The past couple months in Arizona have been amazing for training, racing, team camp, and working on all my projects I’ve got going on.  I haven’t missed a single day of training due to weather (though I hear it’s supposed to rain tomorrow so I guess we’ll see).  I’ve spent so many hours riding on Mt. Lemmon and under the warm Arizona sun I almost feel bad for all those cyclists and people on the east coast huddling inside and sweating up a storm on trainers.  Every weekend there seems to be a local crit so I have taken advantage of some fun early season races to get myself back into shape.

Last week we held team camp here in Tucson so the team could  meet, train and race together before the season really got going.  It was great to spend 4 days riding, hanging out, cooking, watching the olympics, and laughing together in Tucson.  The commitment of my team to fly or drive out for camp is really amazing.

A climb up Mt. Lemmon just wasn’t complete without a team super hero pose

Jenna with just a few of the banana’s donated by Trader Joe’s

On Thursday we headed up to Phoenix where we raced in the Valley of the Sun stage race.  It was 3 days, with a TT, Road Race and Crit.  The women’s field was incredible this year with 50+ pro/1/2, and 70+ riders total.  Not to mention having Lululemon and Twenty16 racing.  It was a hard weekend but so much fun and our team did great for the first race together.  The road race was rollin the whole time with attacks by both teams and every time up the hill a good push to see who had early season strength.  The crit was strung out and fast the whole time.  I think Lululemon was practicing their team time trial cause they were really drilling the pace.  It kept it fun and good for the first real crit of the season.  I didn’t have the best result overall or in the individual days, but I also wasn’t as rested as I normally would be for a stage race.  The other girls did good with Rebecca getting 9th in the TT, Starla finishing 7th in the crit, and Sarah coming in 9th in the crit.  Everyone has a positive day and experience for the weekend.

On my results page you can see the results from these crits and some pics

After the race we found the most amazing taco food cart… somewhere in Phoenix

With so many projects and side things I’ve been working on I have kept myself so much busier then I was last year at this time.  When I’m not out training (and thinking up other ideas to work on), I’m on my computer or phone working away.

Being assistant manager of my team has given me a responsibility for organizing, looking for and talking to sponsors, working with team members and working on our website and social media pages.  I didn’t think it could be a lot, but doing something right and making things happen takes effort and dedication.

Messing around with some of the stuff Scott sent me for the documentary.

The project of this documentary I am working on is something I am extremely excited about and have really dived (is that a word?) in to make it happen and help with production.  It originally started when my friend Brian Solomon approached me to work on a documentary/profile pic of my work as a professional cyclist.  At first I didn’t think much of it, but then when he persisted that it could be something cool I was hooked on the idea and started thinking how my story could help promote and share the struggle of other female cyclists trying to make it in the sport.  I have been in contact with so many companies and sponsors trying to find others that may be interested in supporting.

Going out for a workout in the awesome kit Scott sent me… Super green… Super fast!

Coaching has become a real passion and something I have found I am really good at and could sustain me as I pursuit cycling.  I love working with other athletes and through my experience am able to guide and advice people to develop and reach their goals.  I don’t mean this to sound like a promo for my coaching, but I really do believe that having so many years in athletics and now being a professional cyclist helps me connect and understand where someone is coming from and where they wish to go with their training.

So as I look forward to the upcoming months of training, racing, traveling, and so much more I am definitely excited to see what new and exciting things come my way.  I have been putting my season schedule together and it looks like I’ll be hitting some good races, a couple new ones that I didn’t do last year like Redlands, TOAD and maybe Tulsa.  And others that I want to use the experience of last year to perform well and have good results.

AVANTI SAVOIA!

I haven’t posted in a while, but here is a quick run down of the past couple months…

After finishing up a last and very cold cyclocross race in Bend I headed south.

Drove through California, stopping in San Francisco a couple days to visit a friend and ride the hilly streets of the bay.  I arrived in Santa Fe to cold and snowy mountains and knew I was in for some long hours at the gym.  For the next couple weeks of Christmas and New Years I got a few days outside but spent a lot of time on the trainer, running and doing some weights/gym work.  I really enjoy lifting and doing supplemental exercises, it helps me feel stronger and balanced.

