Just keep spinning: July 2014

This past year, leading up to Jr. Road Nationals in Madison, WI, definitely had its ups and downs. I had some good results and some terrible ones, my training this year didn’t go as planned due to being in a boot and the few times I decided to kiss the asphalt. June and July were my biggest months and I had to cram a few months of training into about 2.

Nationals started off early with races at the Tour of Americas Dairyland. I did 4 races there, a road race on Wednesday, and criteriums Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We drove up the night before the race on Wednesday, which was a 24-mile circuit race, with a lot of curvy downhills, and a grueling hill right before the finish that made your legs scream. It was really cold that morning and the field was at about 50 women. I was in a little break with 4 other girls on the first lap, we were caught about half-way throughout the 2^nd lap. After that I realized that my legs were still frozen, I tried my best to stay up front, with one to go as always the pace picked up. As we approached the finishing hill for the last time I gave it everything I had and ended up 19th. I felt really good about my results considering that I sat in a car the whole day before and didn’t get a good enough warm-up. The next day was a recovery ride with the amazing (on and off the bike) Laurel Rathbun from Twenty16, who I miss dearly!! I was feeling really good about my race on Friday where I was reunited with one of my best friends (practically my little sister), Katie Clouse from Colesport cycling team. Last time we raced together, at Tulsa tough, we torn it up and went 1 and 3. I knew we had some tough competition in this race, such as Ashley Weaver from MSU cycling and Mollie Brewer from Vanderkitten VIP. The course was totally flat and a square, it was perfect!! The race started off fast and stayed that way, with an early break from the Vanderkitten VIP team that stayed away for quite some time. Eventually the break was caught and I knew it was going to end in a field sprint, with three to go I started to make my way up front, on one to go I was 5^th wheel behind Katie, Mollie, and 2 other Vanderkittens. As we made the last turn Katie started her sprint from about 250meters out, after she went I went on the outside passing 2 of the Vanderkittens and landing a podium spot with Katie in 1^st and Mollie in 2^nd(the Vanderkitten VIPs did some of the best teamwork I have even seen btw)! I was honored to be on the podium with two of the strongest racers I know, and I got a $50 preme that I didn’t even know about! The Saturday race didn’t go as well, the course was super sketchy, 4 corners and flat like Fridays but the roads were pretty bad. I never cracked top 5 wheels and I honestly don’t even know what place I finished, but one of my friends Maddy Boutet from Twenty16 got in a solo break and won, which was awesome!! I was feeling better Sunday morning and knew I had to give it everything considering it was my last chance to get a super cool cow jersey. It was another 4-corner course, but this time with a fairly hurtful hill on the finish. Half way into the race I knew I was feeling good and I had a chance to win this race with the uphill sprint. I had good positioning for the whole race and was sitting perfectly when we got the bell; unfortunately there was a wreck on the start line that lap that I had to work my way around. I fought my way back into the pack right as we reached the last turn and sprinted from the back of the pack for 5^th place which I was extremely proud of!!

Tour of Americas Dairyland went very well for me and I was ready to take on Nationals.

The first day we got in Madison I went and pre-rode the road race course from Hell with two of my now really good friends, Alyia Traficante and Ashyln Woods. I had a better feeling about the race then I did last year. We started at 7:05 am…. early starts are never fun, and it was drizzling pretty cold rain. We had a few km of neutral start on the downhill then the race started, surprising after we got the go no one wanted to race and it slowed down to about 14mph which I thought was ridiculous so I made the first move and picked up the pace. Without knowing it I rode away from the group and was by myself for a little while, until the pack decided they were ready to race. The first lap was pretty rough for me; I was feeling really bad on the hill and did my best to stay in the 2^nd group. After we hit the flat section I was feeling much better. My group had a good paceline going but when it came to the hill I went upfront and was pushing the pace. On the last lap going up the hill I ended up dropping a few girls, but there was still a few really strong girls with me. We made the turn onto the finishing hill and I went too early and got passed by 3 girls which put me in 19^th place, and for my 2^nd National road race I was super happy about!! The Time Trial was next, and all I wanted to do was beat my time from last year. I was feeling good for the first few Km, as I made my turn onto the lollipop and got out of my saddle to hit the first climb my foot came unclipped, all I could think about was having to pick my pace up after I got back on my bike. It was a total sufferfest to the line and I made the time of 34:30ish, beating my time from last year by 3 minutes!! I was super proud of myself. The last day of nationals was the crit, my favorite event. I was feeling really good and I got a call up, that was pretty cool to be standing on the line with 10 of the best cyclists in the nation. When the whistle blew I sorta freaked out and forgot how to clip in, due to my mistake I spent the next 2 laps playing catch up, I was sitting in the back for most of the race, another mistake on my part. I had one thought running through my mind and it was survival, I did NOT want to get dropped. There was an attack up the hill on the side of the course for the last 5 laps. One 2 to go there was a break away, we chased but she stayed away. I was know fighting for 2^nd place, the last time up the hill was brutal. We made the last turn and I was sprinting as hard as I could but gave up right before the line and got passed up 9^th place, which put me in 10^th. I was shocked, I had just placed 10^th out of 30+ girls in the National criterium. We averaged over 25mph in the race, that’s the fastest crit I had ever done!!

For me I considered Nationals as a success, I had gotten good results and made some new friends that pretty badass! After Nationals I made my way up to Canada for the Tour of Rimouski, last year I didn’t finish the race due to a wreck in the first 8k in the 2^nd stage and dislocating my hip. This year I made it over 10k but ended up getting really sick and puking my guts out, I had to pull out of the race once again. So I’m pretty sure I have a curse on me about racing the Tour of Rimouski. I did get to guest ride on the coolest team ever, CCB/Ultime Velo Trek!

All I can say now is that it’s good to be home! (:

Thank you to the BEST coach EVER, Mark TeRuki, for getting me ready and reminding me that I can do this! Also a HUGE thanks my mom, daddy and grandparents for always supporting me no matter what!! You guys inspire me to be a better person every day and I will never be able to thank you enough! (and for being my biggest sponsor, I love you guys!)