Green Mountain Stage Race
In 2021, I had the opportunity to guest ride with the Cardinal Classic Cycling team for their last two stage races of the season, the Joe Martin Stage Race and the Green Mountain Stage Race. It was such a special experience that I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the latter and express my excitement about joining the team in 2022!
The Green Mountain Stage Race took place in Waterbury, Vermont on Memorial Day weekend. With Florence having raced it solo in 2019, we were excited to see what we could do as a team of four this year. We brought a competitive roster in Florence, Sommers, Katy, and myself and planned to contest the GC, Sprint, and QOM competitions available across the four days of racing.
In preparation for the race, most of the team flew from Joe Martin in Arkansas to Green Mountain in Vermont to pre-ride a couple of the stages. I had already booked a flight home to Pennsylvania to squeeze in a couple days of work (would not recommend) so eventually I drove up to meet everyone in Vermont the day before the race. The team was staying in a house on the access road to Sugarbush Resort which is where I found them cozied up in the living room Thursday evening.
While catching up with everyone, I realized that I was not alone in feeling more flat, tired, and hungry than ever before in the week since Joe Martin/before Green Mountain. As it turns out, stage racing takes its toll! I was glad that I was starting to feel better after just a week of easy riding like the others though too. After catching up, we feasted our eyes on strava files and the race tech guide to get an idea of the first effort, the time trial. I was given the opportunity to leave it all out there so I planned to go a little harder up the first hill that had three steps to it, power over the top and through the flat sections, pedal through the dip and not blow up too early on the gradual incline at the end. Having the experience of our Team Director, Sarah and support from Florence’s family (parents, Becky and Reuban, and boyfriend, Devin) was a huge help for me to strike the balance of being prepared and patient.
Stage 1: Warren Individual Time Trial
As expected, Stage 1 provided a spicy appetizer to the rest of the weekend. The course measured 5.7 miles and gained 550 feet in elevation which we estimated would take roughly 12-15 minutes of pure pain to complete. After reviewing the course a bit more in the morning, we suited up in our Classic Cycling skin suits and shoe covers, hopped on our bikes, and rolled down the mountain to the start.
Florence was the first of us to go, shortly followed by Katy, myself, and Sommers. We were released one-by-one, in 30 second intervals, with each rider having the opportunity to race the clock and the #rude headwind, as Florence penned it on Strava. With the headwind, we were especially grateful to wear the Motiv™Aero Bike Helmets by Lem considering how they were aerodynamic and comfortable. Personally, I had a solid start and accidentally achieved my all-time best 10 minute power in the first 10 minutes of that effort! Too bad it didn’t end there because I came apart in the following 7 minutes...a learning experience to say the least. However, I did have the opportunity to witness greatness during my race: I saw Sommers pass not only me (her 30-second leader) but also Katy (my 30-second leader)! What a stellar ride. At the finish, we regrouped and rode back to our cars together before learning that Sommers had ridden her way into second on the day and therefore also second in the GC—score!
The excitement of the race settled into a peaceful afternoon. I tried to take a nap to help my body recover from being run-down while the team went out for coffee. By the time the awards ceremony rolled around in the evening, we were all celebrating in the sun with some seltzers. We were even treated to a delicious vegan lasagna and salad prepared by Florence’s mom, Becky, back at the house. Delish! That on top of a super smooth race day—thanks to our support crew (!)—felt like a total win.
Stage 2: Randolph Circuit Race
On Saturday, we tackled our first road race of the weekend which was 72 miles, or two laps of a 37 mile circuit. We had our eyes on the intermediate sprints, intermediate QOM, and the final sprint but also wanted to ensure that Sommers could get to the finish line safely to maintain her position in the GC. While I wasn’t sure how to help Florence with the two intermediate QOMS, she worked her climbing magic and snagged third and first on the first and second lap, respectively! Even though she was boxed out for the first one, I realized I could maybe help with that in future races too. With Katy, I managed to help lead her out for two of the three intermediate sprints which she swept up handily with a second, first, and first. Going into the final, we were racing for Katy and I got a taste for what five kilometers truly feels like on the front—a lot! I thought, ‘the pace has slowed and I don’t want things to get too sketchy, so why not.’ At the finish, not only did Katy take the win but Sommers and Florence finished right behind her in third and fourth, respectively. Without a doubt, Katy took the sprint jersey but, to our surprise, the former GC leader had experienced a poorly-timed flat tire so Sommers even nabbed the GC lead! After three and half hours of racing, we attended the awards ceremony to celebrate. Eventually, we hunkered down at the house, dined on a delicious curry and rice dish (thanks again to Becky!) and prepared for more racing to come the next day.
