International Tour de Toona
July 31, 2005
Stage 7
Report by Christine Thorburn

Unlike most stage races, Tour de Toona puts the crit on the last day, and has the most time bonuses up for grabs this day as well. The promoter likes to keep the racing exciting to the last sprint, and this year lived up to his expectations!

The course is fairly long (2+ minute laps) with a false flat (uphill) finish stretch and a technical chicane leading into the final straight with a final corner that is notorious for having crashes in it. Again, this year was no exception! The race was 30 laps, with intermediate time bonuses every 5 laps for 4 seconds, 2 seconds, and 1 second for the top 3 women across the line. The middle sprint was also for the points jersey competition as was the finish, which had another 10/6/4 second bonuses available. So, if you're quick at math, you can see that there were as many as 30 seconds available to riders. With 6 riders within 30 seconds of each other, this stage would prove decisive.

Realistically, we guessed there would be 3 riders truly contending the intermediate sprints without points – Genevieve (3 seconds behind Christine), Annette Beutler (11 seconds behind Christine), and Christine herself. Kimberly Baldwin was tied with Annette at 11 seconds but we correctly guessed that T-Mobile's strategy would be to have her try to break away solo (she's the least good sprinter of the 4) or with teammates (preferable for them) to also steal away the team GC which Webcor had been leading since Stage 3.

The Webcor women are least known for our crit racing, but we hoped to prove that assumption wrong this stage! The pace started furiously as the 3 "sprinters" marked one another around the course before the first time bonus sprint. Erinne started a lead-out, and Christine thought with the slight headwind and uphill drag, she would be best going into the last corner behind Gen. Unfortunately, Erinne and Christine have never practiced lead-outs before, and Christine tried to pass on the same side and same time that Erinne pulled off, which slowed her through the final corner, and Christine finished 3rd behind Gen and Annette. Now with the time difference in the stage 1 TT, Gen held a 0.4-second advantage. Going into the race, we were hoping to avoid this situation so that a non-threatening break could get away as many teams had not had stage wins or even podium finishes. Alas, Webcor needed to keep everything together for their hopeful "sprinter" to take back the lead.

Having figured she missed the sprint by coming around the wrong side, Christine tried a second time to go into the corner second behind Gen. This proved disastrous, as both Gen and Annette beat Christine to the line again. Now Christine was 3 seconds down. The third time bonus sprint was contested and won by the real sprinters in the field who were racing for the points jersey and runner-up monies (ie. Ina, Tina, and Gina). By this time, Christine knew she had to have the lead into the final corner, which actually meant attacking before the second to last corner just a short block before (thus, the chicane). She had good timing for the jump except that Gen happened to glance back just as she started the wind-up, so the initial gap was not as good as it could have been. Gen pipped Christine at the line by less than a wheel. Now, 5 seconds behind. Annette took third.

In between sprints, either Lynne Bessette (5th in GC at 29 seconds going into the stage) or a T-Mobile rider would try to initiate break-aways that Webcor would have to chase. Erinne was her usual superstar self and Katheryn had some great covers as well. Christine was not nearly as adept as Gen at following wheels off the front so had to do some chasing herself. Going into the final intermediate sprint, Christine was again in good position before the second to last corner and tried to jump harder around Gen this time. Christine hit the final corner too hot and skidded her rear wheel and barely missed the far curb, and Gen had to hit the hay bales to avoid the pavement. Not hearing a crash, Christine forged ahead to take the sprint ahead of Annette who had avoided Gen's mishap. Christine and Annette drove their gap for nearly a lap but were caught just before the pit where Gen had gone for her free lap (the point at which Christine realized Gen had "crashed").

So, Gen was 1 second ahead going into the finishing sprint for 10/6/4 second bonuses. Of course, there was a stage victory up for grabs so the real sprinters and secondary sprinters all swarmed to the front after sitting in the rest of the race. At this point Christine was completely knackered but tried – and failed – to hold position into the final corner. Ina crashed when she skipped her chain coming out of the final corner and took Annette down as well as Nicole Freedman. Unfortunately, Christine was a little too far behind to slip into the time bonuses, so Gen won the 18:30+ hour stage race by 1 second over Christine. Team Webcor maintained its team title – first team win of the year despite several individual yellow jerseys (usually hard to defend bot – just look at the men's Tour de France as an example).

Well, we were both disappointed with the result but happy with our efforts. All in all, a truly fine showing by the women in green who never gave up. We had fantastic support and direction by Carmen, Lara (our soigneur), and Sasha (our mechanic), as well as a great fan club in the form of our host families extended families! We did manage to wrap up the Women's Prestige Series individual GC (Christine), young rider (Erinne) and team GC titles at this race. No one can surpass us at Bermuda in September, so it had better be a fun time for those able to race there!

Since there is no race for the women in San Francisco, this was our final race as a complete team this season. Christine and Katheryn will be going with the US National team to Europe in September to do a few races to prepare for the World Championships in Madrid. Erinne will do the same with the Canadian squad, and Felicia is still in limbo as Canada's alternate for the individual time trial (it is rumored that Gen will give up her spot).

More importantly, our dear Felicia will be marrying her dear Gus this Friday! Best wishes to them this week!

Ciao,
Christine

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