Sunday, 20 January 2013
2nd for Category 4. Right around 9th or 10th overall. 1 prime lap win.

   For my first criterium I’d say it went…. alright.  It was exciting, fun, and I worked hard.  I would have liked to have finished in a higher position, but it was a great learning experience and I know I’ll take every second of what I did today into next weeks race.
   It was a short course that only lasted about 1’15” each lap with 3 turns and a long curve.  It wasn’t a monotonous race for 40 minutes, but was broken up with prize or “prime” laps ever few times around.  It was exciting to come through the start/finish and hear the bell sound and the lady yell “$25 DOLLAR GIFT CARD!” or “$50 CASH!”, and then watch the movement of the group to either push the pace, sit and wait for a break, or cruise into the last 100m before the mini sprint starts.

   I tried to stay calm the whole race.  Not getting anxious or tight on the turns, but keeping a position near the front but still relaxed.  A couple times I did give into the adrenaline of the prize laps and went for it (or at least gave a small effort).  One time a girl shot off with almost the whole lap to go and got a pretty good gap,  with half to go I started closing and thought “I could get her”.  So I put my head down and pushed.  Closer, closer, closer …. then came the last few meters that I was passing… and the line just arrived a few meters too soon.  She got that one, along with many others.  I could tell she was a strong, experienced ride from the way she was racking in the prize laps like candy.  But just from her bike handling and riding you could tell.
   The entire race was a fluid, back and forth, push and relax, sprint and settle.  It felt great and I was so relaxed and felt so good when 5 laps to go came up that a kick on 3 to go didn’t seem out of sights.  So just after we passed the line, I kicked in a higher gear and went for it.  I pushed and pushed, whipping around the turns and curve with all I had.  But it seems my runner instincts drove me more than my cyclist, because I dug for so long and didn’t look back.  I had lead the entire group through the last 3 laps of the race.  Instead of moving over after 400m and letting someone else do some work I got stubborn and kept pushing.  If I had had a teammate behind it would have been great for them, but unfortunately I was solo in this race.
   As we went through the bell lap I knew I just had to stick it out and dig even deeper.  A girl passed with a small kick and I heard Jaime on the curve yell “Get On Her Wheel!!”, so I did.  Got behind her and tried to draw up any last energy for a final sprint in the last 50m.  As we rounded the last curve the girl started falling back and I felt it coming… then 100m later, THE SPRINT.  My legs didn’t have much but I tried to push as the other women passed me.  I couldn’t stay on the sprinters in the final 10m but I gave it everything I had and worked as hard as I could.

 Now I can’t wait for the next race… and lucky enough I don’t have to wait long.  Next Criterium is on Saturday (26th) in Phoenix, The Bike Haus Criterium!!

Thanks to Jaime Dispenza for the great pictures and coaching!!! Your the Best!! 🙂

Footnotes style: Riding off into the Sunset
   Training goes on even after the race, so I got a nice long post race training ride to Gila Bend.  It was 55 miles from where the race was held west of Phoenix.  I felt like a kid getting in trouble at school, having to sit (or actually pedal) through a looooong 3 hour ride to REALLY think about what I had done.  Or to make it sound more positive maybe it was a meditation to reflect on my race experience and enjoy the flat, open, deserted, dry, disdainful (hmmm), desert along highway 85.  It was pretty amazing to see the late afternoon turn into evening and the sun move closer to the horizon as I rode west and then south.  And if that wasn’t exciting enough can’t forget the Southwest Regional Landfill and the Lewis Prison I passed along the way…. Oh Joy.

La Gara, In Italiano

2° Nella Mia Categoria (4), ~9° o 10° in Totale, Vinto Un Traguardo Volante.  Partite in ~32 cicliste

   Ieri ho fatto la mia prima corsa, un criterium.  A due ore di macchina nord di Tucson a Phoenix.  Una zona di pianura, con molto sole e molto caldo.  Quando siamo arrivati gli uomini master stavano correndo e passavano ogni 1’15”, allora ho pensato che il circuito era molto corto.
   Mi sono preparata e riscaldata, e alle 13 siamo partite, categoria 1/2/3 e anche noi della categoria 4, più o meno eravamo in 32.  Con il cielo senza nuvole e il sole bello caldo sui 27 gradi.  Ma non si sentiva il caldo, solo quello della strada e la gara che cominciava.
   Anche se facevamo giri di circa 1’15” per 40 minuti, non era cosi monotono o noiosa.  Ogni 4 o 5 di giri c’era un traguardo volante.  Siamo partiti abbastanza tranquille, senza troppi scatti o nessuna fugha.  Poi quando si sentiva suonare la campana e lo speaker diceva “BUONO DI 25” o “50 DOLLARI” al prossimo giro.  In quel momento l’adrenalina del gruppo aumentava e tutti volevano fare il possibile per vincere il TV.  In ogni TV i concorrenti si guardavano a cercare di capire le più forti in corsa. 

   E stato bello correre con americane e fare il confronto con italiane/europe/ e maschi juniores.  E giusto quello che ho sentito che le americane son abituate alle strade larghe, e tanto spazio.  Il gruppo prendeva le curve molto larghe e se ci si avvicinava troppo e ci si toccava col gomito la concorrente vicina si spostava subito.  Io non avevo paura del gruppo o stare vicino, anzi era divertente e come un gioco… sono proprio italiana 😉
   Ho visto che cera una ragazza che cercava di vincere tutti i TV, e li vinceva quasi tutti.  Su uno dove lei e partita troppo presto sono quasi riuscita a batterla, ma ho perso per solo mezza ruota (quello scatto e stato divertente pero).  Poi un’altra volta ero davanti io, ai 50m ho controllato chi era vicino a me e quando mi sono accorta che una stava scattando, mi sono alzata sui pedali e nessuno mi ha passato quindi HO VINTO … almeno un TV e $25.
   Ogni giro cercavo di stare abbastanza davanti senza tirare troppo, e quando mancavano 5 giri mi sentivo benissimo.  Ho pensato alla tattica di corsa che ho fatto col mio allenatore e a 3 giri mi sentivo bene e volevo cercare di fare qualcosa.  Allora a quel punto mi sono messa davanti, ho messo giu la testa, e ho cominciato a tirare molto forte.  Solo che invece di guardare indietro dopo un po e magari rialzarmi perché tutte erano in fila dietro di me, son andata avanti a tirare fino alla fine.  Questa sarebbe stata la tattica di atletica leggera e non da ciclista.  In atletica quando si accelera, si va e non si guarda indietro.  Invece nel ciclismo la scia e molto importante e i corridori sfruttano molto quella, specialmente in percorsi corti e veloce.
   Quando ho sentito suonare la campana dell’ultimo giro ho visto scattare un’altra ragazza.  Ho sentito il mio allenatore mi grida “SULLA RUOTA!!”.  Allora sono scattata e mi son messa sulla sua ruota per cercare di riposare il piu possibile prima dello sprint finale. Quando siamo arrivate a 100m ho capito che lei stava cedendo e l’ho affiancata e ho cominciato a spingere al massimo che avevo nelle mie gambe perche vedevo l’arrivo avvicinarsi.  Purtroppo 7 o 8 concorrenti che arrivavano dal gruppo mi hanno sorpassato negli ultimi metri.
   Ma ho la soddisfazione di essere in buona forma, di aver fatto una bella corsa, e di aver imparato molto anche sbagliando per usare nella prossima gara.

Adesso mi preparo per sabato il 26 gennaio, un altra criterium ancora a Phoenix, Bike Haus Criterium.

E' più di un mese da quando sono arrivata negli Stati Uniti dall' Italia 
(sono stata in Italia un anno e mezzo).  E' un mese oggi che sono in 
Arizona, Tucson. L' Arizona è nel sud ovest degli Stati Uniti, vicino al 
Messico. 

Sono qui per allenarmi e gareggiare in bicicletta per l'inverno e la 
primavera.  Poi in estate quando qui diventerà troppo caldo (sopra i 40 
gradi) andrò a Santa Fe, New Mexico (a 7 ore di macchina da qui) per 
allenarmi in altura (3.000m).  Per adesso è perfetto per una ciclista, 
tempo stabile con sole e non tanto vento, e temperature mediamente 
calde (sopra i 20 gradi).  E' solo da questa settimana che è diventato 
freddo, arrivando sotto 0 di notte e di giorno solo 8.  Almeno è un 
freddo secco, senza umidità.  Così riesco ancora ad allenarmi e devo 
solo mettere dei guanti e coprirmi bene.

Questa città è un posto perfetto per i ciclisti (in inverno).  
Le strade son belle larghe con corsie fatte apposta per ciclisti.  
Tante strade che vanno fuori città senza semafori e traffico.  E una 
bellissima strada che sale sulla montagna Lemmon,  46 km di salita.  
Tutta pedalabile e non troppo difficile, ma perfetto per fare un bel 
lungo lavoro in salita.

E' proprio un deserto qui, con i cactus, sabbia, poche piante, poca 
acqua (finora è piovuto una sola volta da quando sono arrivata), tanto sole 
e un cielo grandissimo con viste che non  ne vedi la fine.

Adesso mi sto preparando per le prime gare della stagione.  Iniziano 
questa domenica (20 gennaio) a Phoenix (2 ore di macchina da qui) con 
un criterium di 40 minuti.  Non sarà molto grande, ma per me è importante 
fare gare subito perchè devo fare punti il più presto possibile per arrivare 
alle categorie più alte .  Per le prossime 4 settimane ci 
sono 4 criterium (una ogni settimana) qua in Arizona.  Poi a meta 
febbraio (dal 15 al 17) c'è la prima gara a tappe.  Valley of the Sun, è una 
gara di 3 tappe, Criterium, Cronometro, e Gara in Strada.  Le prime 
gare nazionale cominciano a marzo, ma queste gare sono perfette per me 
come preparazione e per arrivare in una categoria più alta prima dell'estate.

Il ciclismo in America è diverso dal ciclismo in Italia.  Le categorie non 
sono divise in allieve, juniores, elite, etc. ma sono divise per 
esperienza e capacità (quanto sei brava/bravo).  Quando inizi in questo 
sport sei nella categoria più bassa, 4 o 5.  Non importa se ha 12 o 52 anni, 
devi gareggiare con gli altri della tua categoria.  E secondo me è 
giusto così, perché se uno non sa andare in bici, non si può buttarli 
dentro con professionisti o elite. Quando fai le gare nella 
tua categoria prendi punti dalla tua prestazione.  Quando arrivi a 20 
punti puoi fare la richiesta al giudice per avanzare alla prossima 
categoria. Le Categorie 1 e 2 sono i professionisti ed elite.  Per 
questo devo cominciare dalla categoria 4, ma quando il mio allenatore ha 
parlato con il giudice, lui ha detto che, se sono forte e riesco a vincere 
facile nelle prime gare, mi fa andare nella categoria 3 dopo solo un 
paio di gare. 

Finora gli allenamenti vanno benissimo.  Riesco a uscire tutti i 
giorni, vado in una piscina al aperto a nuotare due volte alla settimana, 
e vado a camminare nelle bellissime montagne vicine a casa mia.  E' un 
paradiso per una ciclista o per qualunque persona che vuole passare del tempo 
fuori senza la neve o il freddo dell'inverno.  Sono contentissima di riuscire a 
essere in un posto così bello e sono ancora più contenta di andare 
forte quest'estate!!

Dal America saluto tutti in Italia e specialmente a Varese! 

  I’ve been in Arizona almost a month and still can’t believe it’s winter.  The temperatures are a bit up and down with some mornings and windy days that make you throw on a jacket or wear gloves for a ride.  But I will never complain as long as I can get on the road and have sun shining everyday.
  Training has been solid and since I arrived Jaime and I have schemed about summer plans, racing, training, gear, bike stuff and so much more.  I’ve been cross training with morning outdoor pool swims a couple times a week and yoga to work on flexibility and strength.  Cycling is the objective and focus of LIFE so my rides are where it counts.  The past couple weeks have been a gradual increase in volume with last weeks 21 hours really making me feel the building strength in my legs.  This week is a rest week to let my body recover and start to get set for racing…. Oh MAN!! RACING!!!
January 20th is my first race in the USA!
The Avondale Criterium race in Phoenix to debut and show what I got.  It will be a race of laps around a closed circuit on streets. 

  I can’t believe the first race is almost here.  I feel like it was just yesterday I was still in Italy trying to figure out what I was going to do for winter and team stuff.  It is so exciting that things are finally working out and coming together.  One of the greatest things is how well my body is responding to cycling.  It has been almost 7 months of continuous training with NO INJURY.  Yes, I must admit I have had some injury.  Due to 2 falls, I have to consider those minor setbacks.  But not like the constant aches or pains that caused me to take of days and weeks off running.  I am able to pedal hours and push my body to limits that makes me be grateful for the opportunity I have to be an athlete.

  Tuscon has been a paradise for cycling and I have enjoyed every minute of being here so far.  Plenty of roads to explore, hills to climb, and bike lanes that make me feel like I won’t get run off the road every time I am passed by a car.  I embrace my hours on the bike not wishing for music or other distraction, but listing to the sounds of my pedaling and the rush of the wind.  I watch the shadows on the mountains shift and clouds graze across the blue field.  The open sky stretches beyond the horizon and the sun sears the earth to a brown rugged leather where only the saguaro cactus give a texture of pins in this grand sheet of desert.  Like the day drifts from morning to afternoon when I am out for hours, my time out here will make me strong, and the winter of sunshine will prepare me for the summer of exceeding expectations.

   It must be the busy and rush of life in the big USA, because I have neglected this blog so badly that it reflects the state of all the house plants I’ve ever cared for… all dead.
As of November 9th I have been back on American soil, in Santa Fe NM, and as of December 14th in Arizona.

  Friday, December 14th, I headed to Phoenix, (which worked out because another snow storm came to NM that weekend) where I caught the only rainy day of the year on that Saturday.  But even with rain it was still warm and I was able to ride in shorts, such a great ride.  Sunday, December 16th, I raced in the AZ state cyclocross championships and being a less technical course was able to break ahead early and win.  It was so nice being in shorts and sunshine that the pain of the race almost became a second thought.
   Monday, December 17th, I drove down to Tucson and was immediately hooked.  The area where Jaime lives is right at the base of the mountains that border eastern Tucson.  Walk out the door and there is Sabino Canyon for miles of hiking and trail running, and winding hilly roads to pass the day biking.  The famous Catalina Highway which winds up to Mt. Lemmon (26 miles of continuous uphill) is so close that most of my workouts and hill riding is on that road.
  Things came together so perfectly that I am able to live in Jaime’s neighborhood and these past few weeks have flown by.  I have been training in perfect weather and am constantly amazed at the beauty of the desert landscape.
It’s going to be a great winter of cycling and I can’t wait for another day in paradise!

  Since I got back from France I haven’t exactly settled into the vacation and recovery stage that most cyclists are enjoying as this is the end of cycling season.  There is no down time for me as I have training, technique and agility to make up for.  I spent a few days going on easy rides, and getting my legs back into rhythm (no mountains, or hard pushing) and then at mid September I started back where I had left off before France.  Two long rides during the week of about 120-130km, a mountain day of Cuvignone (a 40min mountain of rough straight up) or other work day, and then rides of 70-90km always with an easy gear and plenty of accelerations to get used to changing speeds.

Day 5, Friday- “Easy” Day, 105,3 km

  Today was said to be the “easiest” of the stages as there were only 2 climbs.  After 5 days of racing this stage didn’t seem so easy though.
  With my hip as achy and tight as ever (even despite having it stretched and massaged out a bit) I knew it was going to be another fight at the start and a hard effort to move up over the hills.
  And long behold it went just like that.  The group shot out and as hard as I tried I was just able to catch onto a group as the uphill started and the energy drained riders struggled up the climb.  But where I lack in speed and acceleration I am able to make up for in endurance.
  About halfway up the hill I feel myself lift off my seat and surge ahead, leaving the other riders behind.  I thought at least someone would have followed, but after a couple minutes of pushing I settle back into a quick rhythm up the hill and realize I am alone, what else is new ;).  So I finish the climb feeling pretty good and work the downhill to try and not get caught.  But just as I’m thinking I may have the next climb to brace alone, I am joined by a couple German riders.  The means of their ability to surge ahead over the flat part of the course I shall refrain from mentioning as I was so mad for my hard effort and their ease to make up ground.  So the next climb I did all the work, as I knew it would go, and we eventually made our way up to the next group that was also struggling up the long hill.
  I put myself in the front half of the pack and enjoy the rest of the rolling downhill complete with surges, turns and on-coming traffic to keep it exciting.  Once we hit the 20km to go mark I feel like it’s the home stretch and the work of the group seems to bring the finish that much easier and faster.  After another long hard day I was happy to say there was only 1 more stage to go.

  These last couple stages have turned out to be the toughest but also the easiest.  I am forced to work my ass off in the beginning to try and stay on a group, then work again through the climbs to break off that same group and move up to another.  But once I am with that second group the course becomes that much easier as the group shifts and surges, always working and going faster.  This is also the funnest part of the course as it becomes almost like a game.
 

Day 6, Saturday- Last Day, 98 km

  For this last stage I wanted to try and get a better warm up and get a better spot closer to the front.  But these two ideas didn’t really line up too well, because in order to get a good spot you have to get to the line sooner, which as a result takes away from extra warm up time.  So in the end I started mid pack with just as little warm up as the previous days.
  The start was a little more relaxed for the first 5km or so, which gave me some confidence to stay with the main pack.  But just as I was feeling alright with my position there was a rapid change of pace going through some uphill curves and as hard as I tried to stay on, I became one of a 7 personish pack that couldn’t hold onto the acceleration.
  Just as in the previous days the first climb was tough but not enough to pull me back with the others that seemed to be crawling up the slope.  I put in a small acceleration and worked up the mountain alone.  On the downhill I felt the usual rush of pushing to keep my lead.  But soon found the same German riders as in the stages before being pulled up to my side by some “magical” entity.  Over the course of the short flat part we made it to the next large group just as the next, last, and toughest climb was starting.  According to the altimeter it had a slope of about 15% and was about 5-6km long.  Seeing this in the course booklet I thought it might be an exaggeration, but there was no exaggerating… it hurt.
  Pushing past my tired notions to stay with the group and trudge up the slope I accelerated towards a rider that had gained a 200m lead.  We worked together going back and forth to lead, and with the top in sight I couldn’t be happier.
  Over the 6 days of racing there is never really a chance to enjoy the views, scenery, or environment since your focus is 110% on the race and riders in front of you.  But on this climb and this last section of the course there was not way of avoiding the amazing landscape.  We were climbing the side of a canyon or gorge (Les Gourges), that over looked the entire Ardeche valley.  Riding up you could see the steep walls and cliffs that were slowly carved out by the river below where people were kayaking and canoeing.  Once at the top, we rode along the side of the gorge which kept you alert to the possible consequences of a curve gone bad.  Going straight where the road turned left could send you over the edge into nothing but a free fall, not to be found for who knows how long.
  It really made me realize how crazy cyclist are going over this part of the course.  Taking downhills and turns at 60-70 kph (40 mph) that you have never seen in your life, just hoping that your reflexes and luck keep you from sliding or crashing… with nothing more than some manufactured styrofoam and plastic to keep your brains in your head and not on the pavement.  But looking on the bright side of life, the rush of taking these downhills and launching off a curve towards the riders in front of you makes the risk all worth it.
  The road outlining the lip of the gorge gradually led inward with some ups and downs that made the legs burn and feet ache for the finish.  With the other rider out of sight (probably with the next group) and myself in no-mans-land I kept pushing just to not get caught by the group behind me.  It was a hard last 15 km to go through “false flats” and winding town roads, but as the 5 km to go mark finally arrived so did the down hill.
  I was happy to enjoy these past few km, taking in the fatigue of these past 6 arduous days.  I accepted the disappointment of not being in the top pack and sticking on the tough accelerations in the beginning.  I thought about how much work I have ahead of me for next year.  I allowed myself to be proud of completing such a feat after only about 2 months of training.  I was grateful for the chance to be in this race and my ability to get on the bike and ride in such an amazing place.
  The finish line arrived along a beautiful river in a small town with a bittersweet relief that I had completed the 98 km of the day and the 556 km of the Tour de L’Ardeche.

