Last weekend the whole Red Truck Racing Team headed down to one of their staple races of the year: Tour de Bloom. The race covers four stages in three days including two road races, a time trial, and a twilight criterium. Both the men's and women's teams had another success with a consistent presence on their respective podiums.
Stage 1: Builders Firstsource Waterville Road Race
The weekend kicked off on Friday with the Builders Firstsource Waterville Road Race. The women's team went into the race ready to be on the offensive to get one of their girls a podium position. On the first of two laps, the girls were aggressive in attacking and following every attack from other teams. 20km in, a decisive and punchy climb allowed Mara Roldan to get away with a few other strong riders. Mara spent the rest of the day in the breakaway while her teammates stayed together in the main pack. The girls all finished strong grabbing places 11 to 15 in the results. At the finish line, Mara sprinted for 2nd place, putting her on the podium for the day and overall GC contention.
Stage 2: Palisades Time Trial
The Palisades Time Trial was a day with unexpected obstacles, like many riders reporting bee stings during their race. The course however was a fun and rolling stage, different from previous years. Mara came to defend her GC position and finished strong in 9th place, 1'10" down from first place. Kathryn Ayroud had an outstanding performance, zooming away to 8th place on the day. Katelyn Walcroft and Brenna Pauly also showed strong results coming in 14th and 17th place, respectively. After the race, the girls had just a few hours to rest up before the twilight criterium
Stage 3: Rookard Custom Pools Downtown Criterium
Following the windy Time Trial stage earlier in the day, the race continued with the Rookard Custom Pools Downtown Criterium, an exhilarating night-time crit right in the heart of Wenatchee. This particular course showcased unique features not typically seen in criteriums, including a technical corner into a punchy uphill segment and a cobblestone descent leading into a high-speed corner. The anticipation surrounding this crit was visible in both the competitors and the enthusiastic spectators.
The women's team demonstrated impeccable cohesion, working together seamlessly as they took turns attacking and leading the pack. Not only was the women's team crushing it out on the race course but they also seized opportunities to win prime sprints as well. Brenna Pauly, Katelyn Walcroft and Kathryn Oakey-Ayroud all claimed primes throughout the race.
Finishing off strong there were multiple Red Truck riders at the forefront of the race for the final laps of the criterium. Among them, Katelyn Walcroft secured an impressive 5th place finish, and Mara Roldan in a high-speed sprint to the line, earning a well-deserved spot on the podium in second-place.
Stage 4: Arlberg Sports Plain Road Race
The last stage of the weekend arrived with the Arlberg Sports Plain Road Race, a 122 km route in picturesque Plain, Washington. The race consisted of three laps on a rolling 40 km circuit encompassing serene farmland and forest, with a turn off the circuit on the final lap leading into a demanding 2.6 km hilltop finish.
This was the finale to a hard fought weekend by the women's team and they were determined to finish it off strong. Throughout the race, Red Truck launched several attacks, making their presence felt and positioning themselves at the front of the peloton, while also making sure to follow breakaway attempts. After many gels and bottles of drink mix later, the women found themselves nearing the end of the course. As the race approached the critical hilltop finish, Red Truck positioned themselves in the top wheels, knowing that it would be an advantage to be at the front of the race through the fast, straight section of road that led to the base of the hill. Then came the most challenging phase of the day: the climb.
Mara Roldan, exhibiting her strength and tenacity left everything she had on the race course, once again securing an impressive 2nd place podium finish.
The Arlberg Sports Plain Road Race served as a fitting conclusion to a well fought weekend of racing for the Red Truck women's team. Their collective efforts, characterized by team riding and perseverance demonstrated their commitment to continuous improvement and the success of the team.