Pain...Lots of Pain....

5/31/10 Killington Stage Race Day 3 - Road Race 60 miles, 47 starters, finish?? top 12??; Final GC: 3rd
The full results for today's stage and GC aren't posted online yet, and I wasn't in any shape to memorize them when I saw them to be able to relay them here. I went into today's stage 2nd on GC, 1:22 back of Sue Schlatter (a little online research revealed her to be the winner of the yearly race up Mt Washington) and only 4 seconds ahead of Jennifer Stephenson and 26 seconds ahead of Veronique Labonte, another very experienced and fast Canadian rider from the Nanoblur team (who started behind me on the TT). Also lurking not too far off on the GC and fully capable of taking huge chunks of time out of me on the final climb were Silke, Clara Kelly, Anna Barensfield and a number of others. I told myself I would do everything possible to stay on the podium.
It was an early start. We had packed everything up Sunday night to avoid running around in the morning. This strategy worked out well and we left the hotel right on time. Rivers' start was at 8:40 and mine at 9:20.
It was chilly as I did a few passes back and forth on Route 100 in front of the start line. My legs felt fatigued, but not overly sore. At the appointed time, we lined up, went on the whistle and turned left onto Route 100 to retrace the second portion of the TT course and hit the day's first climb only 3 miles in. It was very gradual and we all stuck together. This was followed by miles of descent. We politely pointed out the cracks in the road and the potholes for each other and still we were all together. Somewhere in the middle of the course loop there was a horrible rolling set of climbs for the QOM and Silke ripped all our legs off going for the points. I got gapped from the shrinking front group and worked with a few others to get back on. At the bottom of the descent from the dirt road section as we turned onto pavement I realized we didn't have the pink jersey so I went to the front but no one was going to help 2nd on GC so I gave up and tucked back in to hide from the wind. So we plodded along and mostly everyone came back so except for a few, once again we were still all together. It was hot and windy. I too soon realized we were on Route 4 on the first part of the TT course again, so not too far from the final climb. I felt like I was being led to slaughter. We made the left turn and I felt like we were hitting the climb at a full on sprint. I soon realized I would never make it at that level so I settled in for the long haul and started to reel people in. The road twisted, turned, pitched and leveled. Then, a brief downhill and some rollers. I kept working to pick up and work with and drop people. As the road opened up at the Grand Resort I looked ahead and couldn't believe it - I'd dragged myself back up to within sight of #s 158 (Jennifer Stephenson) and 138 (Veronique Labonte). They were in group of 5 or so, but missing (and obviously ahead) were the pink jersey, Silke, Anna Barensfield and Kristen Gohr, another good climber, and who knows who else. There was a final left turn onto a wide open road like a lunar landscape and as my circle of vision started to shrink all I concentrated on was the pink Nanoblur kit, and my only goal was to cross less than 26 seconds after it. There was one girl with me and we pushed each other to the line. I wobbled across and hoped I'd done it.
Eventually they posted stage results and still lacking oxygen I vainly attempted to do higher math and confirm I'd kept third - I finished 1:33 back of the pink jersey and the others were in between - but it looked like I was more than 4 seconds behind Jennifer but less than 26 behond Veronique. Rivers patiently suffered through the awards ceremony in the blazing sun and still waited while I stood on line for my prize money. It hasn't really sunk in yet, but I think I had a good weekend. Got some good TT experience and made it up that climb better than expected.
Pic: 2010 Killington Stage Race Women's Pro/1/2 podium and jerseys: from left to right: Rebecca Wellons, Svelte Cycles, Sprinter's Jersey; Jennifer Stephenson, Team 7th Groove 2nd GC; Sue Schlatter, Stevens Racing, 1st GC; Audrey Scott, Team Bikeway.com, 3rd GC; Silke Wunderwald, Team Kenda, Climber's Jersey
UPDATE: I actually finished 9th on the stage, 1:32 back of the pink jersey. JS was 5th @ 1:04, VL was 7th @ 1:19 so I finished 24 seconds out of 2d on GC and only 11 seconds ahead of 4th on GC. Thanks to everyone for texts and facebook comments of encouragement!