Toona Stage 3

Today was a comedy of errors.

the stage was meant to be 91 miles long. A break went up the road at mile 8 or so with at least one contender from 9 of the 13 teams.

The field the slowed as very effective blocking took place.

Then the field was stopped and turned around as we went of course. We got back on course and were stopped not 10 minutes later when we got to where the break was neutralized. They then sent out the break and then the field at the original gap time. About 20 minutes later, 8 miles from the top of the 10 mile climb we were all stopped again because we we were directed off course a second time. The field was stopped and we had to wait for the break to be directed to turn around and come back to us and then we had to wait some more because the Men's 2 points guys and the Men's 3 points guys had to be let through. We then were sent up the road out of our little shaded spot out into the blazing sun and stopped AGAIN to wait for I am not sure what. Finally they started the break and then us.

The legs felt ok until that long stop and then could not going again up the remaining 8 miles of climbing (with an 18% grade at the top). I popped off there with a bunch of folks behind me and was alone at the top. It was supposed to be mile 50 at the top, but our wrong way sojourns meant it was mile 54.5. So I faced 40 miles alone. I was hoping the ladies behind me would catch me. but no dice. So I went careening off the mountain and set to work just going... but all of a sudden I came upon a stopped SRAM car and a group of 9 ladies. We were off course AGAIN. So we turned around, tried to get into a rhythm and then at an intersection with marshals we ended up going strait rather than turning because they were not paying attention (they had been out there all day in the hot sun). But they yelled and that time we did not go more than 100 yards before being set on course again. I lost contact with that group on the way past Feed 2 and up to QOM2 . At the feed my computer was reading 7 miles longer than it should have read. QOM2 was at mile 77 and QOM 3 at mile 86.

I kept turning over the pedals and was overjoyed to see the 10 km sign and the 5 km sign and was picking up my pace at the 3km sign. A moto ref then stopped me with 2km to go, because the cat 5 men's race was just started and they were going out the way I was going to finish! I was soooo mad! 2km to go and I had to stop! I must have been gaining on two ladies from that group of 9 though because they too were stopped there. The three of us then rolled in together.

My time for the 98.4 miles I raced was 5:25, but I was out on course for 6:13 due to the 48 minutes worth of stopped time. Of those 98 miles I was alone for probably 40 of them. We climbed 8615 feet today. Felt completely empty at the finish but have to find it in my legs to do a crit with a pack of super fast chicks tomorrow. They eliminated the time cut due to so many misdirections and so much stopped time.