| Tour of Montreal |
| Friday, 15 June 2007 | |
 Starting at dusk, 32 corners x 8laps, lightning, a 3k rule?
A few years ago, this was a nice race. Back in 2003 when I won with the help of my USA National-T Mobile squad and again in 2004, the courses had a bit more character and were much more conducive to racing. This year, all of the courses except the 5th stage were flat. (Yes, I know I am biased and prefer gravity games, but there were some flat landers who agreed with me!) Anyway, when I committed to the race, I was expecting more. So when I discovered the flat parcours, my motivation was severely crippled.My bare bones team consisted of TdL mate Iris S, Loes M, and Suzanne V. Benny was our mechanic/DS (director sportif)/photographer, and Yvonne was our super awesome-do everything-soigneur. We had minimal equipment, and one small rental car that was usually crammed full with four bodies in the backseat, bikes on the roof, and the trunk packed full. (Think Euro family vacation in Montreal.) We raced hard in search of any kind of victory with our tired legs and bodies. So the race… 5pm, 5:30pm, 11:30am and 7:15pm, and 4:15pm starts. The first stage had 256 corners in 110km. (Yes, one rider actually counted, and one lap had 32 corners.) Thankfully, we had minimal rain, since racing in the dusk when the body and mental faculties are already trying to shut down for the evening isn’t easy for anyone. After, there was a mandatory post race ‘banquet.’ (By banquet I mean some lettuce and some spaghetti noodles with some red sauce after standing in a long line of volunteers, staff, and tired, hungry riders.) We were finally back to our dorm rooms and ready for bed around midnight. Stage 2 was even more fun. The race time was pushed back to 5:30pm. There were only 4 corners per circuit, but it did start dumping rain about 20km in. This was followed by some massive lightning strikes that created “ooooohhhhss and aaaaawwwweesss” reserved for 4th of July fireworks celebrations. There was more lightning, thunder, rain, water deep enough in one corner to almost completely cover the large chain ring, DARKNESS, and high speeds for another 90km. Then, there was another hour drive back to the dorms, and again, a very late night for everyone. (FYI – transfers before and after races are normal for international races. However, the start times are usually designed to accommodate an earlier arrival time. This is easier on the staff and the riders.) Stage 3 was a morning, 3.5km, flat individual time trial. We were not allowed any TT equipment. Skinsuits and teams with deep dish wheels in their arsenal were it. When the conversation came around to skinsuits, one of the questions was, “Did Jeannie Longo race in her skinsuit and TT the previous two days so that she could also use them in the TT??” Maybe. Then again, she always uses that set up with her 650 wheeled road race bike! Her psychological warfare starts on the start line where she just looks ready to ride solo off the front! And even at her age, she is still world class and capable of it... so props to her.  Super Soigny Yvonne helping me at the TT start. Anyway, the TT race morning was unusually cold for Montreal. The temperature was down around 10C (after being a more normal 27C a few days earlier.) My ride was ok for how I felt. Nothing spectacular, but it was ok considering the legs and the amount of time I was out of the saddle. Dotsie (my Irvine friend and fellow American) had a spectacular race, finishing in 3rd. Great ride. Stage 4: The evening stage = 7:15pm start, 50km, crit, flat, basic four corners. Good race until about 1.5km to go. The bunch was completely together and spread across the road, when there was a huge crash near the front (including Loes M.) This created a massive split. Only 25 riders could get through. Typically, if a major event happens in the final 3km, everyone in the front bunch gets the same time. For some strange reason, despite the protests of almost every team, the commissar decided there was already a break up the road when the crash happened. The funny thing is that I was in that break, and we were caught the lap before! Unfortunately, that cost a few people their top 10 GC placings (me included.)  Crit race action. Stage 5: Finally a small hill! Wood still had the yellow, and T-Mob rode excellent in defense all day. The race finished with a sprint on a short, gradual hill. Wood sealed her overall victory with the stage win. Worrack was 2nd, Bronzini 3rd, and I was 4th. There was another mandatory banquet after the race. I was back to the dorms about 11:30pm. Time to pack up my bike and stuff, and get a couple of hours of sleep before my taxi for the airport would arrive at 6am. 6 more hours of flying…some driving… and I am home. I have been on the road for 2 months plus a detour to Montreal. It is time for me to be home, see my husband, rest, train, and prepare for the second half of the season.  The future looks fast. More photos in the gallery! http://www.amberneben.com/index.php?set_albumName=album19&option=com_gallery&Itemid=&include=view_album.php |
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