Stage 3: Bioracer Mad River Road Race
Sunday brought the elevation gain and excitement. With a mountain top finish up the Appalachian Gap (including Baby Gap and App Gap proper), we knew it would be an epic day out. But first we had to tackle about 55 miles of racing including one-time up Middlebury Gap. Early in the race, Katy scooped up additional sprint points and the peloton caught a lone rider who had escaped off the front. Entering Middlebury Gap, the group promptly exploded. Even being about 30 seconds off of the leaders, I managed to achieve another all-time best 10 minute power, kicking my time-trial performance from a couple days prior to the curb. Afterwards, I was able to work with a few other women to regroup with the leaders on the long descent. It was a solid group effort although the whole peloton took a pee break on the side of the road some miles later. Florence had been riding strong even though her legs were not showing up that day. With the intermediate QOM and pee break out of the way, the climber said with suspense: “all for Sommers.”
Eventually on Baby Gap, the pace picked up again. I was able to ride with the leaders all the way onto App Gap proper until someone attacked as the road pitched up and I could not respond. In epic fashion, Florence rode to the front to mitigate the gap until she blew. Then I saw Sommers ride out of sight up the road to retain the leader's jersey. Into the final bends, I started to see groups of people emerge on the side of the roadway. The temperatures had lowered and there were barricades and writing on the pavement as if it were a professional race on TV. I absolutely emptied the tank and soaked up the experience. I mean how often do we get to do that? Even though I got nipped at the line by another rider, I was proud of the effort. Plus I managed to claw my way into a higher GC position like Sarah suggested. I know everyone on the team emptied the tank on that climb too—we had to sit on the pavement together in shock after we finished. At the time, we weren’t sure if our efforts were enough to retain the leader's jersey but eventually we learned that Sommers hung on to second in the GC and first was only ahead by about thirty seconds. We maneuvered down the mountain to our cars to change and regroup. There was a rider who was injured badly on the descent as we drove back to our house that evening and we could only hope he was alright. That evening we “dotted our i’s and crossed our t’s,” so-to-speak because we knew the race wasn’t over until it was over.
Stage 4: Richard Tom Foundation Burlington Criterium
Ready to do business on the streets of Burlington, Vermont, we drove the hour north for the final stage, the criterium. Upon our arrival, we followed the crunchy college kid bread crumb trail to the local bagel shop and then went to scout out the course. It boasted potholes, brick, paint, and grates abound with rain and six corners total. Florence had come down with a cold and could not take to the start but we had planned to make the race hard as best we could. Once the whistle blew, we had a half-lap of neutral where I managed to slip my pedals and wait too long to reconnect with the front. As the real race began, a rider attacked (and ended up staying away the entire race--chapeau!) and I shot out the back. It was as if I couldn’t sprint for the life of me (in hindsight, now I understand what people mean when they say they only have ‘one speed’ in their legs)! I time trialed off of the back for the rest of the race while Sommers and Katy lit it up at the front. Sommers even secured second in the overall while Katy sprinted to second on the day and first in the sprint competition!
After the race, we waited for the podium ceremony on the steps to the City Hall. The rain had subsided by that point and I was so grateful to have the opportunity to play the game and race for teammates, since that’s not something you can say everyday where I come from in mountain biking. Plus I had the opportunity to catch up with a few people I knew from my undergrad when I studied in the area. At last, I had to say goodbye and head home to Pennsylvania.
Just like that, another weekend of elite stage racing was in the books. It was so special to be a part of the Cardinal Classic Cycling Team at the Green Mountain Stage Race. Thank you to the race organizers for putting on a great event and to our sponsors for helping us race and achieve our goals. I look forward to sharing more of the journey in 2022!
