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The Kimberly Bruckner Journal 2004
Like many top riders, 2001 US road champion Kimberly Bruckner has the Athens Olympics in her sights as she returns to racing after surgery for a soft-tissue tumour in her ankle cut short her 2003 season. With her T-Mobile squad in its second year, her diary this year will document the highs and lows of the US' top women's team.
Have we been invited?
Tour de L'Aude Feminin, France, May 14-23, 2004
Stage 7 - May 20: Arzens to Montreal d’Aude, 121km
Today was a bit odd... after yesterday's results and our team holding the number 1,2 and 4 on GC, I felt like we were the uninvited guests to a party. I got the feeling that the odds were going to be stacked against us and that every team was out to get us. Maybe that was just me.
The 120km course was a 32km circuit that we raced almost four times. It included a 3.5km climb each lap and a tough little 1km uphill sprint and finish line. Our goal today was to control as much as we could. Lucky for us, the roads were small and narrow. Put four girls across the road and not a whole lot can sneak through... unless of course someone decides to go up the side in the grass. The race started right at the base of the climb, and from the gun the attacks started. We had barely clipped in before the first attack went. Kym Shirley, Nobili, got away first and then Rachel Heal, British National Team, bridged up to her. Neither of the girls were big GC threats so it was perfect for us to let them go. The T-Mobile girls did such an awesome job today of controlling the race. It was such a good day to be a part of this team. Kim, Lara, and Kristin did so much work... it was incredible. They rolled through with the intention of keeping the break's gap down, but not reel it in completely. Lara was the little Energizer bunny. Each time up the climb, Kim, Kristin and I would go to the front and set tempo, and Lara would get dropped. But about midway down the long descent, she'd come flying up beside us, chatting away as usual, and take her position back at the front and fly downhill. It's so great having her always positive attitude on the team.
The second time up the climb, I was having a difficult time getting to the front so I could help control the pace. In my attempt to get to the front, I unintentionally flicked Valentina Polkanova. Immediately she yelled, "aMERiKA!" I waved my hand to her apologetically and she looked at me and started singing the tune of America the Beautiful. I had to laugh. I like humor to break a tense moment.
The third time up the climb, for some reason unbeknown to us, Kathy Watt (Basis l' Aude) went to the front and set tempo. It wasn't her job to do the work and we hadn't talked to her at all. But hey, go right ahead! I sat second wheel and just followed her up the climb. Close to the top, I heard someone yell, "Hey Kathy! Are you on the American payroll?" She wasn't. But I could tell other girls were frustrated that she was doing our work.
The final time up the climb, Lyne Bessette made a great attack. Immediately the field exploded as we all tried valiantly to get back on her wheel. With an attack like that, it's always interesting to see who comes to the front. The shit hasn't really hit the fan yet so we're not sure who the best climbers here are yet. But her attack helped sort it out so we could see what we're going to be dealing with tomorrow. The field regrouped, minus a couple of stragglers, on the long descent into the finish.
And although the break stayed away, there was still a mad rush in the chasing field for the sprint. The finish was a 1km uphill drag and we had to try super hard to not lose wheels and possibly get a time gap. Dede, Kristin, and I came in together but lost four seconds to Judith and Lyne just at the finish. Although after tomorrow's mountain top finish, four seconds probably won't make that much of a deal.
