Cobbles, Rain, Road Furniture, Flat, Windy and Crashes?... yup. We’re in Holland!

Yesterday was stage 2 of the Tour of Holland and our first flat stage. After the race, we drove for about two hours (or at least that is what it felt like with the traffic) and got to our new hotel which does not have internet access. We just finished Stage 3- will tell you about that in a second- and so we switched hotels and are not back online. We actually had no intention of switching hotels- but it was a bit fleabag last night and with the mosquitos and such, Jim decided that it would be better if we were closer to town anyway. So, now we are back online.

So yesterdays race was a bit of a bummer. It was very Holland, even starting out with rain. The course was pancake flat and was a chance for me to test my sprint, but we had bigger priorities as a team. We were working to get Kristin into the winners jersey after the time trial. So our main race focus was keeping Kristin in position and keeping her opponents from gaining too many time bonuses on her. We started out great: we all managed to stay rubber side down through the towns with medians and posts, not to mention cars strewn about the course and headed into the cobbled sections in good position. The cobbles were more annoying than anything since they had strips of paving stones on either side. So, we all rode single file on the pavers and the cobbles failed to break the race up. And we had a lot of them too! I like cobbles when they are hard and become an element in the race, but these were, as I said, more annoying than anything. We just had to put up with them and there were no splits as we raced through.

The team’s job was to be up front and take opportunistic rides in breaks that might form. Nothing too dangerous split- except for a move that lasted for a while with a couple Flexpoint riders and an AA drink rider. They did not go too far though and neutralized attacks for a good many kilometers. My job was to go for bonus sprints to keep Vos and the other threatening riders from snatching up points on Kristin. As we headed into the first bonus, the team did a great job of moving me into position and getting me set. Chrissy moved me up twice and Kat was up there helping with the lead out. I was in good position but I could not really tell where the sprint was. It was not well marked and I ended up getting edged out and did not get any points and was not able to come around Vos. So, she snapped up a second on Kristin. It was good practice none the less for sprinting, but I was bummed to not get some points on the board. I think that Ina ended up taking the sprint- she was up there and I can’t remember now if she won or not.

As we headed back into town, we were to complete a couple 7k finishing circuits. We caught the three riders who had been off for a while and were then focusing on the finish. Kristin had attacked and got a good split with about 20k to the finish and was dragging a pack of riders. She strung the field out and we chased hard. She did a great job, but when things came back together, we had a bit of a problem- we were about 4 k from the finish when Judith Arnt (T-Mobile) and Trixie Worack (Nuremburg) got off the front with another rider. They are Kristin’s two biggest threats and we could not let them get time. They are also friends and were working hard together. With little time to spare, Jim gave the call to bring them back, but our team was scattered through the pack and not in great position. I happened to be in good position and moved up and dropped my head and just started to go as hard as I could. It was 2k from the finish and they were dangling within sight. As can often happen in the heat of the moment though, we had a bit of confusion. I was closing on them, but had caused a gap from the main field and was tailed by two T-mobile riders. We had some confusion as to if I should sit or drive it (Pro of sitting up, not dragging Judith’s teammates up to her, Pro of me driving it- when I went hard, the field was chasing regardless of the gap behind me: all of this is hard to communicate during a race and is the sort of thing that gets figured out later and through experience, which I still lack). I was not quite sure what to do and drove it hard, but when I was told to sit, I sat up. In the end, we made a mistake and did not get them back in time and they gained valuable time on Kristin. I was, of course, not able to sprint after that effort, but I did feel happy that I was at least able to help out.

Today was another flat stage and was cold and threatening rain more than it actually rained. There were two hills on the race today and our goal was to keep Kristin in the climber jersey and keep the race together so that she still has a chance to win the overall after the time trial. NO MORE attacks in the late race like the day before! Our plan worked well and the team really had a great race. We did what we were supposed to do.

