Jean Ann all smiles at Race the Ridge. Photo: Steve Devantier
Race the Ridge is one of my favorite road races, not only because it is my “home race”, but also because the events are always very challenging, varied and fun. This year was no different, with the return of the gorgeous Golden Ears Park Time Trial and exciting Town Core Criterium, as well as the hilly Thornhill Road Race. Although I did not place where I had hoped in the overall general classification, I did find my sprinting legs, and was able to take a stage win in the Town Core Criterium.
The event kicked off with the Thornhill Road Race on Saturday morning. The Cat 1/2 Women’s field did seven laps of the hilly 10km course, for a total of 70km. The race was jumpy from the start, with several attacks going on the hills. Jessica Hannah (Total Restoration Cycling Team) and I were the most active in initiating these attacks, as it seemed we both wanted to have a break start on the hills. Our efforts gained little, as the group continually came back together on the downhill or flats. Eventually it came down to a group sprint up the short uphill finish. I was second wheel coming into the last corner. Claire Cameron (Mighty Riders), who was in front of me, pulled off after the corner so I went for the sprint early, but it was too early and I faded over the last pitch of the climb. Claire’s teammate, Jenny Lehmann, caught me at the line and I had to settle for second. Jasmin Glaesser was a close third. Another highlight of the road races, was watching Local Ride Racing teammate Zach Young get away in an early two-man break in the Cat 3/4 men’s race, and outsprint David Stephens (Team Coastal) for the win.
Local Ride Racing's Rachel Canning sittin' pretty. Photo: Alan Young
I definitely faced the biggest challenge in the Time Trial. Mike and I headed over to my place to get our bikes TT ready, shower, eat and nap, and then we rode over to the start/finish area from my house. It was gorgeous in the park, and the sun was shining, but I was definitely still hurting and did not feel recovered. After 21.5km of suffering, I finished the TT in an unimpressive time of 35:28 and in sixth place. Laura Brown (Total Restoration Cycling Team) schooled us all, and finished in 33:00, a full minute ahead of Jasmin in second. On the men’s side, it was Jamie Sparling (Total Restoration Cycling) who won with a new course record of 28:49. Luckily there were no altercations with the curious bear that wandered out to watch the races, or maybe it’s the reason the times were so fast.
Jean Ann leads the pack in the crit. Photo: Alan Young
I went into the Town Core Criterium, Sunday morning, sitting in sixth place overall, about 30 seconds back of fifth, without a lot of hope to move up with only the crit remaining. My teammate Rachel Canning and I decided we should go for the stage win. I attacked immediately after the first prime sprint, at about the 1/3 point in the race. I gained a significant gap on the group right away, but no one came with me, so I was stuck out in the wind working alone. After a few laps I looked back and saw that Jessica was bridging up to me, so I took a few breaths as she joined me. Later, we were joined by Andrea Bunnin (Devo-Escape Velocity), and close to the end, Claire also bridged up to our group. With three laps to go, the pace in our group began to lag a little as people started to prep for the finish. I was afraid the main group was going to catch us, so tried my best to keep the rotation moving. At the beginning of the last lap there was a lag in the group, as riders began to look around. We only had about 15 seconds on the main group at that point, so I took the opportunity and attacked. I got away with a gap, but Claire chased hard and began to close quickly as we pulled onto the finishing stretch. I was able to dig just deep enough to hold her off by half a bike length and take the win. It was an exciting way to finish off the weekend.
The Jean Annimal strikes in the crit. Photo: Alan Young
Laura took the overall win. Behind her was Jasmin in second, Kristine Brynjolfson (Westwoond Cycle/Cannondale) in third, Sarah Stewart (Total Restoration Cycling Team) in fourth and Jessica in fifth. I finished in sixth place overall. All in all it was a fun weekend, with some great racing!
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