Race Report: Tour de Ste Genevieve

I'm not a huge fan of our state road race.  I think because the first year I did it was such a bad experience nutrition wise so it has negatively colored me against the race.  That being said, I won't do a race without giving it my best effort.  We had seven ladies in the Master's field.  There were three that I knew were tough--Britta, Cat, and Lora.  We were starting with the women's 4 field so we actually had 17 ladies that should have been together.  


The weather was different than originally forecasted--it was cooler, mid-80s, but a significant wind.  I purposely lined up in the second row because we would be heading out in the wind and I didn't want to pull into it.  Our neutral roll out may not have had any attacks, but it was not a parade pace by any means.  We pulled out onto the highway and it sped up a bit more.  The group quickly moved to a single line and I was sitting about sixth.  I moved myself up a bit because the girls I was watching were sitting up front.  I didn't think they'd move early, but I didn't want to be caught back too far either.  The girls started rotating through and I was amused to see who took what length of pulls.  My greatest amusement through the race was one of the ladies who took the shortest pulls complained the most about other girls not working.  We got to the first climb at mile five and I think we shed a few girls there.  The next climb at mile nine had the same effect.  A few small attacks were attempt on the climbs and after, but everything was brought back.  It was somewhere in there where people stopped working and started complaining.  The lions' share of the work was done by about four or five ladies.  At one point, I was on front again and wanting off and no one would come around, they just sat on my wheel as I moved towards the center line.  I slowed us down to about 11mph before Molly finally came up.  The mile 17 climb is the first really challenging one of the race.  It really shred our group.  I think we were down to about seven by the end of it.  The group came together at the top and we kept rolling.  

Warming up with Kelly pre-race.  *Photo credit: Don McKinney

Just before the downhill where I got gapped.  *Photo credit: Don McKinney

*On the front . . .  *photo credit: Don McKinney

To me, the hardest climb comes at mile 24, it's a curving climb that feels like it goes forever.  Britta went hard on it and I worked to stay on her wheel.  This was the climb where I got dropped last year so I was happy to be with the leaders.  We made it through there and headed towards the QOM climb.  I have to say that I felt great through all of this.  My nutrition was doing what it was supposed to.  There is a long downhill right before the QOM climb at mile 28.  It was there that I started to struggle.  I was in my 50/12 and didn't feel like I could keep up with the two girls in front of me.  They gapped me.  Three other girls flew around me as well.  We started the climb and I focused on what I knew to do.  I sat back in my saddle, hands on top of the bars and tapped out a quick cadence.  I began to pull back ground from everyone.  Although Britta pulled away, I put myself back into second with a comfortable gap, so I thought.  I added gear when I got to the top and was moving along well.  I was about mile 29 when Cat caught and passed me.  I tried to go with her, but couldn't meet her speed.  I was making up ground until she met up with the Cat 4 leader and worked with her.  I was at mile 30 when Lora went around me.  I kept her in sight until we got into town, but could never catch her either.  I was pretty disappointed with my finish and inability to react to those girls.  That being said, my climbing was better this year than it ever has been before.

Race Report: State Road Race--Le Tour de Ste Genevieve

Weatherwise it was a perfect race day--temps in the high 70s/low 80s, light breeze, partly cloudy.  The course (http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/13641430) was a challenging one--two loops, each about 34 miles.  The first 20-23 miles of the loop were rolling hills, nothing obnoxious.  The three tougher climbs were on top of each other in miles 23-29.  The first was pretty short, just steep.  The second was about a half mile climb, again steep.  The QOM climb was a little over a mile and had a few big pitches in it. 

There were five of us in the 1/2/3 field--Pam Hinton, Maureen Connelly, Liz Heller, Lynne Anderson.  I've raced against everyone but Lynne.  She's just getting back into racing.  All of them are very strong ladies though.  I didn't have anyone in the feed zone, so I carried two bottles in my jersey to make sure I was prepared.  We rolled out on time and quickly fell into a rhythm with each of us taking 1.5 to 2 minute pulls at the front.  The order would change up after some of the hills, but everyone was doing their part in the group.  I took notice of two things--first, Pam definitely wanted to be "in charge" of our race.  Second, Liz was having trouble getting her gearing right.  She seemed to be spinning way to fast on some climbs.  I paid close attention to my hydration and nutrition, making sure I drank at least once every 10 minutes and took Gu every hour.  The race changed on the climb at mile 23.  With seemingly little effort, Pam, Maureen, and Lynne dropped me and then Liz on the climb.  I saw the gap start, but couldn't close it.  I tried to make up ground on the downhill and couldn't close it completely.  Within minutes they were out of sight.  I caught Liz between the second climb and the KOM climb.  She said she wanted to work together, but kept coming alongside of me.  She asked me if I had enough left to work with her.  The irony of that question stood out on the KOM climb.  I was bound and determine to conquer the climb this year because it got the best of me last year.  I adjusted my gearing on the approach (34/11) and concentrated on spinning on breathing.  By halfway through I was up to 27 in the rear, but was still seated and comfortable.  I was up and over with a lot less effort than I expected, it almost seemed easier than the previous climb.  I looked back for Liz and couldn't see her so I kept going.  I was passed by the a couple of the Cat 4 leading women as I came into town.  I watched them turn to the finish as I headed back out for lap 2. 

