was without power for over a day. The races were not cancelled, thankfully, although Friday's race was shortened to 30 minutes. In Friday's race Patty got into the break of 6th and placed 6th, the race winner was Team Type 1 rider Morgan Patton. Saturday's race was super fun, and Patty again made the break, this time with 8 other riders, and placed 6th again, the race winner was Debbie Milne (Absolute Racing). Sunday's race was very hot with a pretty steep longer hill to the finish, which Patty was pumped about because she likes the hills. It ended up being a fast power finish and she placed 10th. Lots of strong women came out to race, including Debbie Milne, currently ranked 2nd in the USA Crits series, who put in a ton of attacks and always kept the race fast and exciting.