#2 Eagle Classic

Our new cycling uniforms had arrived in time for this race. Riverfront Club, yellow and black they look sharp. It was great to have everyone in the same kit, they were soon to be worn in as Eagle can be a dust-fest.

Eagle has some really fun riding. There are lots of lovely scented sage bush which I experienced close up and some speedy descents to keep you on your toes. In the Eagle Classic Expert women do 2 long laps and 1 short. The long lap has a short steep climb that I was unable to ride last year and thought it was impossible! Apparently it is not and lots of people do it!


You ride the short lap first and then do 2 long laps. Total ride is 12 miles. This is a race that rewards the climbers (come to think of it all of them are). Once you get to the single track, that winds through the sage bush it is tough to pass and you are somewhat set in your position and vulnerable to how fast or slow the person in front of you wants to go. So you really need to jockey to be on the single track nice and early. I did well to be second girl onto the single track. I went into the first long lap with Brett yelling at me "GO GO GO". I was chasing Cait Boyd who generally wins. I could tell he was a little excited.

Thankfully, I nailed the short sharp "impossible" climb, with my heart about to explode from my chest. I saw Barry and his cowbell near the top of the climb & it kept me pushing hard. I wanted to say Hi but, a nod would have to do!

The downhill was fun and fast! If you were too close to someone it was tough to see through the dust. I had a great run through the sage again, saying "Hey boys" to the Kostick Crew (Alden, Bode & Xander) as they were stationed in the sage with Sacha, and they replied with YEAH TAM WOO HOO - These boys are rad!

Bode, Xander & Alden

My last long lap and I was still chasing Cait. Thanks to some friendly encouragement from Amy Hermes, I was not going to embarrass myself and made the grind up the hill once again. I was pretty pleased with myself at this point but, if I was to catch first I needed to let it go a little and ripped down the other side of the hill taking just a little too much speed and "Hello" sage bush. Amy squeezed by checking I was alright and I scrambled on my bike, very annoyed I was so careless. I lost a tonne of speed, as it was near the bottom of a downhill and instead of carrying speed I had to pedal. Now at the top of the next climb I could hear some heavy breathing. Heather Cunningham is not quiet when she creeps up on you, she will admit this herself! Crap now I was dealing with someone right on my butt. I was a little crazy on the fire road downhill and to be honest I kind of deserve falling. Just before going under the bridge where I KNOW to be careful I was not, I came in way to hot. Heather scooted by and I threw my chain back on and then another girl squeezed by. So to get back to where I had been all race was going to be tough . The sage bush does not lend itself to passing. I sat behind Jody Diemar chomping at the bit but not quite knowing whether to pass and be risky or to just chill out. I knew she wasn't just going to just let me pass without a fight, she was giving it all she had. I waited and my last chance to was a sprint to the finish line. Which got me 3rd & $20 bucks richer!

1. Cait Boyd 1:00:36
2. Heather Cunningham 1:02:08
3. Tamara Donelson 1:02:10
4. Jody Diemar 1:02:11
5. Pavan Krueger 1:04:08
6. Brenda Moczygenba 1:06:10