Alison Tetrick

Stage 6: Aubry Butte Circuit Race

4 laps.  Power climbs, Rollers, Fast Descents, a Wall, a roundabout and a hard finish.

We started the circuit race in great position.  Having AFR 2nd, JBev 4th, Kat 6th, Me 9th and Mer 10th in General Classification.  We needed to make the race hard, try to get some breaks up the road, hopefully make Webcor work really hard, then hit them again when it counted.  About 5k into the race, we starting launching the attacks.  I ended up in a break that lasted for about a lap.  Once that break was caught, we never gave up.  We continued our attacks.  Mer ended up in a break that last for 1.5 laps, and had an almost 3 min. gap over the peloton.  We were shattering the race, yet all the key players were still present and accounted for.  On the final lap, we were running out of room.  We continued the onslaught.  My legs were feeling heavy, but I took faith that most of the girls felt that way, if not worse.  AFR and JBev made the last few attacks within 5 to go.  It was brutal.  I drove the chase to try to limit Kat and my losses.  Kat kept yelling for me to “go go go”….I started to swerve.  I was seeing red.  I was going as hard as I could, and then I blew.  TIBCO officially used every last resource they had in me.  I did my job, and I was so satisfied with that.  It was 3k from the finish, and it took everything I had to keep one foot moving the cranks at a time.  I finished the race.  Jo got 2nd in the circuit, and AFR kept her 2nd place GC.  The rest of us lost some GC position due to our work in the circuit, and never once racing for ourselves.  I ended up 11th in GC and never was trying to race for my own result (except in that time trial…).  Excellent.  I love it.  Cycling is great.  We gave that race everything we had, and we had the firepower, and didn’t quite make that race go according to our plans.  I can’t look back at it though without knowing that I gave each attack my 100% effort.  I meant it.  And that’s bike racing.  A lot has changed from last year.  I can race, and I can recover. 

On to National Preparation 2009.

Yesterday was spend floating the Deschutes River.  It was amazing.  We floated down the river, then got some great burgers.  It was relaxing and a good day “off the bike” and “on the river”.  Little did we know that our exercise would take form yesterday in trying to blow up 7 air mattresses. 

Time to get the head in the game for Nationals.

Stage 5: Downtown Bend Twilight Criterium

Route: Rectangle. Looooong Straightaways. 4 tight turns, all right hand (about 4 pedal strokes in between, then back to the straight)

The race didn’t start until 6:00pm, and it was an hour long.  Not bad, right?  I got up and rode in the morning.  We mostly just checked out the course and stopped at a coffee place for a cappuccino and cookie.  Total ride time, 35 minutes, and covered 7 miles.

We showed up to the race, ready to race… of course. The crowd was energetic, and ready to rock.  I officially got a call-up.  A call-up, at an NRC race.  And a criterium nonetheless.  What’s a call-up?  Well, its when you have th100+ girls on the line to start a 1k course, and then they pick people to let them start at the very front of the race.  They announce your name, and they say why you get to come to the front, and then you have great position to start the race.  With large fields, it is easy for these races to get “strung out” and very difficult to regain position.  When they told me that I was getting a call-up, my nerves were relaxed to start this race.  There was no need to pretend my bike had a mechanical to shove into the front row at the last minute, or to just succumb to the pressure and start at the back.  I had a call-up, I was important, and could roll to the start line at my own leisure.  Under this false sense of security, I was told, “don’t screw it up”.  Uh oh.  Pressure back on.  What do you do when someone gives you this chance?  Although no one was really watching me…I kinda felt like it.  No one cared why I was up there, which was only because they let the top 10 in GC start at the front…but I took this as a huge responsibility.

While the other girls were focusing on their race.  I was counting the cobblestones on the ground.  Or something like that.

The gun goes off.  I jump.  Literally.  Are we starting a race?  Yikes.  Try to clip in, my foot slips.  Should’ve started the corner in the top 10.  I was lucky to be in the top 40.

We race hard, fast and aggressive.  TIBCO never lets up.  It was so hard to gain position.  The field was strung out single file for the entire hour.  We never let off the gas.  It was the fastest women’s crit of my life.  We averaged 28mph.  Ouch.  Wasn’t my prettiest effort, but we did all right.  I still have a lot to learn in the criterium department.  Position position position.

