2015 Tour of Hampton Roads Race Report

Tour of Hampton Roads Race Report

July 18-19, 2015

Newport News and New Kent, VA

The Tour of Hampton Roads is an omnium consisting (this year) of two races, a criterium located in a town center and a road race located in an area that really needed more trees.   Dan Netzer and those helping him put on a great race weekend – I wish more of MABRA would attend.

Oyster Point Criterium:

5:50 PM, W Pro/1/2/3

Field Size:  15

Although the field was small, strong women populated it.  The usual suspects from the area, such as Laura (James River Velo) and Amanda Eichert (Mermaid Winery) were at the line.  I was happy to see Ali Ingram (James River) back on her bike – she has been sidelined the entire summer because of a dog-related knee injury.  Colavita Mid-Atlantic (Janelle Hubbard and Laura Cauthers) and Artemis (Diana Chang) were also in the field.  To make things more interesting, we also had Erin Wittwer (Fearless Femme) and  Julie Kuliecza (Pepper Palace).  I was joined by Christine, fresh off a taxing W45+ race earlier in the day (sarcasm – but that is her story to tell…).

The course is about 0.80 mile and reminds me of Brambleton except you cannot look across the course and see rider progression.  Last year the course ran the opposite direction, with the finishing line on the faux cobbles in front of the all the restaurants.   While the course seems to flow better this year, the finish line is removed from the commercial area, leaving Joe Jefferson without random strangers from whom he could elicit cash for primes, etc.

At the line, I learned our race had an omnium points prime but other than that, no chance to win beer or socks.  Our race went off with Julie and Erin playing cat and mouse with each other.    Early on during the race, I thought we had a break – Erin attacked with Julie on her wheel.  As we caught them, they split on either sides of the road and Julie attacked again.  Someone gave chase and I sprinted to get to them.  We were away but the pace soon slowed.  Looking back, that was the best shot to stay away for the entire race and I wish that I had the oxygen in my brain to realize the opportunity.

The bell sounded for the prime lap and I sat on Laura’s wheel into the final turn.  As we sprinted for the line, Janelle, Laura and I battled to cross first, with Janelle coming out on top, picking up three points.  I grabbed two.  As we crossed, I thought….this would be a good time for someone to attack and sure enough, that happened.  More sprinting ensued.  The rest of the race had more cat and mouse, but we stayed together.

As we made the final turn in the penultimate lap, Julie attacked with Erin on her wheel.  I thought, “This is it.”  I could hear Chuck yelling to get out of the saddle and go.  I locked my eyes on Erin’s wheel in the distance, put my head down and caught them.  Others were behind me but not on my wheel.  I am still thinking, “This is it.  We will continue and I hope I can stay attached.”  Sadly, they slowed.  The field swarmed and I had burned a needed match.  The race ended in a field sprint, with Julie winning by a couple of bike lengths.  Diana (Artemis) was second.  Looking back, I realize I needed to take matters more into my own hands rather than leave it in the hands (legs to be more appropriate) of two very strong women.  I should have continued past Julie in that last lap and to see what would have happened.  Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

New Kent Road Race

51 miles.  Ridiculous heat.

The road race has an 11 mile loop, with a short section of gravel and a longer section of so-called chipseal.  Given the small size of our field and the Master’s Men 35/45+, we were combined into one starting wave.  We lined up behind the men and I knew that if I could stay with the men longer than the other women, I stood a good chance of winning the race.   I ignored my inner chicken, who was shouting, “Gravel….chipseal…..men’s field…..bist du verrueckt?”  My inner chicken sometimes yells in German to make a point.  Chuck attempted to calm my nerves by saying how cool it was that we could race together.

We rolled and I worked my way up the field to sit toward the middle of the pack.  I wanted to reduce my effort level as much as possible, since I knew that the likes of Tom Godfrey, Mike Stearns, and Dave Fuentes in the field meant my legs would want to soon fall off.    When we hit the gravel, I locked my eyes on Chuck’s wheel.  I knew he could stay upright and I pretended we were riding CX bikes in Wakefield.  We returned to smooth pavement and I realize most of the women’s field is gone.  Avanell (Mermaid) is to my left and we are soon joined by Laura (James River) and Alex (Bike Stop).  The race is now down to four.

As we crossed the finish line for the first time, the pace slowed for the feed zone.  Someone attacked and I am surprised to find that when the chaos slows, I am still with the group, as is Alex.  At some point before the gravel, Alex and I could not close the gap and we were off the group.  The moto informed us one chaser is about 30 seconds behind, another two are 90 seconds and the rest of the group is more than 20 minutes back.  We worked together to increase this time gap, passing some 3/4 guys who can draft off of us but cannot pull through.

Shortly, we passed a dropped 35/45+ rider, with whom we can work.  We rotated short pulls with a couple of 3/4 guys lingering in our draft.  The heat was oppressive.  I missed a feed (not by Christine) at the end of the second lap and was a bit worried about the effects of the heat on my legs.  At this point, I wondered if we had enough of a gap to be able to slow down.  Alex luckily insisted that we keep pushing the pace. 

 As we started the final lap, Christine handed me both a cold bottle and icepack, which I think saved me.  By this time, my legs felt like they wanted to cramp.  Alex and unnamed 35/45+ guy pulled while I sat-in.  We went through the gravel and came out clear.  Five-ish miles to go when Alex and I touched wheels, I overcompensated and hit the road.  Noooooo.

I sat up and yelled for Alex to go.  We worked too hard for one of us not to win this race.  The moto circled back to make sure I was okay.  I was dazed, more from the heat than anything.  He suggested that I check my bike (it worked despite a bent RD hanger) and get back on it if I did not need a medic.  I really wanted him to put me in an air-conditioned car.  Instead, I got back on my bike and thought….”Damn.  I really wanted one of those steps on the podium.  I wonder when they will catch me.”  After about a mile or so, I thought of all those stages in the Tour where the break-a-way gets caught just before the finish line. I thought of the TT in Tour of Washington County where Sue beat me by some fraction of a second.  I thought of all the intervals I have completed on Gunston Road where I visualized being in a break.  My left hand was throbbing and it hurt to breathe.  I wanted to soft pedal – everyone would understand but I would know that I had, yet again, quit.  I targeted keeping my power in high tempo and hope that would not only be doable but fast enough to keep me in second.

As the miles slowly ticked down, I wondered if I would stay away.  Just before the crash, we heard conflicting time reports….the chasing group was 5 miles back, then 90 seconds back.  I hoped it was the former.  With every bend in the road, I kept hoping to see the tents near the finish line.  Finally, it was over.  I crossed the line in 2^nd.