Day 3, Wednesday- The Double

Time Trial:
  The AM segment of this luxury trip consisted of a 2,5 km time trial.  I wasn’t putting too much stress on it since I had not chance of being in a top spot and I was more worried and focused on the PM long ride.  Since I was in one of the last few spots, I was one of the first to go (9:32am).  Nice to get it over with and rest up.  The course was basically uphill and downhill through the small town and streets to get your legs pumping.

PM 91,7 km, 3:30pm start:
  I really wanted to get a better start and stick on THE or even just A group to not be racing 91 km alone again.  So I tried to stay relaxed in the midst of all the bikes and the big group as we started out on the open road.  Even though we almost immediately started uphill the group picked up speed very fast and I wasn’t able to hold on to the front group.  I was able to stick on a pack though and this gave me some ease of mind.
  The entire first climb however I was in front and did all the work going up the hill as no one wanted to take a turn.  Once at the top I was still feeling good and started the downhill a bit nervous of having the entire group behind me.  It was either the nerves of flying down the steep winding road, or the small tight and very light colored pavement but on probably the 5th turn down I found my bike sliding out from under me and that “oh crap” feeling, as I hit the pavement and see all the other riders fly by.  It all happened so fast there wasn’t even time to think, I jumped up immediately and back on my bike to try and catch the group.  But unfortunately they were long gone, along with my hopes of finishing with the group today.  I was so mad that I didn’t take more caution in these first turns, but I guess I was just so excited that caution was second in mind.
  In the fall I didn’t get scrapped up too bad, but I did take a nice hit to my right hip which had already been achy from yesterday.
  I worked my way down the slope and once on the flat part in the middle section of the course I was joined by a few riders that seemed to have been struggling on the first hill.  I stuck with them the rest of the way and we made our way to the finish working together.
  It was so frustrating that I couldn’t stay on the pack AGAIN, but at least this time it was for other reasons then just speed and wind.

Day 4, Thursday-  Mountains, 129,8 km

  I think everyone … except maybe Emma Pooley (the winner and super climber) was nervous about this stage of the race.  With 3 big climbs and the peak reaching about 1,200m it was definitely a climbers course.
  At the start I tried again to stay on the heals of the main pack, but that first 10km just kills me.
  Looking back, I think most of my trouble came from not warming up enough.  The rest of the team would do a 10-15 min ride before going to the start and standing around 20 min at the line.  But unlike them, I’m not used to shooting out at the start with just a little ride like that.  So again I was struggling off the back with my achy hip and managing to hang onto a group to get up the first climb.
  The real trouble started with the downhill though, when the pain from my banged up hip started flaring up. Just the force of pushing down my right pedal in a seated position caused excruciating pain in my hip.  The entire downhill I thought I was going to have to drop out.  But even if I came in dead last I knew I HAD to finish, even just this stage.  I had never been in such pain and the only thing that has come close was when I tried to run the 10k at Heps senior year with a stress fracture in my pelvis (I was forced to drop out after about 15 laps ).
  So I made it to the bottom with the group out of sight as they passed me right as the downhill started.  But once the next uphill started I realized I didn’t have pain when standing on the pedals.  With this new and slightly daunting revelation I began working my way up the 2nd climb and closer to the group.  Soon enough and through a combination of seated and standing work (mostly standing), I caught and passed the group.  I felt my hip warming up a bit and once I got to the top (alone) I knew I had to bite my lip and press on down to not let them pass me again.
  Somehow it worked!! and once the next big climb started to the top I was still alone and working with the next group in mind.  Even though I had no idea how far they were ahead I pushed as hard as I could up the mountain and couldn’t believe it when almost at the top I see other riders.  I was so happy for so many reasons… that the 1,200m climb was over, that I made it to the next group, that my hip pain was lingering but not brutal, and that I had worked so hard and actually got somewhere.
  With my hip finally feeling a bit better I rode (cautiously) with the group to the bottom, along the remaining 30km of flat rolling downhill to a much needed finish.
  That night I had never been so achy or sore in my life.