Alison Tetrick

The first NRC stage race is complete.  It is only March.  Only March.  We have a long way to go for the rest of the year and will continue to build upon this race.

With 8 strong riders we tried to win a bike race, and sometimes things don’t always go as planned.  At least we went down with our guns blazing.  End of Story.

Being a sacrificial lamb may not be all that it is cracked up to be, but at least it will make me stronger.  It was my first time at Redlands, and I loved the courses, the people, and the energy.

I will be back, Redlands, California.  Wherever you are.

I loved our new Look 585s with the kits and sweet HED wheels.

Things accomplished and learned:

1)      I know where to get a good burger. Eureka! Burgers

2)      Got some good racing in my legs against some of the best in the world. Ina? Neben? Check. Check.

3)      I know a great family to go visit (Thanks, Hensler’s) but beware of the killer 5mos old Terrier, Rex!

4)      Learned a thing or two about bike racing, tactics, and team work.

5)      1^st NRC race of the year in the books

6)      A peanut butter, egg, avocado bagel sandwich with a sprig of spinach to up the annie is good stuff.

7)      Orange blossoms smell delicious, yet while racing, sensory stimulants like orange blossoms, roses, or watered lawns are not appreciated as much.

8)     There is barely any cell service for VZ in Redlands.  Who would have thought?

9)     Redlands is known as the Jewel of the Inland Empire.

10)   Lots to learn for the team and myself as we grown together, but we are on a roll to make it happen in 2010.

It is March.  Big things to come.

Loitering around race start.

Life on the road isn’t so bad.

We are on the road during racing, and try to do everything not on the road after the race.  Today we had the classic Downtown Redlands Criterium.  Another great venue with lined streets, fun, fast course, and a crazy turn of events.  A break went up the road after the half-way mark of the race, and it had 3 TIBCO riders in it!  It turned out to be a great day for the team, as Becca moved up in GC (3rd) and we took 2nd and 3rd in the stage (JoK and BM).  Tomorrow is another full day where there will be sure to be fireworks on the brutal Sunset Circuit Race.  Stay tuned.

New Team Bikes Look 585

The air quality has been pretty good since we have been here, and we have been able to appreciate the views of SoCal.

View from the top of the TT course

In order to climb up to see that view, it is steep, so you should appreciate that I climbed up their at race pace just to take that picture:)  After the crit tonight and riding home, I had to settle for the classic “paper boy” side to side to side weave to make it up this beast!  It should be a fun time tomorrow.

If you win Nationals...you get to ride this...

None other then Meredith Miller’s championship stars and bars bike. ‘Nuff said.

Game on tomorrow.

Here at Redlands, Team TIBCO-To the Top Cycling has taken over the Hensler’s beautiful home in the quiet suburban hills of Redlands, California.

Where is Redlands?  Good question.  I haven’t quite figured it out yet, but it is in Southern CA, and the weather has been beautiful with views of the snow capped mountains and a warm high desert breeze.

Back to the take over.

Andrea Hensler may be the best host “mom” ever.  She has opened the doors, garage, pool, kitchen, and everything else in her home to our team.  Not that we aren’t the most PERFECT house guests EVER, but with a family of her own (husband, Steve, 3 daughters, one which is currently attending UofA…and a puppy Rex…) it is asking a lot to add 6 hungry bike racers, a mechanic, a DS, and a souigner to the bunch, not mention the 15 additional bicycles, team trailer, van, car, 30+ sets of wheels… you get the picture right?

She has hosted TIBCO for the last 4 years, and been hosting teams for the Redlands Bicycle Classic for 7 years.  Incredible!  The local newspaper even came and did an article on our “invasion” and the Hensler’s incredible hospitality.. Read it HERE!

Host families often make the bicycle race, and we couldn’t do it without them.

What makes a good host family? Anything!  A big heart, maybe a little extra room, and a love for the sport and meeting new people.  Andrea and her girls were on the TT course yesterday cheering their heads off and ring cowbells for us as we were seeing red up the final hill….and there was nothing better then seeing her in the feed zone for us today!  We are so lucky to have her and her family here in Redlands!

Prologue done.

Stage 1 done.

Crit tomorrow.

