National Championships: June 23 & 24, 2011

Some days everything comes together seamlessly for a near perfect ride; this is what every cyclist works year round to achieve come race day for those competitions they’ve targeted as “A races”.  In theory this seems like it should be relatively easy to achieve.  In practice, well, it doesn’t always work out perfectly.   Even after years of practice. 

As I write this I have time trialing in particular on my mind.   I suppose that’s because it’s the event you- the rider- have the most control over, and for me a favorite.  I’m not sure how many TT’s I’ve raced in my career, but I suppose close to one hundred.  Of all those I can count on one hand the number that I’d assess as being near perfect rides; where the process was executed perfectly, pre-race conditions ideal, fitness & health optimal, equipment flawless, etc.

So, it’s a rare day when everything falls in perfectly.  While the result was fair, unfortunately my Nationals TT ride wasn’t one of those rare near-perfect ones.

Team-wise Juvederm-Specialized was well represented with Rams winning what would be the first of two U23 titles (there’s a under 23 competition within the Women’s race for both the TT & road race).  Well done Rams!

*******************

Friday evening would see 70 or so elite women take to 8 laps of a grueling 12+km circuit in pursuit of the National Championship Jersey.  The course included a steep 800m switch-backed ascent up the escarpment, locally know as Rattlesnake Point. 

As a team, our goal was to win, as it always is.  We would race as a team, and race aggressively.  Too often (women’s) Nationals are raced passively as no one wants to gamble, to go out and lay it all on the line early. 

One of the amazing things about being on a well-balanced (aptitudes) cohesive team is that it makes it easy to race the way I like to race- aggressively and all in.  If everyone on the team races this way it elevates each individuals game, and subsequently what the unit is able to achieve.

Our team plan involved sending specific riders out early in an effort to take pressure off our top climbers; Lex & Rams.  Sarah did a perfect job of initiating a small break on the first lap.  Despite their getting a good initial gap the peleton swallowed them up the first time up Rattlesnake. 

My turn.  As the peleton sighed a little breath of relief at the crest of the climb I slipped up the left side of the pack.  Pow- off the front.  Steph Rhoada, track star extraordinaire had marked my wheel; working together we grew our gap to around a minute before tackling the climb.  I set a steady pace up the ascent and at the top realized that Steph had fallen off the pace.  Now I was alone. Not ideal and not the plan to a T, but forward is the only direction to go in a race. 

Knowing that I had capable team mates behind me, and that being off the front was where I would be of greatest use to the team objective I clicked into a sustainable tempo and set to work.  The photomoto and lead com cars would be my primary company for the next 80-some kilometers. 

Our team car paid a couple visits to bring me fresh bottles of eload and updates of what was happening behind.  This along with incredible support from what sounded to be 100’s of spectators lining Rattlesnake and the finishing stretch at the top, I had all that I needed to forge on.

Here’s where I’d like to pause to give props to Randy Fergeson, the race announcer.  I am always so impressed when a person’s innate abilities so clearly match their chosen profession.  When a person can make a job or task appear easy:  Natural.  Randy has the ability to engage the crowd and racers alike.  When covering international events he pays attention to the correct pronunciation each racer’s name - no easy task when you are faced with a diverse international field.  Randy has the capacity to remember a ton of details about each rider, drawing the crowd into the stories behind the riders.  He personalizes the peleton for spectators.  And he’s always smiling.  Thanks Randy for rallying the crowd- you’re a pro.

The laps ticked by.  My nutrition formula of one eload gel plus drink per lap sustained my effort.  I watched the gap swell and shrink, fluctuating between 2.5 and around 4.5 minutes. 

Cheers from the crowd carried me up the climb.  The bottom of the ascent where there were less people felt more difficult, the top almost effortless: I was lifted by the energy of the spectators.

Reaching the last laps, surprised that the peleton hadn’t closed the gap I started to wonder whether I could hold it off?  What an unexpected reward that would have been!  But it wasn’t meant to be.  Some strong team work behind narrowed the margin.  The 7^th time up Rattlesnake it was everything I could do to keep my focus, to keep from what felt like losing consciousness.  My tank was drained.

The last lap was a series of shrinking time gaps displayed on the white board carried by the moto- despite my best efforts it was ticking down.  46 seconds.  35 seconds.  16 seconds.  Over my shoulder I caught a glimpse of the line of riders as I rounded a corner.  My former team-mate Tara at the front doing her job, setting up Errine and Joelle for the finish. 

My solo bid was over with about 4 kms to go.  After a few moments recoup in what was left of the peleton, I spent my last matches covering an attack by a Team BC rider and positioning Rams into the base of Rattlesnake.  Job done and match-book empty I rode with Tara to the top, albeit I wasn’t probably the best conversationalist given my state of fatigue.

