2016 Tour of Page County

Tour of Page County Stage Race

Luray, VA

April 23 -24^th

Women’s 1/2/3 racing with all other women’s fields

Hooray for Luray Road Race:

4 laps, 46 ish miles, rain on the last lap.

With a large combined field (according to prereg, we would have over 50 – huge for a women’s field) I wanted to make sure that I started in the front and remain there.  We all had concerns about racing with the 4s.  I also knew, whining aside, it was up to us to get away or string out the field.  With that in mind, Kaitlyn (VeloWorks), Michele (BikeStop) and I planned to push the pace on the first lap.  As we rolled out of the parking lot, I noticed Alexis (NCVC) also at the front and hopped on her wheel with Laura (James River) sitting on mine.  I assumed the others in my field were in the vicinity and ready to string it out.

As we made the second turn, I carried speed and sprinted up the little hill.  I assumed someone would be on my wheel.  Not so.  I later learned that Michele and Kaitlyn were trapped in the back of the group. I was alone – and was slowly reeled in on the hill after the third turn.  As I was caught, Julie (the GC winner, Haymarket) countered.  As I recovered in the field, I told myself to counter when Julie was caught.  Unfortunately, she was again part of the field on a downward sloping part of the course, which does not lend itself well to getting away.  I waited for my corner.

Same corner, same result.  Got a gap, caught, although a lot sooner.  A little later on the hill after the third turn, Mary (NCVC) accelerated up the hill and about 4 of us jumped with her.  Caught.  Then nothing.  It was a theme.

On the third lap, a Cat 4 rolled away from us.  Literally.  Not sure why the Cat 4 women toward the front of the race did nothing. Perhaps they thought we would chase her but….nope.  She ended up winning the race by a minute or two.

On the beginning of the fourth lap, I found myself in the back of the back.  Laura, Kaitlyn and Michele were around me.  At first I thought…take a mental break from fighting Cat 4s for the front then I heard Chuck’s voice, “You are always sitting well in races until the last lap.  Then something happens and you are in the back and do not finish well.”  I was doing it again.  I waited for my corner – turn 2 – and moved up as others slowed to turn and accelerated past most of the field back to about 5^th wheel.

As we readied for the sprint finish, I found Michele’s wheel.  200 meters to go, Julie jumped, Michele followed.  Cynthia (NCVC) won the sprint, followed by Michele and Julie.  Mary nipped me at the line to take 4^th.  I finished 5^th.  Happy that the rain ended and satisfied with my race.  We were all within a second of each other.

Luray Caverns TT

With new shifters – Etap – on my TT bike, I was excited to see how this technology would change my ride experience.  I have always awkwardly shifted between the small and big rings on my TT bike and the ETap erases that problem.  My target time was 23:something.  I crossed the line 23:51.  I had a couple of time sucks for some seconds – computer screen not right and a car forcing me to slow - but I was happy with the result. I could have gone a little harder to bring down a little more time.  I was disappointed to learn that the time was good enough only for 7^th.  Julie kicked the course’s butt with 22:04.  Alexis (without a TT bike, I might add) showed her strength, also crossing the line in 22:something.  Places 3 – 7 were all in the 23:something time period.  It was an odd feeling – to be both pleased and disappointed.

Downtown Crit

Between the end TT and the beginning of the Crit, butterflies invaded my stomach.  Not sure exactly why. In the past years, we have dropped most of the field with a hole-shot type start and we could do that again.  There was something about knowing the pain that would come, knowing that I make the break and then get popped, that made me really, really, really, really dread the crit.  The voice in my head as I warmed up told me to change clothes.  Heart rate accelerated when Laura leaned over at the line to tell me she heard a couple of Cat 4s asking which way the course went.  I really wanted to roll back to the RV.

Foto Credit:  Dusty McKinnon

Foto Credit:  Dusty McKinnon

I lined up on the right part of the course for what I thought would be the best angle to take the first corner with our large combined field.  The whistle blew and I won the hole shot.  I pushed the pace to string out the field.  Julie surged in front in the turn to the big hill.  We sprinted up. Ugh.  As we came around the slight uphill to the left turn to the downhill (on Main Street), I could see the back of our field just finishing the hill.  We kept the pace going and I stayed about 4^th wheel.  We had a break .  Each time up the hill hurt but I felt as good as one can.  I was climbing well.

With about 6 to go, we were caught by a larger group.  As we were swarmed, I lost focus and fell back in the group.  That mistake cost me.  As we funneled around the technical part of the course, I knew I should move up.  I told myself to move up.  A gap opened and I was no longer attached (along with some other women).  In the past when I detached, it was on the hill and I was smoked.  This time I was just stupid.  Sigh.

For the remaining laps, I just counted them down.  I tried to mentally tell myself – TT practice time.  I knew that mistake would probably cost me a place on the GC podium if Kaitlyn was in the group.  She was and it did.  14 seconds.  I finished 6^th in the crit and 6^th in the GC.

Congrats to Julie, Cynthia, Michele and Kaitlyn (and the out-of-towner who finished 3^rd) for a strong weekend of racing!

Thanks to all who cheered during the crit - especially Wendy, Chris, Claudia and Diego.

It was a joy to spend time with our racing family in beautiful Luray.  If you read this a race, please consider Chris Gould's other events in Page County.