Team BH USA Race Calendar

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Toured America's Dairyland

Team BH finished off 10 days of racing at the Tour of America's Dairyland this past Sunday. We battled steep climbs (they exist in WI!), endured hot and humid weather, and competed against strong fields.  With Verducci, Kenda, and Lipsmackers fielding strong riders, we had an intense battle for the overall jersey.  We were able to wear yellow for a couple days, but ended up 2nd in the overall to a very strong Verducci squad (Congrats to Jessi and the team!).  

Throughout the individual races, we also fared quite well with a number of top 10's and 4 podiums!  Here is Madeleine taking 2nd after her last minute solo breakaway at the Fond Du Lac crit (sorry for the poor photography):



Here is Devon standing on the top step after the Greenbush RR drinking the winning recovery drink (chocolate milk --- mmm!):


Overall, ToAD was a super venue!  The races were well run and a ton of fun!  The promoters also prioritized the women's racing -- putting out great primes and a prize list that was competitive with the men.  The women's field wasn't huge this year, but hopefully the good word gets out about this series so that the numbers grow in years to come.  

Team BH now has a short hiatus in our race schedule... for some of us Sunday was race number 16 in the last 19 days -- time for our legs to get a rest!  

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Touring Through America's Dairyland


We are in the midst of a 10 day series of racing throughout Wisconsin in the Tour of America's Dairyland.  So far, we have had great venues, well-run races, and strong competition... with representation from Verducci, Kenda, and Team Lip Smacker.

We started off with the toughest road race course in the midwest on Thursday (and the proposed Olympic Course for 2016).  After two top 10 finishes for Team BH, we then headed into a series of criteriums over the weekend in Waterloo, Grafton, and Manitowoc.  Along with several top 10 finishes, we also managed to win the leader's jersey for a day!  

After a day off of racing, the full squad headed up to Fond Du Lac for race #5.  The sun also came out in full force with temperatures reaching the mid-90's!  (yikes!!)  The race started out slowly... i think we were all a little intimidated by the sizzling sun.  However in lap 2 out of 6, the racing began and after a series of attacks a break of 7 formed.  The break worked well together and stayed away for the next 4 laps.  In a close sprint to the finish, Team BH took home a W and we'll get to wear the leader's jersey for another day.  With other teams trailing very closely behind in the overall, it should turn out to be 5 more days of exciting racing!!

Outside of racing, we have gotten to tour other sides of America's Dairyland... particularly the frozen custard.  This is one of the best culinary delights that Wisconsin has to offer.  The cool delicious treat especially hits the spot after a hard day of racing.  My favorite place to go is Kopps -- they have a variety of yummy flavors, nicely sized portions, and some pretty good cheeseburgers too.  I'm looking forward to a butter pecan cone tomorrow -- MMmmm!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Tour of America's Dairlyand

We're now in the midst of Tour of America's Dairlyand. Check out this promotional video featuring Team BH USA's Madeleiene Puissant!


We're racing for 10 days at different venues all around Wisconsin. Yesteday was day 1 and we raced the proposed 2016 olympic road race course in Blue Mounds, WI. Our series is off to a great start with two top ten finishes including Devon on the podium in second place!


Nature Valley Grand Prix--details

For a stage race there are so many logistical things that need to be taken care of. This time everything went really smoothly. Thanks so much to Leah from the Bike Shop in Glen Ellyn for putting together the awesome care package! For the race we had Molly from Cuttin Crew working support. She was great and we can’t thank her enough for a job well done. Also Devon’s brother and mom were out at all of the stages and were wonderful at cheering and providing delicious food at exactly the right moment.

This race was exciting because it was Kristin Armstrong’s last US race before she retires. She won the gold medal in the tt in last year’s olympics and she’s been a world champion and has won this race numerous times. She came out solo and beat all the pro teams. She is an inspiration to us all and it was very exciting to be a part of it and to be there to witness first hand.

Our team worked well together and Devon was our best finisher in 26th overall. On the whole it was a great experience.

