First Union Liberty Classic, Philadelphia, PA, USA  – Sunday 9^th June 2002 – 18^th

Conditions: 85F (27C) clear, sunny skies

Course overview: 4 laps of a 23km circuit (14.4miles) – 92km

The First Union Liberty Classic is one of America’s richest road cycling events.  Although downgraded from a world cup race this year, it retains its UCI status and continued to attract a strong international field of 140 riders.  The urban parkland setting, with the start / finish area on Ben Franklin Parkway, in front of the famed “Rocky” steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum attracted an estimated crowd of 250,000.

Each team was able to start with 8 riders, so our Verizon-Wireless Cervelo team included Erinne Willock, Hiroko Shimado, Petra Ford, Ann Marie Miller, Julie Monagle, Julia Farell, Yvonne Ilton, and myself.

The women completed 4 laps of a 23km (14.4 mile) loop which took us along the Schuylkill River in Fairmont Park, and out to the famous Manayunk Wall, a brutal rise of 800m at an average grade of nine percent, but steepening to 18 percent in sections. The festive atmosphere around the circuit was incredible, while the raucous reception at the Manayunk Wall could only be described as deafening.  Thousands of people were hanging out over the barriers ringing cowbells, screaming at us to go harder, blowing trumpets, tending to their barbeques and drinking mugs of beer.  They were all having a great time and enjoying watching us suffer.  A huge video screen was set up at the top of the hill, so we could look up and capture our image as we grovelled for a wheel over the top.  The course wound its way back along Kelly drive, and over Strawberry Meadows, an easy big chain ring hill. After another 5km of mostly flat terrain we ascended Lemon Hill, where we were greeted with the noise of a live band, a commentator screaming into a microphone and thousands more people ringing cowbells and horns.

The peloton was strung out up the Manayunk Wall, but during the first 3 laps it regrouped on the descent.  Three Verizon Wireless-Cervelo riders withdrew from the race – Julia from cramps, Erinne due to a tight piriformis (gluteal) muscle and Julie after loosing contact with the peloton in lap 2.  I also felt really tired today with sweet GU’s and coke making little impact on my legs.  I maintained a good position where possible to avoid the crashes and to make the most out of an off day.

A break of 7 got away up the wall on the final lap which included Petra Rossner (Saturn), Laura Van Gilder (Trek Plus), Dede Demet Barry (Talgo America), Kim Anderson (Team T Mobile), Valen Polkhanova (Itera), Anna Millward (Saturn), and Judith Arndt (Saturn).  They stayed away with Petra Rossner hammering down the long finishing straight to take her 6^th consecutive victory.  The bunch came in 1min18sec down and was chaotic and rough over the final kilometre. I fought through most of the field to take 11^th in the bunch sprint, giving me 18^th position overall.

I am now looking forward to not travelling for a few weeks and being able to do some final preparation for the Fitchburg-lonsjo classic commencing in late June.

Final results were:

1^st Petra Rossner               Saturn cycling team
2^nd Laura Van Gilder                     Trek Plus
3^rd Dede Demet     Barry              Talgo America

18^th Helen Kelly                 Verizon-Wireless Cervelo
40^th Hiroko Shimado                      Verizon-Wireless Cervelo
43^rd Petra Ford                                Verizon-Wireless Cervelo
51^st Yvonne Itlon               Verizon-Wireless Cervelo
54^th Ann Marie Miller                     Verizon-Wireless Cervelo
DNF     Julia Farell                               Verizon-Wireless Cervelo
DNF     Julie Monagle              Verizon-Wireless Cervelo
DNF     Erinne Willock             Verizon-Wireless Cervelo