June 14-18 , 2006

Nature Valley Grand Prix Stage Race - Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Nature Valley Grand Prix is a “Women’s Prestige Series” and NRC
(National Race Calender) event on the North American Road Racing calendar
and 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, this race was 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 - one of which featured 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.

Happy riding!
Julia
www.juliabradley.net