2008 Blogs
Saturday, March 1 – Stage 4 – Miramar Circuit
Start Time: 10:00am; Distance: 126km (12 Laps)
We awoke to a gray and storm luring sky for the first time since arriving in New Zealand. Every day has been harder to muster the energy to climb out of bed and to the coffee, and the gloominess and blowing leaves made it even harder.
The course was in Wellington, close to the airport and right along the water. On the backside of the course the wind was blowing and the air smelled of the salty waves lapping upon the shore. The race got underway as we cruised about 1k before hitting the wall of a climb. It was about an 800m switchback climb with a QOM bonus on laps 3, 5, and 7. Just after cresting this, we descended back down on some more switchback turns, before hitting a sharp left hand turn into a headwind along the water. We then stayed on this road for about 8k. Fortunately Dave warned us of speed bumps along this stretch. Indeed, there were three speed bumps with lips, easy to catch air on. After the 8k along the water, we wrapped around to the front side with a wicked fast feed zone. There were sprint bonuses on laps 2, 4, and 6; one of which Gina wracked up some points on.
The third lap presented the first QOM sprint, where one New Zealand rider got off the front. Lauren Franges (Team USA) and Natalie Bates (Team Menikini) bridged the gap and the three stayed off for the majority of the race. Cervelo-Lifeforce kept the break at about a two minute gap throughout, until Team High Road’s train closed it down. There were a few single rider attempts to bridge up to the break, but none stuck.
Erinne did a wonderful job of keeping her spot at the front of the bunch, her eyes on Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo- Lifeforce), Oenone Wood (Team High Road), and others nipping at her heals in General Classification. Of course this was also with the help of Webcor’s green constantly patrolling the front. Because of the fast feed zone, grabbing bottles was a challenge, without losing touch with the bunch. There were a few misses, so on one lap I tried to grab a couple bottles. Another miss, and one feeder stepped in front of me, tangling me up with another rider. We were both unharmed and I managed to grab three bottles, only to look up and realize the bunch was out of sight. Luckily the climb and descent was just ahead so I was able to catch back on and pass bottles off.
The threatening clouds held off until the final lap, which was fortunate because the pavement was very smooth and extremely slick in the wet conditions. Indeed, just in the final lap there were two crashes. The first was about 5k from the finish, involving Sarah Carrigan and six others. About 3k later, mayhem struck. As the team was jockeying for position to lead out Gina for the pack sprint, one rider moved into her, taking eight others out in a messy and enraged pile-up. Although Gina bounced back up, her bike was taco-ed and the road rash was bad, warranting a trip to the hospital for stitches. She is standing strong and positive as usual. Katheryn was involved in the back end of the crash, receiving a couple battle wounds – probably just enough for a sore plane ride home. Erinne was at the front, clear of the crashes and maintained her 4th place in GC. Alex just missed the crash as she slid passed it to the left. Christine felt an omen and decided to steer away from the sprinting action and finish comfortably in the back. I had lost touch with the bunch at that point and saw the bikes flying, mechanics sprinting, and riders disheveled before me.
Start Time: 10:00am; Distance: 126km (12 Laps)
We awoke to a gray and storm luring sky for the first time since arriving in New Zealand. Every day has been harder to muster the energy to climb out of bed and to the coffee, and the gloominess and blowing leaves made it even harder.
The course was in Wellington, close to the airport and right along the water. On the backside of the course the wind was blowing and the air smelled of the salty waves lapping upon the shore. The race got underway as we cruised about 1k before hitting the wall of a climb. It was about an 800m switchback climb with a QOM bonus on laps 3, 5, and 7. Just after cresting this, we descended back down on some more switchback turns, before hitting a sharp left hand turn into a headwind along the water. We then stayed on this road for about 8k. Fortunately Dave warned us of speed bumps along this stretch. Indeed, there were three speed bumps with lips, easy to catch air on. After the 8k along the water, we wrapped around to the front side with a wicked fast feed zone. There were sprint bonuses on laps 2, 4, and 6; one of which Gina wracked up some points on.
The third lap presented the first QOM sprint, where one New Zealand rider got off the front. Lauren Franges (Team USA) and Natalie Bates (Team Menikini) bridged the gap and the three stayed off for the majority of the race. Cervelo-Lifeforce kept the break at about a two minute gap throughout, until Team High Road’s train closed it down. There were a few single rider attempts to bridge up to the break, but none stuck.
Erinne did a wonderful job of keeping her spot at the front of the bunch, her eyes on Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo- Lifeforce), Oenone Wood (Team High Road), and others nipping at her heals in General Classification. Of course this was also with the help of Webcor’s green constantly patrolling the front. Because of the fast feed zone, grabbing bottles was a challenge, without losing touch with the bunch. There were a few misses, so on one lap I tried to grab a couple bottles. Another miss, and one feeder stepped in front of me, tangling me up with another rider. We were both unharmed and I managed to grab three bottles, only to look up and realize the bunch was out of sight. Luckily the climb and descent was just ahead so I was able to catch back on and pass bottles off.
The threatening clouds held off until the final lap, which was fortunate because the pavement was very smooth and extremely slick in the wet conditions. Indeed, just in the final lap there were two crashes. The first was about 5k from the finish, involving Sarah Carrigan and six others. About 3k later, mayhem struck. As the team was jockeying for position to lead out Gina for the pack sprint, one rider moved into her, taking eight others out in a messy and enraged pile-up. Although Gina bounced back up, her bike was taco-ed and the road rash was bad, warranting a trip to the hospital for stitches. She is standing strong and positive as usual. Katheryn was involved in the back end of the crash, receiving a couple battle wounds – probably just enough for a sore plane ride home. Erinne was at the front, clear of the crashes and maintained her 4th place in GC. Alex just missed the crash as she slid passed it to the left. Christine felt an omen and decided to steer away from the sprinting action and finish comfortably in the back. I had lost touch with the bunch at that point and saw the bikes flying, mechanics sprinting, and riders disheveled before me.