Bike racing (aka war)

Oh wow, what a race! There is so much to say about the last week and a half, I don’t even know where to start. We took two days to drive to the west coast of France. The best part of the drive was getting pulled over by the cops to search the car. They went through every bag, every zipper, pocket, everything. I knew bad news was coming when they got to my bag. I had a zip loc bag with all my vitamins thrown in unlabeled. At the time of packing, I thought it might not be a super good idea, but didn’t have room for all the bottles. After several times asking “dopio?” and me saying “NO. I promise.”, I got to keep my vitamins and continue on the journey.
This was a UCI 2.1 race, so only UCI teams were represented. The field was smaller than I was expecting, but most teams with their A squads. There are some pretty serious and bordering on mean-looking girls. Get ready to throw some elbows and get your mean face on! It takes so much energy to sit in the top 15 of the peloton! If you let your mind wander for a tiny second, you just went back 20 riders. The mental energy on top of pedaling a bike pretty fast for quite a while will leave you pooped at the end of the day. There is so much road furniture and roundabouts and going through the little towns at full speed is crazy. So much fun! The race profiles in France seem to be a suggestion of what the course MIGHT be like, but probably not. On the first road race finish, we got into town, saw 1K to go, 500m, 200m, 50m, and Kirsty Broun raises her hands in victory. But boy do the Europeans cool down fast! Oh no! That wasn’t the finish! We had to do another 5K loop that nobody except Columbia seemed to know about. So of course, Ina won. The night before I was behind her in the line for food. She was trying to communicate to the server that she wanted two beefburgers but the woman couldn’t understand her and just gave her one. I convinced the lady serving that I needed two and gave my extra to Ina. So I’ll go ahead and say the extra protein made her go a little faster at the finish and helped her win. Whoo!
More crazy stories from racing in France. On one of the stages, we had a 3K neutral behind a group of kids. That was a nice to change to have the neutral really be “neutral”. Usually the neutral starts are just about harder than the race. So after the neutral, everybody stopped, and we got in a bus. A BUS. Then we loaded up the bikes, drove for about 15 minutes, got on our bikes, and started the race. That was definitely a first for me.
More crazy stories from racing in France. On the second to last day, about 60K into the race, a punching and kicking fight broke out towards the front of the field. A Bolivian girl on an Italian team kicked a Russian girl on an Italian team and made her crash on a bit of a descent. A huge crash with everybody behind her. I went over my handlebars and slid on my stomach for long enough to get a hole in my sports bra and enough road rash. I got a neutral bike, got back in the race and rode for maybe 20K before having enough and getting in the car. I got to watch Evie cross the line in first place after a long break. Then I headed to the medical area where 6 (seriously, 6 of them), paramedics kept discovering more and more places I had road rash. It’s funny, because there are a million questions in French that I just stare blankly back at them in response. Speaking slower or louder, still in French, doesn’t help me to understand. Most of it was the normal stuff, but I did somehow get a pretty deep hole in my stomach. A pretty disappointing finish for my race, but things heal and there are more races coming.
A sequel to the previous crazy story. After the aforementioned Russian got back from the hospital with her arm in a sling, I walked down to dinner with her. Just after I headed into the cafeteria, the also aforementioned Bolivian was walking out. The Russian takes her one good arm and swings at the Bolivian who continues to try to kick her again. There was war going on in that peloton! The Bolivian voluntarily pulled out of the race the next day and is suspended from racing for the next couple stage races.
Wifi isn’t as plentiful as in the US, the reason for my hiatus in updates. I’m back in Lucca though for a while, with endless internet! The next race I’ll be doing is Trophee d’Or, a French 5 day stage race starting on the 25th. Time for some beautiful training rides and Italian Espresso!

Italy!

I love Italy! That is about the sum of this blog post. I got to Lucca on Monday after a pretty uneventful flight. I had no faith that my bike was going to make it in working condition. Trying to avoid fees from the airlines for a bicycle, I got the case to a Ritchey Breakaway bike. I took the case and my bike to a slightly pessimistic mechanic who thought it would never fit. After a little work, it fit and I did not have to pay any extra…success!
I am staying in Lucca, Italy which is in the Tuscany region. I am not up on my history of the city, but Lucca is surrounded by a 3K long wall, apparently to keep out people from Pisa (…Pisans?). I haven’t been to the city much, but will hopefully see more when I get back from the Route de France. I have heard it is very easy to get lost inside the walls and most of your time is spent ON the wall, looking at the city, trying to figure out where you want to go.
SO, more about this trip. I will be staying at these luxurious accommodations until Friday, when we drive to France for the Route de France, a 6 day stage race in Central France. The other girls on the team are Kristin McGrath, Carmen McNeills, Aly Stacher, Alison Starnes and Evie Stevens. After the Route de France, back to Lucca to race for the Italian team, Systems Data. With the Italian team, I’ll race Trophee d’Or (also in France) and Toscana. I will then be raced out and fly back to the US on the 20th, to start school on the 21st.
We are staying just outside of the walled city in apartments owned by , and on the same property of the SRM Italia headquarters. There are 6 apartments, two in each, my roomie is Aly. I will put pictures up soon of the house. It’s so nice! There is even AC, which I was definitely not expecting.
We had delivery pizza last night which is not even on the same ranking scale as pizza in the US. It was so amazing, but is apparently not even the best pizza in Lucca…it gets better!
Blogging doesn’t seem to be my strength, but I will try to regularly post something.
Ciao!

