California Round Up!

Well we are back from our first set of stage races in California. Most of the team was racing into better shape while some of the team seems to be in pretty good shape already and it's only going to improve for them too!
San Dimas proved to be fun racing, with day 2 being 90 degrees putting a bit of new stress on the body!
Anne was able to get in a break that finished her in 4th place in the RR. A good start to the season for just racing into shape. The crit was active and Jo, Anne and Vero stuck it out til the end. Vero being quite aggressive and maintaining her normal stellar position! There are some pictures above of the crit.
Overall I felt like SD was getting back in the pack and the feel of racing again. For me it had been a long time since I had been in a big pack so I think it was good for getting some early season nerves out.
Next came Redlands. A few more racers and a few more good racers. I love Redlands. Maybe because I KNOW it is a hard race. And I like hard races.
The prologue was lung burning as usual. I won the bet on who won...Amber Neben :). She is a special talent that woman. I think I got a cup of tea as a prize...sad..yes.I think so too!
The team were ok with our performances. Vero topping off the quickest time placing her in 22nd overall.
Next came the Beaumont RR. My memory of this is hell as last year there were 45km winds for sure...and even Amber said it was one of the hardest races she has done....it was awful. So having said that this year felt way easier. Don't get me wrong, the pace was fast and the hills were hard...but there was no whaling cross wind to deal with all day..big difference, especially for us little folk.
Krystal attacked early in the race and stayed away for 25km...go Krystal! It was great to have our jersey up the road for that long. And for Krystal to GO FOR IT. Much more satisfying to have tried. Once the peleton caught her Anne and Vero tried a few more attacks but no one was letting anything go. The plan for the day was surely to get the finish time bonus. And so it went just like that. Joanie followed some good wheels and practiced her sprint coming in a fine 8th. Not bad at all for the first big sprint of the season. I think we will be bumping that up to podium levels soon enough! Joanie is off to Belgium for a month and you can bet she will return ON FIRE with some wicked legs for Joe Martin.
The next day was the crit. I can admit that we missed the boat that day as we were the only team not in the break. But as I said, we are racing into shape and things will change by the next race. It was a hard crit, especially the middle part when the real time bonus was on the line and Ina scooped it, which led to counters and more counters and a break getting up the road. They put in enough time to put Ina into the lead for Sunset.
Last was Sunset loop. Now if you have raced Sunset..you will know that EVERY year..when the neutral car pulls off..it is GAME ON..NO wasting time..AT ALL. We were going hard into that hill....and it was cross eyed all the way up. It was pain..but in a way I always like Sunset..it's a great hill. a few of us were with the main pack til the third lap...at which point I think after that we were off and with our subsequent groups or alone. But everyone rode on and finished the race. Vero tried one attack and was brought back..but kudos for trying. Anne had some back spasms...that has to hurt...and well I just was dangling that third lap and ended up with a group that unfortunately was not that motivated to race!!! And we rode/raced...i would say more rode..the last 4 of 9 laps. And people joined our group from behind. Looking back I think a few of us should have just kept hammering...but it's funny when the group isn't doing that its hard to do it alone.
I was glad to see that my legs felt the best on the last day of racing and I think they were starting to come back. I just wish we were still down there with more racing to do!
Thank you to our wonderful hosts! You were truly amazing and so nice to open your homes to the team! We hope you will have us back in 2011!!!!
I posted some pictures of the racing. We will keep you posted on team events. Tomorrow is the local GOOD FRIDAY RR and next weekend is BATTENKILL!!!!
That's all for now!
Team nanoblur-Gears.