Redlands Classic, 2007

Stage 1 – Prologue – 5km

Photo @ CJ Farquharson, WomensCycling.net

The first stage of the Redlands Classic was a 5km uphill individual time trial. The first 800m was flat and then it was all uphill. I decided to use my road bike, Orbea Orca, with clip on carbon aerobars, along with extra light carbon Eastern Tempest II wheels. I wore an aero bell TT helmet in the hope of shaving off extra milli seconds.

After advice from fellow team mate Christine Thorburn, who finished 2nd, I rode the first few km’s at 80% until I reached the “wall”. I then cranked up the effort to 100% and went into the red zone for the final 4 minutes. I crossed the line heaving and felt like vomiting.

I finished 2mins 08 seconds behind the winner, Amber Neben (CS Velo) and 1min 30sec behind my team mate Christine. In fact, Webcor had 4 riders finish in the top 7 so we headed into stage 2 with plenty of fire power.

Stage 2 – Oak Glen Road Race – 115km

Today’s stage of 115km included 2 intermediate sprints and 3 Queen of the mountain sprints for the green and red jersey competitions, respectively. I had great legs today and was happy to see my fitness returning. The race was quite sedate until the 30km mark, when a number of attacks started. I got into a break of 10 soon after the first sprint and we quickly gained a 1min10sec lead.

Team Lipton were keen to win the sprint jersey so our break was caught just before the second sprint and Kori Seehafer (Lipton) successfully won the intermediate sprint and will be wearing the green jersey tomorrow.

After the 1st Queen of the mountain sprint, Webcor became active and a huge attack by Kathryn Curi (Webcor) created another break off the front. A few teams that missed the move, got across to her group and this forced yellow jersey winner, Neben to start chasing. This was our tactic and we were pleased to see it executed so perfectly. Kathryn then dropped her break away companions and with 15km to go, set off solo with up Oak Glen mountain to the finish. Neben (SC Velo) was forced to chase whilst Mara Abbott (Webcor) and Christine Thorburn (Webcor) sat on her wheel, patiently waiting. Kathryn was caught with 2km remaining and Abbott immediately attacked. Neben was unable to respond and Abbott rode away to take a solo win. Neben finished 2nd, Thorburn 3rd and Curi 4th.

As I am not a GC rider for this race, I conserved as much as possible up the final climb, so I am ready to race hard in the criterium tomorrow. Heading into tomorrow’s stage, we now have positions 2nd, 3rd and 4th in GC and we are also leading the team classification. It all looks good to do try and secure position number one tomorrow.

Photo @ CJ Farquharson, WomensCycling.net

Stage 3 – Criterium – 40km

The criterium circuit was a 9 corner technical loop. Our primary goal today was to erode the time difference between our 3 GC riders and Amber Neben. With 3 Webcor riders who could move into the yellow jersey and another 5 of us making the race fast, we quickly put Neben into danger.

Christine Thorburn followed the perfect move after the first intermediate sprint, launching herself from the peleton with 3 sprinters. All 3 were keen for a stage win, while Christine’s motive was to find enough time to claim the yellow jersey. The break worked well and stayed away until the finish. Not interested in the stage win, Christine drove the final 2 laps to move 26 seconds closer to Neben.

My job was to help control the main field and not let anyone drive the pace. Leading into tomorrow’s final stage, we remain 2nd, 3rd and 4th in GC, however we only need to find 32 seconds to claim the ultimate victory.

Stage 4 – Sunset Road Race – 105km

Photo @ CJ Farquharson, WomensCycling.net

Today’s stage was our final chance to secure the yellow jersey. The Sunset loop was a 10km circuit that we did 9 times. It twisted through the suburban streets of Redlands and included an energy zapping climb every lap as well as super fast technical descents and tight corners.

The neutral zone from the start/finish up a long gradual climb to the sunset loop was done behind a convertible at ‘race pace’. Most of the field were suffering as the green flag was waved and the race started. There was a Queen of the mountain sprint on the first lap and the peleton went into a single line as the climbers took over up the main ascent. I started the climb near the front but by the top, I was in a small group about 200m behind the field. I tried to chase but felt like I was going up and down on the spot. My race was over and I never saw the front group again.

Up the road, a group of four including race leader, Amber Neben (SC Velo) and Mara Abbott (Webcor) rode away from the peleton and stayed away until the finish. Abbott repeatedly attacked Neben but was unable to shake the yellow clad leader. They finished together with Neben successfully winning the Redlands Classic, 32 seconds ahead of Abbott. Kathryn Curi (Webcor) rounded out the final podium position whilst Team Webcor took victory in the team competition.

And now it is back to the Portola Valley, south of San Fran for some well deserved rest before I focus on training for the Sea Otter Classic.

Overall Results

!st Amber Neben (SC Velo)
2nd Mara Abbott (Webcor)
3rd Kathryn Curi (Webcor)

Me 43rd
Team Competition – 1st Webcor

Photo @ CJ Farquharson, WomensCycling.net

Back row: Christine Thorburn, Mara Abbott (Queen of mountain winner), Laura Yoisten, Beverly Harper
Front row: Kathryn Curi, Amber Rais, Helen Kelly, Rachel Heal