You could say that my week in Bend, OR was like a vacation in paradise. This past week was my favorite race, the Cascade Cycling Classic. I don’t know why it’s my favorite, as it involves a lot of physical pain, but since I am a masochist, I guess it would make sense. No, Cascade to me is like a classic European stage race with all the mountain climbs, the scary descents, the volcanoes (don’t think they have those in Europe though), the 20+ mile climbs, and more climbing until you just want to almost get off your bike because you’re legs won’t turn over. To me, I love Cascades because it’s something that challenges me every year and gives me something to really strive for, keeping my dream alive.
This year, I came into the race with much more confidence as I had known what to expect, knew where crashes might happen and where a break would form. I was prepared. Did it mean that my plans would work out to a ‘T’, no, but it did give me a slight edge from the previous year.
The first day (Tuesday) was a 2 mile prologue. Last year, my speedometer (that was attached to my fork) had snapped off as I was coming off the start ramp. So, this year I took extra care in inspecting my equipment. My adrenalin was high and I was ready to tear up the windy course, around several turns, up a hill and around a parking lot. I felt like I was an F1 driver as I sped through the corners. Within seconds, the prologue was over…just like that!
Day 2 was the McKenzie Pass road race. It was 74miles with a 20 mile climb in the middle. Mentally I had prepared for this stage for weeks. I couldn’t really train for it physically because we only have a 1mile climb where I live, but mentally I was ready. As we rolled down the highway for the first 25 miles, I was extra attentive. Last year there was a scary crash on one of the bends in the highway as a girl toppled over and broke her pelvis in several places. I remember how I was behind it and had just barely missed running over another fallen rider. So this stage, I was extra cautious. Luckily though we stayed safe down the pass (only one rider went down). Plus as an added inspiration, one of the ladies in the field was riding with a deformed arm. It appeared her right arm was defected from birth as it was 1/2 the size of her other arm. And somehow, with her little contraption to help her brake and steer, she could ride steadier than most of the pro women in the field! Every time she went around me, I was just astounded!
As we turned left to start the climb over McKenzie pass, I moved up and secured a good spot in the field. It was early on that a rider from the Specialized team attacked. She looked back thinking someone would chase, but when no one followed, she took off down the road. The pack ignored her move, thinking we’d catch her soon. But as the minutes ticked by, she gained a little time. I tried to stay near the front and on any surges that went, but it was when a group of about 7 riders pursued her, I was boxed in, (about 3-4 riders deep). ”Damn.” I missed that break. I think after I saw that break go up the road, I had given into the idea that they would stay and it was over for any chances of the podium especially since many teams were represented in the group. Later I would regret that mentality as you should NEVER give up hope.
We kept climbing and I was still with the main chase (top 30 riders). The climb seemed to go on and on and after awhile it started to mentally break me. I started to feel impatient, like a kid in the back seat of the car on a family vacation, “Are we there yet?” ”When will this hill end!?” I couldn’t talk and I focused on every breath and every turn of my crank. I was truly living in the moment, but that moment was a harsh reality. As I stayed with the group, we were about 3/4 up the 20mile climb and my friend, Anna Barnesfield came beside me, “Melissa, do you know our miledge?” I shook my head. And it was at that moment that mentally I cracked! I think it was because I realized I had no energy to speak and yet the words came out of her so easy. And once this realization came into my head, my legs suddenly felt so heavy and my breath so hard. I started falling back. Several riders from the group went around me as I struggled to hold onto wheels. My teammate Zayda came along side me, “Come on girl! You’re doing great!” But I couldn’t hold it. I pushed alone with the group in sight. Soon, the caravan of cars went around and my team manager Paul came along side, “I’m destroyed!” I shook my head and grabbed a new bottle from the car. I realized I hadn’t drank too much either. I think the cooler weather had made hydrading slip my mind.
My legs ached but I pushed on. Finally as I crested the top, another group came along to work with. I looked to my right and saw steam coming from the top of the volcano. It was so beautiful! We finally descended and I remember how last year I was pretty terrified of the narrow switchbacks, but this time (since I’d overgrown my fear), they were more fun.
Soaking my achy legs in the river.
