The Grand Tour of Montreal Stage 2

June 2, 2009 - Stage 2 of the Grand Tour of Montreal was another flat circuit race. The course actually had a QOM in it, but the hill was about the equivilent of an overpass. Cervelo continued to dominate with Kirstin Wild taking her second stage win in a field sprint.

Here is Alex's report:

Stage 2 in the Grand Tour of Montreal was very similar to stage 1. High speeds and Cervelo controlling the race for the Wild one (Kirstin Wild). The main difference being that today it was FINALLY not raining. The race started off really really really fast, with Cervelo jumping on anyone that even thought about trying get a break up the road. Katheryn and Erinne were both very attentive up at the front for most of the day, making sure that we had someone in any dangerous moves.

Unfortunately we had to say good bye mid-race to our little Rock Star Amy, as she had developed some tendonitis in her knee. Hopefully Amy will get some good rest between now and be back strong for Philly on Sunday.

Cervelo ended up getting their way and it came down to a bunch kick. Kirstin Wild was again too strong for the rest of us and ended up taking the stage. We were a little frustrated that we still cannot work out the leadout, but the criterium in Little Italy is another chance.

The Grand Tour of Montreal Stage 3

June 3, 2009 - Stage 3 of the Tour of Montreal was a 3.5 km out and back time trial on a bike path along the river. There is a little chicaine and the turnaround, but otherwise a straight shot. In order to accommodate all the European teams flying across the pond, the race organizers make the rule that no time trial equipment at all is allowed. Everyone is on road bikes and road wheels without clip-ons or aero helmets. They were even going to extend the rule to disallow skinsuits, but that was argued in the team managers meeting beforehand, and in the end all the teams agreed that skinsuits would be allowed.

Cervelo once again stamped their dominance on the event with two of their riders breaking the magic 4 min. barrier. I can't ever remember anyone breaking 4 min. on this course in the years I have been here. Regina Bruins won in a 3:57 (53.16kph! )and Kirsten Wild took 2nd in 3:58, extending her lead in the overall. 3rd was Elenora Van Dyke from Columbia-High Road 8 sec. back and from there on down, the times were separated by fractions of seconds.

Alex had a good day placing 8th in the TT at 12 sec. and moving into 9th on GC.

Here is Alex's report:

Stage 3 of Montreal was an epic 3.5 km tt. Short time trials mid stage race are always mentally taxing and hard to prepare for, as often the body is already quite fatigued, so a long hard warm-up would only do more harm than good. However, if you do not warm up enough, you will not ride into a 3.6k time trial.

Erinne and myself managed to run 12th and 8th, which puts us into a solid position for the criterium and the more challenging final road stage on Friday where hopefully we can create a break and get somebody up the road, as unfortunately we have been struggling a bit to pick up bonus seconds in the time sprints.

The Grand Tour of Montreal Stage 4

June 3, 2009 - Day 3 was a double day with the time trial in the morning and a criterium in downtown Montreal in the evening. The crit is always a fun venue with lots of crowds and it is in "Little Italy" so we had a nice pizza dinner after the race. The organizers always put on a 3-lap "Staff race" for all the team support staff before the main women's event. People treat this with various levels of seriousness, but having done of for the past three years, I can say that there are always enough fit staff to make it blazingly fast!! This year I was joined by Dave and Jeremy in the Webcor colors!

In the main event, the Webcor team was well positioned at the front for the whole race and the finish was better than in the past two days, but we still have some fine tuning to do!

Here is Gina's report:

Well, you know the crit is going to be fast when 100 woman line up 25 min before the start of the race to get a good position on the start line. Yes, we stood there for 25 minutes, but that was after cheering on our three staff hammer the 3-lap 'staff' race before ours. Dave the machine mechanic took control at the front for the first third of the race (i.e., the first lap), then "headed" to the back. Karen the krazy director was in the main break of the day, the only woman represented with about six other guys. she didn't want to embarrass them in the sprint so she just held wheels. Jezza the jewel soigneur manned the field and i saw him get up and sprint, taking his group of three for the finish – job well done staff!

Then the elite women's race: 50 laps – about 1hr 15min. In the first 5 laps, I (Gina) flatted. No problem, stopped in the pit; and instead of being put back in the top 10 where I was, the commissaire had me pushed in at the back of 100 riders. OK, time to move up, again. Then a crash happened, all before the first time bonus of the day. Katheryn and I were caught behind it and went to the pit unharmed and were, again, pushed in at the back of 100 riders.

Meanwhile, Nikki and Alex were a firm presence for the entire race in the top 10ish riders, as was Katheryn who rode a well positioned race. Cervelo was basically setting a speeding fast tempo for most of the race, where the little attacks that happened didn't go anywhere.

Alex unleashed her sprinting legs today to take 3rd in the sprint for time, gaining 1 sec. and moving her up to 6th in GC now. Way to go Alex!

The super fast speed continued with sprints for cash being offered inside 10 laps to go. Some weather was moving in bringing gusty winds with it, which inevitably caused a bad crash near the front of the field at 5 laps to go. Webcor was all clear of that, although it happened right in front of Alex and meI. Luck had it that the rider went down to the left and we went to the right.

Then what really stirred things up was at 1 lap to go, bell lap, we were all up front and some lapped riders, who were not pulled from the race were in our way!!! So on the last lap, we were navigating our way through slower lapped riders trying to keep our position. As this got sorted, Webcor got split up and I just made the best of the situation. Trying to get through a Cervelo leadout proved difficult, and knowing there was a fierce headwind finish, I came about 5th through the last corner near Kirsten Wild, sprinted with her for a bit, and she shot the hole, and I did my best to follow, but ended up a bit behind in 6th.

So with Alex in 6th, we have some sprint bonus times to pick up tomorrow to keep jumping up the GC ladder.