But after 3 weeks and the holidays come and gone, I was ready to pack up and get to Arizona.  I was instantly filled with excitement as I drove into Tucson and even at 9 at night I was ready to get my bike out and go for a ride when I arrived.  But for the sake of not crashing or getting in an accident my first 10min in paradise I held off.

Unfortunately the second I drove in I also felt the oncoming feeling of sickness, like a cold… booo.  So for the following week I dealt with wanting to get out and ride for hours and hours but also needing to rest and get over the cold.

But once I got better there was nothing else stopping me.  I have been here almost 3 weeks now, and it feels amazing.  To get out in shorts and a t-shirt again in the middle of January when everyone else is huddled inside and spinning lakes of sweat onto the floor around their trainer is something priceless.

This last weekend I raced in my first crit of the season.  Ill spare the boring details, but essentially I felt great and got 3 of 4 prims but in the last 15 minutes between prims and the finish I seemed to have fallen asleep.  Because when 2 laps to go was called I made no effort to maintain my top 5 position and then as half a lap to go came I finally came to my senses to move up, but girls were all over the place with their bikes and it was too late.

I was mad at my stupidity and so I took it out by racing in the men’s 3/4 race only 45 min. after.  It was so much fun and I rode harder to stay near the front.  I don’t have the sprinter legs of the guys, but I had no problem staying in it and working the last couple laps to hold a good position.

For next season I will be racing for Team Cloud Racing.  It is going to be a solid team with 8 elite riders to race in NRC and NCCs across the country.  We will have Scott as our sponsor and my team bike, helmet, and shoes are AMAZING!!  The sponsorship and support of this team is going to be great and we will look great racing and training.

I am excited for the season ahead and am having a great time training out her in Tucson.  Never tired of the blue sky and sunshine!

At the end of September, in sunny Santa Fe, feeling the oncoming fall mornings and cool air filled with the smells of roasting chile and changing weather.  But as October rolled around, I packed up my car threw my cyclocross bike in the back, and started the long drive north to Oregon.  Since that long 24 hours of driving (1,300 miles), over a month ago I have been living in Bend, Oregon.

   Cyclocross racing has been a weekly routine, with 8 races now in the books.  Where 6 of the races have been over the mountain pass in the Portland area,, which meant Sunday’s involved a 3 hour drive over and back.
I came to Bend hearing the cyclocross scene was big, but never imagined I would watch a race and see the course completely strung with racers.  And not just one race, but every race!  Some of the men’s categories have 100 racers alone, and the women’s A field always has about 40 starters (and that’s just the category A!!).
CX is known up here for its brutal courses and weather, so I expected more rain, mud and yucky weather, but each weekend (except one race in Bend) has turned out with nice weather and even warm sun for some races.  Every course and race has had it’s own obstacles (literally), whether it is barriers, a run-up, tight turns, steep downhill or even wood coffins to jump over (the Bend halloween race).

As a road rider I am reminded every weekend why I love the overall sport so much, and also how passionate about the road I am.  Some of these courses with their muddy and gravel turns make me feel uncertain, skiddish and almost like I’ve never ridden a bike before.  I guess slidding out in my first race and dislocating my shoulder, then a few races later crashing on a gravel downhill and trashing my knee gave me a bit of ptsd.

Funny enough, my best finish so far (11th) was on the day I rode the majority of the race with a bloody and hurting knee.  The technique and confidence needed for cyclocross will give me so many bike handling skills, so I keep telling myself to just have fun with it and all these tough races will benefit me on the road.
While in Bend I’ve also experienced mountain biking for the first time.  Don, from Sunnyside Cycles was nice enough to lend me a mountain bike and take me out towards Mt. Bachelor for some super fun trail riding… definitely the “more fun setting!”

   I’ll be up here for just about 3 more weeks as the last Cross Crusade race is on December 8th, which they put in conjunction with the UCI race that will run the same course.  It should be fun to see, but I must say I’m a bit scared thinking about how cold it’s going to be for that race.  After all this slipping, sliding, crashing, and running I’m about ready to hit the road and get some long climbs and rides going for the new year.  The toughness of cx will have me ready for technical turns and flying descents.  So far, it’s been a great experience up here so I think I can stick out one more cyclocross race before I have to head back down south.
It won’t be any warmer in Santa Fe, but at least I’ll have some good NM chili to warm me up.

