McLane Pacific Cycling Classic

Joan and I travelled 7 hours from San Diego to Merced on Friday 21 March to race the McLane Pacific Cycling Classic criterium and road race. Our plan was to use both races as Solano preparation races and then continue northward to Fairfield where we will meet the full TDS team for the Solano Cycling Classic.

The criterium was held on a 0.8 mile anti clockwise loop with 6 corners. The circuit was wide and fast, but was also bumpy due to the cateyes all over the circuit. A huge women's field containing 90 riders crowded the start line but I pushed up the side and had a great start position. Without our full team, Joan and I could not cover all Saturn and T Mobile attacks. We covered what we could and had to rely on other teams to chase down those that we couldn't cover. I felt quite ordinary today - my stomach was churning, I had congested sinuses and I just didn't have the kick to do anything except hold a wheel.

The early sprint primes on laps 2,3 and 4 were for $100, $50 and $25, respectively. Laura Van Gilder (Saturn) jumped on the 2nd lap in preparation of the $50 prime. I went with her and she led the entire lap with me just sitting on. I came around her towards the line but she managed to edge me out on the line to claim the money.

Joan and I featured in a few early moves but most breaks were quickly reabsorbed. The race was extremely fast and we completed the 50km race in just over an hour. A trio containing Ina Teutenberg (Saturn), Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile), and Katie Safford (Minute Maid) formed early in the race but they never got more than 15 seconds on the peloton. With 8 laps to go, the peloton reeled the break in, but T Mobile and Saturn were aggressive and continued to launch one attack after another.

With 5 laps to go Ina Teutenberg (Saturn) jumped away again, taking Dede Barry (T Mobile) and Carla Koehler (Minute Maid) with her. The peloton was only 5 seconds behind the break but good defensive riding from the breaks team mates held the peloton off until the finish, with Teutenberg taking out the win. In a congested field sprint, I came in 11th and so behind the trio, I placed 14th overall while Joan finished 19th.

Results:

A cold wet day

On Sunday, we were up at 6am and watched the skies become overcast as we drove out to the race start. Soon the heavens had opened up and we both pulled on our purple TDS raincoats which kept us dry. The big question was now to decide how many layers of clothing to wear during the race. The rain continued to get heavier and I pulled out two SockGuy base layers, knee warmers and booties to wear during the race.

It rained steadily during the first 2 hours of the race and we were soon completely drenched and covered in grease and oil from the road, as well as sand and mud. Although I wore Rudy Project red lens glasses my eyes were soon stinging from the grime that was being kicked up from the wheel in front. I can honestly say that we weren't having a particularly pleasant time.

The first 24 mile lap was really fast and although I hadn't warmed up, my legs felt good and I covered a lot of early moves. A duo break containing (Lyn Bessette) Saturn and a T Mobile rider formed on the 2nd lap. I bridged across solo to it, but everything soon regrouped. Almost immediately, Manon Jutras (Saturn) attacked, along with Laura Van Gilder (Saturn), Mari Holden, Kristin Armstrong (T-mobile), Cybil Diguistini (Diet Rite), and Sarah Tillotson (ABP). After my solo effort I didn't have the legs to go again, and I watched in disappointment as the 6 riders went up the road without a TDS rider in it. Joan's legs felt terrible today and without a warm up she wasn't haven't a brilliant day.

By the end of the 2nd lap both Joan and I started to feel miserable. I was getting cold and we both had headaches. We rode another lap and then called it a day. Unfortunately, after being mentioned as a pre race favourite in a McLane Pacific race preview article on www.dailypeloton.com, I didn't even finish the race!

I didn't stay around to watch the finish but apparently Jutras (Saturn) attacked Holden in the final lap to take line honours while Van Gilder finished 3rd. During the drive to Fairfield, I developed a sore throat, my head still ached and my sinuses are still congested but with a few days rest, I hope I will be ready to race Solano.

Results: