Stage 5
87 miles. 9200 feet of climbing. Sunny and warm, again.
To truly appreciate this stage, you have to view the profile. http://www.mthoodcyclingclassic.com/stagemap5.htm
The bible describes the stage as epic, brutal, stunning. Stunned, I was, when I saw we were climbing for the last 35 miles of the race. That beautiful peak we were gazing at all week as a backdrop to paradise viewed from our Bed and Breakfast was suddenly tormenting us. This race started fast out of Cooper Spur resort downhill and kept tempo up the first climb. A mad sprint for the first QOM, and PROMAN was all together with the group. We descended for 15 miles; this is so boring, but better than climbing, I thought. We had a pee break, and it seemed everyone was back together. We got to the second QOM and the field shattered again. I was in a large chase group with my teammates and many other girls and we drilled it down a steep, straight, four-lane road and easily caught back on the group. Then, things got dirty. Aaron’s was attacking on all the little climbs leading up to the start of the 35-mile climb. The field again went to pieces and I saw Felicia get away with Leah and maybe Flavia. It was hard to tell in the wreckage. I was slightly off the main group, got my game face on (you know, the ugly one where I grit my teeth and my cheeks wrinkle and I start to snot but I don’t care) and went to chase. Abby came up next to me and passed me, she was riding so strong! She paced me a bit up the climb, but Kate was just a little behind us, so Abby eased up to wait. I looked around and we were also with Jill (Touchstone), a Washington Wines girl (who was one place ahead of me on GC) and another local girl (who was just behind me in GC). I knew Jill was going to give it her all to get on, and I didn’t want to loose my GC standing so I sat in with these three girls up the long climb. It didn’t work and waited for Abby and Kate who got back on with us. Then, I went to the front in desperation and panic mode and drilled it with Jill to get us all back on. If felt like miles went by as we all chased. We could see the caravan just ahead and I knew we could make it. But, I was worried because the break had formed and I didn’t know if the peleton would keep driving it to bring it back. Luckily, no one did until we caught back on. Jill went straight to the front to bring it back. I never looked back at this point, I just held onto the group as long as I could. About 10 miles later, those silly master’s men caught us and the field was caotic. Girls were getting shelled and it was my time. After getting gapped, I chased as hard as I could and caught three riders, minty Jenn Joynt, the Washington Wines girl, and another young Cat 3 rider who could climb like a pro. So we rotated the rest of the way to the finish, encouraging each other along the way and thanking all the wonderful volunteers handing us water!
And on a personal note, I was pretty much in tears crossing the finish line. I got the chills (and not because we ended in the snow). Here I was finishing an epic day in the mountains with a respectable result. Just six months ago, I couldn’t sit on my bike, sit at work, or even sit in a car without back pain from a slipped disc. I was so proud of how far I have come, and so thankful to have so much support along the way! Thanks PROMAN ladies, thanks Dotsie, thanks to my incredible chiropractor and thank you Geoff. I am so happy to be racing again with this incredible team!
Final damage:
Kristina 17th
13 minutes back
Kate 25th
Abby 26th
25 minutes back
Overall GC after Stage 5:
15th Kristina Seley
24th Abby Cooper
26th Kate Ligler
Stage 6
Finally, the last day, only 50 minutes of suffering. My goal was to finish with the pack and keep my top 15 place. I haven’t been too successful at NRC crits, so a goal to finish with the pack is a little lofty for me. Luckily, I had impoved my crit skills so much this last year working with my incredible teammates. I had already read on Cyclingnews that Felicia and the Aaron’s gals weren’t going to let the race end easy. I knew that, but did they have to publish it on Cyclingnews? Some of us need to calm our nerves. Felicia was about one minute behind Leah Goldstein (Symetrics rider, three year winner, former Israeli army soldier, kickboxing champ, etc.) I also knew Value Act had their incredible guest rider Katie (Australian track champion) who was also itching for another Stage win. Plus I thought Value Act was racing strong and were going to prove themselves out here today. I told my teammates if they say a chance, go for an attack or get up the road, it couldn’t hurt. (This is supposed to be funny because it always hurts.)
The course, as you would guess, had a hill. Yes, every single darn stage of the six-day event had some sort of hill or mountain. The course was like the Santa Cruz criterium complete with a hill and U-turn, but stretched longer (i.e. the hill was longer, but less steep). The riders go around a downhill U-turn into a long tail wind gradual decent. The whistle didn’t yet ring, and we were off the line. I dug as hard as I could to get off the line and get up the first climb near the top. I made it to the u-turn tenth wheel and kept it there the rest of the race. Aaron’s did as all expected and beautifully rotated the attacks. Value Act was up there doing the same, and Leah was just watching Felicia. It was fast until Aaron’s Katharine Carroll got off the front with Katie, and the race was pretty much over. Jill (Touchstone) and Falvia (Tibco) tried to bridge, but sadly crashed off the front. They both got back in and finished well, speedy recovery wished to both. There was never good organization to bring it back, and we all seemed happy to sit in and let the race take it’s fate.
With seven laps to go, I heard a loud pop and saw the air shooting out of my rear tire. Ug, I thought, I have never flatted in a crit. This sucks. I dropped towards the back and yelled to my teammates I was flat. Quick wheel change (thanks Shimano) and I was off again, Kate and Abby were there to make sure I was ok and back on. I tried to get back to the top 10, but the chaos in the back was hard to get around. I assumed I wasn’t going to win the sprint, and a safe finish would be best at this point. So, I rode it in for a pack finish. - Kristina
Final GC:
Place; Name; Time back; Total Time;
15 Kristina Seley 0:19:01 14:27:03
24 Abby Cooper 0:40:03 14:48:05
26 Kate Ligler 0:43:09 14:51:11
87 miles. 9200 feet of climbing. Sunny and warm, again.