   Live your passion and live life to the fullest… That’s what I live by… Cause before I know I’ll be 90 and looking back either at all the awesome crazy shit I did, or wishing I had gone for it!

   I’ve been cycling for just over a year and even despite having no job, no money in my bank account, and no idea where tomorrow may take me, I’ve never been happier with a sport.
   Last September I competed in my first cycling race.  Most people start a sport by trying it out, practicing a bit, doing a local/easy race and build from there.  The normal road is one of a gradual progression of fitness, talent and experience.  But this past year I have ridden a different road.

   On the 8th of September 2012, I rolled up to the line of my first cycling race.  As it is for everyone trying something new, it was an experience of difficulty and challenge.  I was nervous at the opportunity but took it head on and was excited to see what I could do in this new but still endurance sport.  I have been cycling many years as cross training for running, but never competed in any races.  Well, instead of getting the easy first race experience, I was thrown into something no other race I’ve done can compare to.
   After 7 days of racing and an experience I will never forget, I completed the Tour d’Ardeche in Southern France.

Ardeche region of France

Now when I tell people this was my first cycling race and it was only a year ago, I enjoy seeing the look on their face.  I’ve heard the Tour d’Ardeche to be one of the hardest women’s cycling races in the world.  Looking back I still can’t believe I finished it.  The first day, I feel off the group in the first 10km and did 120km solo.  The second day, I fell on the first descent and was yet again solo. The third day, I fell off the group again as my hip was in so much pain from the effort of day 1 and the fall of day 2 that I thought I was going to drop out.  But that just isn’t me, I don’t think I could ever willingly drop out of a race. Each day of this race had its hurdles to overcome and presented a challenge that I have never experienced in all my years as an athlete.  Maybe had I been more prepared and experienced the race would have gone better, but as I rolled over the finish line the last day and reflected on the previous days, I was just proud to say this was my first race as a cyclist and I conquered it.

Last day Tour d’Ardeche with Noemi Cantele, Giulia Donato and Dalia Muccioli from Bepink

   Now after a year of training and racing I look back on my training and racing and am once again astounded at the level at which we can push ourselves, the capacity of athleticism and how much passion I have for this and every sport I dedicate myself to.  Since I moved back to the US from Italy in November, I took my cycling training to 110%.  It was cyclocross in the early winter, once again throwing myself into new territory of the sport.  Then moving to Tucson, AZ I skipped the Christmas dinners and snowball fights to train among the sahuaro cactus and up Mt. Lemmon to be ready for the summer ahead.  Once the first races of February started I was ready to go and fight my way up to cat 2 and into the national race scene. 

   Once that goal of reaching cat 2 was met I became a ball in a pinball machine bouncing around the US from race to race.  Everywhere from New York, NY to Monterey, CA and Fayetteville, AR to Bend, OR, I flew, drove, and raced.  I met so many people along the way, from my team, other teams, fans, spectators, host families, cab drivers, even the hotel cleaning lady was excited seeing us walk out with our bikes.  Some of the best experiences weren’t even in the race sometimes.  

   Like arriving or staying in a town or city and going out for a ride and finding some beautiful park, bike path or scenery.  Some places I remember the most are along the ocean coast in California, through Central Park in New York, over an endless river bridge in St. Louis, racing cars down the strip in Las Vegas (don’t try this at home), riding along the base of the rockies in Colorado, spinning in the forest of Tennessee, seeing the sunrise in New Mexico over the Sangre de Cristo mountains.

   Or the experiences off the bike.  Like swimming in the Descutes river in Bend, OR, ice bathing with my teammates in Minnesota in our host’s trash can, horseback riding with friends in Arkansas, stopping at the Superman capital of the world in Metropolis, IL, after racing nationals in Tennessee, taking pictures with my teammates at the Idaho state line.

I could go on, but it simply doesn’t give justice to the adventures of bike racing.  It’s the experience of going to the race (or the adventure of getting to it), putting on the kit, spinning the pedals, and racing harder then you thought your body could push.  Seeing parts of the country and world no other sport or profession can take you to.  And meeting people of totally different backgrounds and lifestyles then you. 






This has been one of the most difficult and challenging years, but it has also been one of the most rewarding and exciting.  I am experiencing life, seeing places I never thought I would, meeting people I never would have otherwise, and setting goals to reach bigger and better levels of athletic achievement.


