By Molly Van Houweling -- Valley of the Sun *GC* (W1/2) -- 02/13/10
The Valley of the Sun stage race was weeks ago in sunny Arizona. So this race report is an oldie but a goodie. I’ll try to keep it short and cut to the cocktail.
Stage one time trial: flat, pretty long, boring—everything I like in a time trial. So I win! But just barely—by 4-seconds over Carmen Small of Colavita.
Stage two road race: I’m wearing the leader’s jersey! And I try to defend it by going for QOM bonus seconds, but Carmen beats me to it and gets 2 more than I do. So my mind starts to turn to the stage win, which I know Jane has a shot at. Ryan sets a good example for us by racing aggressively and staying near the front. But as we approach the finish in a big swarm I realize belatedly that Jane and I are both in mediocre position and on opposite sides of the field. So I do the most helpful thing I can think of to do at this point—I yell at Jane, “It’s not too late, move up!” (How’s that for a lead out?) It probably helps more than my actual lead out would have, and Jane does move up and comes within a centimeter of winning in a photo finish against veteran sprinter Nicky Wangsgard (so close that Jane was initially declared the winner, which got reported in Velonews!). I finish a respectable 7th. But Carmen finishes third, grabbing enough bonus seconds to take the leader’s jersey.
Stage three downtown Phoenix crit: I dream of retaking the leader’s jersey with a surprise last lap flyer. But I don’t fool anyone and end up finishing at the back of the pack instead. Jane and Ryan finish safely in the pack. Final GC results: Molly 2nd, Jane 8th, Ryan 26th. It was a great race for the Metromint men too. Connor finished 6th and Travis finished 10th on GC in the Cat 2 men’s race.
For my second place I won a Valley of the Sun license plate. But I wanted another souvenir from my trip to the Southwest: Tequila. I found some bottled by a local Arizona company and brought it home to mix up my first race cocktail of 2010. Like a second-place finish in an exciting race, it’s sweet . . . but it also stings a little.
The Valley of the Tequila Sunrise
Combine 2.5 oz tequila, 2.5 oz orange juice, and .5 oz Metromint orangemint water in an ice-filled Collins glass (ideally a polka-dotted one like mine—see photo). Pour .25 oz grenadine into the center of the drink. Toast to a good start to racing in 2010!