We lit those streets on fire, and no cigar. 

Stage 6 report and recap comes tomorrow!

Stage 4: Mt. Bachelor RR

Distance: 71 miles.

The course started just outside of Bend, and started on a pretty significant 2 mile climb…then was followed by a fast sweeping descent…the most beautiful set of rollers along Cascade Lake Hwy, then finally, the last 30k consisted of a climb up to Mt. Bachelor. The RR ended at around 8500ft.

Cycling is a team sport, and I know I mentioned that previously. Team TIBCO going into Stage 4 was in a good position to dominate and to dictate the race. In GC before Stage 4: AFR 2^{nd, Kat 3rd, JBev 4th, Me 6th, MM 9th, and JoJo 14th. Wow. Talk about a stacked lineup. In order to get a win, we can’t all be going for individual results. We need to be working for and with each other to secure a TEAM result. We need to be willing to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of a team result. I am game. I don’t mind racing harder than I ever thought possible. I don’t mind throwing myself into the pain cave. By doing this, I will not only be getting stronger, but I will also be fulfilling a job on the team. I love it.}Race starts. Whistle blows. LT attacks. Yes. On the gun. Up the climb. Within the first 3k of the race, we have already started bringing the fire. LT ends up in a break from this move that lasts 50k. Webcor has to chase (They have the Yellow Jersey). Perfect. Break gets caught. We counter and counter. Another break launches. Gets caught, we attack again. And again.

This is probably one of the most beautiful road race courses ever. But, as we approach the last 20k of the race, we are flying over the rollers and very quickly approaching the climb. I launch another attack, and start the climb with a group of 3 other girls. We hold it off for some time, then finally the climbers catch us, and there is about 6.5k left on the climb. Finally, I have reached my limit. All the attacking has set in the legs, and MM flies by me and tells me to get on her wheel. Yeah right. I had nothing left. Job done. Mission accomplished. AFR ended up taking 2nd in the stage. Webcor road a great race, but we still have the strength in numbers.

Easy spin tomorrow AM, and then the Downtown Bend Twilight Criterium!

Z sent me this picture of the ride up to the finish at Bachelor. Funny, I don’t remember this. I think I had my head down, seeing red, and driving a break up the climb. This is the one view that I remember from last year that I loved. I missed it today. Good thing I got a reminder.

^{Good news, we have the fire power. We have the numbers.  It makes our racing hard, but that’s what we do. Hard racing.} 

Stage 3: Skyliners Individual Time Trial, Distance: 22.5K. 

It started at Summit High School.  Up, then a right turn, and then the climb begins.  The course basically goes up and up (with a couple of rollers).  Climbs about 1000 feet in 6 miles, goes down for about 1, and then you turn around.  Come up.  Then sail like the wind down a fast left turn back to the HS and you are done.  Or something like that.

A time trial is an individual effort.  You against the clock.  There is nothing out there to stop you, or hinder you.  It is up to you.  Now, cycling is a team sport.  Some people don’t realize how much each GC rider is supported by there team.  That is another topic for another day.  A time trial is your one chance as an individual to race against a course.  Whatever the course throws at you, you have to be ready. 

I have been fortunate enough to work with John Novitsky on my time trials in the last 3 weeks.  He has been the brains behind the operation.  Amazing guy, and strong (2x National TT Champion) cyclist.  It was good because he helped me prepare for this time trial.  My normal routine would be to attack the course and go as hard as I can and then when I get tired, I struggle and muscle and weave my way to the finish line.  Although this hasn’t provided incredibly bad results, it definitely hasn’t taken me where I should be.  I am on a mission to figure out how far I can take this.

Looking back on the TT today, I would like to indulge you with all of my impressive preparation (taping magnets onto a disc wheel), and my mental readiness.  All the funny quirks and weird ideas that came into my head along the way.  However, I am taking a glance at that TT, and considering it one big step towards big dreams and goals.  Thank you for believing in me along the way.

My warm-up began with a little Lady Gaga (of course), and I was feeling calm, cool, and collected.  In the morning, I am not going to lie, I had a feeling of trepidation coming towards the TT.  IT is almost like when you know you are about to get in trouble.  Yow know that there is an incredible amount of pain in your forecast.  At exactly 12:21:30, I started the TT.  Bam.  Finished.  Felt good.  Still had some rockets in the cylinders.  Bam.

