2012 Cascade Cycling Classic - 7/18/2012 Stage 1

18 July 2012 - Written by Guest Rider Melina Bernecker Cascade Cycling Classic – Stage 1 Mc Kenzies Pass RR This was the stage that I was most nervous about, having ridden it last year and suffering through the 48.2km (30 miles) of climbing up 1768 vertical meters (5801 feet) and 120km (74 miles) of racing. The good news at least is that when one does get popped from the group it is scenically beautiful rides, which takes you up and over McKenzie Pass (a volcano) and down into the town of sisters before heading up the final climb to Three Creeks Snow Park. Because the race is so long (approx 4 hrs) it was a relatively early start of 10.05 am. The race started at Maxwell Snow Park in the Deschutes National Forest, which was about an hours drive from our host House. We arrived a couple of hours early to allow us time to get ready and relax before the race. We didn’t really need to warm up as the race started with a descent (with a few little rollers) for the first 42km (26 miles). It was fairly chilly to start the race and we all decided to wear arm warmers and vests for the start of the race, which was a good move as it was freezing during the descent. We started the race in a low-key manner and rolled out onto Highway 20. We rode in Neutral for about the first 5km (3 miles) once we were off racing we zoomed down the mountain at wharp speed hitting over 80km (50 miles) per hour. Being the first stage of the race there was a lot of switching and shoving in the peloton as we screamed down the mountain…. It was a miracle no one crashed! Once we hit the bottom and things flattened out for a few miles we hit the first feed zone, and yes the first crash shortly after as girls started stripping off their arm warmers and vests ready for the climb. Having gotten stuck behind the crash we chased back on (which took all my effort as the road was turning upward) with my hear rate already in the red zone the girls started attacking as soon as we were back in the peloton…. This is where things went so horribly wrong for me!!! I stayed with the back for about the first 8km (5 miles) of the climb at point, which my heart was about to explode and I decided to slow down and ride at my own pace. I then spent the next 24km (15 miles) climbing in solitude as I slowly peddled past (very few) competitors for the next hour and a half. The climb seemed to go on forever and I had run out of water by the time I finally hit the KOM with only 1 km to the next feed zone I sat up and enjoyed the scenery (it was the only thing I could do to take my mind of the pain I was feeling in my back and legs) There were small patches of snow amongst the volcanic rock and the air was surprisingly warm. Finally I got to the feed zone and stocked up on water ready for the descent. At this point I also caught up with two other girls, which was good for the descent and slat section through Sisters. The downhill was a welcome relief after the long climb but with so much time to catch up there was no taking it easy. I descended with a group of three but we quickly dropped the third girls as we rocketed towards sisters. Once on the flat we worked hard taking turns and time trialing it into Sisters. From the town of Sisters the roads turned rough and cracked which after a long day in the saddle was not ideal. A headwind was blowing in our faces and there were cracks and lumps in the pavement every few meters, which felt like craters and my every increasing back pain was slowly creeping into my legs in the form of cramping! Finally I reached the last climb and hence the last 10km of the race, the road once again turned upwards and the 5% average gradient soon felt like 20% as I began to really suffer. I found my teammate Bea pulled over by the side of the road cramping only 5km form the finish, I pulled over to check she was ok and as she got back on her bike I gave her every last bit of food I had but nothing was helping and her pain made mine seem insignificant as we stayed together as I tried to help her reach the finish line. In the end I had to leave her as I was concerned about time cuts and she assured me she was ok so I battled on the last 3km to the Three Creeks Snow Park where the finish was located. Finally rolling over the line I was hugely relieved and exhausted to have finally finished. Bea rolled in shortly after me still cramping and not feeling very well at all. Kristen Armstrong (Exergy 21) won the stage in a impressive time of 3.24.42, second was Megan Guarnier (Team Tibco), with Andrea Dvorack (Exergy 21) third. The SC Velo Team did not fear as well as we had hoped, but with such a high level of competition the field was blown apart, Lisa Campbell finished 31st (3.31.55) having ridden a smart race resulting in a fantastic finishing time. Amber Gaffney finished in 38th place (3.34.33) working hard and covering several moves for a break. Jenny Rios finished 78th (3.49.07), Holly Breck 81st (3.52.03), Myself 84th (3.55.52) and Beatrice Rodriguez 85th (3.58.03). The feelings of self doubt and disillusionment was hard for me to overcome on this particular day having posted what I felt was a disappointing time, however I will dust myself off and try to redeem myself in the next stage which is the Individual Time Trial at Crocked River. Again a big thank you to our wonderful support team in Dennis, Charlie and James for your encouragement and helping out in the support zones.