After some quality recovery with my Compex Sport Elite Machine (check out @Lex_albrecht on Twitter for pictures) following Stage 2, the pistons were feeling pretty good. Stage 3 of the Exergy Tour started with 3 km neutral out of Crouch, ID, and then Optum put out a few attacks, and covered a few more. It was going well.
We entered into the feed-zone at an unusually early point in the race (only 38.3 km in). Most riders didn't even bother taking a bottle. I had plenty of Clif Shot drink mix left in my bottles and the 10+km climb was about to begin anyways. Nobody wants to haul around extra weight uphill for the fun of it.
A break with Optum's Janel Holcomb got away on the climb. The field split up as we ascended, and all of the Optum riders were in the front group (execpt Janel, who was off of the front). As we crested the top of the climb, the pace kicked up and the 5 km descent before the second climb began.
Today, I remembered my Mavic shoes, my Thule backpack, my Lazer helmet and frame-less Lazer Magneto sunglasses, but I left my balls at home.
I got dropped on the darn curvy wet roads, and just as I clawed back to the lead group, I got dropped again as we entered into the day's final descent. Not cool.
What is cool though is that as the lead group neared the finish line, Jade Wilcoxson launched some strong attacks against the field, keeping the pace high and the pack organized. Carmen Small and Janel gave Leah Kirchmann a sweet lead out, and Leah just barely missed the victory, which German national champion Ina Teutenburg took home instead. 2nd place podium for Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies. Way to deliver the goods LEAH! And Jade is back in the top-10!
Way to go girls!
If anybody saw where those balls are at, shout me a holler.
Trust me....by having that happen..you won't let it happen many more times :). All the hard work you do to get to the top so well (you little goat!) and eventually you will get so pissed...you will be there on the descent! Just think..they are not crashing..so why would you? It will come Lexy..you ROCK..keep up the good attitude and believe that you are as talented as everyone else there..and YOU TOO have the balls to do what they are doing! You ARE one of them!
ReplyDelete