Results can be found here

Here’s Kristen's blow by blow--

Day 1
Am TT: Given my history with the tt I was legitimately nervous. I got myself all worked up and as a result felt terrible. It was out and back on a long flat stretch finishing on a terrific hill. I went out too hard and could not maintain my power on the way back on the flat part but when I hit the hill I felt good climbing it and was able to go hard. Felt like I could have gone faster and was terrfied about missng the cut. It was a big relief to have our whole team legitimately make it, and I think we were all excited to get it out of the way. Devon was now 53rd in the GC.

Pm St. Paul Crit: We all got to the start line late and had to line up in the back. Crazy fast from the gun, Devon managed to work her way to the front of the race, and Madeleine, Anne and I spent the first laps picking people off and moving up. I made it up to the main field, but it took a lot out of me and then I just decided since I had made the cut to quit fighting and save my legs for the rest of the week. In hindsight, I wish I would have just finished. Madeleine and Anne weren’t so lucky and that ended their race. We were bummed, but they decided to stick around for the rest of the week and help us, and they were a great support. Devon’s Power Tap file from the race was interesting. The first half of the race where she was fighting to move up at the back compared to the second half of the race where she had made it to the front, was the same speed; but the second half averaged 30 watts lower!

Day 2
Cannon Falls RR: I had done this race last year and it played out almost exactly the same. Crazy hard moment at the beginning, where I had to fight to stay on at the back, then the rest of the race was fine. This race was fun because Kristin Armstrong was hanging out in the field and I confess I was a little starstruck to actually be riding next to her in a race. We had a “moment’ when a huge piece of metal debris came flying through the field and we exchanged “what the heck??” glances. I know, I am a huge nerd :)

For this race we rode out of town on a big loop and then come back into a finishing circuit via a gravel path. Fine for those cyclocross types (Devon!) but super scary for me. I did just fine though, and had already avoided lots of crashes during the race, including the big one that took out most of Webcor and half the field, and I hit the gravel section with the front group. Here again I went into survival mode and just rode around to finish. Hindsight being 20/20 I could have/should have made up some time here. Devon rode strong and finished with the front group.

Day 3
Minneapolis crit: . Fun downtown crit within riding distance of our housing. Huge rowdy crowd. I admit to having some high hopes for this race. Got a good starting position but messed it up clipping in. Was caught behind an early crash, caught back on, then rode around at the back until I made the time cut. Legs did not feel good today. After I made the time cut I made a huge effort to move up and it only got me to about the top third of the field. I then immediately blew up, couldn't maintain the position and gave up, not wanting to ride around fighting at the back. I had hoped to do better and was disappointed. Devon finished just fine midfield. Super fun to have my family out to watch, and afterwards we went back to our house where our host Deborah and her daughter had made an incredible spread of food for us!! It was just what we needed, and I’m convinced that’s why we felt so good the next day!

Day 4
Mankato: 91 mile RR. Same deal with the loop and the finishing circuit. Not sure if it was intentional or what but I did not check out the hill on the circuit beforehand and I had no idea it was waiting for me! It was like Stillwater but 3x as long. I was wondering why the first 81 miles were so easy. Needless to say I was blown away when we hit it the first time. It seemed like a cruel joke. The first time approaching the hill I was caught up in a crash--I didn't go down but I had to stop and chase back on but I think I ended up riding the hill ok. I was able to go hard at the top of it and go fast on the way down. Legs felt good after today--definitely tired but not totally dead. I had enough left at the end to muster up a sprint for 72 place which I lost, doh! but I think I did ride as hard as I could today and it felt great. Devon had a spectacular day and finished 18th, moving her up quite a bit in the GC.

Day 5
Stillwater: The race was 13 laps and we only had to do three to finish. This race is snake alley steep without the switchbacks but it’s kind of the same, up hard, down scary. Prior to having kids, this race was my best finish ever. In 2002 I made the break and finished 14th. There was quite a bit of luck involved, but still I have fond memories of this race and was looking forward to it. I got a great start, went as hard as I could and feel pretty good about getting 6 laps in before getting pulled. I then hung out with my family and got to watch Devon’s strong finish for a 26th GC placing as well as the impressive finishes of Amanda Miller and Kristin Wentworth. Not to mention Kristin Armstrong’s amazing win. When I started watching she was riding in a break fo 3, and seemingly effortlessly dopped them and finished solo at 1 lap to go. I was glad to be there for that.