We moved down the mountain and I became hopeful that the end was near. We pace lined on the flats and into the final climb to the finish. Only 10 miles to go. But these 10 miles were the hardest as it was a false flat, up the road and then kicking up the last 5K. With about 7K to go, I had been working at the front of the pace line but my legs began to cramp. First on the inside of my thighs, then my hamstrings. They were seizing up. ”Come on!” I tried pushing through it. but decided to just fall back so I wouldn’t hold up the other riders. So, for the last 7K, I rode alone. It seemed to drag on forever. My legs hurt and I just wanted to get off the bike. ”What is wrong with me?” I thought to myself, “Why do I think this is so fun?!” But finally the pain was over as I rolled through the line. That night though, I kicked myself for my mental break as that group I was originally with finished only a minute behind the leaders and top 20! The mind is more powerful than you think!
The next stage wasn’t so bad. We had a 14 mile time trial up and down the Skyliner’s road. I had awaken with a stiff and battered body, just dreading the TT, but as it turned out, the TT somehow rejuvenated my dead body! I warmed up on the roads surrounding the area and began my TT with a clear head. Because of my placing the day before, I was one of the first people to go off (slowest times go first). As I waited for my start, I got a graphic image of the guys changing in the parking lot, “Geeze! Get a towel or cover up!” I was appalled as they dropped their shorts to change right in the midst of a public area. Usually you get fined for changing in public, but for some reason, this team wasn’t intimidated by the officials standing nearby.
Getting ready for my TT!
For the most part, my TT went really well and I blew up the highway, passing a rider along the way and staying pretty steady for the most part. My favorite was after the turn-around and flying down the highway all geared out! When I finished my legs had felt better than when I had started. It was like the rides I used to do in Laramie, WY, up Hwy 130 to the Snowies. I was relieved. I’d be fresh for the following day’s road race where my teammate Amity and I had plans for a ‘suicide mission’ of getting into a break.
Meanwhile, between all the racing craziness, I was staying with Lea (pronounced Lee) and Denali Hart who hosted us last year. Since then, they’ve become a second family to me. We had spent some time at the river almost every night soaking our tired legs and they had recently redone their patio so there was a fire pit that we’d roast marshmallows and tell stories in the evenings.
Friday’s race was the Cascade Lakes road race. This was a pretty flat and fast race with about a 5 mile highway climb at the end. I was very excited about this stage as I’d been coming to the realization this year that I’m getting good at the faster races. I think it has something to do with living in New England and all the moto pacing I do for training. Anyhow, the race started with a 3 mile climb up the highway. Last year, I was not expecting the field to take off so fast, so I had gotten dropped (catching back on later) so this time, I was ready and got my legs warmed up for the kicker at the start. We waited for the men’s field to go by, as they had started further down the road and then the neutral car paced us for about a mile, then once we were given the green light, the attacks started. I just hung onto the wheels and made my way up, safe and in the group. Then we were flying down the highway for several miles. The pace was fast . Once we turned onto a few more roads and the terrain was more rolling, the attacks started. I moved up and started chasing down or jumping on most of the attacks. It was like we were kids and playing tag! I was having so much fun! The speed stayed high and I stayed at the front. I kept hoping that one of the breaks would stick and it would be my lucky day. Then a break went with about 5 riders and I panicked and started to chase them down. They kept looking back at me and I looked back and realized I was just merely pulling the field along. I became angry as it felt as if they were mocking me! So I eased up and let the other riders go around. But still there were more attacks after that. I even counter attacked a group but it just so happened to be next to a gravel turn. By then, we were about 45 miles into the race. The feed zone would be coming up at mile 51.
Mount Bachelor, the finish of Friday's race.