The team is here in Redlands and ready to go.

Our new Look 585s came in…and we are going to rock them tomorrow with some HED stingers.  Pictures coming soon!

Prologue

Stage 1: Beaumont RR

Stage 2: Redlands Downtown Criterium

Stage 3: Sunset Circuit Race

Bike racing gives you fitness right?  Yes, we want to enter bike racing with fitness, but we also gain fitness along the way.

It was another fun weekend of racing with the boys, then the girls…

On Saturday, I raced with the men for their 50mile road race before racing with the women.  Thank you gentlemen, for once again, allowing me to “tag” along in your bike race.  It was fun to mix it up, and get some good racing under my belt.  Also, thank you for fixing my number for me.  Ha.  Apparently, I am “so pro” and need help putting my number the right way. I tried to convince them that the blond braid and hot pink Rudys was a give away, but they wouldn’t stand for it.

The moto asked me if I was in the right bike race, and I had to convince him I knew where I was.  Another guy responded that I looked to feminine to be racing as a guy.  I will take that as a compliment.  Right?

Things I noticed about racing with the men:

1) They warm up before a road race.  Wow.  Impressive.  I was still rolling around drinking my coffee.

2) They have some nice equipment.  Fast wheels and cool bikes.

3) They were cordial as ever to the “chick” in their race.

4) They don’t chat while racing like I do.  Oops.  I tried to remain on my best behavior.

I then proceeded to race with the women.  Nice.  It was a good long day of racing, and I was able to get some fitness.

I am ready to rock and roll.

So many races.  A long year.

Bike racing is unique in the fact that we have so many racing opportunities in our season.  It is a long season.  February to September.  People will wonder how we stay “on” all season long.  Yet with the many months of racing, comes many chances to improve fitness, skill, and power, all while racing.  You can’t treat every race as an A race, or even as a B race.  You look at racing as another opportunity to learn something, to gain fitness, and to put that money in the bank.

It is all money in the bank.

This weekend, I raced with the Pro1/2 men.  Ouch.  These guys are fast.  No kidding, right?  Why did I succumb myself to their brutal pace, large fields, and longer races?  Money in the bank.  It was a challenge, and it was hard.  I got to race my bike with some strong guys (to say the least), and stay eternally humbled by their huge power and speeds.  I have no preconceived notions that I was going to be winning the bike race, I was just trying to hang on for dear life to the roaring Bissell train.  Thank you gentlemen for allowing me to race with you (along with the other 4 women who joined!), and for those extra “pushes” to stay in the much needed draft.  I appreciate you guys letting me experience just another training weekend for you!

I did get to race my TT bike.  You can’t help but race that Look596.  She just begs to be ridden fast, and set records.  Sorry boys.  I only ended up 33rd in the Pro men’s category on the TT… but set a new course record for the women.  Must have been the bike and those HED wheels.

Redlands next week.

Money in the bank.

Paul Doran takes some good pictures…Thank you NorCal Cycling News!

Ah.  Bicycle racing in Merced.

Nothing like the smell of kettle corn, cow manure, and the local taqueria to motivate you to race your bike in mach speeds around a Central California downtown.

Plan your next spring vacation to Merced, California.

The Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic weekend, included a downtown criterium the town of Merced, and a road race somewhere 20miles west, also known as the middle of nowhere.  Here is an idea, let’s all go to a remote location full of country roads, rolling terrain, and full blossom orchards, and race our bicycles.  Game on.

The field was full and deep of some of the strongest national and international riders.  Ina?  Does she need a last name? Highroad, PeanutButter, Team TIBCO, Colavita-Baci, and Webcor.  Even though it was just a little local bike race, with the caliber of riders showing up, it was going to be a good level of intensity, difficulty, and a high level of racing brought to the farmlands of Central California.

The crit was a full field, and the race was animated by the fighting for who got to control the race.  With 2 laps to go, there was a brutal crash involving one of my teammates.  Thankfully, she is all right, except there was quite a scare for a little while.  She is tough and will be back on her bike soon.  The race was neutralized for 20min, and then re-started with the lap counter saying 6 to go.  Ouch.  Ina (Columbia-HTC), Shelley (PB), Choloe (Columbia-HTC), BLWM (TIBCO).

