Nature Valley Grand Prix Stage Race - Minneapolis, Minnesota (June 14 to 18)

The Nature Valley Grand Prix is a “Women’s Prestige Series” and NRC (National Race Calender) event on the North American Road Racing calendar. This year's race attracted the strongest women’s pro teams in North America as well as some world class international riders such as Pursuit World Record holder, New Zealand’s Sarah Ulmer and the New Zealand National team, and World Pursuit Champion, Australia's Katie Mactier. The 5 day stage race is held in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area of Minnesota.

The racing was fast and hard as most riders are coming into their peak for the upcoming Canadian and U.S. National Road Championships. In addition to being on the NRC circuit, Nature Valley is also part of the "Women's Prestige" Series and all the heavy-hitters were present as the teams vied for points in the "Prestige" series. The top 8 teams in the series, which includes the NVGP and the "Tour de Toona" in July, are offered a stipend to go to Bermuda in September for the final race of the series, so the stakes were high all around.

For me, the goal for this stage race was to gain fitness for races later in the season. I wanted to race as hard and fast as I could and stay within the allotted timecuts so that I could start the next day's racing. On all those notes, the racing was a success. I also posted personal high wattage outputs, showing that my fitness and training are going in the right direction. I'm looking forward to the fitness gain that I'm sure to have after this gruelling week of racing - there's no training like racing!

To say the racing was hard was an understatement. The 5-stage race which included a time trial, 2 road races and 2 crits, with one of the crits featuring a climb with an 18% grade on every lap - had every possible element that could make a race epic: crosswinds, crashes, hail, and heat. Teams used the windy conditions to ride the peloton into the gutter and shatter the field in the road races while keeping the pace at an utter max in both crits.

Out of the 135 women who started this race, I placed 67th in the overall general classification. If anyone is looking for a great, well-organized, challenging race, this is one that I would not hesitate to recommend! It's worth the 14 hour drive to Minneapolis. I will be back next year!

For full report, results and photos for the Nature Valley Grand Prix Stage race, see: www.cyclingnews.com

Next week, I'm off to the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Stage Race in Massachussetts - another NRC stage race - with my team R.A.C.E. teammate, Diana Joness.

Thanks to my sponsors and friends at team R.A.C.E., CBC, Lazer Helmets, Rudy Project, Proformance Athlete's Gym and coach Karpik. Also, thanks to our host-house Mom, Connie for making us all feel at home.

Happy riding!
Julia

Trexlertown UCI Track Races (June 3 and June 9)

I have just returned from Trexlertown, Pennsylvania where I competed in my first UCI track races. I had 3 top-10 finishes in a field that was stacked with great riders. Both the men’s and women’s fields boasted World Champions and Olympians. The racing was definitely the most exciting and competitive track racing that I’ve been a part of.

Here are the details of some of my races:

Points Race (UCI): 7th place
The 36 lap points race had sprints every 6 laps that went 4 places deep (5, 3, 2, 1 points for the first 4 riders across the line each sprint). With 12 laps remaining in the race, I attacked and got away from the field solo. I came within a straightaway of lapping the field until a sprint lap got the group going and the chase began. I heard the announcer say that if I caught the field, I would win the race but with only a third of a lap left in the race I got caught by some riders and ended up 7th with 5 points.

Keirin (UCI): 7th place
The Keirin is a sprint race in which a group is motorpaced behind a motorbike for about 4 and a half laps of the 333 metre track. The motor brings the riders up to about 45 km/h before pulling off the front. After that, it’s a drag race to the finish.
In the semi finals, I placed 4th, just one place out of making the finals. Then I raced the 7th through 12th race and won, placing 7th overall.

Scratch Race (UCI): 9th place
The 5km scratch race is basically a race to the finish line - first across the line wins. With World Champion Sprint medalist, Jennie Reed in the race, it came down to a fight for her wheel. With a lap and a half to go in the race, I found myself in the perfect position for a podium finish – on Jennie’s wheel! Things got pretty aggressive and I backed off and let someone take it from me. I lost some momentum and sprinted in for a 9th place finish. In the unforgiving, high speed sport of track cycling, a slight error can cost you a race and this was a good reminder of that.

The track in T-Town is definitely the hotbed of cycling in North America and I can’t wait to go back for my next race there on July 7, the "International Women’s Challenge", where women’s racing will be the featured event of their Friday night race series.
In the meantime, I’m on my way to the Nature Valley Grand Prix Stage race in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It’s part of the "Women’s Prestige Race Series" and the 150 rider field limit is at capacity. I can’t remember seeing a women’s field of that size in North America. It is going to be a good race! Racing starts Wed, June 14 and goes until Sun, June 18. Stay tuned!

Thanks to my sponsors and teammates at team R.A.C.E. for your support. Happy riding!

Julia

Pictures from racing in T-Town can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lehighvalleyvelodrome/sets/72157594156599753/