Just some numbers to quantify the little bit of traveling I did.
10,000+ miles driven
57 races completed
19 states visited (at least)
10 times through the Denver airport… and 0 times to Denver
~30 people asking what was in the big box I was dragging around
countless pee stops at creepy rest stops and gas stations

After a short stay in Santa Fe I went to New York for a week where I raced the Chris Thater Memorial Crit.  I felt good and it was playing out to be a good sprint finish for me until a couple riders cut me off in the last turn, where I lost the wheel of Erica Allar, who went on to win and left me out of the final group sprint.  It was a good experience though, and 13th wasnt the worst that could have happened.  I flew back to Santa Fe and have spent the past few weeks resting, training, working, and enjoying the unusually rainy days and nights of the southwest.  I’ve been trying to figure out my plans for next year in terms of work, team, where to live/base and a whole bunch of other things that bring on stress from uncertainty.  But I’m trying to just go with the flow and see what comes along and how things play out.
Today started another round of road tripping.  I drove from Santa Fe to Flagstaff.  Im in route to Las Vegas, NV for US Crit Finals which are on Thursday, 19 sept.  This will be the last road race of the year.  I have raced 56 road races so far this year and this will make it 57!!!  I am excited for this last crit as Ive found a real strength and have a lot of fun racing crits.
After I spend Friday in Las Vegas Im planning on driving out to San Francisco to visit a friend and then drive up to Bend, OR where my coach, Jaime, lives.  (if my poor little car makes it)  I’m going to race the cross crusade cyclocross series that goes from the beginning of october to the beginning of december.  Im happy to keep my fitness going and race some good competative races up in Oregon.

Over the past few months I have been traveling more then I ever have in my life.  In April I spent the whole month going from New York to California to Arkansas to New Mexico, having one race after another.  Then I a settled a little and focused on training for Nationals and a race in Minnesota (Nature Valley).

Most recently, I returned from 20 days on the road.  I left Santa Fe, where I have been based since my departure from Tucson in May, and headed north.  I stopped in Boulder to meet teammates and spend a couple days experiencing the riding that so many rave about in that part of Colorado.  I must admit, it
was some great riding.

Pearl Street, Boulder, CO

Then my teammates and I headed out… 6 bikes, lots of snacks and ipods loaded to keep us dancing.  We stopped in Boise, Idaho for the Exergy Twilight Crit, which was super fun.

Of course we HAD to stop at the Idaho sign

I got 18th place, and a good open up for the week that lied ahead…  After leaving Idaho we set out for Bend, Oregon and a 18ish hour drive at that.  But once we arrived it was worth it.

Twilight Criterium, Boise, ID

Mt. Bachelor, Start of Friday’s RR

Going for a swim in the river, Bend, OR

Bend is a beautiful town and spending 6 days of racing there was amazing.  Riding and racing around the Cascades reminded me a lot of the northern New Mexico landscape and vegetation, except with water.  6 days of tough racing had its ups and downs but was definitely a great experience and makes me want to get that much stronger to be better in the next race and next year.  I was lucky enough to spend an extra day in Bend and got to swim in the Descutes river… yea, actually swim, wetsuit and all.  I had never swam up stream in a river before, or even in a river for that matter.  It was hard to stay patient and just keep swimming without freaking out that I wasn’t going anywhere very fast.  But I made it up to the bridge and chilled on a rock, just enjoying the moment.  Then that moment was disturbed by a large young fella saying “I’m gonna jump in, sorry if I get ya wet”… ummm, I’m kinda already a little wet (as I sat half in the river complete with wetsuit, swim cap and goggles).

After our relax day in Bend my teammate and I headed back out.  Just like hitting rewind on a tape, we backtracked to Boise, spending the night at a host ladies house that was nice enough to put up two girls on their long journey home.

Idaho

Then we jammed out the last 13 hr drive back to Boulder feeling like mush as we pulled into my teammates driveway.
If driving back from Bend wasn’t enough we decided to do a 3 day stage race in Salida that weekend after arriving.  So back in the car we were.  For another 3 hours we drove south and set ourselves up for a camping weekend.Aside from crashing, this race probably couldn’t have gone worse (except for the crit).  I missed my TT start time because of bad directions, and then in the road race got a flat on the first of 8 laps… not fun.  The crit was great though as I broke off with 3 to go and then my teammate ended up bringing it in for the win.