We learned from this experience, and moved on to Day 2.  The road race.

Flat road races are usually harder then hilly.  Why?  Because if the course isn’t selective enough, the teams are forced to create their own selection process.  Attacks.  Counter attacks.  Attacks.  With the sprinters in the field, it was looking like a sprint finish.  But for those who hopes were for their own moment in the sun, the attacks ensued.  It was a hard day in the office.  With a flat tire in the last lap of the race, the comm moto would not like my DS motorpace me back up.  Which left me chasing to get back on after the flat.  Ouch.  I learned it is more fun to be off the front of the bike race, then chasing to get back on after a flat. With a crash in the last 1k, and another fast sprint finish, it was Ina, Shelley, KellyB (Colavita-Baci), BLWM (TIBCO).

We will build on this race and continue to learn as a team.  Our jobs are not easy, and they are hard, but if properly executed we will win.

Thanks to Merced, Merco Credit Union, and VeloPromo for another great weekend of racing.

Having grown up in some remarkable places, from the Central Coasts of Santa Barbara County to the rugged terrain of Shasta County, few places ever seem to compare to my “home”.

As I continue to travel the world, and experience new places, I am beginning a small collection of places that similarly tug on my heart’s strings.  You may remember Limoux, France, and this February, I discovered that I truly love New Zealand as well.

Am I making you jealous, and you want to explore NZL on your own?  What about a training ride with the US National Team?

Watch our training ride Day 1 in NZL HERE!

I had the best of intentions to document each grueling stage of the Tour of New Zealand.  However, even the best of intentions are sometimes foiled.  As you many know, I was in the northern island of New Zealand competing in an event that is sure to raise a hint of jealousy.  The Tour of New Zealand.  Does it get any better than that?  A bike race in New Zealand.  Even though the scenery was breath taking, the air warm, and the sheep happy, I was unable to relax and enjoy where I was.  I was competing in one of the most difficult cycling endeavors I have done so far.

We were arriving to this UCI tour with one of the strongest teams present. Did I believe it?  Absolutely.  With Olympians, World Champions, National Champions, and some of the strongest riders I have ever competing against domestically, I had confidence in our US National Team.  However, what did the rest of the world have to offer?  It was destined to be a tough race.  Tough fails to describe the effort we put in at the tour of New Zealand.

Our main goal was simple: Win the Tour.

Will we win stages on our way to complete this lofty mission? Possibly. But most importantly, USA must leave NZL with the coveted yellow jersey.

Second goal: Win a stage

Third Goal: Win Overall Team Classification

I have mentioned our incredible director, Manel Lacambra, an energetic Spanish man who prefers to fight in Italian, and he is a huge asset to the program at USA Cycling.  This man is a tactical genius who sacrifices, sleep and rest to be prepared and to prepare us for every test of each day.  He studied not only the courses, but the riders and weather conditions as well.  An invaluable director ensures confidence in his riders, and we are able to race accordingly.

Until now, I may have not understood the amount of work that is required to keep the jersey.  Now, I look upon that jersey with a little different point of view.  Each day of the tour was a new battle, a new challenge, and constant pedaling to protect the yellow jersey.  Upon completion of the tour, the USA had won 5 stages, the yellow jersey, and overall team classification.  We made history.  When I see that yellow jersey I was able to take home with me, I take great pride in the USA and our accomplishments in New Zealand.  We put our whole effort, blood, sweat, and tears into protecting that jersey, and we accomplished all our goals.  Normally when someone says this phrase, it is with a hint of exaggeration, however, in our case, I mean it quite literally.  It was a true battle to protect this, but we knew we had the strength to do so, we just needed to discover our own limits.  Mission accomplished.

2010 will be a good year for USA, and we look forward to continue to build and grow on this tour into more races in the future.

Protect the Jersey

Stages won: 5

Days yellow jersey worn and protected: 6

Overall Team: USA

1^st and 2^nd rider: USA

Upon arriving home yesterday, my mind was still in a whirl of all we had done.  Thank you for the direction Manel, and thank you team for putting everything we had out there.  We did it.

Now, what’s the next race on tap?