Tour de Limousin

Unexpected...but delightful 4th overall! I didn't go into this race feeling super confident, specially after the 10 days of hard racing...I wasn't quite sure whether or not I was ready to tackle another stage race. But I must have done something right...well I had help! After the giro I called Max (Testa) and talked to him about my riding and the things I need to work on....blah blah but the most important thing he said was that I needed to recover between the tours...so I did. As an athlete you always think that more is better, well I had to trust what he said that I needed to do just the opposite...to recharge. Then there I was in france...had a great first stage, well could have been better had I not "choked' but still I was happy with my riding. There is always a lesson to be learned and things that can be improved. In a short version of what happened, I found myself having to bridge to the break of three riders in the last 10km of the race, after having worked for my teammate tatiana (guderzo)setting her up for the queen of the mountains jersey, keeping our break away (we were 10) to keep her fresh for the finish. Well, after the last GPM(QOM) a counter containing those three riders Grace Verbeke (lotto belisol) Ruth Corset( Austr. Nat team) and Alexandra burchenkova (russia nat team) and tatiana told me i had to bridge....holy crap! I was totally gassed by then, but I got on it and for about 1-2kms I chased and made my way to the break....took a lot of work..once I got there I thought that I was going to get popped on the rollers....but I kept telling myself ..NO NO WAY YOU ARE NOT GONNA GIVE UP NOW! So I stuck it out, but wasn't very smart coming into the finish...and also not very confident either. 2 big mistakes...and I am working on that ;o) so hopefully I won't be making the same mistakes on the next races to come. After that stage all I had to do is defend my position, or try to move up in GC which was really hard, since the only hilly stage was the first one, the others where all power climbs (sprinters climbs lol) and ended up either in a bunch sprint or in a break not containing any GC riders...it was much harder for me than you can imagine...so much work when nothing gets away and comes back together in the end! It was a great race, and I learned so much...have lots of work to do!!I will post pics when they became available, as of right now, I have none. ... sorry!

MORE SWITZERLAND!

What can I say! I love SWITZERLAND! the most beautiful country ever! After the Tour in Limousin, I got to stay @ Oscar+Kelly's agian! Oh man, it was so good to get out of the team house, and recharge the mind and body! I was able to do some awesome training in the swiss alps of St. Moritz. I 've heard about that place as a little girl when my dad used to tell me about his rendeuvous in europe. My dad was big into traveling. It was magical. Until I had been told, in the middle of the ride, that it wasn't only 120km, but instead 170km!! I had ran out of food! we still had one last pass to make...this one 22km with 2300meters of climbing. LOL and in the middle of nowhere(beautiful nowhere).... I was ahead in the climb and was thinking to myself ...there has to be something up here, a gas station, a bakery, a restaurant any place that I can get some food at! At a distance, I spotted this little town, not much there, but still that was my last hope, as I was on the verge of bonking, I did not hesitate when I saw the first place I thought would have something to eat, I stopped, walked in, it was a sit down dinner, people were sitting outside in the patio enjoying a quite, quaint little afternoon late lunch, and this mad cyclist comes in, searching for a quick bite to eat. I didn't find any pastries, or cookies, they didnt really have anything set out. That's when I saw the only pie in the store....it was a carmel walnut pie with buttery crust! I was sold...didnt think twice about it... the lady was going to serve it to me on a plate, but i said no ...its to go... i paid my 4.80 francs and out the door I was. I was already half way done with it between paying for it and getting on my bike to get back on the road! People were looking at me...and all i could think about was...thank goodness for this piece of pie....and not only that ...it was one of the most delicious pie I have ever had, too bad I couldn't fully enjoy it...i ate it so fast ! But it was what got me back to the car that day!

2009 GIRO DONNE

I can't believe I have just finished racing one of the most prestigious races in europe.  Not only that, this years edition of the Giro was considered one of the HARDEST yet.  Needless to say I was surrounded by incredible athletes, women that I admire and look up to, that inspired me to push myself to see what I can do, how far I can go.  

