ALLEZ, ALLEZ!! World Cup Mt. Ste. Anne, QB 6/25/2006

After tackling the most difficult US National Mountain Bike Series cross country course in Vermont, I thought I was ready for the most difficult course on the World Cup circuit: Mount Sainte Anne in Quebec, Canada. I was excited about this trip for several reasons: I was going to race against the best mountain bikers in the world, I was going to dust off my French speaking skills and put them to good use, I was going to visit yet another beautiful part of the world with my hubby and some of my Southern California race buddies were going to be there too-Teri Strayer and Christie Pleiss (see the picture of us just before the race). There was so much to look forward to.

My husband and I arrived at the mountain a couple of days before the race so that I would be able to get some saddle time in on the race course. The mountain had been pummeled by rain storms. I was not quite sure what the 6km course was going to be like. Pre-riding the course there were sections that were already lined with spectators because they were some gnarly root, rock and mud drop offs. I do not perform dangerous moves well in front of an audience so I walked a bunch of those sections. One of the descents was ankle-deep mud that I skated down on my feet trying not to lose my bike. Luckily one of the course marshals told me that he had yet to see anyone actually ride it – that made me feel so much better. Then one section I tried riding I ended up hugging the padded telephone pole and my bike went elsewhere. Yikes!

Race day was arriving quickly and I was ready for a good night’s sleep. It was Quebec’s holiday, Saint Jean-Baptist, and much to our dismay the all night party was stationed right across from our condo. The speakers were pointed directly at our place and deep bass shook the rooms – after inquiring at the front desk, the party was to last until 6AM and the place was booked solid so we could not change rooms. We hightailed to a quiet establishment down the road.

After a peaceful night’s rest, I was ready to race. It was a warm day, but most of the course was in the trees. Launching off the start line, we were sent around a spectator loop. The extra start section was great for me since I was called up toward the back of the pack – I did not have any World Cup points to be ranked yet. I crept my way up, passing almost a dozen racers. I was feeling awesome! Hitting the first bit of single track and then the first descent was bottlenecked. I made it half running, half riding down the first technical section and dropped my chain – not once, but TWO times. Losing time putting my chain back on, I was almost the last person because the course marshal on the motorcycle who sweeps the last rider was so close I was choking on exhaust fumes.

This five lap 6km course was like a short track race. I knew I had to get back on track and start catching riders because the officials would start pulling racers in jeopardy of being lapped. I was feeling good and I started reeling racers in that had passed me while I was fixing my chain. The crowds were amazing – the most I have ever seen at any mountain bike race. They lined both sides of one of the climbs cheering everyone on – calling out racers by their names-even my name! I felt famous! It was exhilarating.

Flying down a hill and back up the other side of a short, blind power climb I almost ran over the line of race officials blocking the course. Two laps and I was being pulled out of the race. Wicked bummer! My legs were ready to keep going. I finished 70th out of 81 starters. Just having the experience of racing in a World Cup event made it worthwhile.

Zoom, Zoom! NMBS#3 ST Mount Snow 6/18/2006

Racing at Mount Snow in West Dover, VT rounded out with the Short Track race on Sunday afternoon. After having a hearty Father’s Day breakfast with my dad and grandmother, it was an agonizing wait for the race. With a full belly and three races in a week’s time, I was ready to lounge around like a fat bear that had just gorged itself on a beehive.

To burn some time before the race I decided it would be a good idea to clean my stinky mountain bike. It took me a good hour to get the mud- which I am not too certain was mud - off my bike. It was a mess from yesterday’s cross country race. The bugs in Vermont are veracious and it did not take long before they found most of my exposed skin while I was outside scrubbing. Now I know why the trail marshals during the cross country race had on hats with nets that covered them to their shoulders.

Warming up for the race I could not seem to get my legs moving. My legs felt like water logged wood. It was difficult to get through my warm-up exercises so I cut the drills a little short and decided to go out and pre-ride the short track course to see what I was going to be facing for the 20 minute suffer festival.

The course was pretty dry with one giant mud puddle. It started out with a false flat and then a short jaunt of a dusty climb and then a speedway down a grassy hill with a couple of “12 stitch dips.” (I have coined these narrow ditches “12 stitch dips” from awhile back when I hit one of them hard, going over the handlebars, landing on my chin and needing 12 stitches.) After the speedy descent there was the giant mud puddle followed by a short power climb, another short descent, a hairpin left turn and a sprint to through the finish line.

While pre-riding, the kids were having their races and I rode around trying to encourage them. I helped one little girl back on her bike after she crashed just before the finish line and then escorted another one back to her dad after a lap because she felt like she was going to “throw up” and wanted to stop. It sure is great watching these kids try out racing. Now I know that all racers go through what I have endured.

Finally, the pro women were called up to the start line. Chrissy, my teammate, (see the photo of us before the short track race in North Carolina) told me we had to do one more lap than last weekend. This meant finishing five laps before being pulled from the race. As usual, I took my spot in the back of the pack. Although I was not the last one, I was pretty darn close. I had to think fast about my strategy to move up. I needed to be aggressive without crashing or taking anyone out so that I could fulfill my promise to Chrissy to do at least five laps.

The gun went off and it was a big zooming dust cloud of racers. I darted to an outside line and then cut back in for some real estate on the climb. I passed a bunch of women right away. There is so much energy at the short track racers. The crowds are really into it and the racers know that a lot needs to be accomplished in a short period of time so the adrenalin is spilling out of everyone. I was feeding off of the cheers from the family and friends that were there. It was so awesome to have another big cheering section like in North Carolina.

Breathing hard with my mouth gaping wide open, my mouth and throat got a nice coating of dust. But I found myself focused and racing strong Much to my surprise I was feeling better than I did during my warm-up. I kept going as hard as I could to stay on the wheels of the racers just in front of me. Part of it was for drafting purposes, the other part is that I wanted to get in as many laps as I could before the leaders caught me and lapped me.

I was hanging on by a thread by my fourth time through. I knew that if I did not close the gap between me and the racer in front of me I was going to get pulled. I powered up to her and hung on to her wheel. I made it through! The officials let me go through for another tour! Yippee! My head was down and I drifted far to my left almost running into the barricades. I was fading. I kept pushing to just stay on the wheel in front of me for as long as my legs were able to endure the pain.

Closing out my fifth lap I was finally pulled from the race. The leaders were fast approaching. I finished in 37th place, but it was the best short track race for me both mentally and physically. I pushed myself to new limits physically and I am figuring out what the best strategy is for me for this type of race. I will work my way up to being called up to the start line so I am not cleaning up the back of the pack.