Winning the Green Sprint Jersey

Just to clarify to those reading this report, there were 3 different jerseys being contested at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, 2003.  The yellow jersey is the jersey worn by the leader of the race whose cumulative time for completing the race is the fastest.  The sprint jersey is a green jersey that is worn by the rider who earns the highest number of sprint points.  Sprints are designated at various locations throughout the entire race with points being awarded to the first 5 riders who pass these sprint locations, with 7 points being awarded to the first rider and 1 point being awarded to the 5^th rider.  And lastly, the climber’s jersey (which was plain red but is often red polka dotted) is worn by the rider who earns the highest number of climbing points.  Climber points are earned at the summit of hills and mountains and are awarded to the first 5 riders who pass each location.

My Australian coach, John Beasley said to me after I finished 2^nd in the Pomona criterium a few weeks ago “Don’t be surprised by your good results this year – you are capable of many great achievements.  Ride with self-confidence and believe in yourself”.  So with his words in my head, I was chatting to my teammate Joan, on our ride home from the opening 5km prologue at the Redlands Classic and told her convincingly that I was going to win the green Sprint Jersey.

Joan, who has raced at Redlands many times before, gently warned me that Redlands is one of the toughest stage races in the US.  She told me about the steep climbs, mentioned dozens of world-class riders who would be racing and suggested that I don’t be too ambitious with myself.  However, with a good team behind me and a lot of determination we did win that green jersey.  Here’s how it happened.

Stage 1 – 66km Highland circuit race – 8 laps

Each 8km lap had a 3-tiered climb with the steepest section approaching a 15% gradient.  There was a long descent immediately after the climb which allowed most of the peloton to regroup.

The circuit race had 2 sprints at the start/finish line on laps 6 and 4.  The start/finish line was slightly uphill and had a headwind.  I need a long sprint and am more powerful over a longer distance, so with 400m to go, I pulled out and started my sprint.  With 50m to go, I could see Nicole Freedman (Basis) on my left and dropped it down a gear and really dug.  It was a really close sprint but I won it.

Sprint number 2 didn’t go so well.  Melissa Sanborn (Intermountain Cycling) was on my wheel and with 300m to go she kicked to my right and had a 10m gap before I had even reacted.  Another rider also started her sprint on my left and I took the centre line a little way behind them.  Both of them beat me to the line giving me 3 points for 3^rd.  We had a huge gap on the field after this second sprint, so I took off on my own to see if I could get away.  I climbed on my own before 3 riders bridged across to me.  There were climber points on this lap and being first over, I took 5 climber points.  And for the record this is the first time I have contested the sprint jersey and managed to earn climber points in the process.

At the end of this stage, I was equal first with Sanborn (Intermountain Cycling) in the sprint competition with 10 points apiece.  As she placed higher than me in the final sprint of the day, she got the honours of wearing the green jersey.