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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.
A disappointing day, but many kilometers yet to travel
Tour de L'Aude Feminin, France, May 14-23, 2004
Stage 8b - May 21: Conques sur Orbiel to Pic de Nore, 45km
After sitting outside our van for three and half hours, we re-motivated ourselves to get the chamois on again and rev up for the afternoon stage. This was to be the stage where the climbers finally would truly show themselves. Although we only had 45km to race, approximately the final 25km was uphill. It was HOT when we started too. My SRM said it was 40 degrees.
The first 20km was rolling up and down on the narrow little French roads again and it was a constant struggle to stay near the front. A few girls attacked but everyone was content to let them go. I don't really know where they thought they were going anyway. Had they not looked at the course profile? Nurnberger controlled the front, keeping Trixi and Judith protected for the climb. Kim Anderson did an incredible job protecting Dede and I. Man, that girl is a powerhouse. While she was up there, I kept thinking, "After all this work, Kim is going to fly at the Montreal World Cup!" I hope it all pays off for her.
The first mountain sprint was at 37km and then the road just kept going up from there. Nurnberger set the tempo early and we all just followed. I made an enormous mistake by misjudging the steepness of the climb. I chose to use a 27-24 cog set, and basically, it sucked. The 27 was too easy and the 24 had me just a little bogged down. I could not find a comfortable gear to save my life. Kristin heard me shifting constantly and knew I had made the wrong decision as well. She had gone with a 25-23... oh, did I want her wheel!
Although the pitch wasn't steep, 25km is a long drag. At the first mountain sprint, Nurnberger was content to let Olivia Gollan take the points. But after that, they started setting tempo again. The field was definitely dwindling down. It surprised me how some girls disappeared from the front that I figured would be there. And others who I thought couldn't climb a highway overpass were there. Either you have the legs that day or you don't, I guess.
Finally, just after we passed the 4km to go sign, Valentina Polkanova attacked. I stood up to try and follow, but the lactic acid build-up in my legs made me sit right back down. Only Judith, Trixi, and Susanne Lungskog were able to go with her. I slowly revved up my engine and went in pursuit of them. I came around Dede and encouraged her to get on my wheel. Unfortunately, the last 3km of the climb was into a headwind. I had Dede, Priska Doppman, and Edita Pucinskaite on my wheel. The race was up the road so I had to go. With 500m to go, Priska and Edita came around me and surged. Oh my aching legs! Trixi and Judith pulled away from the others at the line to finish 1-2. By the finish they had 34 seconds on me and 48 seconds on Dede. This puts Trixi back in yellow, and Dede and I in second and third respectively.
It was cold and windy on top. I think we were at about 5000 feet. So we quickly changed clothes and hopped in our cars for the ride down. It was a disappointing day for us to lose the jersey, but we still have faith. We still have two hard stages left to go and many kilometers to travel. We haven't given up yet.
