This past week I raced Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  It was 4 days and this year UCI, so the level of competition was much higher.  With teams like United Healthcare, Tibco, DNA, and Colavita there was a fight for each stage.  I wasn’t with my SAS Mazda team, but guest road for a smaller team out of Tucson, AZ.

Stage 1: Time Trial

3 Miles uphill.  I gave a good effort but did not place very well in this.  Hills are not my specialty and a TT that is just that does not favor my strengths.

Stage 2: 95km/65mile Road Race

From the start it was hard and fast, with lots of attacks and attempts to break away.  There was one larger climb, but nothing major to break up the front of the field.  I stayed comfortable in the pack and it wasn’t until the last 10km that attacks were being shot off and everyone was pushing for position.  I went into the last technical section in a great position.  I made the final turn and into the finishing stretch feeling great.  The sprint was a slight uphill and I stayed strong to the line.  24th for the day. Wanted top 10, but my legs are building sprint power so cant quite compete with sprinters like Coryn Rivera.

Stage 3: 95km/65miles Road Race

Another day of attacks from the start. I felt comfortable though and stayed with the pack.  The course did 2 loops of a circuit with a few steeper but short hills.  The first lap was pretty calm, but then the second lap consisted of catching one breakaway and then another getting away.  So this made the pace pick up a lot. At the top of the loop there was a clean break between the more climber specific riders and the tt and sprinters.  The groups ended up joining though before long.  Once we hit the final 20km the pace picked up and went hard.  Into 10km to go attacks were going and making things really exciting.  At 2km to go Lauren Stephens attacked and Linda Villumsen (world champion in time trial) got on her wheel, I was in good positioning and went with it.  We broke away for a brief moment but then as I pulled through we were caught.  Going into a right curve there was a crash in front of me and at that point I was in about 20th place and just wanted to be safe.  So I got around it and got to the finish line without a problem and with the pack.

Stage 4: 50min Criterium

This was a really hard day.  The course has a technical section at the top through town and then flies downhill before making it around to Church hill where the finish is at the top.  It was hard every time up.  I was working and struggling just a couple laps in, but still staying in.  About 10 minutes in my stomach started really hurting and cramping.  I was pretty certain I would drop back and off the group, but I stayed calm and didn’t panic.  I managed to drink and get the pain to go away.  But the race didn’t get any easier, teams kept attacking and pushing the pace so the downhill was always strung out and fast as hell.  Into the last couple laps there was one rider that got away and I had to dig extra deep to stay near the front of the pack.  Then the last lap was all out and I was pushing so hard.  Into the final climb I worked as hard as I could but was content finishing with the pack.  31st .

GC 35th. out of 65 finishers. 104 started.

Now I’m at a friend’s farm for a couple days before I head back to Tucson.  It’s nice to relax and recover a bit after the race.  Next up will be Tour of the Gila in Silver City, NM starting next Wednesday.