I've been way too busy with naps, facebook, training and racing to write anything. Really...life is rough.

You know in the US everybody walks around with their LARGE coffee mugs and "venti" Starbucks? Not so much in Europe. Walking around with a coffee mug gets some stares, and any hopes I had of looking somewhat European are out the window. We left early for our drive to Luxembourg yesterday morning, and since we did not have time for a leisurely breakfast, I pulled out the mug and asked if I could have it filled up. "The whole thing??" YES. The WHOLE mug.
First off, I was really grateful for the opportunity to race with the National team. It is great to have such experienced women as teammates.
The race was a 10k circuit, a race of attrition with two climbs. One of those races where the field gets smaller and smaller each time up the climb. Race morning, I woke up not really in the mood for 3 hours of pain. It was an afternoon race, so I had all morning to sulk in the hotel room about not wanting a couple hours of self induced pain. I came to terms with it over a bowl of dry museli. We had a quiet ride to the start, getting their with plenty of time to sit around and enjoy the sunny weather. To make a race report short, Kat got in the break, the rest of us took turns covering attacks and surviving every lap up the hills. Most teams were happy with the break, Nurnberger missed out. It was interesting, because they didn't have radios, they didn't know splits. They were on the front, pushing the pace, and almost made it a couple times, getting the time gap down to 10 seconds. Thankfully, for the sake of my legs and pain threshold, the break stayed away. The last 5k in the field was pretty sketchy. Battle of the bars and elbows. It was a fast slight downhill before the last kick up to the finish. My legs felt good, but it takes more than good legs to maneuver your way through a final sprint.

Car, train, and taxi rides later, we made it to Paris.
Here is a link to the velonews article that explains Jeannie's domination at the Paris race.
http://velonews.com/article/91556/longo-wins-troph%26eacute%3Be-des-grimpeurs-again

This race was all about position on the first lap. There is a 500 m WALL at the start of the 8K lap. I was smart enough to make the first selection, but didn't have the 6th gear to stay there. Things could be worse, fitness comes.

After some quality hours on the eurovan, we made it back to Limoux. It was good to be home after being gone for about a week. Only one race left, then headed home already! Time flies, but I'm looking forward to some of the things I've been missing for awhile. Like Peet's, a burrito, people who speak English, a hairdryer.

Another weekend. Another race.

I learned a lot when I was in eighth grade. Learned stuff that you don't care about when you're in eighth grade. Stuff like how actions have consequences, how to concentrate, how to solve a problem without someone telling you how...
I learned to not have to know what was going to happen next. Whether he didn't know, or just didn't want to tell us, we never knew what we were going to do next. I've been appreciating that skill lately. Chris tells us just enough information to get by. We usually know what time we're leaving, we may know what we're going to be doing. But be sure to bring enough food, because you may be gone for awhile.

All I knew about the race on Sunday was that it was a crit. Crits in Europe? Yes, when I saw the course, I realized they DO have crits in Europe, but they're 70K, 40 some laps, with a big hill, and downhill 180 turns. And only when it's cold and raining. It was a more local race, smaller field, with maybe 45 starters. We pushed the pace from lap 1. Lap 3, Devon (USA), Megan Garnier (Proman in USA, currently on French team)and one other girl get a gap. Lap 4-40, Sinead, Alison and I take turns covering attacks. CONTINUAL attacks! On the local scene in the US, if a break gets a sizable gap, there will be bridge attempts for awhile, but eventually people will give up. These girls do NOT give up! We did a good job rotating who was going to cover the attack, and at ten to go, I was getting tired of covering attacks from the same girls on the same part of the course. But at least we could see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's a downer when you look at lap cards and see 31 to go. 4 to go, Chris tells us we're free to attack now. 3 to go, Alison attacks, 2 to go, I attack. The 180 turn is pretty close to the finish, so Sinead and her wicked BMX skills would do better without Alison or I trying to lead her through the corner. Alison went with 1 to go. If she got brought back, Sinead could take the sprint. Alison held the gap, Sinead took the sprint, I came in on her wheel. We got 1,3,4,5. Good day for the team.

