Throwback Thursday #TBT

Here's a #TBT (Throwback Thursday) photo of me at my first ever road race.

Yes, that is a Camelback.  I am wearing a softshell jacket that my Mom bought me from Costco, and my work uniform shirt from Coast Mountain Sports - it kind of looked like what I thought a cycling jersey should look like.  I was not wearing cycling socks or a shammy, because I didn't have any.  Hey - I just bought a bike for goodness' sake (it took a YEAR to save enough cash).  No dollars left over for the superfluous digs... (hashtag: #ownit)

#TBT : First race ever.  Sporting a Camelback because I didn't know how to reach down for my bottles.

I couldn't understand a single French word the comissaire was saying (I didn't speak much Molière, especially à la Québécoise back then).  So, I went off the start line with the masters men.  (I'd only ever ridden with guys anyways).  Some man shoved me on purpose as he rode by in the first few hundred meters.  What a jerk. Then I got dropped really fast.

The next pack (the girls who I was supposed to be racing with) caught me.  Then they dropped me.  It was raining.  I was cold.  Then I found some girl and a boy half my age to draft off of to finish the "race".

I still felt pretty badass for doing my first race.  Never give up. 

After racing in North Carolina at the Winston-Salem Classic with TWENTY16 (successfully scoring first UCI points of the season on the road), I headed to Colorado Springs to train.  The first days were low-intensity on the bike, but the training didn't finish at the end of the ride...

Three for 3 at Sea Otter

Sea Otter Classic Circuit Race womens' sprint, 2014. Photo Credit: Garrett Lau

 TWENTY16 scored a total of 5 podium finishes in 3 races at the Sea Otter Classic.  It felt so good to stand on the podium 3 times for my team, especially after sitting on the sidelines following my concussion in late-March.  The final race took place on the legendary Laguna Seca raceway.  What a treat to race on a race track!  The course was fast, challenging, and fun to ride on.  I chose to race with ZIPP 404's on my Felt bike.

TWENTY16 made the race hard and aggressive, yet again.  My teammates and I launched attacks, and drove the pace hard on the sections of racecourse that hurt the most.  

Credit: Will Matthews. http://www.wilmatthewsphoto.com

Several of my teammates and I initiated small breakaways.  At the end of the race, Alison Tetrick launched a superb attack and got away on her own.  I followed the first wheel to chase her.

There were about 5 riders in that little split.  Coming to the finish line, I was sitting second wheel, behind my teammate Alison, who our competitors had caught me up to.  I yelled at her to keep driving to the pace, to bring me to the finish line, with the other riders on my wheel. 

Canadian Criterium Champion and sprint specialist, Leah Kirchmann of Optum launched her sprint with 200m to go.  I followed hard, and didn't manage to pass her front wheel by the time we reached the finish line.  A second place finish thanks to great teamwork to finish off the Sea Otter Classic was awesome.  Alison and I celebrated by eating our Kiku Apples on the podium.  Woo hooo!

#SweetKiku Lex Albrecht and Alison Tetrick enjoying Kiku apples together on the podium at Sea Otter Classic!

 Next race : Winston Salem Classic (UCI 1.2) in Winston, North Carolina.

Victory +1, at Sea Otter Classic

After an aggressive raceday of textbook teamwork, TWENTY16 stands atop of the podium at Sea Otter Classic (Laguna Seca Speedway, Monterey California).  Alison Tetrick took the victory in a solo breakaway  I stood beside her, taking a silver medal for the team winning the bunch sprint.




The race started off with strong attacks from our riders, Mary Maroon launched a particularly spectacular move off the front of the peloton, and made our opponents work hard to bring her back.  After successive attacks and counter-attacks, Dotsie (silver medalist at the Olympics, ladies and gents!) got away for a good part of the race! 


Only after the other teams managed to bring her back with 1 lap to go, did we start launching attacks again.  Alison got off the front at the top of a tough climb, and many riders were so far into the pain cave that they didn't notice.  On the twisty, rolling course, Alison was soon out of sight (and out of mind)


Coming into the grueling finishing climb, my teammates Sofia, Kristin, and Amber kept me at the front.  Amber led the pack with me on her Wwheel for the last 2 kilometers.  With 150m to the uphill finishline, I jumped off of her wheel, drilling it to the line.  Nobody ever came around.

Result: 2 more podiums for TWENTY16 - and another victory!  WOOT WOOT!

On the Podium at Sea Otter Classic 2014

Team TWENTY16 podiumed on the first day of the Sea Otter Classic at the Laguna Seca Speedway in Monterey, CA.

Two days after arriving in California for a hard 6-week block of racing and training, I crashed 15 minutes into stage 2 of the San Dimas Stage Race, suffering a minor concussion.  I pulled out of the race immediately, and stayed on the sidelines of the following stage race, Redlands Bicycle Classic.  It was hard to sit out.  I spent my time colouring pictures, sleeping, and chilling poolside.  Gradually, I reincorporated riding back into my days, slowly but surely.  If there were any minor symptoms, I pulled back immediately, and let myself rest.  I really appreciate the patience and support from my teammates and TWENTY16's management. 

Post by Lex Albrecht.

The Sea Otter Classic is my first race back in action with TWENTY16 and I was thrilled to represent our colours on the podium at the first day of this huge cycling event.


Check out this video!
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FELT Bicycles meets Team TWENTY16