Race Report: 2023 Tucson Bicycle Classic - Women’s P/1/2
Race: 2023 Tucson Bicycle Classic W P/1/2
Date: March 3-5, 2023
AVRT racers: Ari Pascarella, Robin Betz, Gina Yuan
Results:
Time Trial: Gina 20/55, Robin 40/55, Ari 44/55
Road Race: Gina 36/54, Ari 37/54, Robin 38/54
Circuit Race: Gina 24/47, Robin 43/47
Overall GC: Gina 15/43, Robin 38/43
Summary:
Tucson Bicycle Classic is a three day stage race in Tucson, Arizona. The first stage is a 3.4 mile time trial, the second stage is a 80 mile road race, and the third stage is 12 laps around a 4 mile circuit. The size and competition in the P/1/2 field was at a level we don't get to experience often in our local NCNCA races. We really took this weekend day-by-day, with the goals to LEARN A LOT (both from the pros and about each other) and to HAVE FUN!
Day 1 Time Trial (written by Ari)
Course: Uphill, 5.6k (3.5 miles)
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/8654534243
Nutrition: 1 Gu prior (more ritual than necessity); No bottles
My aim for the weekend was to come in with realistic expectations in a stacked WP/1/2 field, practice positive self-talk, appreciate the experience of traveling and racing with the team, and have fun!
After lounging and relaxing at the cars with Gina and Robin and a comical number of bathroom breaks, it was time to warm up. A focused warm up served the purpose of priming my legs for gradually increasing my power, so I felt ready to go. While waiting in the staging area and staring at my competition going off at the buzzer one by one, I put my affirmations to work and focused on keeping my attitude and energy high. Thanks to some guidance from team mate Grant Miller as well as wisdom from TrainerRoad, I had a few process goals to focus on such as 1) pace at subthreshold from the start (read: even though you’ll feel good, don’t go all out from the gun), push the effort past threshold on the risers, try to stay tucked and aero, push it on the second half and go for a negative split, and then give it everything you have on the final “climb.” I focused on power with a goal of 205-215 avg watts and 11:30 finish time. After joking with the start clerks about not dropping me, I settled in to my target and kept my breathing steady. As anticipated, a woman from Miami Nights passed me. Not as anticipated, I passed a racer ahead of me. Feeling confident I dug deeper and tried to keep the gas on and remain steady. In the final effort, my lungs were on fire and the finish line offered a sweet relief. My result was better than I’d expected with 220 avg watts and 10:46 finish time.
Not the fastest out there (43 of 54), but I had fun and gave it the best I had on that day! The TT race overall was short, fast, and surprisingly enjoyable (minus the post-race cough). It was a great start to the weekend. Going in with a personal goal and realistic expectations kept my spirits high heading into the next stage. It also allowed me to be present for celebrating my teammates’ (Gina and Robin 20 and 39; As well as Nathan and Cam in competitive GC positions after the TT and Alana 1st in GC !) and I tried to soak in quality time with the team to help unwind. This served as a much needed respite from the nerves for the upcoming road race.
Day 2 Road Race (written by Robin)
Course: 82 miles: 4 laps of a 20.3 mile vaguely square loop with 700ft climbing per lap. A few rollers in the first 4 miles followed by a straight downhill section that still needed a bit of pedaling, then some flats and a slight uphill climb with a headwind
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/8660794278
Nutrition: 3 bottles of Robin’s homemade drink mix (350 kcal cyclic dextrin + 120 kcal scratch guava flavor), 1.5 sleeves Clif blocks
My goal for this race was to stay with the group for as many laps as possible, with the dream of a pack finish, and help my teammates out as much as possible. Since you have to finish each stage of the race to proceed to the next one, I knew I would be finishing one way or another, but really did not want to do 60 miles solo which felt like a real possibility.
After a brief warmup we lined up on the start. I put a bottle in my jersey pocket since we weren’t sure if the men would finish in time to offer us a feed, and put a few sleeves of Clif blocks in my other pocket. I told my teammates to wear gloves since it’s a big race and you never know. I was more nervous about the possibility of a really long solo day than about any results, which took a lot of the pressure off that I usually feel. The field size in this race was 53 starters which is about five times the size of a good Norcal womens’ race, which I have had previous experience with but Ari and Gina hadn’t, so focusing on being a good teammate and mentor also helped distract me from what felt like an inevitable beatdown by the pros.
It started pretty reasonably and I found my groove in the large group. I ride a fair amount on the local group rides where I am similarly outmatched by strong riders, so have gotten pretty good at weenie-ing around to conserve energy whenever possible. I found myself pretty comfortable and hidden from the wind and able to get in the big race lizard brain of “gap? Move up. Gap? Move up.” for the next few hours. Gina and Ari were initially near the back but quickly got the hang of things and were similarly well positioned. Whenever I was nearby I made sure to pester them to eat and drink, and all of us finished the race with good nutrition and hydration.
I was most nervous about the slight climb to the finish, as I can’t hide from doing work on the uphills and that’s often where I get dropped. I made sure to be near the front and did lose a few spots the first time around, but was still well within the group and noted from my lap counter that it was about 10 minutes.
Lap two was pretty chill. Some of the other riders complained about it being coffee pace, which I always think is funny, because if you’re complaining, get to the front and make it interesting! Given that we were still over 20mph average, I was pretty happy to go “coffee pace”. An increasing headwind on the hill section meant I was doing z2 in the bunch, which was great! I changed my goal from “try to finish in the bunch” to “you can and will finish in the bunch.”