Out of sight ahead the final show was on: Lex powered to a solid 2^nd and Rams 4^th!  Vernique Fortin showed her exceptional climbing ability, climbing right atop top step on the podium.   Errine Willock rounded out the podium crossing the line 3^rd.

Overall it was a good race for the team with solid results!  Well done ladies, and thank you to our sponsors and incredibly dedicated staff for making it all possible!!

Post Nationals:  I spent the next week in the area: enjoying a little down time; recovering from the cold I started to catch the night after the TT; and savoring some last tastes of being on Canadian soil.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QVFsyFzE1s&feature=player_embedded

Interview with Malcolm, Anne and myself starts at 17:26 into the clip....

Next up will be Europe: first my team mate Mary and I will work as guides for a tour that follows the Tour de France route (first 10 stages only), then we will join our JSM team mates for a block of UCI racing in Germany, Sweden and Belgium!!  Whoot-whoot!!!

MoJo

Turtle Rescue

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for the tortoise of the tortoise & the hair fable.  Slow & steady, you know the story.  Several years ago my favourite cycling socks had a tortoise on one side of the ankle, a bunny on the other.  So depending on the day - and whether I felt speedy, or steady- I would wear either the tortoise or the hair on the outside.

During the week leading up to Nationals I was out training one evening and came across a turtle the size of my helmet in the middle of the road.  I’ve never seen a turtle that big in the wild in Canada!!

Rescue instinct took over- I leaned my Specialized Transition against a post & looked around for an implement to prod the prehistoric looking creature off the busy road with.  Left where he was he’d surely meet his death.  The next few minutes were spent waving traffic around the feisty little guy who actually snapped at a tire as it whizzed past.  He wasn’t proving to be the smartest creature! 
After deservingly garnishing quite the number of inquisitive looks I located a stick & proceeded to flip the turtle over & over; the stick bent under his weight, he hissed & snapped.  Several minutes later & after creating quite the spectacle for the passing onlookers- he was safely off to the side of the road.  Mission accomplished.  Back to training!

Slow & steady J!

MoJo

A Picture's Worth A 1000 Words Part II

As promised here are a few more pictures and tales of adventures on the road.  Following our Gila, Joe Martin Stage Race double header I returned home for a little R & R, birthday celebrations and repacking of my suitcase.  Next up would be some UCI racing on home soil in Gatineau Quebec.

Team presentation.  Left to right: Anne Guzman, Joanie Caron (1st race back following a broken collar bone earlier this spring, welcome back Jo!), myself (yes those are pigtails I'm sporting), Vero Labonte, Lex Albrecht & Denise Ramsden.

The Gatineau races included a 17.34km individual time trial (2 laps of a technical 8.67 km undulating course) on Thursday May 19th followed by a road race on the 21st.  I had hoped to be back on top form for the ITT but wasn't quite on target come race day.  Canada's Clara Hughes earned top step on the podium averaging 43.68kms/hr around the course on a soggy day- impressive!  A Ukrainian rider and USA's Amber Neban (former World ITT Champion) took the remaining two podium spots.

Photo kind compliments of Peter Kraiker.  Check out more of his great shots @  kraikerphoto.com / studiofstop.com

The race of truth.  It always hurts.

Early in the road race taking some wind.... possibly lap 1.  On the second lap I slipped into an early break (OK, I had to make a major dig to get myself there).  When we were swallowed up mid race Rams countered and made an impressive solo bid but was unfortunately brought back with a lap to go.  Current World Champion Bronzini showed her sprint prowess claiming the victory while our own Labonte crossed the line in an impressive 6th place.

Next up we headed south of the border for 3-days of racing at Killington Stage Race in picturesque Vermont.  Our team was eight strong: we raced hard; were victorious & further evolved as a team.  Next up would be Liberty Classic in Philly.  Most of the team headed home while Jo & proceeded south with one of the team cars & equipment trailer. 

