NEVADA CITY CLASSIC - WIN & PODIUM!

Beautiful Day, 50 minute Race,

Course: Straight up and Straight Down

Teammates: Helene, Tracey, Rachel

With the defending champ standing next to me on the line, my intentions were to ride as hard as I could to help Helene repeat her victory from last year. I would also be using this race as a warm-up and test of fitness for the upcoming NRC Stage Race, the Nature Valley Grand Prix, beginning 3 days later in Minnesota. There was a $100 prime 3 laps into the race, which would become $400 if the winner of the prime went on to win the race. The first lap was neutral, but it was clear that the field of 35 women were just itching to race. Cheerwine, Touchstone, Velo Bella, Jazz Apple, and Metromint were all present with strong riders, but PROMAN set the pace from the start leading through the technical decent and up the climb. I was feeling out the field, following Helene and Rachel's wheels for the first couple of laps, letting them get a gap through the decent and making the other teams jump around me to bridge at the bottom of the climb. On the 3rd lap, Jazz Apple started setting up for the $100 prime and Rachel and I marked the move, but neither one of us had heard the bell and figured it wasn't this particular lap. Rachel lead the field up to the start finish and just before the line Jazz Apple jumped and took the prime. Nearing the top of the climb on the backside of the course, PROMAN was still on the front driving the pace. Michael Hutchinson, a legendary bike rider and close friend to the team, yelled from the sideline, "Don't pull the field around, attack! Light it up PROMAN!" That's all I needed to hear. I attacked hard from the left side about 6 riders back. With two teammates on the front and two small climbs to get over before the top, it was the perfect moment to get the gap I needed. I immediately put my head down and switched into time trial mode. With 10 laps to go, I really didn't expect to stay away, but everything fell into place and I was able to hold onto a 15-20 second gap for the rest of the race. Every time up the climb, the local crowds and hometown friends would cheer and motivate me to keep going. Hutchinson and Hernandez were instrumental in keeping me focused. I remember Hernandez telling me to breath deep and settle in to the pain. He was telling me to shift into a harder gear on the climb, which I thought was crazy at first, but when I did it the pedals turned over nice and smooth. With about 4 laps to go, I passed a teammate of mine who had dropped off the main group. Apparently, the field confused that teammate with me and thought they had brought me back. I had snuck away and it was now clear that I would hold off the field. The last two laps were amazing. I knew I was riding to the win in one of the most prestigious races in the district and I felt great. My teammates and friends on the sidelines were unbelievable today and I couldn't have done it without them. Rachel flexed her power on the rest of the field taking second place convincingly and Helene rolled in for 5th. It was an amazing day for PROMAN, leaving their stamp of authority on this legendary race for the second year in a row. Thanks for reading. -Shelley