On the roller section at the beginning of lap three some attacks flew and it got a bit spicier. I found myself shredded off the back along with a few other riders. Not to worry, I knew the course by this point and knew I could get back on as at the bottom of each roller the group would bunch up and brake, and by taking a smooth pace and punching it there I could avoid big watt expenditures and make up time. I pick up Ari and Ilan (from Terun, gotta look out for my Norcal homies) and we make it back to the group without issue. This made me feel great as I am working on developing my domestique skills.
I was a bit nervous about attacks on the climb on lap three so wanted to be near the front on the corner before it, so I plan on moving up as much as possible on the flats. At the end of the prior downhill section I take a wide line on the corner and end up passing the entire field and going from the very back to on the front. I don’t really know what to do on the front so I just pedal z3ish until the group swarms around me and hides me again. The headwind intensified and we went pretty slow up the hill so it ultimately didn’t matter, but I’m trying to build my pack skills so was happy with the execution of moving up 50 spots for free.
In lap four, Jack and Shane areis at the feedzone, and I want to throw an empty bottle at Jackhim since it’s hard to put bottles in my pocket while riding in a group. No one lets me move over to the feed side which is kind of annoying, but all I have to do is throw the empty bottle hard enough to clear the group. I get Jack’s attention and give it a good throw, and it sails through the air, over the group, heading toward a random dude who is NOT paying attention whatsoever…. Well, it’s empty, so I hope it doesn’t hit him in the head, but it shouldn’t be that bad….. It loses altitude and misses his head, beaning him right in the balls instead. I yell “sorry!!!” and retreat to the anonymity of the bunch.
Lap four is chill until we get down the descent, and then everyone starts to think about position. I find myself in the back with Ari, and tell her “we gotta get to the front.” She gets on my wheel and I move up along the side and end up approaching the final corner on the back of the Miami Nights train with Ari and Gina right behind me, which is totally ideal. As small fry, I didn’t want to get in the way of actual leadout trains (it’s kind of rude and dangerous), but still wanted to be positioned as well as possible.
The course was narrow for the group size, with only a single lane available and a moto ref who was watching like a hawk for centerline violations, which would be an immediate disqualification as we approached the finish. No one wanted to go into a headwind, so we’re going about 17mph and I’m doing low z2 watts.
I’m at max focus since I am the LEADOUT MAN taking my teammates to VICTORY and everyone is jittery and nervous and packed like sardines, and right as I think “hmmm someone is definitely going to crash. I hope it’s not in front of me,” someone goes down about 2 riders in front of me and all three of us are caught in the pileup.
I land on top of another rider who completely cushions me. The palm of my hand hits the pavement but that’s it, and since I always wear full finger gloves to races I get a tiny bruise and that’s it. I pop up to my feet immediately and officials help untangle all the bikes and riders. Ari and Gina are fine and their bikes are extricated.
I yell “go go go!” and they get back on the road. I put my chain back on and catch up to them and get to fulfill my dream of blowing up giving a leadout. The “3k rule” is in effect for this race, meaning despite our mishap in the last 1k, we will be awarded the same finishing time as the group. This probably is better than the result I would have gotten otherwise, so I’ll take it!
The only real casualties were the guy at the feedzone and my rear wheel which had a pretty decent hop in it, and wouldn't clear the brake pads anymore (rim brake gang). Fortunately I was able to borrow a loaner for the circuit race, and since it’s aluminum I can just bend it back into shape and true it at home.
Day 3 Circuit Race (written by Gina)
Course: 12 laps of a 4.2 mile 127 ft circuit
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/8666589966
Nutrition: sooo much pasta, peanut butter, and veggies at the airbnb
I was feeling more confident moving around a clogged road compared to yesterday, and had more of an idea what was going on at the front. But still not that much of an idea. Breaks were forming from the start and there was one with ~7 riders that was otf for a while. I was getting the hang of moving around the amoeba, while the large, organized teams reeled stuff back.
Then there was a crash behind me going into 4 laps to go and the lead car neutralized us to a stop halfway up the climb. I was quite worried because neither Robin nor Ari were there with me until Robin rolled up and told me she saw Ari on the ground. I was glad I was carrying my phone (I don't usually) and was able to text my teammates not in this race to check up on the situation.
The officials cleared the course and they released 2 riders off the front who had a 55s gap. Then they let the field go. I wouldn't have known any of this if not for the neutralization. I asked someone if she knew who was in the break and she was like idk but doesn't matter they're gonna get caught. Amazing intuition. Miami Nights organized a fast chase effort and I was right on their wheels. Then it slowed down and Primeau Velo in particular took over to start the leadouts. My goal was survival, and it takes more confidence and mental stamina than I had that weekend to stay in good position. I shuffled backwards to finish at the back of the field (which at this point had definitely reduced in size!), not before a rider flipped over a cone beside me, and well the field did catch the break.
Unlike the road race, the final lap was carnage-free and the field sprint was an amazing sight. The teamwork and pack skills at this level of racing was so crazy and exciting. I felt inspired every day by the toughness and encouragement from my teammates Ari and Robin. And by the stellar performances of our cat 3 women and cat 2 men. With 2 bunch finishes, I kept my GC standing from the TT (sans some riders who crashed out or otherwise withdrew). Expectations exceeded! I have what it takes to hang with the pros, and know where I want to improve.