Jo & I spent a sweltering but fantastically relaxing week in Lance's family cottage (Lance is Mary's boyfriend; he often graciously helps us out at races).  The cottage has been upgraded with power, AC & plumbing but was initially built around the turn of the century.  With temperatures in the mid to high 30's we would've certainly shriveled without the AC in the cottage & electrolyte rich eload in our water bottles while out on the road!!
The most notable neighbour was 'Aunt' Ruth.  She's spent a portion of each of her 99 years in her beautiful 2 story cottage.  She's truly amazing & deserves a whole chapter in the book Jo & I decided we should write while staying at Highland Park: a book of short stories of our adventures on the road- capturing the faces & places we are so fortunate to be introduced to through our sport.  A read of the continuous flow of humorous tails through mishaps which colour our days. 
A sampling of the mishaps of our few days at Highland Park includes: discovering that ALL our freshly washed kit would have to spend the night, wet in the washing machine of a 100 degree launder mat 20-some minutes from the cottage- until the next morning.   A morning we had planned to ride early to avoid the ensuing heat.  Our error came when we failed to notice the time the launder mat was due to close for the night & went to the grocery store during the wash cycle to maximize our efficiency.  Not so efficient after all. 
Next up was getting pulled over for making a 'California stop': the cop was quite forgiving, letting us off sans fine.  But he did make us squirm for several minutes while he sat behind us in his cruiser with my license & registration.  Maybe he took pity on our unrehearsed & awkward story of staying at the cottage of a team-mates-boyfriend's-family in some town neither of us had ever been too & couldn't really describe how to get to... between bike races.  To boot, we were headed in the wrong direction to return to the cottage.  With his instructions for getting back to home base we were off. 
Next up was losing, yes LOSING the trailer off the back of the team car on the drive into Philly.  Thankfully we were on a small road, albeit not in the best neighbourhood.  With generous help from a few locals, some signed team hats & nothing worse than a solid care we were reattached & rolling again.  The adventures never cease!

The peleton racing past the stairs made famous by Rocky!  Current World Champion Bronzini ultimately proved she was the fastest woman on the day taking the victory for her Colavita Forno d'Asolo team.  We had a great showing with Lex off the front, solo, for most of the race.  Lex rode like a champion scooping the lion's share of the QOM points & earning the jersey!

The Liberty Classic race consists of four laps of a 14.4-mile circuit through Philadelphia with four steep climbs up the grueling Manayunk Wall (pictured) & is regarded as one of the most prestigious women’s races in the US.  It is the only women's UCI sanctioned race in the US at present & runs on the same course, & at the same time as the men's ProTour race.

Crowds cheer us on as we climb Lemon hill, one of 3 climbs per lap.  On a personal level I was happy to have Liberty completed this year as during last year's race I crashed hard suffering injuries to my ribs & a concussion which kept me off the bike for what should have been the pinnacle of my season & in poor form for its closing weeks.  This year I closed a chapter at Liberty: a year of exercising patience & overcoming challenges in health & form.

* * * * * *  

Cool air, hometown Playoff fever & familiarities of Vancouver were the reward ahead; home to prepare for Nationals & recharge before the next block of racing.    While at home Dylan & I got to spend some time together- even if some of it was in the form of motorpacing- before my longest block of the season.  One evening I headed out to the Valley to take part in the bi-weekly training ITT hosted by the club where I started out.  It was good to see some familiar faces & be introduced to some new ones; also a test of my form which seems to grow incrementally each week. 

http://www.canadiancyclist.com/dailynews.php?id=21913

Comment to the above link:  OK Bruce, it was closer to 10 years than 15 years ago that I first showed up at the Mission Raceway track!  Wasn't it?!?!   Help me out here!

* * * * * * *

Well, we (the Canucks) were outplayed in Game 7.  Too bad.  While I was disappointed that we didn't win the Cup I couldn't help but feel a bit happy for the guys who were on the Cup Hoisting end of the equation- happy to see them rewarded for the years & years of hard work; the battle of the series; the commitment & sacrifice; the euphoria of realizing a Dream. 
The morning-after happened to coincide with my trip to the Toronto area to finish my preparation for Nationals later that week.  Standing in the gate area waiting to board I found myself face to face with a familiar mug.  It took me a few minutes to place him without the trademark loud dress, but upon realizing that Don Cherry & Ron MacLean were on my flight I decided I'd better seize the opportunity to get a picture with Don.  My first thought was, this is an early Father's Day gift for my Dad in to form of a good laugh!!  So I jumped in, introduced myself, told him a bit about road racing, got a picture & autograph.  My trip was off to an amusing start!

Until next time,
MoJo

A Picture's Worth A 1000 Words

Well, it has admittedly been awhile since my last entry.  Hard to believe that we're mid-way through the season already.  I now have a little over 2 months of racing in my legs and already many great moments with my Juvederm Specialized Mazda team mates.  Rather than a detailed run down of each twist and turn I'll share some of the pics of the journey.

Guz, Rams & I enjoying a coffee post recon of the Gila crit course, mmmmm!!

Me suffering up one of the many Gila climbs while receiving some encouragement from Patty, our mechanic:  as my first big race of the season it was a painful but effective means of getting back in shape.

Following a superb performance by the Team at Gila we said goodbye to Rams (off to Pan Ams), Mary (home to work) & Laura (our DS for Gila).  The rest of us then drove over 1/3rd the width of the USA to reach Fayettville Arkansas where we would race Joe Martin Stage Race (May 5-8).  Here our small but strong team goofs around a bit after pre-riding the TT hill climb course....  from picture left clockwise: Anne Guzman, moi, Lex Albrecht, Vero Labonte, and my awesome light Specialized Amira S-Works.  Hands down the nicest race bike I've ever had the privilege to ride.  And its women's specific to boot!  Well done Specialized!!    

Photo kind compliments of Peter Kraiker.  Check out more of his great shots @  kraikerphoto.com / studiofstop.com   
This is during the hill climb- OUCH!!  My team mate Lex had a stellar ride clocking the 5th fastest time up.  With a lot of work and a little luck the week unfolded well for our team.  Lex ended up finishing 3rd overall thanks to time bonuses for her amazing two 2nd place finishes (in Friday's road stage & Sunday's Criterium).

Taking some wind at the front in Saturday's road stage.  Picture courtesy of Lyne Lamouseux.

More of Lyne's work.  Beautiful lush green country thanks to an unseasonably wet spring in Fayettville.  Random fact:  Fayettville is the birthplace of Walmart.  Without this mega company originating here it wouldn't have the major airport it boasts.

More of the beautiful Arkansas countryside made even more beautiful by our hot Hincapie kit!!  Thanks Guz for designing & thanks Hincapie for making!!  Pictured:  myself & Guz, quickly becoming known on the team as Lady GuzGuz.

Horsing around pre-race in front of a frequently visited coffee shop.  This one for our moms!!

Thanks for checking in.  Part II coming soon.

Hotel Livin’ Eats

When on the road we’re often fortunate enough to have the opportunity to stay in host housing where we have full kitchen access, however, when that option is not available, hotel livin’ it is.  Bike racers have a rather unique style of making the most of budget chain-hotel stays.  Being back on the road for my first stage race of the season and staying at the Roadway Inn in Silver City New Mexico this past week has reignited my fine-tuned techniques, and prompted this entry.

For maximum efficiently one’s planning must start before leaving home.  In my experience the essentials are: an open top kettle (without coils in the bottom so you can cook pasta, rice, etc in it: these are about $10 at Target or Walmart); a Swiss army knife equipped  with a can opener; a fork & a spoon that you don’t mind losing (i.e. don’t bring part of the set you got as a wedding gift!); sea salt; your favourite pre-ground beans; and a French press travel mug (Starbucks makes a great one well worth the $25 investment).  To this you can add a few extras depending on your tastes- cinnamon, that kind of thing.  Some of my team mates travel with small rice cookers, blenders, etc.  But these can add up weight and space wise which- when you’re trying to skimp on baggage fees in our new world of pay out the wazzooo for every piece of luggage- is of serious consideration.

Upon arrival do a quick inventory of what’s available, both in the room and the hotel as a whole.   In North America many rooms come equipped with a small fridge and microwave – between these and your plug in hotpot get ready for hotel gourmet.  OK, well maybe not quite gourmet, but definitely inexpensive real food.  Back to our inventory….  If you’re lucky your hotel will have some form of continental breakfast which will really help fortify your hotel eats.  Our Roadway Inn had fruit, yogourt, some cereal that I personally wouldn’t bother eating, watery coffee and sugary juice which go in the same category as the aforementioned cereal, tea bags, miniature cinnamon buns, but best of all, make-it-yourself waffles.  Mmmm, mmm!  We won’t think about what’s exactly in them, just enjoy and know its fueling those hard raced miles ahead.

Next up is the grocery store; the first shop is often done in a state of post-travel stupor combined with a mild case of hypoglycemia.  And of course on what is supposed to be a tight 20 minute timeline.  Picture six- give or take- ravenous, quasi-adults dressed in matching clothing invading the isles of a foreign grocery store.  The carts quickly pile high with what is stated to “just be for the first couple days”.  It’s quite the operation.  Calling out, “where’d you find the almond butter?  Do they have race pasta?  Where’s the bubbly water?  Can we drink the water here?  Did you see the price of the apples?”  A ridiculous sight really.

Here’s your opportunity to pick up any supplies you may have forgotten in packing haste- grab a spoon and a fork from the deli, some salt and pepper, maybe even some little packets of mustard or ketchup if you’re into that kind of thing.  And don’t forget to pick up a Tupperware container to serve as your ”bowl” for the week.  If you’re feeling flush and fancy splurge on the glass one and heat stuff in the microwave guilt-free!  Or you could opt for a stack of $.99 paper cups as one of my team mates just did.

