Pomona Valley Stage Race

Eighty pro women had registered to compete in the Pomona Stage race which kicked off with a tough individual uphill time trial.

The course was 8.5 miles (13.4km) of steady climbing, including 5 switchbacks through the beautiful Los Angeles National Forest. The start elevation was 1,300 ft with the total elevation gain being 2,400 ft. The gradient varied was approximately 7-10 percent. There was a very short descent at the 7 mile mark, (12km) and then the final 1.5 miles was all uphill.

Given, this race is the first National Road Calendar race and it is still winter in the US, many riders are still finding their fitness and our team was no exception. Our TDS Telecom team was using this race as a training race, to learn each other's strengths and to bond together as a group. We had 4 of our team travel to Pomona for this race; Joan Wilson from Romona, Emily Gloeckner from Denver, Shawn Heidgen from Chicago and myself.

Joan and I rode the time trial course yesterday and decided on very different tactics. Joan is 115lbs (52kg) prefers to climb standing and opted for the big chain ring. I am 140lbs (64kg) and just under 6ft and knew I would be climbing seated, in the small ring with a much higher cadence.

Joan is a talented climber and finished just outside the top 20 in 38.54mins. I pushed really hard, climbing with my heart rate at 180-190 beats per minute. I finished just over half a minute behind Joan in 39.27mins. Genevieve Jeanson (RONA) rode a brilliant time trial arriving at the summit in 32.46mins, 6.41mins ahead of me.

Results:

After yesterday's upward battle, today was a day for the sprinters. The Pro women's field set off for a 90 minute timed event around the Sierra Lakes Housing development estate. The 2.5 mile loop gently curved along the northern border of the housing development's golf course before doubling back and taking in a long, 1 mile finishing straight. There was a very gradual 300m climb at the far end of the course which provided a lot of leg pain after 90 minutes. The course was windy with a cross headwind in the home straight.

I had good legs today and was keen to try and get a break happening. I jumped into an early move with Jessica Phillips (Saturn) and two T Mobile girls but we only lasted a couple of laps.

A quick counterattack caused a decisive 2 rider break to form with Katrina Grove (T-Mobile) and Laura Van Gilder (Saturn). However, with the Rona/Esker team of GC leader Genevieve Jeanson set a solid tempo on the front and the duo never gained more than 16 seconds on the peloton. The break was eventually absorbed and the major sprinters got themselves organised for a field sprint.

It was a long 1km sprint and I came home 10th, with Genevieve Jeanson (Rona/Esker) taking stage honours and thus easily retaining her leaders jersey. It was a really fast race where we averaged 25 miles/hr (40km/hr) and rode 38 miles (60km) in 90 minutes.

Joan and Shawn both finished in the main bunch in 32nd and 44th place, whilst Emily who is recovering well from a nasty crash that forced her off the bike in February, finished in 58th position. In the General Classification Joan moved into 18th place while I shifted to 22nd.

Stage 3
Road Race	8th March 2003	Conditions: 72 miles (115km)

We completed 9 laps of a hilly 7.8 mile (12.5km) loop around Puddingstone Resevoir in San Dimas. The weather had warmed up to 79F (23C) and fortunately we accepted our host Josh's offer to hand out water bottles to us from the feedzone, because we need more fluid than first predicted. The peloton was content to ride as a group until lap 4 when Megan Elliot (Saturn) and former MTB World Champ and current MTB World Cup winner Alison Dunlap (T-mobile) took off on a slight hill. They were quickly joined by Jennifer Stevens (Women First/Red 5 Racing) and the trio went about establishing a gap.

The course was narrow and there were at least 3 big crashes causing chaos amongst the riders. I narrowly missed the first crash and made a decisive move to stay closer to the front and away from danger. Shawn did a fantastic job to get me to the front after the 2 major climbs of each lap and made sure I had water when required.

The break was always in sight and with half a lap to go Rona-Esker lifted the tempo and brought the peloton back together. The countermoves were strong and a small group containing race leader Jeanson escaped and managed to stay away to the finish with Lyne Bessette (Saturn) taking the stage win.

Genevieve Jeanson (Rona-Esker) managed second on the day to maintain her lead. Joan and I finished 15th and 17th respectively and are now both in the top 20 in the General Classification standings. Shawn finished 50th 3.54mins down, whilst Emily rode with the peloton for 5 laps before slipping into a smaller group for the remainder of the race.

Stage 4
San Dimas Criterium	9th March 2003	Conditions: 55 minutes

The course was essentially an L shaped circuit with 6 corners. It was held in clockwise direction and took us through a residential area, past the civic centre and finished along the tree lined Bonita Ave.

Before the race, our TDS team visited one of our sponsors, Derek of Sock Guy who had a great display set up at the race finishing area. We are now well equipped with some fantastic Sock Guy products and I took the opportunity to show off a pair of grey Sock Guy bootie covers during the race.

There were a few minor attacks during the first 15 minutes however the peloton was quick to prevent these riders from getting away. Megan Elliot (Saturn) attacked after the 20min sprint and soloed for 2 laps. Alison Dunlap (T Mobile) then went out after her with Karen Bockell (Rona) on her wheel. I watched the 3 join up and knew it was the break to go with. Saturn, T Mobile and Rona were already on the front shutting things down with the break already about 15sec ahead. I attacked as hard as I could and buried it at 51km/hr. I caught the break within half a lap and spent the next half lap recovering from my effort.

We all worked well together and established a 25sec lead. Bockell was working harder than Dunlap and Elliot, who had both been present in yesterday's break. My team mate Joan, alongside Rona, Saturn and T Mobile helped shut down a few persistent attacks and ensured no one got across to our break.

In our final lap, I was sitting in 2nd wheel coming into the final corner behind Bockell until she swung wide. I moved with her but she continued to slow down and eventually forced me to the front. I didn't want the pace to get too slow in case someone jumped from behind and I couldn't react in time, so I lifted the speed and moved hard against the left railing and rode with my head cocked to the right to watch for any jumps. At 600m I thought the moment was right and I buried it. I went as hard as I could and with only 10m to go, I saw Bockell come up along side me. I threw everything at the line and hoped I had won the stage.

After 15mins of studying the photo finish, the judges declared Karen Bockell 1st, myself 2nd and Alison Dunlap 3rd. I had lost the stage win by half an inch. I was a little disappointed to have missed the win by so little but I am pleased with my current form and am looking forward to our Team TDS having further successes during the year.

[Finshline photo courtesy of Ian Prime]

Results:

Overall General Classification: