Tour of the Gila, 2007

Stage 1 – 26km individual time trial

I was really looking forward to the time trial today. My fitness has returned and the course is not purely a climbers course so I felt confident I could post a good time. I rode the course yesterday and felt really strong when I opened the system up on both my TT bike and road bike.

There was a really strong tail wind on the way out so I was conscious of leaving enough in the tank to get back strongly. The course was 26km out and back. The profile climbed immediately from the start line for 7km, descended for 3km, then climbed again for 3km to the turn around point. I used a 53×11 for the descents and climbed mostly in the 39×21 gear ring. I used a front Easton deep dish carbon wheel and a rear disc.

Although my time trial position is not perfect yet, I felt strong today. I will be getting my new Orbea Ordu next week, so today I rode a TT bike from last year. The frame is too small, and with a drop of 17cm from the seat to the bars, I know I am compromising some power. In this extreme position, I got some serious aches in my neck, shoulders, crouch and gluts. Ouch!!

My only error today was not warming up enough in my TT zone before the start. I thought with a 26km TT I could warm into it, during the race, but as it climbed from the start line I should have opened the system fully before starting. After 15mins of racing, I could reach my TT heart rate and focused on catching riders in front of me. I caught 3 riders and was completely cooked as I crossed the finish line.

Stage results are:

1 Rachel Heal (GBr) Webcor Builders 39.47
2 Dotsie Bausch (USA) Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 0.15 sec behind
3 Mara Abbott (USA) Webcor Builders 0.30 sec behind
4 Amber Rais (USA) Webcor Builders 1mins 03 sec behind
5 Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Expresscopy.com 1mins 08 sec behind
8 Beverly Harper (USA) Webcor Builders 1mins 52 sec behind
13 Helen Kelly (Aus) Webcor Builders 2mins 49 sec behind

My polar statistics for today:
ITT altitude at start 1700m (5,600ft) above sea level
Average speed 36.6km/hr
Maximum speed 74.7km/hr
Average cadence 91
Max heartrate 183

Our team is so strong at time trialling and now we are perfectly posed to defend the leaders jersey tomorrow.

Stage 2 – 116km Silvercity to Mogollon road race

Polar statistics:
1495m (4900ft) of climbing
Summit 2036m (6680ft)
Average cadence 86
Calories burned 2877kcal (720cal per hour)
Duration of race 4hrs 10mins

Today’s stage was quite undulating (4,900ft of climbing) with a 17km climb to Mogollon, the summit at 2036m above sea level.

With Rach in the leaders jersey by only 15sec, we were keen to extend her lead over Bausch (Colavita) and did this by successfully leading her out to win both intermediate time bonus sprints.

Jessica Phillips (Expresscopy) soloed off the front after the second sprint and gained a maximum 3mins on the peloton. I was put on the front with Bev and Laura to set tempo and bring her back. It was a strong cross headwind and to her credit we chased for 40km and she was still 1min 30sec up the road. With 8km to the base of the final climb I was left to chase and gave it everything. My race was over at the base and with Bob encouraging me in the radio, we caught Phillips as the climb started. With nothing left in the tank, I clicked into the 39×27, found a powerbar and started eating. I had burned nearly 3000kcal and I was starving. I did a quick calculation to figure out how much time I would have to cross the finish line (to avoid being time cut) and then rode slowly up the 17km climb, chatting to my team mate Bev, and conserving for tomorrow.

After my job was done for the day, Mara got active. She attacked shortly after the road tilted up and rode away from the remnants of the peloton. She won the stage by 1min 4sec over Ourada (Cheerwine). Rachel kept in contact with Bausch (Colavita) and finished 4th (1min 33sec behind).

Webcor transferred the leaders jersey from Rach to Mara today with Webcor now sitting 1st and 2nd in individual GC. Amber is 5th, 3mins 8sec down in the individual classification.

Stage results:

1 Mara Abbott (USA) Webcor Builders 3.44.09
2 Brooke Ourada (NZl) Cheerwine 1.04
3 Dotsie Bausch (USA) Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 1.31
4 Rachel Heal (GBr) Webcor Builders 1.33
5 Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Expresscopy.com 1.40
8 Amber Rais (USA) Webcor Builders 2.20

GC situation

1 Mara Abbott (USA) Webcor Builders 4.24.11
2 Rachel Heal (GBr) Webcor Builders 0.58
3 Dotsie Bausch (USA) Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 1.26
4 Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Expresscopy.com 2.33
5 Amber Rais (USA) Webcor Builders 3.08

Stage 3 – 126km Inner loop road race

Today was an epic day of racing. My legs felt so tired but I warmed up and soon brought them to life.

Polar statistics:
1750m (5,740ft) of climbing
Average cadence 85
Calories burned 2892kcal
Duration of race 4hrs 7mins

The first intermediate time bonus sprint was at the 15km mark. Amber started the lead out and with 1km to go, we turned hard right onto an open freeway and I took over. The road climbed gradually but I kept it in the big ring. I rode hard against the gutter and only gave Rach enough room to get a sit. With 200m to go, I moved over and let her through. I looked back and the peloton was a further 200m back. Needless to say, Rach easily won this sprint.

Bausch (Colavita) suddenly realised the danger and attacked. The peloton went into a single line and I jumped in as they came by me. The road continued to climb and I quickly started sliding out the back. My legs were cooked. I was soon in the cars and watched the race disappear. I looked down and realised I had 110km to go. Not good! I did my time cut calculation and worked out I needed to finish the race in about 4.5hrs. I radioed to another teammate Laura, who was just in front of me. She sat up and waited for me. Together we settled in to team time trial mode, trading 30sec turns. We caught about 6 riders and with 8 of us, we managed to keep a reasonable speed.

Up the road, Amber got into a break and this neutralised the attacks from other teams. About 30km later, Bev was also dropped and that left only 3 Webcor riders in the front group.

After 85km of chasing, we dropped into a valley and amazingly we could see the race about 3km in front of us. We had been in our little group for 2.5hrs and never thought we would chase back on. It was an awesome sight to see the cars and with renewed energy we encouraged one another to pull hard turns. As we came through the cars I radioed to Bob that I needed a coke. He thought it was Amber, having last seen me 2.5hrs ago, and told her to drop back. Next thing he knew, I was beside the team car, screaming “coke, coke”. The look on his face and on Bernard’s, the mechanic, was brilliant. I have never seen them both so happy to see me.

I grabbed my coke and rolled all the way to the front of the peloton. I turned and waved to everyone and yelled out “I’m back”. I was so excited to be back and able to help the team again. I quickly found out it was “groupo compacto” (all together) and settled in near the front. Almost immediately, the attacks started again and for the next 30km we were busy chasing.

Nothing got away and the race finished in a bunch kick. I led Rach out from 1km and dropped her off onto the Expresscopy train. Dotsie Bausch (Colavita) took the stage win, ahead of Rach with Gina Grain rounding out the podium.

Stage results:
1 Dotsie Bausch (USA) Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 4.04.10
2 Rachel Heal (GBr) Webcor Builders 0.03
3 Gina Grain (Can) Team Expresscopy.com
4 Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Expresscopy.com 0.06
5 Mara Abbott (USA) Webcor Builders
6 Amber Rais (USA) Webcor Builders 0.09

GC situation

1 Mara Abbott (USA) Webcor Builders 8.28.27
2 Rachel Heal (GBr) Webcor Builders 0.35
3 Dotsie Bausch (USA) Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 1.05
4 Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Expresscopy.com 2.33
5 Amber Rais (USA) Webcor Builders 3.01

Stage 4 – 44km downtown silvercity criterium

Today I was on the podium, finishing 2nd in the criterium. Here is what happened.

Webcor’s overall position in Tour of the Gila was dominating as we lined up for the 26 mile criterium in downtown Silvercity.  Mara Abbott was wearing the pink leader’s jersey, Rach Heal was 2nd in GC, Amber Rais 5th, whilst Bev, Laura and I were all looking strong and working hard to protect our GC leaders.

The 1 mile course was located in Boullard st, Silvercity.  The finishing straight was lined with many art galleries, popular cafes and ice cream shops.  The weather was rather cool with really strong gusty winds, however, the finishing straight was lined with many local spectators.  The course had a 200m kicker (600ft climb) on the back straight, as well as a super fast descent into the home straight.  There was a rowdy party on the hill with people drinking, ringing bells and generally having a blast.

Our plan in the criterium was to rest Mara and Rach as much as possible so they were fresh for the final “Gila Monster’ stage tomorrow.  Their job was to sit in and not hit the wind at all.  Meanwhile, Amber, Bev, Laura and I were given the green light to cover moves early, get aggressive in the second half, and go for a stage win.

Everyone warmed up well on trainers prior to the start which helped the heavy leg feeling we all had from 3 days of racing at altitude.  As we had been on the podium every day so far, Amber jokingly asked “whose turn is it to podium today”.  I pulled on my Lake shoe covers, smiled cheekily, and said “Oh ok, I will”.

