Killington Stage Race.....It's a Killer!
I've been planning to race in Vermont for a long time and finally had a chance to get up there for the Killington Stage Race. I represented the MABRA with Christina Briseno from CAWES, and there were two girls from PA. Other than the that the field was stacked with New England teams full of crazy good climbers. After Spain, hill intervals for the past couple weeks, Dville Tues/Thurs rides with all of you fast riders, getting kicked around in the women's open field, I felt like my legs would treat me well. Maybe I could claim a win? Maybe a GC? That'd be nice!! Apparently, I was one of the 37 women in that field looking for a GC win because competition was STEEP!
Stage 1: The 2-lap 18 mile circuit had one climb of 5-6miles with a 7-8% grade at the end. The other side of that mountain was a 15% grade downhill, and then a fast 5mile straight away to the finish. I was playing smart and sitting in. The first lap was slower. Everyone was feeling out the course, trying to get good positions. I wasn't about the get up the front but I kept a good eye on those climbers. Surprisingly, even in the 2nd lap, attempts for breaks were slim. There were a few girls drilling in in the last 5 miles but nothing that the field couldn't hold. I had found out that I didn't have enough gearing to sprint for the downhill finish so for the final sprint, I knew my only chance at a win was a break off the front. Confident Sara thought an attack right before 2K to go was a good idea. I attacked hard, thinking I would be able to hold it for that last 2K. One girl followed, then another, pulling the whole field around me at 300meters or so. My legs weren't shot but I knew that I couldn't get out of my saddle due to the lack of gearing. So plan B: I got on the wheel of a girl who had been strong all day but she decided to wimp out on me at the wrong time. I finished in the pack after getting blocked in. Oh well...the beauty of stage races is that there is always tomorrow :)
Stage 2: TT day. 11 miles, mostly uphill. I didn't bring my TT bike...biggest mistake of the weekend. Probably cost me the Top 5. Oh well...coulda shoulda woulda...lesson learned though: Never show up hoping to get a podium finish without a TT bike. I felt awesome that morning. I thought my TT was great! The legs hurt the whole time --thanks to Amanda for reminding me to make my legs hurt from start to finish. I passed 6 people, the last 2 in the last 2 miles. I knew I wasn't the fastest since the girl behind me passed me in the first 4 minutes. Uh oh. I couldn't even stay with her. She was a jet on wheels. I can only wish I'll be that fast one day. I ended up 7th, 1:50 seconds behind. Surprisingly, all the climbers with right up there in Top 5. I'm telling you, STEEP competition.
Stage 3: 61-mile road race. Call if epic if you want -KSR promoters called it the Beast--the only epic part was the last 6 miles -all uphill at 9% grade. I sat in for the first 30 miles. I dodged the bad fissures in the road for the first 15 miles, which turned out to be almost as tiring as chasing. I sat in for the sprint at 30 miles knowing that the first climb was directly after it. I was soooo glad I didn't contest that sprint because that climb kicked my butt! I had no idea how long it was and figured that I could catch the girls ahead of me on the downhill but the hill lasted forever and a pack of 6 gained over 2 minutes during the 4-5 miles of climbing. I pace-lined with 2 other girls for 3-4 miles. I kept reminding them that a tempo was not going to catch the 1st group since they were all the Top 5 girls in the TT...they kept reminding me that the pace we had was the fastest they could go. I acted like I was working hard in the pace line but I was really saving for the climb. I got a little impatient, attacked the 2 girls so that I could ride a little faster ...gained 45 seconds on them according to ref in the car. Just at that time, the following chase group caught me and they were CRUISING. WOOHOO, get on the train. We gained another 45 seconds within 5-6miles. Just as I was really getting into it, the race was neutralized at mile 51 for a Medivac that had to fly a racer out. I never found out how severe the crash was, but we had enough time to take a nature break and refuel and get mentally prepared for the climb. We started 70 seconds after the lead group. The chase was on. Unfortunately we didn't catch them before the climb. I took short pulls and was geared well for the climb. 3 miles into the climb I had a minute on the group with whom I'd been pacelining and only 40 seconds to catch the girl ahead of me. Fired up now, I caught the girl, passed her. I attacked, gained 15 seconds on her, crossed the line. I put my bike against the guardrail and sat in the grass. It was immediate because THEN my legs were shot. One of the race promoters handed me a bottle and acted like she was worried about me. I wasn't worried about me, but I didn't even know I could chug water so fast :)
6th overall in the GC. This race is so amazing. It's definitely one to put on the schedule for 2011.
By Sara Clafferty