Truth be told it did not start out that great, prolog was flat and fast and furious, and I had several mechanical problems with my tt bike for the 15km time trial.  I was very frustrated and upset. But I had to be realistic with  myself and put that behind me since I knew I couldn't expect to do incredibly well in the tt since I had only ridden the bike a few days before and had not done much specific training for it. But as an athlete that is also very hard to swallow.  So after my tt disappointment I cried ( away from everyone)...let out all of my frustrations and started fresh! Sometimes that helps...a lot! Specially when you are in a place where your support system is not there to encourage you and put things into perspective.  Thats tough, probably the toughest thing to go through...alone.  I miss my people.  The people that believe I can conquer and overcome and encourage me, push me to do the best that I can do. I have been incredibly blessed to have so many people like that in my life.  Even from far away I carry those encouraging words with, just wish I could hear them more often....stinks when we are on the road its hard to get internet service! But my heart gets filled once I have the opportunity to check my emails and fb msgs.  Thank you soo much for all the positive energy sent my way!

Things began to change when we started to head uphill!!I was able to make up time I had gained on the tt and then some!To have finished 14th overall was an incredible feeling.  I know its not like winning the darned thing...but for my first big euro stage race...I was very happy! I just want to say thank you so much to all you (you know who you are!) who have been there for me through think and thin! I hope I can keep up the good work!!till then keep on sending the love!! check out the stages and results here: ttp://www.girodonne.it/portale/

hardest ever...so far!giro de trentino stage2

Ok so that was the second stage of giro de trentino.  it was a super hard race with several heavy hitters present, like Nicole Cooke, Judith Ardnt, Fabiana Luperini(who won this race over 7x and been on the podium at least 11x).  106km...lots of climbing... very hot, and humid, we had very wierd weather for this race. Either way I was out of acqua for the last 20km! I was so dehydrated at the end my lips were stuck together! But I that was my best finish so far.  I came in 13th, just 1 outside of the UCI points...yah its a bummer but man...felt like a win to me.  I couldn't believe that I was in the top 15 with the best climbers ! Maybe there is still some hope for me, being that started in 2006 and its my first year in the euro scene.  I learned a LOT that day...dig dig dig...deep! Those women are incredible!! I want to be like that!! 

L'altimetria

Results - Cycling - Road 2009 | 2008 

Women  Elite  Giro del Trentino (ITA) 

19 Jun 2009 - Stage 2: Riva del Garda - Faedo Pineta

Result

General

Points

Mountain

Youth

Rank	Name	Nat.	Team	Age*	Result	PaR	PcR
1	Nicole COOKE	GBR	VOR	26	3:07:12	16	16
2	Carla RYAN	AUS	CWT	24	3:07:20	11	11
3	Svetlana BUBNENKOVA	RUS	FEN	36	3:07:30	6	6
4	Kimberly ANDERSON	USA	TCW	41	3:07:43	5	5
5	Judith ARNDT	GER	TCW	33	3:12:37	4	4
6	Mara ABBOTT	USA	TCW	24	3:12:41	2	2
7	Claudia HÄUSLER	GER	CWT	24	3:12:43
8	Edita PUCINSKAITE	LTU	GAU	34	3:12:53
9	Fabiana LUPERINI	ITA	MSI	35	3:13:11
10	Trixi WORRACK	GER	NUR	28	3:13:23
11	Christel FERRIER-BRUNEAU	FRA	VOR	30	3:13:41
12	Diana ZILIUTE	LTU	SAF	33	3:13:54
13	Flavia OLIVEIRA	USA	MIC	28	3:13:56
14	Patricia SCHWAGER	SUI	CWT	26	3:13:58
15	Modesta VZESNIAUSKAITE	LTU	BCT	26	3:14:00

como in bici sunday ridin!

There are certain things that only happen in italy! I left for a ride with one jersey on and came back with a different one! Oscar and I decided to go for a nice,easy, med-long spin on sunday and we ran into this great group from Como in bici.  they were kind enough to let the girl hang with them. I had a borrowed aluminium bike and they were making fun of the "so pro" with such a bike! Regardless, they were "impressed" with my mad skills hahahha!! turns out that the president of the team is friends with Max.  Lol maybe that was the reason why they gave me the jersey.  The good news is that they live nearby the World Championship Course for 2009 in Mendrisio, and I am gonna have a crowd cheering for me! Its soo nice to hear people yell out your name when you are racing! I had that awesome surprise at Flanders when my friend Mike Audley was on vacation and had come out to watch the suffer fest and cheered as I was going up one of the Muirs.  So nice! thanks again you guys for all the support!! every little bit counts and it goes a loooong way!!