I tossed my first bottle at the feedzone and replaced it with one from my pocket.  I was getting warm so I increased my fluid intake to once every five minutes.  The second lap went by much more quickly than I expected.  I rode the entire distance without seeing another rider.  (Ours was the last group to start that had to do two laps.)  My goal was to finish the race in under four hours, so I found a comfortable pace that would allow me to do that with a little cushion.  I got to the first of the three climbs and struggled a little.  I could tell I was tiring.  I GU'd after the descent and started talking myself through the next two.  The second one was hard, but I didn't struggle at all.  I hit the bottom of the KOM and was ready for it.  By this time I didn't have any of the bottles in my pockets, so I was more comfortable being out of the saddle.  I sat for most of the climb, but stood a few times to stretch my back and change position.  Towards the summit, there were still some volunteers out.  They turned on the music for me and began cheering.  One of them came out with cold water and poured it on me when I nodded at him.  I got over the top and concentrated on finishing out the next few small climbs.  When I saw the Ste Genevieve water tower in the distance I knew I was close.  I came into town and was able to finish without looking like I was going to fall over.

I still continue to say I am not a road racer and I do not like road races, however overall, I really enjoyed this race.  It was definitely challenging, but fun.  After I got dropped, I looked at the remainder of the race as a chance to do a beautiful, quick-paced training ride.  That mindset, in combination with good nutrition/hydration, made it a much better race for me this year as compared to last.  My average for the first lap was around 19.2, the average for lap two was about 17.8. 

Race Report: Tour de Ste. Genevieve--AKA the Big Bonk!

I wish I could pinpoint what happened to make the race fall apart for me. In reality, I think it was a combination of issues. We got there in plenty of time and headed out for a warm up. My rear derailleur was out of whack and I was having trouble getting into my mid gears. I found Klucker (he was officiating) and he gave me a quick adjustment. That helped out there but what I couldn't tell from the warm up was that I it was still out at the top of the rear cog--that comes later. (And let me get this rant out here--Klucker switched out my wheels and cog on me last night. I didn't know he was doing it until it was done and I got the "I checked it on the stand and it's fine" response when I asked if it was shifting right).

Sunday was the first HOT day we've had this spring. It was 90 degrees when we pulled to the line with high humidity and a strong breeze. I had hydrated well Friday and Saturday and was conscious of my nutrition. There were 16 women who went to the line in Women's 4 and we were combined with the 3 Women's Masters 40+ and told we could work together. The whistle went off and we rolled out for our neutral start. About half way to the start Madeline started taking off. Allison and Amy called her back and we regrouped. We hit the start line and started racing. The first climb was a big ring climb about five miles into the race. I was watching my field position and made it up with no problem. I kept reminding myself to drink as we went through. Leaders changed throughout the next several miles. I tried to avoid some of the woman as much as possible because they were all over the place. We got to the climb at mile 10. I had looked at the course profile but I guess I misjudged this one. I thought we were done and the group was sitting up so I looked at Amy, Master's teammate, and said hold 'em back. Off I went. I got up near our pace truck and looked back and had gone alone. Ok can I make this stick? My heartrate was at 193 and I was in the wind alone. That's when I realized this climb was still going. Oye! I got in the small ring, then started working my way up on the rear. One from the top, I started slipping. It would stay in gear. I was really starting to fatigue but didn't want to sit up just yet. I shifted down and kept climbing. I was out about 7 minutes when I saw the green of the Hub girls at my side. I let up and got in and rested.

The next seven miles or so were hot and calm. There were some rollers, but no killers. I Gu'd at mile 17 and tossed my empty bottle. We then got to the climb at mile 21. I knew this one would be tough. It was long with a steep pitch at the end. I tried one more time to get in those top gears but it wouldn't lock in. I got out of the saddle and started to climb. I stayed up and we fractured the group. Our lead group had two Master's women--Amy and Alison and four Cat4 women--Britta, Laura, Ashley and me. Amy looked back and yelled that we had a gap and to haul. The girls at the front ramped up the pace. Amy kept trying to get a pace line organized but it was struggling. It was about then that I realized that I was done. I had stopped sweating and didn't have enough saliva in my mouth to spit. At mile 23, we turned onto the frontage road along the highway and I fell off. Ashley was on my wheel and offered to pull me up, but I didn't have it to go with her. I rode by myself, head down and exhausted. DNFing was sounding pretty good about then. I kept trying to talk myself through. I looked up and saw that the group had caught the Womens 1/2/3 and there was some confusion with the our lead vehicle and their wheel truck. It slowed them up. I tried to go harder to catch them but couldn't.

Mile 27 hit and I knew KOM was looming. When I studied the course map, the only thing I wrote about this climb was UGLY! and it was. I saw the 1K to KOM sign and reminded myself that it was only .6 miles. I dropped into my small ring and worked on spinning. I was slow but steady at the point. I hit the 500M mark and my body stopped. I honestly thought I may fall trying to get out of my pedals. I got off my bike. To quit or not to quit...I started telling myself your first DNF makes it an option for every race here on out. One foot in front of the other. Keep walking. Stand up straight to get oxygen. Don't cry. This is demoralizing. Cat passed me about that time and asked what happen. Dehydration, heat stroke, I don't know. I kept walking 100M to go and Tricia passed me. I saw the line and was almost there when Bethany passed me. I hopped on the bike at that point and made a half-hearted attempt to catch them but they had started working together and there was another little rise. I got back in my small ring and started counting down miles and doing crazy mental math problems to distract myself. (Being an English major, math really makes me concentrate. It's a trick I've used for a while to get through it when it hurts.)

I made it to mile 30 when I heard a voice behind me, "Suzanne, what happened?" It was Alice, our other Master's racer. I told her I bonked and she offered her wheel. I graciously accepted but was secretly worried for the first 3-5 minutes that I couldn't hold on. My salvation was the Ste. Genevieve sign. We made it to the city limits, I can make it to the line. I pulled alongside Alice and we chatted and we rolled through. I saw our turn to finish straightaway and was relieved. I would finish this race.

I ended up in 8th, not quite the race I had envisioned. I learned a few things (attacking early in a RR is not smart, probably should have had three bottles with me on the bike) and I'm a stronger racer for having done it.