Went to go to a cool-down, and new my time was 38-something…close to 39 minutes.  Was told I got 2nd.  Podium.  NRC race.  Big Deal.  2nd in the TT.  Wow.  Moved me up to 6th in the GC.  Let me tell you though, Team TIBCO is the strongest team in the nation.  In the TT, we got 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th.  Wow.  That is a team of strong women.  That puts us at 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 9th, and 14th in GC.  Talk about domination.

Carson Blume took these awesome shots today…

I guess that sexy Look 596 is good for something, eh?  I love that bike, and those fast HED wheels.  On to a big day tomorrow, another mountain-top finish.   

I wish I could give you more, but I feel like this is a quest to figure out what I can do, and where I belong.  I get intimidated, and I get nervous to compete against these strong women.  But, I belong.  I can compete.  2nd at the Cascade TT, and Nationals next week.  I am going to contemplate this, soak it in, add a little bit of confidence, and then regain focus.     

No drama in a TT.  Just ride your bike.  Good stuff.

Stage 2: Three Creek Road Race, 81.2 Miles… From Bend up to the Three Creeks Sno Park towards the top of the Three Sisters (do not confuse these with the little rollers in Marin we so fondly refer to as the “Seven Sisters”. 

The Three Sisters are volcanic peaks located in Oregon, and they each exceed 10,000 feet.  Their names are Faith, Hope, and Charity.  I don’t know which one is which, but they loom in the distance as we wind around the countryside in the high desert, along a flat to rolling terrain. 

The race contained 3 “Hot Spots”.  2 Sprint lines, and 1 QOM (Queen of the Mountain).  The final 10 miles was climb up to Three Creeks Sno Park.  If it is a Sno Park, you can assume it is a climb, and you can assume is is high up.  You climb about 2000 feet in about 10 miles.  That is a real climb.  

Our game plan, to race, but to race smart, and possibly after the “Hot Spots”.  We started a vicious line of attacks, nothing was really sticking.  Yet.  As our team director said, “That was a nice exchange, ladies”.  That’s really what it was like.  A little combat, a little exchange, just to see who was willing to put up a fight.  Apparently they were willing.  For now.  Finally a break launched up the road.  It contained AFR and then a representative from each major team.  You could refer to this as a “neutral” break.  No one was really going to chase it, but it might not last until the finish.

We started the climb, and the peloton shatters.  We are gaining on the break.  Attacks begin as the climbers try to scare everyone with their accelerations up the inclines.  We hang on, and AFR is the only rider from the break to not get caught by the peloton…She finishes 5th, Kat finishes 6th…Julie 8th, Mer 11th, Me 16th.  Not bad, but no win.  

I learned that you should not be scared by the random accelerations that climbers do.  They do that to get you out of your rhythm..but really, if you stay and find your ”happy place”, often you will reel them in.  Which is what I did.  However, next time, you find that although the accelerations hurt, they hurt everyone as well.  The tempo will not last that way the entire time.  Hurt for a little bit, and then you can sustain back to yoru comfort zone.  It will be worth it.  Next time.

Tomorrow, the TT.  Sweet.  I get to ride my new Look 596.  She is sexy.

Did I mention that I have a new best friend?  She is beautiful.  She is slim, with a subtly sexy curvy figure, and she is one class act.  She is the new Look 596 with that famously fashionable light blue paint scheme.  She is my love at the moment.  I not only get to race her at Cascade, but also in the Nationals Time Trial next week, and then in two stages at La Route de France.  She is a show stealer.  If you want to keep your man’s attention, be sure to avoid walking by this beauty.  I just hope I can do her right.  She deserves the best, and deserves to go fast.  Here is to her.

Stage 1: Smith Rock Road Race.  Distance: 71.2 miles

Profile:  Mainly flat to rolling with one significant climb (QOM) and 2 sprint lines.  Long rolling 10 mile straight finish.  Favors the sprinters and the strong of heart.

We met this morning and drove up to the race site.  Our bikes were beautifully clean, and had some spectacular HED Stingers on them.  We were going to go fast.  Being the first stage of 6 stages, we wanted to be cautious in the beginning.  WIth lots of activity in the middle of the race (Queen of the Mountain–QOM, and 2 sprint lines), we needed to watch these pan out, and then make our move.  The race was pretty calm with a lot of build-up around the sprint line.  We aren’t going for a sprinters jersey.  The QOM was a nice little climb, felt good to open the legs a little bit.  Then we hit the second sprint line, and that caused a little chaos for a while.  Finally.  Game on.  Time to race our bikes.  We started the attacks.  Shredded the field.  Attacks and Counterattacks. We were on fire.  Yet, with all the efforts, we were still mostly together with 10k to go.  We tried to organize a lead out, and everyone was jockeying for position.  It was narly out there.  Elbows, hips, gutters…the lead out trains were trying to assemble.  An attack went off the front, we were somewhat neutralized for an ambulance…and it was each to their own.  Jo ended up 5th, and Kat in the top 10.  It was a rough end to a planned race.  Tomorrow will be a new day. 

I did notice the heat today.  It was about 105 degrees, and my legs started to feel the hydration deficiency.  I had to go back to the car to get a feed.  That actually was my first time doing that, and it was pretty comical.  I will have to get better.  Jeff is trying to give me the bottle, and Steve is yelling at me to throw the bottle in the car.  I was trying to hand him the bottle.  “Ali, just relax…throw the bottle in the car…throw it…um..throw it now.  Good.”  “Grab the bottle…hold on to it for just a second…” Wow.  That was stressful.  I will need to work on this again.  Thanks for the patience today.

I am glad to get the nerves out after my first big road race here.  I am not gonna lie, I was nervous.  I worked on position, and I worked on moving around in the peloton.  It wasn’t a bad day at the office today.  Bend is beautiful.

Growing up, I remember my field trips to Disneyland. I would get ready the night before, and lay out my play clothes that I was planning on wearing. I would have my fanny pack filled with the necessities for the day’s adventures. Even though it was just one day spent at Disneyland, it felt like an eternity of bliss. You never knew what you needed. Finally, the morning would come and I would find myself with boundless free time before the long bus ride to Anaheim.

Similarly, last night, I was so excited, I couldn’t sleep. I was packed. What I was wearing was neatly folded on top of my Rudy Project duffel bag. Instead of Oshkosh overalls and Converses, it was 2XU compression tights and 2XU casual wear. My lunch was already prepared and sitting in the lunch box (courtesy of Amgen in a past life, and I never thought I would actually have a use for that little insulated carrier) in the refrigerator. Instead of the lunch money for a churro or a corndog, my lunch was salmon with eggplant, some Greek yogurt and fruit and mineral water. My list of last minute “to dos” was awaiting the morning to get accomplished. I didn’t have to worry about feeding the horses, or opening the chicken coop, but I did need to remember to grab my SRM charger and toiletries bag. And there I was this morning, just like I was going to Disneyland. No need for an alarm clock, I woke up with a smile on my face, a little jump in my heart, and I was ready to go. 5am never has been so ideal. It didn’t matter that the team wasn’t picking me up until 9am, I was ready now. What to do, what to do.

Needless to say, I am very excited about this adventure. We drove up to Bend, Oregon today. I even got giddy peering inside the Team TIBCO trailer this morning. To see all our race bikes waiting for us, all the wheels, all the fast things, just reminded me of all the racing ahead of us these next couple of weeks. The fun to be had on carbon wheels and light bikes. The options are endless.

The first day of Cascade Cycling Classic is Tuesday. You better be sure I will keep you posted on the events. Tuesday through Sunday. 6 stages in Bend, including epic climbs, fast crits, individual time trials, three road races, and one grueling circuit race. It may not sound like Disneyland to you, but it sure feels that way to me. You may be missing the amusement park atmosphere, but in the gorgeous scenery of the mountains, the rollers, and the adventure, it doesn’t get much better than this. I am rested and ready to race. Instead of paying to entire a park created sheerly for your entertainment, we paid to enter this race to provide not only the fans and sponsors with a show, but to also race hard and fast, which provides us with plenty of painful entertainment for hours upon hours. Who needs a roller coaster to make your heart skip a beat? Disneyland here I come.

And as the weather gets warmer, and summer has truly arrived in Marin (it always seems to take me until July to feel like summer here)… my official summer racing block has also arrived. 