That Sunday drive down to Santa Fe couldn’t have felt better.  I went through sunshine, thunderstorms and rainbows to finish off this long epic journey of racing and road tripping.  I love racing and am ready for more… but after living out of suitcase, eating constant race food of chicken and rice, and packing bikes on and off a car, I was ready for a little rest.

Now that I’m back in Santa Fe, and have spent a good week of soft pedaling and sleeping late.  Now I can start thinking about the next adventure and training hard.

Cascade Classic Stage Race
Bend, Oregon
16- 21 July 2013

16 July, Tuesday- Prologue- Time Trial, 2.35 miles
39th, 5’22”

17 July, Wednesday- Road Race
Not such a good day.  I had a lot of difficulty up the first long 20 mile climb because of lack of sleep and not eating well or right I think.  Once I got some gels down and recovered a bit I was able to make it up the next and last climb to the finish a bit easier.

18 July, Thursday- Time Trial, 19 miles
Made up for a bad day! 27th, 37:53″
I felt good on this TT and loved the course.  I was able to apply all my power and strength of focus to work hard on this course.

19 July, Friday- Road Race
This road race loop starting and finishing at Mt. bachelor was a fun day.  Rolling road and hills till the last climb back up to the finish was fun.  Some attacks and group movement but not much till the climb which broke up the field.  31st place, but with a group that comprised places 25 to 35.

20 July, Saturday- Criterium
Another good day! 20th
This was a fun and fast crit through downtownn Bend.  I stayed on the group and worked hard even through the strung out moments when the front was pulling for a prim or points.  I worked the turns and moved through the field to finish the last lap strong.

21 July, Sunday- Circuit Race

Nature Valley Grand Prix
Minneapolis, Minnesota

12-16 June 2013
1 Stage, 12 June, Wednesday- TT, 7.7 miles
2 Stage, 12 June, Wednesday- Criterium, Downtown Minneapolis, 28 Laps
3 Stage, 13 June, Thursday- Road Race, Cannon Falls, 93 Miles
4 Stage, 14 June, Friday- Criterium, Uptown Minneapolis, 25 Laps
5 Stage, 15 June, Saturday- Road Race, Minomonie, 82.3 Miles
6 Stage, 16 June, Sunday- Criterium, Still Water, 13 Laps

