Alsatian Road Race 02/08/2009

Going into this race Jen was 1st in GC by only 5 points, so teamwork and smart racing tactics were critical in order for Team Hotel San Jose to win the omnium - or overall competition.

Rachel, Lori, and Jen went over the game plan the evening before and knew what riders to watch for going into the road race, which was the 3rd and final event. Jen wanted to ride conservatively through-out the 45 mile stage due to an extended solo effort off the front in the crit the day before, but she was also ready to get into a break with the other general contention leaders if need be. Rachel and Lori were ready to chase down any moves that looked threatening and were focused on helping the each other maintain safe positioning, particularly going into the final stretch of the race. As the race progressed, the top five riders in the overall were watching each other closely. There were other breakaway attempts going off the front at about 12 kilometers to the finish, these were made by riders interested in winning the stage - but out of contention for the omnium win. Even so, Lori followed these to be sure THSJ was not ever put in the position of chasing, since we knew both Jen & Rachel would be ready for a strong finish, if properly protected.

As the field headed toward the finish, the riders off the front were caught, and everyone was together again for an uphill field sprint. In the last few kilometers before the finish, Jen patrolled the front of the field and waited to chase down any of the last few inevitable moves to go off the front. As these attempts were brought back, they became fewer and fewer. As the end approached, Jen, Rachel, and Lori all decided to stay within positioning for a strong finish and vie for the most amount of points in the omnium. Jen closely watched and stayed near the strongest climbers in the field and knew their wheels were ideal for the mad dash to the top of the hill.

As the field hit about 200 meters to go, the leaders ramped up the pace and Jen knew she had to leave the field early to get a jump before the finish. At 50 meters to go she attacked and opened a gap that no other riders were able to close in time. She held on to first in the stage and first overall. Lori and Rachel had some very solid pack finishes and Rachel also finished tenth in the overall. The girls were very happy to have such great success and communication in this 2nd race of the season and are all looking forward to many more team victories to come!

Castroville Crit (2/07):

Meeting as a team before the race we decided after Jen’s great time trial, she would be the GC rider for the weekend. Coming into the crit Jen was 5th overall, which meant she could easily take the lead if we all worked together and raced smart during the crit. In our team meeting before the raced we also decided we would start the race, very aggressively and do attack after attack.


Rachel went off first on the 2nd lap, quickly to be chased back, Lori countering hanging out in the wind a bit but being brought back also. As planned it was Jen’s turn, I guess they didn’t think Jen was a threat so early in the race, they were wrong, Jen kept building a larger gap each lap while Austin flyers, AT&T, and Moritz teams all started to get organize, chase, and attack. Lori and Rachel kept the other threats in check and the group together. Close to the end of the race there were 3 women up the road chasing Jen down, unsuccessfully.


To make a long story short, Jen stayed off about 40 minutes, by herself, while her teammates worked together to keep her out of trouble. By the end of the race Jen had a 40 sec gap. And Rachel won the field sprint(5th) to take points away from the women challenging Jen’s GC position. Great team effort! Awesome race!

Tour of New Braunfels

The Tour of New Braunfels represented the first time the 2009 Team Hotel San Jose women's team would race together, so it was an exciting weekend from the start!

The Crit course is a rolling circuit about 2.5 miles long. Not a selective course, and not one that favors breakaways. Rachel, Jen & myself (Lori) anticipated a pack sprint, which the 3 pro Colavita women (including former Nat'l Champ Nicki Wainsgard, and top-notch sprinters Kelly Benjamen & Shontelle Gauthier,) were sure to contend for, as well.

It was a good learning day- the THSJ women had just learned they had an invite to be part of a composite team going to the Redlands Classic invitational race, so everyone was in the frame of mind to just get out and ride hard! Jen did a ton of work in the pack, wanting to get a hard work out in, while Rachel and myself followed some moves, just to be represented, but also figured it was going to be a bunch sprint.

Coming into the finish, Jen was unfortunately out in the wind, but with Rachel on her wheel. I positioned myself on what I thought would be a good lead out wheel, only to have that rider gap off of the Colavita train I was hoping to take advantage of, for a disappointing 7th place. Jen sprinted from having 0 protection for the last half lap, for 4th place, and Rachel was unfortunately taken to the curb, to come in with the pack.

The road race the next day was hard! Flat, and very, very windy, a group of 5 riders including Jen made it down the road at about mile 13. I was in a chase group of 3 for the next 35 miles, and man it was hard! Jen rode like a champ, and finished 2nd after getting worked over by a couple of Brain & Spine girls, and I got 2nd in my group to Kim Ciolli, for another 7th place- although hard won!

It was a great first weekend of racing together- we got to learn a lot about where each of our fitness lies, and how we can best work together. It's going to be a GREAT season!