I'm leaving tomorrow for Belgium to race with the National team in Luxembourg on Friday. Fortunately it will be in a plane instead of in a Eurovan. Luxury!

I'm not a photographer.

No pictures of the lamb dinner. But the next day we were driving to the track and saw a field with lambs. Chris asked if we saw one with a crutch. Funny.

I don't know how I got so lucky to be able to race in Europe, but I'm such a lucky kid!
Every morning around seven o'clock, I wake up to construction on our street. The construction workers don't seem to be accomplishing much, just making noise in the street from about 7 to 10. I'm pretty sure the only thing they know how to say in English is "how are you." And they say it ridiculously exaggerated. "How are YOU?" Just keep walking...just keep walking...

When Chris isn't driving us all over Europe, he runs a hotel in Limoux. It's a really cool deal. For about 10 months of the year, he and his wife have a group of either cyclists or artists. Every week switches between the two groups. I'm not sure everything he does with his guests, but basically, he takes the artists to places throughout France to paint and takes the cyclists on some of the most amazing rides EVER. The cyclists go and do some of the Tour climbs in the Alps or Pyrenees and also some of the local riding. Every Thursday, Chris takes the guests to a small restaurant that is about an hour drive. Towards the Pyrenees (South towards Spain). There are so many different kinds of terrain close to here. In one ride (albiet a long ride), you'll go through what looks like wine country, then aspen trees, pine trees, farm lands...
Today was a little bit more laid back, enjoy the scenery ride. Of course I ALWAYS enjoy the scenery, but it's nice to be able to do it at a little lower heart rate ;) We started in the town of Bugarch* and did a loop with lots of climbing, descending, wind, French villages, Pyrenees in the background, narrow roads with NO cars and perfect pavement. I really don't think it gets much better than that. We even got to have a shower before dinner! That may not seem that fantastic to some, but for those of you who have sat in a car un-showered for three hours after a race, I'm sure you can appreciate that. We met Chris's Artists and had some "non-traditional" food for dinner. I won't go into too much detail on that, but I'll put a picture up of the leg of lamb roasting on the fire.

I felt really good on the bike today, especially after a long hard day yesterday. Tomorrow we're headed to the track. This will be fun. I seem to have been endowed with skills to ride a road bike only. It takes a lot of concentration for me to keep a cruiser bike upright, so a track bike will provide some good laughs.
Pictures coming...

*About the name of the town...I'm not REALLY sure Bugarch is the name of the town. It's something like that, that starts with a "B". So if you try to google Bugarch, don't expect to find too much.

I hear it's great weather in California. I'm losing my California tan and cleaning grime off my bike. But since I'm lucky enough to be here, I won't complain too much about the weather!

In France, there are specialty shops for everything. You cannot go to the coffee shop and get a pastry. There is a coffee shop. There is a bakery. A butcher, flower shop, produce market. There are probably 15 bakeries in Limoux (this is a pretty small place) and Jerika and Devon have visited every single one. And they know what is the best in every bakery. I have been to one bakery and I got a baggette. I need to immerse myself in the culture more and maybe go for a croissant.
I haven't visited the butcher, and probably will NOT be visiting the butcher. Apparently, he is a really nice guy, but there are also skinned rabbits staring at you.

We did sprinting drills on Monday (a very wet and cold Monday). Chris met us at the house and talked a little then we chose teams. Yes, we chose teams. I felt like I was in second grade. Chris was always the shortest when he was growing up, and the last to be "picked". So, since I'm the shortest, he let me pick first. It was tough...this is WAY more important than the kickball game in second grade ;)
This drill further solidified the fact that I need to work on my jump. From the races I've done, I noticed that when they attack in Europe, they MEAN IT. I tend to not jump hard enough and tow the field.

It was "ten hills" day again today! And I'm worn out! Chris has mentioned several times that this is the ride to train for Fleche Wallone. Hill #10 is a wall(like the finish of Fleche Wallone) that is less than a five minute effort. But it definitely hurts after a four hour ride! The great thing about this ride is that all the hills are close together. It's no more than twenty minute recovery in between climbs, then you're to the base of another hill. I brought my camera along today...I might have been able to go a little faster up the hills without it ;)
The video on here is on hill #8...but it goes a long ways after I stopped the camera. And sorry the video is sideways. I'm doing pretty good just figuring out how to upload a video, so just work with me and turn your head sideways ;) It was a little hazy out today, so no views of the Pyrenees, but still beautiful.
Enjoy the California sunshine!