Sunday, Team TIBCO hits the road to head up to Cascade Cycling Classic (6 days, 6 stages)… then three days after that, we start US Elite Nationals.  First off, the time trial, followed by the road race.  We are going to see if we can get a TIBCO gal in the stars and bars again.  One day following Nats, I will be headed to fly into Italy to begin racing for the US National Team at La Route de France.  Can you believe it is here already?  I hope I am ready for this. 

Obviously, I am getting a little nervous.  I am not nervous about my preparation.  I am ready.  I am not nervous about my performance, I am ready and willing to accept any outcomes.  I have just been anticipating this little 4 week stint, and it is here.  Am I ready to soak it in, to compete and to perform?  I sure hope so.

Keep me in your thoughts the next couple of weeks, or month, or…

It is about to begins.  When it rains, it pours.

The setting was perfect.  Located just 5 miles from my house, the largest city in Marin, San Rafael.  A normally trendy downtown district was turned upside down to house the epic San Rafael Twilight Criterium.  Hay. Lights. Restaurants. Bars. Taquerias. Aww. San Rafael. 

The course was simple.  4 corners. Start/Finish on a false flat up, right turn up a kicker, right turn down a false flat down, right turn down a downhill kicker, and repeat.  The hill was great.  The downhill was great.  The crowds were great.  Two teammates. ARo and Rushums.  What we didn’t have any numbers, we had in spirit.  We needed to be careful, but we needed to race and make every move, never knowing which move would be the one to stick.  Be agressive, ride around in circles really fast, and manage to come up with a result.  Rush brought a friend from NZ that was visiting her.  Just a friend.  Just Alison Shanks, current 2009 World Champion in the individual pursuit, and a gold medalist in the 2008 Olympics for the Team Pursuit.  Just that resume.  No big deal.  Great girl. 

However, we were out-numbered, and out-gunned.  ProMan raced an awesome race.  The attacks started from the start.  We countered, they attacked, we covered, they countered, we covered, they countered, we covered, we attacked…and repeat.  The race was fast.  Really fast.  I soloed three laps in the beginning of the race, and remember looking up at the clock.  56:34 minutes to go.  Ouch.  This could be a long haul.  I got caught.  Rush countered.  The chaos continued.  We never let up on the acceleration.  5 to go.  Alison Shanks attacks.  Rush says, “GO”.  I thought it was the winning move.  Alison and I held off until 1.5 to go.  Tried to organize a lead out for ARo.  She is first through turn 4, and she takes 4th in the sprint.  Rushums finished top 10.  Not a bad day for Team TIBCO.  We got a podium even with all the work ARo did covering moves.  She has a great sprint, and she worked hard the whole race…

As I was drilling it up the climb, shutting down another attack, or trying to work a break…I realized that this is what it must feel like to race against us sometimes.  With the numbers and the power, I was suddenly realizing how much work you have to do when you just have 3 riders.  Wow.  Bike racing is hard.  So much fun.  But so hard.  We could say that we worked to hard.  We are used to being the “worker bees” so we didn’t necessarily race for one rider.  We didn’t know what card to play.  However, I don’t know if I would change our race much.  We raced.  We covered, and we didn’t let them dictate.  I refuse to just sit in and take it easy.  I will race my bike.  I will make it hard, and nothing will go up the road without a Team TIBCO represented.  We will always do that.  We won’t always get results, but most of the time we will.  Great race. 

After the race, it made my day to see so many friendly faces.  So many smiles, and hugs from great friends.  Marc Schneidman and Craig Cramer from my former class!  It made me so happy to see you there…thanks for the support from the Thirsty Bear Clan…the positive words from Katherine Hamiliton, who told me to think outside of myself…to see the bigger picture…I can imagine that…and I just realized how much fun it is to not only race your bike, but race with the large Marin fan base.  Thank you for being out there, thank you for your encouragement, and thank you for believing in me.  I couldn’t do it without out you.

I realized what it feels like to be outnumbered, but I always realized how it feels to be supported out there.  This is one happy girl.  Now if I can win the next one…

San Rafael Twilight Criterium!

It is in my backyard, so why not?

http://www.srtwilight.com/

The women’s Pro race starts at 6:40pm in downtown San Rafael…and there is a kids race too!  Bring the family out and support a local, Marin race!  The pro men’s starts at 8:00pm.  This will be sweet.

Check out today’s Marin IJ…you may see a name you recognize, written by the ever wonderful Bob Cullinan