I had been feeling under the weather and am fighting off a head cold, but was feeling good during the race. Either the racing is a lot easier than it was in the spring, or I am a lot stronger: but I felt like the race was pretty easy out there today and felt really good. The team was really doing a great job of communicating and all being up front so that we could patrol the front and make sure that the riders that we needed to watch did not get up the road. When we hit the hills, Kristin sat up front and drove the pace, easily winning both QOM’s and nailing her win of the climber competition. We all stayed with the main group over the climbs and were all moving up the entire race.

Again, there were a lot of obstacles in the roads, but we avoided the crashes (including a very big one right before the first climb when the entire peloton was jockeying for position... the road up the climb was super narrow, only wide enough for two or three riders shoulder to shoulder and so everyone was fighting to be up front when we hit the climb. Our team was successful and in good position). The race was fairly uneventful today except for two separations that were dangerous- Lauren trashed herself and brought them back before they got any appreciable time. It was particularly dangerous when Judith attacked within 10k... I had gotten shuffled and was way back there and heard Lauren radio that Judith had attacked. She got up there and drove it hard before I got a chance to move anywhere- but I had tried! And just trying to move up to help is hard work! My hat is off to her, she did a great job of keeping that contained and really killed herself.

It was hectic going into the finish, but Jim radioed that if it was all together, I should try sprinting. I was feeling good, but with 2k to go, it was pretty chaotic. The leadout trains were not set and it was a free-for-all. I found Regina, Ina and Vos, and was following them as they navigated the swarm. As we were coming into the finish, it got a bit dodgy, including me weaving in and out of some cones and thinking that I would for sure eat pavement. I stayed clear of the chaos and saw the finish line ahead... there was a big orange inflatable banner and I jumped, hard. I felt great and had a clear shot to my big, beautiful orange banner... which I realized just as I jumped, was not the finish line, but about 50m before the finish line. I knew right away that I made a mistake and jumped too early, but just dug and dug on my sprint. I felt great and was thinking that I might hold them off, but it was no use. It was too far out and they were going too fast. I could not hold it and in the end, issued the other sprinters a great lead out. ARGH!

My legs blew as I crossed to my mistaken finish line and the rest of the riders came flying by me. I was so frustrated. It really is such a bummer to mess up a finish when I don’t get too many chances at them. I keep replaying it in my mind and wondering what if... what if... what if? I know that I can’t do that and have to focus on my positives: I am up there. I am learning. I am navigating through a sea of chaos and did not get boxed in. I am racing against years and years of experience and made a rookie move on many accounts. My sprint felt good and I can definitely jockey for position... I know that the rest will come.

I just got back from dinner and am in my little “cozy” room. It really is a bit funny- since I am getting sick (or trying hard not to), I am quarantined into my own room. You would think that it is a treat to have your own room, but it sucks. I really do love hanging out with the girls and when you are by yourself, you feel so isolated (although later in the trip- I know that I will relish my alone time when I get it). We have a good group here and they are fun to hang with, but I certainly don’t want to get anyone sick! But what is funny- is that when Jim got this room, they told him that it is only for “emergencies”. It has been renamed my “janitor closet”... I have a toilet IN my room and have no bathroom and no shower. And no heater... but I do have a toilet (but they did not restock the TP and I am already rationing it... I have about 4 squares left and then the cardboard roll, but there is a left-over EMPTY cardboard roll, so I should probably count that in my rations too). So poor Brooke- no Molokai for this Leper... just a glorified broom closet with plumbing and a bed!

I don’t want anyone to think that I am bummed out. Especially after a good dinner- the race is behind me and I am excited to get to race again tomorrow. I had a good day out there and the team really did a great job. I am bummed and frustrated that my finish did not go the way I had hoped for feel that it could have, but all and all, it still was a good day out there.

Tomorrow, we will go to yet another hotel and hopefully they will have internet and toilet paper. If not, I will post when I get a chance.