June 13, 2006

UCI Rouge Race, PEI: Julia Bradley update

A quick update on my racing in PEI. As expected, the racing is extremely hard and top notch racing. There are several National teams, including Cuba, Australia, New Zealand and Russia, as well as several top European Professional teams. I flew in on Sat a bit tired after a busy week at work and started racing Sunday. Since this is a UCI sanctioned race, you have to be on a team of 4-6 riders plus a manager and mechanic, so I'm guest riding at this race for the Advil-Chapstick women's team.

Stage 1: Sunday was a circuit race. There were many attacks and I hung on for the first half of the race, even making a presence at the front of the group and going with surges. My legs went into a bit of shock after several surges from the pack and I couldn't hang on with just over 4 laps to go after getting caught in the back half of a split. I finished with a small group within the time cut, 11 minutes back.

Stage 2: Monday's race was a 28.8 km TT across confederation bridge. It was a really big deal that they closed the bridge - only the 2nd time they've ever closed it. It was a straight on tail wind going out and a straight on strong headwind coming back. I peaked at 67.5 km/ hour going out and struggled to do over 20 km/h returning. I finished a little more than halfway down the field - legs were pretty toast. Some of the top results from today were questionable. I think the commissaires made some mistakes and riders were given faster times (not me), and unfortunately it was not resolved, affecting the overall General classification.

Stage 3 was today and it was a 121 km road race. One big loop. It was WINDY again (Hey - we're on an island. What do you expect I guess?). My legs finally started coming around today and I felt good. There's definitely something to be said for not working and only having to concentrate on racing! There was alot of gutter action with the crosswinds today and I chased back a few times after thinking I was dropped for good. I managed to (sort of) finish with the main group. With 1 km to go, there was alot of jostling for positioning going into the sprint. I was with the main pack and got kinda shoved onto the side of the road. I did a bit of cyclocross and got back on the road but the pack was flying and I couldn't catch them as they set were setting up for the sprint. I finished in 65th?, just 15 secs or so behind the main pack. It was good to feel the fitness that I know I have starting to kick in.

There's been a banquet every night and we've been treated really well. Tonight's was at Cavendish, home of Ann of Green Gables. They had an "Avonlea" band, featuring the entire cast of characters from the book. Quite funny! The weather has been great. Not too hot and no rain yet.

That's all for now!

You can get full results from all the stages at: www.cyclingnews.com.

2 more stages to go.