Now the grocery store race is on.  You want to make sure that you get everything you need, passing  your team mates a few times scanning their carts to see whether they found any good buys and making sure you aren’t forgetting anything imperative; then to the checkout.  You certainly don’t want to always be the last one through.  It’s never a popular thing to be the one holding up the shopping trip as those already through are likely ready to break open their bag of frozen shrimp and start gnawing on the little crustaceans right there at the front of the store. 

Bike racers seem to be affected by travel/fatigue/hunger in one of two ways: either they bust into the store, buy 4 things and are out front waiting for the rest of the team who are of the second type.   These second types exhibit sloth-like behavoiur when faced with the bright lights, shiny packaging and endless options afforded in most stores.  They’re still starting at the ingredients on the back of the natural, “just peanuts” peanut butter jar in isle 3.  Anyhow, I am definitely of the later type so the comment about aiming to be mid pack through the checkout line is fresh outta my strategy handbook on team grocery shopping.

OK, now that the shopping is done its time to divvy up the mini fridge space with your roomie.  This is when you’re super happy to learn that your roomie bought almost all frozen meals and non-perishables.  Score, all your stuff will actually fit in that tiny little fridge!!

So what’s actually on the menu?  Well, good-as-it-gets coffee, oats with whatever you choose mixed in, fruit, raw and steamed veggies, rice pasta, sandwiches, wraps, canned fish, shrimp or turkey meatballs from the frozen section, boiled eggs….  Not bad really.  Well in my humble opinion anyway.

By mid stage race you’ll probably be torched enough that you’ll be hitting the Wendy’s drive through for a baked potato and chili anyway.  Or maybe burritos from the dodgy stand down the road.

It won’t be fancy but it’s certainly possible to eat well outta your hotel room.  And it makes returning to the luxury of either your own kitchen, or that of a host family, a real treat!

Thanks for checking in!  And see you in isle 3....

Fueled by hotel livin' eats & w eload in our botttles the Juvederm girls head to the TT, Gila Stag Race, April 29.

March 5th Team Launch

This past weekend saw the official launch of Team Juvederm Specialized Mazda, Canada’s first UCI registered Professional Women’s Team in several years.  The Team is born of the union of Toronto based Nanoblur Gears Women’s Team and the Quebec based Specialized-Mazda-Samsun Team who I rode for in 2010.  Pooling the riders, management and sponsors- along with a few additions- has resulted in a well-balanced Team with the resources to compete at North America’s top events as well as a mid season European race block. 

Having been involved in several different teams over my now many years of racing I suppose its safe to say I’ve developed a bit of perspective on the women’s road racing scene- within Canada, the US and Europe….  Although I recognize the challenges, I for some time now have felt strongly that Canada ought to have a Women’s UCI Team- It’s not that we as a country don’t have the riders or the potential sponsors.  However, it takes a lot more than these two ingredients to create a program, to build the foundation of a successful organization.

So when the news of the plans for this Team came I was thrilled- like awakening from a fabulous dream only to realize the dream is truth.  Is reality. 

The riders are an amazing group of girls all of which I’ve had the honour to race with at one point or another.  We are backed by a family of sponsors whose products reflect each of their respective commitments to excellence.  And we have been brought together by the vision and hard work of a tremendous management group.  The people, the organizations and the products backing this Team compliment one another: the forces channelled exude positive energy; possess passion, raw skill and true leadership.

On a personal level I am so pleased to continue building on the relationships with the individuals who represent the products and support so generously offered last season, to continue using the brands which have influenced my as well as the prior success of both Teams.   And I look forward to getting to know the new faces and products and putting those products to the test!

A tremendous amount of work has gone into bringing us to this point- the official Team Launch at the Specialized headquarters in Montreal- demonstrating already that a well oiled team is capable of far greater than the sum of the individual parts.  Thank You Malcolm, Gerard and Michael and all the rest who have contributed.  Without you we would not have the opportunities which lie ahead; the chance to realize what we as a team may achieve.  It is going to be an incredible journey!



Andrew (who has the coolest last name btw) presenting our Team bikes- & ready to provide each of us with a customized bike fit!!  Thank You Andrew & the rest of the Specialized Team!!



Inside the Specialized show room; some of the many bikes they make!



The Specialized warehouse: isles & piles of pure goodness!!





Behind the scenes- proving that innovation runs in the blood of those who work for Specialized!

 
Thanks for checking in & reading!





A New Year, A New Team, A New Blog...

stay tuned.... posts to come....