They don't teach this at night school...

Redlands Bicycle Classic, Redlands, California, March 23-28, 2004

By Jonathan Vaughters

JV rounds up his troops
Photo ©: Beth Seliga

Have you ever thought about the skills it takes to be a team director? I don't think they offer this course at night school, and I can now tell you that racing for a few years as a pro doesn't qualify you either.

All of this came tumbling to my attention about 20 minutes before the first stage of Redlands. I was truly dazed and confused as to what on earth I was supposed to be doing. I mean, where do the race radios come from? And what number goes on the car? Most importantly. what on earth do I tell these kids before the race? "Go get 'em?"

I loosely cobbled together a race strategy, based on how I would have raced at 19 years old and a bit scared. Or I should say based on the mistakes I made at 19 years old. Hearing the words "there will be crosswinds, stay at the front" coming out of my mouth almost made me pee myself laughing. I never was able to stay at the front in crosswinds too well, and wanted to strangle the director when I heard those words. Well, now here I am.

The "Turbo Bottle".
Photo ©: Beth Seliga

I thing I know for sure is that I need to start up a winter weightlifting routine for my left arm. Giving many a rider what's known as the 'Turbo Bottle' (you get a bottle from the car, I hold on tight and drag you by us, mutually holding on to the bottle) left my arm in severe need of medical attention after day one. And they say doping is for riders. Left arm steroids for me. It seems that the guys who most needed the 'Turbo Bottle' were the heaviest guys on out team too. I can't imagine what Tour de Georgia will be like for my arm.

One time, I called two boys back to get a feed for our GC men right before a climb. Oops, poor kids got spit out the pipe like grandpa's tobacco. Anyhow, feeling guilty, I batted my eyelashes seductively at the commissaires, and pulled both of them up a 2 km climb with the same bottle. The top couldn't come soon enough for me, as motorpacing them down the other side was so much easier. 200 Swiss francs less in my wallet (guess the commissaires didn't like my 'look') and two kids safely back in the bunch is how it ended up. Too bad they forgot the bottles they needed to bring up to their teammates and I had to call them back again.

Anyhow, with the help of the trusty team-mate, Subaru, the boys all stayed in contact with the field, and were ready to battle another day.

JV

Photography

Images by Beth Seliga/www.3catsphoto.com

Stage 1 - March 24: Crestline Road Race, 85.5/138.2km

• TIAA-CREF/5280's Lemond bikes all clean and ready to go before the Crestline Road Race.
• The race convoy.
• Not the best roads.
• Craig Lewis looks confident.
• As the race steadily advanced toward the final climb of the day, a horrific crash split the field in half.
• One of the riders that went down hard was Sheldon Deeny, who was hospitalised but is now OK.
• Dan Bowman.
• Timmy Duggan being a goofball.
• The "Turbo Bottle".
• JV tells the guys to get a feed before the climb. Oops, poor kids got spit out the pipe like grandpa's tobacco...
• Nathan Mitchell on the last climb.
• Sheldon Deeny went down hard in his crash.
• Sheldon Deeny not in showroom condition. Thankfully, the crash wasn't too serious.
• Sheldon gives the two thumbs up to show he's OK. Sort of.
• Timmy Duggan.

Stage 2 - March 25: Redlands Ford Oak Glen Road Race, 129/171.7km

• Blake Caldwell on the final climb.
• Dan Bowman on the climb.
• Craig Lewis finished in 21st place on the stage.
• Ian McGregor after the first feed zone.
• Lining up at the start of stage 2.
• Andrew Manart wishes he was a bit further up the climb
• Nathan Mitchell on the final climb.
• JV teaches one of his charges how to read a map.
• Timmy Duggan fuelled up shortly after the feed zone.
• Timmy Duggan.
• Jon Vaughters gets some Clif Bar goodies from the Colavita boys.
• What Dan Bowman thinks of climbs.

Stage 3 - March 26: The Sun Panorama Point Road Race, 67.6/97.6km

• Blake Caldwell hauling through the orange grove-lined roads.
• Blake Caldwell on the final climb.
• Dan Bowman.
• Cleaning the bikes.
• Craig Lewis on the final climb.
• In the feed zone.
• Andrew Manart on the climb.
• Andrew Manart shows his climbing face.
• The peloton pass through orange groves.
• Timmy Duggan.
• Timmy Duggan on "The Wall".
• The peloton on "The Wall".

Stage 4 - March 27: Salton Criterium, 60/90mins

• Ben Turner.
• Blake Caldwell hammers through a corner.
• Ouch.
• Craig Lewis looking focused.
• Craig Lewis cornering.
• Dan Bowman.
• Flying through the start/finish.
• The post-race interview.
• A lazy day out.
• Andrew Manart.
• The peloton at high speed.
• Nathan Mitchell.
• And they're off!
• Timmy Duggan and Nathan Mitchell up front.
• Timmy Duggan. what's happening 54

Stage 5 - March 28: Redlands Business Center Sunset Road Race, 99.5/142km

• Craig Lewis sitting pretty in 20th place on GC after the final day's racing.
• Blake Caldwell on the final lap.
• Blake Caldwell.
• On the start line.
• Craig Lewis fights for a wheel.
• Craig Lewis on the climb.
• Craig Lewis on the last lap.
• The last men standing.
• Andrew Manart.
• Andrew Manart looking happy on the climb.
• Redlands is a pretty place.
• Timmy Duggan out of the saddle.
• Timmy Duggan and Blake Caldwell.
• Timmy Duggan riding with the big guns.