On the 2nd lap, I covered an attack by Meshy Holt (expresscopy).  Three other riders followed, Jill McLauglin (Touchstone), Victoria Bastidi (Tibco) and Andrea Dovorac (Colavita).  The peloton didn’t react and soon the break had a 20 second gap on the field.  With no GC riders in the break to threaten our overall position, I was given the go ahead to work in the break.

The wind made the course difficult and the short sharp climb hurt everyone’s legs.  The group worked well together and with 10 laps to go, the time gap had extended to 1min 50sec.  Back in the peloton team Cheerwine had missed the break and tried several times to bridge, however they were quickly re-absorbed.

Both Meshy Holt and I stopped working with 3 laps remaining, each eyeing the other.  I was nervous about a late solo attempt.  With over 2 minutes on the field with one lap to go, the cat and mouse game started.  The pace of the break slowed and all 5 riders started maneuvering about, watching each other.  I quickly moved to the side of the street so I could watch for the attacks from one side only. This would make it easier to chase if someone attacked.

Meshy Holt (express copy) tried first, attacking in the head wind section after the 1st corner.  I jumped hard and got to her wheel before the 2nd corner.  Meshy sat up and Bastidi (Tibcor) attacked hard up the climb, getting a 10m gap.  Jill McLauglin (Touchstone) chased with me on her wheel.

The break reached the final corner doing 50km/hr (30 miles/hr). Jill passed Victoria on the outside and had so much speed through corner that she opened a 10m gap as she entered the finishing straight.  Jill immediately started sprinting with me desperately trying to close the gap.  With 50m to go, I drew level with Jill and the two of us drag raced to the finish.  After 2 days of working hard, my legs couldn’t match McLauglin, who took the win by a wheel length. I was pleased with my return to form and to be back on the podium.  Victoria Bastidi (Tibco) rounded out the podium in 3rd.

Webcor warming up: Rachel Heal, Mara Abbott, Me, Bev Harper, Laura Yoisten, Amber Rais.

GC situation going into the final day remains the same with Mara in pink and Rach in 2nd.

Stage 5 – 116km Gila monster road race

The final day was appropriately called the Gila monster. After the last few days, I woke up feeling wiped. I was excited and confident that we were going to win the Tour of the Gila, but I was thankful that today was the last day. I need a day off.

Polar statistics:
1720m (5,640ft) of climbing
Average cadence 86
Calories burned 2965kcal
Duration of race 3hrs 55mins

Today we were happy to get Amber into a break with some non threatening GC riders. This would enable us to move her up in GC and we could sit back and force Colavita and Expresscopy to work. Well, the plan worked and after the first sprint (again won by Rach), Amber followed a move by Team Tibco and a break was formed.

For the first time in the tour, I could sit in and roll along. Oh how much easier it is to just follow wheels and not drive on the front all day. However, the cruisy ride came to an end as the time gap extended out to over 6 minutes and we decided to bring it down a little. Amber was sitting in the break taking it easy and resting for the major climbs, while Bev, Laura and I joined Colavita in setting tempo.

After about 70km, Rach suddenly flatted so I stopped and waited for her. After a speedy wheel change by Bernard, it was only a 2min effort to get her safely back into the chase group. I rested for a few minutes then went back to the front and helped chase the break. The major climbing commenced at the 85km until the finish at 116km. My job was done at this point and again I found something good to eat from my jersey pocket and started climbing.

In the final 30km, there was a climb with steep switchbacks up to 2,225m above sea level before it descended 10km and then climbed again to 2095m. Amber climbed like a mountain goat and as her break shattered, she sat on Marisa Asplund (Team Tibco). Marisa managed to ride away solo with 2km to go, but Amber rode strongly to finish 2nd.

Rach and Mara succeeded in finishing 1st and 2nd in GC and crossed the line with their arms raised together, 2mins 43sec behind Asplund (Team Tibco). Amber just missed out on finishing 3rd in GC but rode brilliantly to finish 4th overall. Webcor won the team competition by about 9 minutes and it was rewarding to be acknowledged on the podium together to celebrate a great week of committed team work.

Stage results:

1 Marisa Asplund (USA) Team Tibco 3.34.52
2 Amber Rais (USA) Webcor Builders 1.59
3 Melissa Holt (NZl) Team Expresscopy.com 2.07

Final Overall GC:
1 Mara Abbott (USA) Webcor Builders 13.20.39
2 Rachel Heal (GBr) Webcor Builders 0.25 secs behind
3 Dotsie Bausch (USA) Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 1min 39 sec behind
4 Amber Rais (USA) Webcor Builders 1min 57 sec behind

Webcor Builders Team – wins overall individual and team GC