To truly appreciate this stage, you have to view the profile. http://www.mthoodcyclingclassic.com/stagemap5.htm
The bible describes the stage as epic, brutal, stunning. Stunned, I was, when I saw we were climbing for the last 35 miles of the race. That beautiful peak we were gazing at all week as a backdrop to paradise viewed from our Bed and Breakfast was suddenly tormenting us. This race started fast out of Cooper Spur resort downhill and kept tempo up the first climb. A mad sprint for the first QOM, and PROMAN was all together with the group. We descended for 15 miles; this is so boring, but better than climbing, I thought. We had a pee break, and it seemed everyone was back together. We got to the second QOM and the field shattered again. I was in a large chase group with my teammates and many other girls and we drilled it down a steep, straight, four-lane road and easily caught back on the group. Then, things got dirty. Aaron’s was attacking on all the little climbs leading up to the start of the 35-mile climb. The field again went to pieces and I saw Felicia get away with Leah and maybe Flavia. It was hard to tell in the wreckage. I was slightly off the main group, got my game face on (you know, the ugly one where I grit my teeth and my cheeks wrinkle and I start to snot but I don’t care) and went to chase. Abby came up next to me and passed me, she was riding so strong! She paced me a bit up the climb, but Kate was just a little behind us, so Abby eased up to wait. I looked around and we were also with Jill (Touchstone), a Washington Wines girl (who was one place ahead of me on GC) and another local girl (who was just behind me in GC). I knew Jill was going to give it her all to get on, and I didn’t want to loose my GC standing so I sat in with these three girls up the long climb. It didn’t work and waited for Abby and Kate who got back on with us. Then, I went to the front in desperation and panic mode and drilled it with Jill to get us all back on. If felt like miles went by as we all chased. We could see the caravan just ahead and I knew we could make it. But, I was worried because the break had formed and I didn’t know if the peleton would keep driving it to bring it back. Luckily, no one did until we caught back on. Jill went straight to the front to bring it back. I never looked back at this point, I just held onto the group as long as I could. About 10 miles later, those silly master’s men caught us and the field was caotic. Girls were getting shelled and it was my time. After getting gapped, I chased as hard as I could and caught three riders, minty Jenn Joynt, the Washington Wines girl, and another young Cat 3 rider who could climb like a pro. So we rotated the rest of the way to the finish, encouraging each other along the way and thanking all the wonderful volunteers handing us water!
And on a personal note, I was pretty much in tears crossing the finish line. I got the chills (and not because we ended in the snow). Here I was finishing an epic day in the mountains with a respectable result. Just six months ago, I couldn’t sit on my bike, sit at work, or even sit in a car without back pain from a slipped disc. I was so proud of how far I have come, and so thankful to have so much support along the way! Thanks PROMAN ladies, thanks Dotsie, thanks to my incredible chiropractor and thank you Geoff. I am so happy to be racing again with this incredible team!
Final damage:
Kristina 17th
13 minutes back
Kate 25th
Abby 26th
25 minutes back
Overall GC after Stage 5:
15th Kristina Seley
24th Abby Cooper
26th Kate Ligler
Stage 6
Finally, the last day, only 50 minutes of suffering. My goal was to finish with the pack and keep my top 15 place. I haven’t been too successful at NRC crits, so a goal to finish with the pack is a little lofty for me. Luckily, I had impoved my crit skills so much this last year working with my incredible teammates. I had already read on Cyclingnews that Felicia and the Aaron’s gals weren’t going to let the race end easy. I knew that, but did they have to publish it on Cyclingnews? Some of us need to calm our nerves. Felicia was about one minute behind Leah Goldstein (Symetrics rider, three year winner, former Israeli army soldier, kickboxing champ, etc.) I also knew Value Act had their incredible guest rider Katie (Australian track champion) who was also itching for another Stage win. Plus I thought Value Act was racing strong and were going to prove themselves out here today. I told my teammates if they say a chance, go for an attack or get up the road, it couldn’t hurt. (This is supposed to be funny because it always hurts.)
The course, as you would guess, had a hill. Yes, every single darn stage of the six-day event had some sort of hill or mountain. The course was like the Santa Cruz criterium complete with a hill and U-turn, but stretched longer (i.e. the hill was longer, but less steep). The riders go around a downhill U-turn into a long tail wind gradual decent. The whistle didn’t yet ring, and we were off the line. I dug as hard as I could to get off the line and get up the first climb near the top. I made it to the u-turn tenth wheel and kept it there the rest of the race. Aaron’s did as all expected and beautifully rotated the attacks. Value Act was up there doing the same, and Leah was just watching Felicia. It was fast until Aaron’s Katharine Carroll got off the front with Katie, and the race was pretty much over. Jill (Touchstone) and Falvia (Tibco) tried to bridge, but sadly crashed off the front. They both got back in and finished well, speedy recovery wished to both. There was never good organization to bring it back, and we all seemed happy to sit in and let the race take it’s fate.
With seven laps to go, I heard a loud pop and saw the air shooting out of my rear tire. Ug, I thought, I have never flatted in a crit. This sucks. I dropped towards the back and yelled to my teammates I was flat. Quick wheel change (thanks Shimano) and I was off again, Kate and Abby were there to make sure I was ok and back on. I tried to get back to the top 10, but the chaos in the back was hard to get around. I assumed I wasn’t going to win the sprint, and a safe finish would be best at this point. So, I rode it in for a pack finish. - Kristina
Final GC:
Place; Name; Time back; Total Time;
15 Kristina Seley 0:19:01 14:27:03
24 Abby Cooper 0:40:03 14:48:05
26 Kate Ligler 0:43:09 14:51:11
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