   I arrived in Minneapolis to a beautiful sunny evening that soon changed as we woke up Wednesday morning to clouds and the soon onset of rain as we arrived to the TT course.  It was a fun rolling course with just 1 turn around and not being able to use any TT equipment there were no aerobars, disk wheels, or even aero helmets.
   After a wet and quick time trial we headed home to dry off and rest up for the afternoon.  That evening was the first crit in downtown Minneapolis.  The sun had come out and the streets had dried to afford us a fast and aggressive race.  I stuck with the group and worked up through the field as the race neared the final laps.  No big moves or action on my side, but a solid race was the objective this early in the stage race.
   Thursday morning we relaxed and we rested for the afternoon ride.  At 4pm we rolled out of Cannon Falls for a nice long 93 mile loop.  Not too much action besides a neutralization about halfway through.  I found out later that the small breakaway group was lead the wrong way by the motorcycle and once back on course they intersected with the main group and a crash happened on one turn.  So just up the road after the crash, as I started to go back to the car for water, the group slowed down drastically and then the car neutralized the group and we came to a dead hault.  There was mass movement of riders going to cars, mechanics going to riders and a frenzy of cyclists trying to take advantage of every little second of stopage time that we had.  Once rolling again we cruised for a bit before getting to a mile long dirt section (that of course I had forgotten about) and the group got strung out.  We arrived  to the circuit for a quick change of pace as the smooth race soon became a crit. After 4 laps of intense corners I finished with the group and ready to get out of the saddle.
   Friday we had a late criterium right near the house we were staying at.  Lots of recovery time from the road race of Thursday.  The race didnt go as well as I would have liked.  I got a bad start clipping in and then as the group strung out I wasnt able to move fast enough to the front and as I was behind some random rider where a gap formed.  As hard as I tried and even with all the pulling and effort I put in we weren’t able to bridge the gap.  Collaboration in our small back group didnt come together and that became the downfall in this crit.
   Saturday I was determined to end on a more positive note.  Riding the rolling 83 mile course with 3 small but meaningful climbs the group got broken up a bit and had a few attacks to make things interesting.  Olivia Dillon broke off solo for 60 miles to end the day taking the climbers jersey.  Lauren Stephens broke away after Olivia with about 20 miles to go (I think) and stayed in front and alone all the way to the finish.  Still in the group, but not having made any significant moves I knew time was running short as we approached 70 miles.  We headed into town and into the 4 lap circuit.  The looming clouds that had provided cooler weather all day began to drop rain as we crossed the soon to be finish line.  As we rounded the first couple turns, I was in the top 15 of the group and saw an opportunity to make something happen.  I kicked out to the other side of the road and put on a burst of speed to get away from the group.  After whipping around a turn I looked back to see I had a large gap and no one with me.  I figured, why not, so put my head down and grinded away.  I made it around towards the finish line and a couple people along the road said I had about 30 seconds.  I raced through the finish line with 3 to go and kept working hard.  Not knowing whether I actually had a chance to stay away or not, it didn’t matter, all that mattered was that I was there and I was going to give it everything until I either got caught or crossed the line.  I worked my way around the circuit again, taking every turn as fast and well as I could, especially considering the rain began to drizzle a bit more.  As I road towards the line and into 2 to go I felt the group approaching.  I was slowly passed by the line of riders and at that, my break was over.  I tucked myself back into the group and tried to rest as much as was possible considering the finishing intensity of the race.  It was hard just to stay in as my legs were tired from going all out, especially after 70 miles of riding on top of that.  But I sucked it up and went hard for the less then 2 laps to finish with the group.  Unfortunately not a spectacular placement, but I made a move, learned, and worked hard.
   Sunday I took one look at the course and my jaw dropped.  The start was at the base of a 100m (or so) hill that was at least 16%, then after making it up that hill and turning the corner there was barely enough street to catch your breath before another uphill.  Given, it wasn’t as steep, but just enough to make you feel like dying once more.  I got a pretty good start over the line, but lacking that killer punch of power on the first couple laps and that put me behind.  It wasn’t even provided an entire lap before the field was decided.  The group shattered, determining just after the first hill who could hold onto the front and who would have to settle for a back position.  I was unfortunately in a back spot, but still worked around each lap hoping the 13 laps would go quickly.  As the back breaking hill never got any easier a small group formed including some Colavita riders trying to defend their sprinter’s jersey.  But just as I prepared myself for another push up and 3 laps to go, the official stepped out into the road and ended our groups ride and the misery of struggling up that hill.  It was an incredibly hard criterium day, but I still wish I had been able to start further up and finish the entire race.  Always good experience though.

   Considering many ups and downs, this race was a great opportunity, I learned so much and I gained more experience then I would have thought.  I observed all the attacks and movements of other teams to appreciate their tactics.  I made my own attacks and worked every day to develop my own ability.  I would have liked to finish higher in the General Classification, but in such an intense stage race even one bad day can knock you back, and that’s just what happened to me.
Finished 34th in GC

Tour of the Gila
Silver City, New Mexico
1-5 May 2013

5 Day Stage Race- RR, RR, TT, Crit, RR

   After just a day in Tucson… enough time to open my suitcase, dump out the dirty cloths, and close it back up again… I headed to Silver City for another round of racing.  3 weeks of travel and competition was starting to set in but I was just about over my cold and super excited to be back on New Mexico land.

1 May 2013, Wednesday
73.1 miles Silver City to Mogollon

   We started out at 8:25am and headed out for the first stage.  Not too long in people started getting close, shoulders started rubbing, wheels touching and we ALMOST went down.  A very close call that sent a couple people swerving around and even Lauren, my teammate, off the road for some dirt gliding.  Everyone settled though and just in time for Robin Farina (of the NOW team) to call a pee break.  So all 70 or so women stopped on the side of the road to squat for a pee.  It was pretty funny and quite the bonding experience.   After that the only action really came near the base of the first, last, and hardest climb, when a crash happened after the feed zone and broke up the group.  I wasn’t on the lead pack but with a couple other girls as we approached the category 1, 10km climb that would take us to the finish line.  It was hard!  Like one of the climbs I used to train on in Italy (Cuvignone).  I got to 1km to go and felt dead, legs burning, no more energy, just wanting to finish.  I crossed the line never feeling so drained.  It was a hard day to say the least, and all in the last 20km of the stage.

