This past Sunday the TRT women took on the Delta UCI road race, the third event in BC Superweek. Delta is always a really good opportunity for us – it’s technical, fast, with just enough of a climb to make it challenging. We were met by a beautiful sunny day, a definite change from the last few years that were grey and rainy.
Coming half way through BC Superweek, the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix gets everyone fired up for an exciting day of racing. It doesn’t matter that you already have three days of racing in your legs – this is a big one!
First of all I can't begin to express how grateful I was to race for the Canadian National Team for the Tour De Beauce UCI 2.2. Thanks to Trek Red Truck p / b Mosaic Homes for all their support and getting me to where I am today.The Tour De Beauce is one of the hardest pro stage races in North America, six hard stages in five days in the hilly, bumpy, and unforgiving roads of the Beauce region of Quebec.
I have always wanted to give back to the local cycling community; for those who know me well, the skill I could contribute is my enthusiasm for sport and having fun. However, in the past I had found it challenging to find time between juggling working full time and training full time.
The weekend of racing in Enumclaw was filled with rain and freezing temperatures, a stark juxtaposition to the warm Californian roads I had grown so fond of.
The Robert Cameron Cycling Series, also known as the Victoria Bike Festival, is the only time that most of us get the pleasure of racing on the island all season. Although the format of the race has changed a little in recent years, this season saw it go back to the Dallas Road TT on Friday evening, the incredibly hilly Metchosin Road Race on Sunday, and a criterium around the BC Legislature on Sunday which, given its location, was also rather fittingly the BC Provincial Championships.
The weekend of racing at the Mutual of Enumclaw Stage race kicked off Saturday morning with a flat and fast 10.5km “Merckx” style time trial. The weather was less then cooperative and proceeded to try to drown the riders on course by just raining harder. Luckily the whole team came prepared with Kyle and Dylan both getting in the top five on the stage at 3rd and 5th respectively.
June never fails to be a great month for the Red Truck women. The warm weather brings some pretty epic races, one of the biggest of which is Gatineau. With Nationals based in Ottawa and the Gatineau Park at the end of the month, Gatineau would also give us a chance to test our legs out on some of the tough roads we’ll be facing.
A full Squad of Trek Red Truck guys was set to crush the 2016 Tour De Bloom featuring Brendan, Christian, Craig, Dylan, Geordie, Ty, Mike, and myself. Leavenworth Road Race. 100 km’s of breakaway is a good way to describe this stage. In the first 10 km or so Michael, Dylan, and myself got into a large breakaway of 10 riders.
The first stage was a 106 km road race starting and finishing in Leavenworth. We began the race on a gradual climb and once at the top of the climb, the race continued with two loops. Being one of two teams at the race, there were a lot of individual riders, which made it more challenging to start a break.
A friend once said "The Tour of Gila, this race is the hardest race ever, it will literally make you hate cycling." A week later, the Monster has passed and the stage race is now over.
Do I hate cycling? Not at all. Was it the hardest stage race ever? Pretty much.
During Redlands I got an email asking if I would like to guest ride for Team Rally (formerly known as Optum). My initial thought was; “f*** ya!” as signing a contract with a team of this caliber at the end of the 2016 is my number one outcome goal of the season.
I'm not going to lie. I was nervous as all hell heading into the Redlands Cycling Classic. Going into April I thought I was better prepared for a season of racing with North America's best talent on two wheels. I put in the work my coach prescribed, I had rested, when I raced in Vancouver's Spring Series I raced both patiently and hard, I had big goals and I wanted more than anything to accomplish them.
As a first year U23 joining the North American pro peloton for the first time, time cuts are always in the back of your mind. Although you want to think about racing to win or get a good placement, evading the time cut quickly becomes your number one concern.
California has been absolutely phenomenal so far. With a pretty successful spring series season I had high hopes of finishing the 2016 Redlands Bicycle Classic. My fitness was all there and things were looking good. Unfortunately the last spring series for me was a long rainy day, which ultimately led to me being off the bike for 11 days with a cold.
Day five of the Redlands Bicycle Classic was the infamous Sunset loop Road Race. After four solid days of racing there were some tired legs in the peleton but for me I felt pretty fresh and ready go.
The Redlands Bicycle Classic is arguably one of the toughest races the Trek Red Truck calendar, and the five grueling stages always bring out a top-tier woman’s field. This year, eight TRT women lined up with some 120 starters to tackle the California hills in rain, shine, and everything in between.
Stage one of San Dimas was an uphill TT, so basically ride as fast as you can for 7 kilometres and try to make yourself sick…mission accomplished. Leah started 1 minute behind me so of course once we both got to the top and caught our breath the typical post TT conversation started...
The Sunset Road Race is the finale of the Redlands Bicycle Classic and it is known for whittling down the field from the gun. In the past couple of years I have raced Redlands, it has been a feat all on its own just to make it to this last stage without being time cut.
IDGT = I Don't Get Tired - a very important thing to remember in stage races. Each day is hard, each day is a fight, yet you have to be on, race your best, and support your team mates with all you have.