Liberty Classic

I was a day to remember. Beginning w/ the 98deg temp w/ 96% humidity. All the streets barricaded, huge screen for fans to watch the (MEN'S) race, stands, fans a plenty on both 'The Wall' and "Lemmon Hill", and ~100 women, and ~200men.

This race has such a historic feel to me. I think its due to the Philly overall feel, rich pride in their history! Our race is 4 laps, and w/ in those laps we have 2 Queen of the Mountain sprints, the Manyunk wall (800m steep climb, up to 20%), and Lemmon Hill (short, don't even know why it's considered a QOM, as far as QOMs though, it's my favorite!). These spots ramp up the pace, as well as the Start/Finish (which is about 500m from the feed zone...talk about Fast Food....hee hee)...which always seems to stretch things out. All and all this course requires you to stay attentive at all times. This year we had an additional challenge of a construction zone, where Onone Woods (ahhh, spelling??) crashed due to the slick pavement, and had black oil all down her left side.

So, major part of this race is POSITION. It's a challenge to stay up front, but well worth the effort. Lots of grates on Kelly drive, make moving up on the outside dangerous, the road goes from 4 to 1 lane, and add in an S curve...and that spells...someones-gonna-eat-it....

Luckily, our team stayed out of any mayhem. Tina Pic had her taste of it. On the first lap after the steep climb, there is a fast technical section where she hit a pot hole and lost control of her bike in a corner and slammed into a barrier. The rest of the day she rode w/ her brake lever 90deg from it's normal position. She NEVER ceases to amaze me. I heard later she had been sick all week, w/ flu like symptoms. She was dry heaving IN the race, and then CRASHED, then finished top 10! Now that's heart, and grit. And, she's so humble about the whole thing! I wish her all the best!!

Ok, so first lap Kristin Armstrong get like 2min on us after the first climb. Then another group of like 5 break off the front, then it all comes back together...then I flatted coming off Lemmon Hill and never got back on. The group stayed together for the next two laps (there was another small group that got some time on the 3rd lap, but was absorbed). Chrissy attacked on the last lap, but was caught soon after or on the last climb...good try Chris!
We had Jess, Trish, and Casey in the front group on the last lap before the climb. Then there was a crash w/ like 200m to go, but Shontell from Highroads won w/ an attack on Lemmon from a small group. Brooke Miller stole 2nd from Ina, and Ina took third. Steph Orouda (representing Jeremy Storie, and Vancouver, BC) took 9th in her first Liberty...great job Steph!

Casey won the American U23, and got money and a podium! How awesome is that? Nice work!

I'm very disappointed w/ flatting, but hey that's racing! Now I look forward to Nature Valley!