2 May 2013, Thursday
75 miles, Ft. Bayard

   Tired, but ready for another stage.  This time we did a loop up to Pinos Altos and down around the valley and back to Ft. Bayard.  This was pretty much the course we would do Sunday but backwards (gila monster climb).  Heading out I felt good, but the fatigue yesterday hit my legs near the top of the first climb and I couldn’t hang on to the lead pack.  I was so mad at myself since the rest of the ride wasn’t all that bad.  I just had to open up and get a little time before a hard effort.  But after that first 30km I was with a group of about 7 riders, including Lauren, and we rode along the New Mexico landscape (not relaxed however), and over the last climb for a long 3:30 day.  Luckily the weather was nice and sunny without toooo much wind.
Finished 34th overall

3 May 2013, Friday
16.5 miles, Time Trial, Tyrone

   Such a cold and windy morning, right around 45 degrees.  My start was at 10:58am.  Luckily my speed suit has long sleeves so it kept me warm.  I had some issues and stress getting to the start on time however, because my TT bike was pretty much out of every regulation possible.  I had only ridden and fitted it the day before leaving for Silver City, so UCI rules weren’t exactly top priority.  With 4 minutes to go I was changing my wheel.  With 3 minutes to go the neutral support guy was moving my seat.  With 2 minutes to go he was moving my seat some more.  With 1 minute to go he was moving my bars.  With 30 seconds to go he was moving my bars more… gaaahhhh… I ran to the start after it was FINALLY in regulation.  I was able to start on time and had my heart pounding as I pushed off the line.
  It was a rolling course, with an uphill start, then downhill, then another uphill before the turn around.  I worked hard and passed quite a few girls along the way.  Coming in 27th was pretty solid for my first time on a TT bike.

4 May 2013, Saturday
25 laps, Criterium, Downtown Silver City
3pm

   With a long rest break between the TT and Crit I was excited for this next stage.  The course went around a square of downtown Silver City, and included an uphill kicker and a long downhill on the next straight.  The group sprinted and moved the first 15 laps to make everyone start hurting and I just hung on to enjoy the ride.  I never really moved to the front, but sat in as the big shot teams went for bonuses and primes.  I finished 38th, without great gains or losses, except for good race experience.

5 May 2013, Sunday
69 miles, Silver City to Pinos Altos
9 am

   The final day had come.  It was bitter sweet as I love racing but also looked forward to some rest.  We started out rolling smooth and stopped for another pee break about 15km in.  Then as the top of the first hill approached (which was the downhill on Tuesday), my matches just wouldn’t light and I couldn’t stay on the group.  The fatigue of the days and weeks of travel and racing was setting in and I couldn’t get the turnover I needed.  By the time my wheels rolled over the top of the relatively easy climb I was with a group of 4 riders.  We rolled through the backhills of Grant County and as the infamous Gila Monster climb approached I was ready to lay it all out for one last effort.
   I left my companions behind and worked up the mountain like so many of my training rides in Italy.  It was hard, but it’s something about hills later on in a race where my legs just fire up and I feel good.  I even passed a few men from the 1,2 category along the way.
   As I reached Pinos Altos and the finish line I felt relieved, a bit disappointed, proud, and wanting more.  After this stage I know I can do so much better and am preparing myself to be a great cyclist.
Finished 44th.  GC 42nd.

With Caden, the cute son of the awesome host family I stayed with

   Looking back on the stage race I had a great experience, but am also disappointed I did not perform better.  Placing higher in the GC or even in some of the stages would have reflected better my ability as a cyclist.  I have to take into consideration that I have been traveling and racing for a month straight, but I don’t like to make excuses and this kind of back-to-back work is making me stronger.  I loved the challenge and look forward to racing it again next year and performing much better.

I arrived in Tucson Sunday evening with a smile on my face.  Finally some rest, relaxing and good training.  I am excited for the next step in this journey … USA Nationals!!
Chattanooga, Tennessee on the 25th and 27th of May.