My legs were starting to fatigue from all the chasing and attacking, so I decided to sit in and recover for a bit since I knew the last climb would be a determining factor in the race. But, I sat in too far back and a real break of about 7 riders got away. I had nothing to chase it down and especially since we were kind of in a head wind. So, I kept hoping we’d catch it. The group had several different teams represented so it was looking like they might stick. It was after the feed zone and about mile 60 that we started to reel them in. The pace picked up but so did the terrain. My thighs were just burning from ever turn of the pedal. I knew the last climb would be tough. We moved down the highway and sure enough the climb was starting. I had used up all my matches earlier in the race so when the field accelerated, I struggled to stay with the wheels. I knew that I just needed to stay consistent so I got into a rhythm and kept turning over the crank. We had about 5K to go and we were all spread out along the final climb. A few guys from the men’s field had been dropped and we were passing them. One of the guys wouldn’t leave me alone. ”You’re doing great! Keep going, almost there,” he was trying to be encouraging, but at the same time to me it seemed like he really had intentions of getting my number later. I rolled my eyes and kept going ahead. Amity came along and I rode with her. But then those guys caught back up, ”Do you want me to give you a push?” I shook my head but was really thinking, “HELL NO!” “Just leave me alone!” So I moved up next to Amity, “Let’s go!” And we raced all the way to the finish. I was tired, not too disappointed about the results but mostly happy I had ridden aggressive throughout the race. “One of these days, a break’s going to work!”
Downtown Bend was packed with people!
The following day almost seemed like a rest day as we didn’t have our crit until 5:45pm. I got to sleep in, take a few naps and get ready for just a 50 minute effort. The crit in Bend is always exciting as the entire town comes to watch. It is however more challenging than most crits because your legs are kind of tired from the week of racing up mountain passes. Last year, I only lasted about 20 minutes of the crit before I was pulled, but this time however, I had alot more confidence. It took about half of the race for my legs to warm up (which is normal for me) and then once I hit that point, I started to move up. My teammate Whitney, (I have to give her credit) went around me and I grabbed her wheel and she took me and Anna up. It was like magic! The pace was high for the entire race as there were $100 primes almost every other lap and sprint points. We never had a moment to take a breather. But I stayed focused and moved up. A break of about 7 riders had gotten up the road and had about 30 seconds on us. I was too late. We started to catch them as the final laps approached but I needed to be up much further going into the final turn. I sprinted and finished only 15 seconds down. I was beat but still optimistic about how everything had unfolded. I rode to the river before heading to the house and soaked my tired legs.
My host mom Lea (left) working the booths at the crit.
The final stage of the Cascade Cycling Classic was a final test for the 85 woman who lined the starting line. As the week had been perfect in terms of weather (70’s & 80’s), the final stage would be the hottest day as temperatures would reach the mid 90’s. Our bodies were toiled from the week of climbing mountains and racing against some of the top women in the world but we were all ready for just one more stage. As the crit had been a better finish for me, my spirits were up for this final stage. I had done this course 2 other times, once for the National Championships and then last year at Cascades, so I knew it like the back of my hand. We would be doing four 17 mile laps with a kicker on the end of each lap. I remembered from the previous year that I had lasted with the main field until the final lap when I had made an attempt at bridging up to a break and then using up everything I had. “This time will be different,” I thought.
As the race unfolded, my legs were fresh. We flew down the highway and soon were bunched together climbing the hill. I could see Clara Hughes up ahead in the yellow jersey keeping the race tight and aggressive. (I mean, you have to meet this woman, she’s won Olympic medals in speed skating and cycling!) As we rounded the back stretch of the course, a few attacks went up the road. People alongside had their sprinklers and hoses and sprayed us as we rode by. It was so refreshing from the heat. Down another curving stretch and then the climb up to the feed zone.
The field stretched out as we flew through the feed zone. I hadn’t drank but half a bottle so I stayed to the side and opted out of a fresh bottle. I moved up into the group to catch the draft. We were booking it! We blew down the highway and then took a right turn into a residential area where we rounded another bend and then up a steep climb to the KOM. I stayed on the wheels the best I could but my climbing legs were more fatigued than I thought. I worked half way up the hill and my host mom, Lea was screaming and running alongside us in her bike kit…it was like we were in the Tour de France! I smiled at her and kept going. The field was getting so strung out! The KOM was coming but I was losing wheels and gaps were forming. And then it happened, right before we crested the KOM, I was dropped! First lap and already dropped. There were a few riders with me and we worked together. We could see the other group up the road for nearly the next half lap. My teammate Whitney was with us and I knew Anna had made it up in the group ahead. As we crested a hill on the front side of the lap, I noticed Whitney had fallen off our group. I couldn’t tell if she was having bike troubles, but it appeared she had just given up. So I hesitated to go back and help her, but decided that I needed to push forward.
