Team MotionBased

Another race report from Conquer the Canyons 2006, a three stage road race. Also see Conquer the Canyons by Jenna Shoemaker. Stage 1 Time Trial: The time trial was a 4 mile rolling/uphill course with a start line just 50 meters off the Pacific Coast Highway! It was awesome being able to warm up and race so close to the Ocean. The weather was fair, with very little wind. I decided to go with my regular road bike rather and the TT bike, which probably would have been a better choice for the course. I finished 14th. Stage 2 Circuit Race: The circuit race was a 2.3 mile, 3 corners, one lane-loop with good/excellent pavement. The race ended with an average speed in the high 20s, thanks mostly to the Successful Living Professional Race Team. It became obvious early in the race that a breakaway would not go unless Successful was represented in it, and the group wasn't letting Successful get more than 15 seconds up the road. So, the race ended with a field sprint, with few changes, if any, to the GC. I made it a priority to stay toward the front of the pack and out of trouble on the last lap, and finished 7th. Stage 3 Road Race: The temperature dropped into the 50s for the road race, and the sky threatened rain. Despite being just under 60 miles (a distance that is considered short for a Pro 1/2 road race), the road was extremely difficult, as the racers had to battle strong winds, on-and-off rain, and over 6,000 feet of climbing. Successful was aggressive from the first lap, and managed to get 4 guys in the main break of 8. I was caught too far in the pack and was not able to react in time, and didn't make the break. At that point, I decided to sit in and try to stay as protected as possible in the pack, and planned on making a final full out effort to bridge to the breakaway on the last lap. On the last lap, I attacked a couple miles before the main climb in hopes of bridging up the breakaway (less than 30 seconds up the road, at that time). I worked with two other riders and closed the gap with just over 10 seconds at the top of the climb. Shortly after we crested the climb, we were joined by a 4th rider, Daniel Ramsey of Sucessfulliving (1st in the GC at the time), who had just bridged a 30 second gap solo on the climb. A mile or so later, Ramsey attacks the 4 man group and I tried to go with him. Ramsey made it to the break with less than a mile to go, while I wasn't quite able to make the bridge and finished 7 seconds behind the original breakaway. A rider from Successful soloed to victory, apx. 30 seconds in front of the original break.