I am amazed at how well my BH Cristal handled. I felt extremely comfortable on it and it handles beautifully. On the whole I’m super excited to have finished, but I of course now wish that I had not been so conservative at the beginning and would have aimed for a GC finish a little higher than 83rd. I think that’s the addicting part of bike racing….there’s a lot I can improve and next time I will do better!!

Thanks so much to our amazing hosts Deborah, Jack and Susan, and Rick who put us all in touch. You guys were great! Also thanks to my mom, aunt Sue, uncle Tim and the rest of my family for all their help hanging out with my kids and making sure they had so much fun. Couldn’t do it without you guys.

Pictures to follow

Monday, June 15, 2009

Nature Valley Recap (Haiku Style)

Day 1 (part 1): Individual Time Trial

started flat and fast
steep steep up to the finish
success all around


Day 1 (part 2): St. Paul Downtown Crit

zoom zoom right away
wish we had a better start
two survive the cut


Day 2: Cannon Falls RR

course in the country
gravel road to finish loop
where fans cheer us home


Day 3: Uptown Minneapolis Crit

fun boisterous crowd
zip around many corners
woosh through the finish


Day 4: Mankato RR

long long long hot jaunt
before hitting monster climb
tough grind to finish


Day 5: Stillwater Crit

steep steep steep steep steep
zoom down and begin again
yay for the finish!


A Thank You:

wonderful house hosts
supportive family and friends
generous sponsors



Monday, June 8, 2009

Nature Valley Grand Prix

Nature Valley Grand Prix: this is one of our pinnacle events of the year: a 5-day, 6-stage race in Minnesota that is a Pro, 1, 2 Invite only race. The best women in the country and even the world converge for the week and we are excited to be amongst them!

The schedule:
Wednesday-
Stage 1: Saint Paul Riverfront Time Trial
Stage 2: Downtown St. Paul Criterium

Thursday-
Stage 3: Cannon Falls Road Race

Friday-
Stage 4: Uptown Minneapolis Criterium

Saturday-
Stage 5: Mankato Road Race

Sunday-
Stage 6: Stillwater Criterium

Be sure to check for updates everyday!

WI State Championship Race

This weekend Team BH got together once again to test the legs out at the WI state road race championships held in Spring Prairie, WI before we head out to one of our biggest races of the year, Nature Valley Grand Prix (which starts this Weds and runs a brutal 5day, 6stages course through Sunday!).

The day started quite cool and grey with thunderstorms threatening and Devon let us all know on our race radios that no arm warmers or knee warmers might not have been a great idea after all ;) as we started our neutral roll out up the "big climb." The course of the day was quite nice, rolling hills with one big kicker, a 200m steep surge that definetely makes you feel the burn and is also the final obstacle before the finish which is about 200meters after the top.

Our starting group was impressive, about 30 women with some strong Kenda, ISCorp, and MadCity Velo riders we knew it'd be tough! We stayed together as a group til the first time up the hill when the selection was made. We were quite pleased with the shake-up as the break of 8 held 3 BH riders! However, with Kristin Wentworth of Kenda, Rachel and Kaitie from ISCorp, Heidi from XXX, and a lone MN rider as well as lots of riders chasing we had no room to relax.
Kristin and Devon threw multiple attacks and Madeleine watched for attacks and covered wheels as the race continued to be fast. We worked well as a team, setting up some great attacks to tire out the other riders and helping keep the pace high. After five times up the hill we prepared ourselves for the finish. Kristen threw out a blistering attack as we came into the climb, Devon hopped on Kristin W. and Rachel's wheel and we all started the last brutal slog up the climb. Devon was flying and was able to come around Kristen to take the WIN!
All in all, a great day for Team BH USA-two podiums (for the WIN and the state championship) and just always a good time to be racing our beautiful BH bikes together!And thanks again (and again and again!) to The Bike Shop, Glen Elyn for Christmas in June! We got beautiful new Sidi shoes, petals, cleats, and socks!!! We are SO lucky to be sponsored by such a generous and top-notch shop! Stop by or check them out online!

AND...look for our Nature Valley reports! Kristen headed out today to make the drive with her family and Molly who will be our "jack of all trades" (thanks Molly!) for the weekend, Devon, Anne, and I all head out tomorrow morning. Wish us luck!