One of the girls in our group, would stop pedaling every time she would get to the front of the pace line. I yelled, “Push through, keep pedaling!” “I’m not sure if I want to finish the race though, “ she said. I rolled my eyes and just told her to get to the back. We couldn’t let her hold us up. I had already been fighting my inner demons that wanted me to drop out of the race, and I didn’t need other bad influences! So we pushed on and picked up a few other riders on the road. Whenever you get dropped and you’re with a chase group, you always have the most interesting personalities. We had a girl who barked at everyone the entire time, “Stay smooth!” yet she would fail to take pulls or pull through and that in itself would hold us up and mess up the ‘smoothness’ of our pace line. I just shut her out. So far, Lady Gaga was playing in my head the entire race. “I’ll just listen to Lady Gaga and focus on riding.”
Chrystal Anthony, a great cross rider from the North East was riding with us and taking strong pulls. She rode the hills strong but since the other rider who barked orders couldn’t hang on, she kept yelling, “Come’on Crystal, be steady!” I hadn’t said anything for a couple of laps but right then I interjected, “Just let her climb!” She didn’t say another word for the rest of the race. Crystal had made it up the road and ended up leaving us as we went through the feed zone. I grabbed 3 bottles. I regretted not staying on her wheel because I wanted so bad to drop the other girl as she had fatigued and just sat glued to my wheel. I made her pull through a few times to show that I wasn’t pulling her around the course, but she was tired.
Finally on the final lap, another group of about 8 riders came along. It was such a relief as I was able to tuck in and rest my weary legs and let some other riders take some pulls. I had run out of water very quickly as my core temperature was getting pretty hot. When we were on the back side of the final lap, we passed a couple of dropped riders from the men’s race. They were Italian. “Ladies, do you want some coke?” I had nothing in my bottles so desperately I took the bottle from the guy and started chugging the cold, sweet coke down. “ I handed it back. We kept riding along and for some reason, these guys stuck to us like an epoxy. I don’t know why they picked me either, but maybe I had this look of a damsel in distress because when we got to the hill by the feed zone, they rode right next to me and took turns giving me pushes to get up the road. “No really, I’m fine,” I tried to say. But they continued to push me as hard as possible so I would stay right on my group’s wheels. I grabbed 3 more bottles through the feed zone and quenched my thirst. We had just 10K to the finish. I was going to finish.
Up the final climb and down the highway. I was leading the group into the final roundabout before 1K to go. It seemed silly to me but some of the girls jumped as if to race for 50th place. I wasn’t going to sprint in for a 50th, so I just sat on the wheels. I was just glad to be done. After I crossed the line I was pretty beat and downed a few more bottles of water and another can of coke. Out of 85 starters, 19 women had dropped out! So, it was no easy race and that’s why I was proud that I didn’t give-in and pull off to the side of the road like I had such an urge to do. I have never quit a race, even when I’ve gotten last place for I believe that if you start something, you need to finish it, even if it means suffering through it. Sometimes the suffering is what teaches us a lesson or motivates us to do better. The rider who had barked orders most of the way even came along to thank me, “Thanks for helping me out and taking all those pulls! I couldn’t have made it without you!” I shook her hand.
But now that Cascades is over, I’ll dream about it to come again next year. I think I’ll take a little breather from my bicycle and recharge for some end of season crits and Green Mountain Stage race in Vermont (at the beginning of September). I also want to do well in cyclo-cross this year so I need to clear my head from all this structured training. And last but not least, I’ll probably be enjoying a few beers with my lovely husband, Aaron while I’m at it!
Sami the cat adopted me. I almost took him home!
and started off on a good foot. We wove through the course and a gap managed to form with about 10 riders. I started bridging the gap and moving into a very good position the first half of the lap. But it was a jam once we reached the run-up (which you can ride most of the time) as the lady in front of my had fallen, blocking the trail. I scrambled off my bike and tried to run as a gap from the previous group was widening. After that, for some reason, I couldn’t get my head back into the game and started losing more and more spots.
