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.