TIME OUT!!

Hello there! I have been out of reach for the last 15 days since the love of my life came to visit me here in italy! Nathan and his friend Dave came to visit me while I had 2 weeks off of racing...and it was great! I needed it so badly! To get away and to refresh my mind and see people I love and miss so much! I miss home. You might not see me writing a lot about it, but I do,very much, I just avoid talking about it. Anyhow, they arrived May 24th and stayed til June 8th. They went home and I am now in Spain for more racing! They arranged to stay with a friend that lives in Stabio, Switzerland, only 2km away from the World Championship course that is going to be held at in Mendrisio.  Oscar and his family where the best hosts I have ever had! They were awesome!We had a blast! He(is triathlete) took us on the course for the RR as well as the TT.  It is definitely going to be VERY challenging course! We also did some amazing riding around lake Como and lake Lugano, as well as the Swiss Alps...so beautiful! Those boys were not letting me have it easy either...ripped my legs off haha...no rest for the little ones! They also came to Lucca, in Tuscany to see where I live and meet the team and the entourage!  We stayed at a hotel 30mis away and right on the beach in Lido the Camaiore.  It was awesome, believe it or not this was the first time I actually have gone to the beach and it is only 3omins away!!that is sad! We also went to Pisa to check out the leaning tower...so cool! After a few days in tuscany we returned to Switzerland...and Nate and I decided to take a quick trip to Venice...love the euro system of traveling the train makes everything so easy! so we spent a day and half wondering the interesting canals and streets of Venice! When we returned we were so wiped out from going all over that all we did was ride our bikes around the gorgeous area we were in and chill out! Oh yeah forgot to mention that the boys raced over the weekend (after we had done 4hrs of riding in the Alps) Oscar set them up with a swiss team so they guest rode for them and Nate came in 11th( no racing wheels or anything!!) just 1 outside of the prizes! oh man..so close!The guys on the team were very excited with both of their performances ;o) 

I can't even begin to tell you how incredibly awesome it was to have this break to refresh the mind, body and soul....I feel recharged, brand new! Thank you baby for coming ....to the rescue! The truth is that I could have never done any of this if it wasn't for you and your love, encouragement and support! thank you!

Blooming...allergies!

It has been over 3 weeks since I have started to suffer from some major allergies! Had no idea I even had allergies! But after waiting (im)patiently, telling them that my nose is totally stopped up, my eyes and skin red and itchy, sneezing uncontrollably ...well it actually took a bloody nose last tuesday to actually get their attention, and me COMPLETELY FREAKED OUT!  I had already seen the team doc, and he had prescribed me antihistamine (which makes you really tired!) and nasonex, but he symptoms persisted and got worse. Along with those medications he also prescribed this blood allergy test called RAST which I had to wait until a few days later to get it done, by then it was already Friday and the results take a couple of days so yesterday I got the test results and went to see the team doctor and sure enough...VERY ALLERGIC to the grassfields here ...even olive tree blooms I am mildly allergic to.  He wasn't too surprised, specially after taking a look at me....I was red , swollen, with rashes (itchy ones) all over, legs, arms, face, chest, back.  Unfortunately until I can get on a proper treatment that involves a corticosteroid for my airways I need to wait till I do this other exam that is required by UCI since if i get tested that would come out + for doping, just like an asthmatic person w/o a TUE would get busted for using an inhaler.  Then after I get those test results which I hope I can get it done soon, then the team doc has to send it all to usacycling, then I wait, when I finally get the approval from UCI for treatment, then  the doc can start ! Isn't that bananas?? wow...that is not good, on top of feeling horrible, want to peel my skin off and feeling tired from breathing only through my mouth, I shouldn't be allowed outside in order to keep the severe allergy reaction under control.  That's not good! how the heck am I supposed to train !!!HELP!! I bet you can't tell I am freaking out! well...its a delicate thing when you have to deal with your own health in a foreign country, I don't really know the language to that extent to where I can explain myself or understand all that needs to be done in order to help myself...treatment and etc.  At least we don't race till June 9th hopefully we will be able to get everything sorted out before then!