A rough go of it

Hello all!

As I previously wrote, last Thursday did not go so well.  I went to the chiropractor for treatment and thought my injuries were improving.  I started at Tour of Holy Hill yesterday (Monday) because I felt my pain was subsiding and, as AC would say, I went to roll the dice.  I started off pretty aggressive because I knew I could control any pain if I was able to ride my own tempo in a breakaway.  No breakaway was successful and the repeated efforts along with a really rough stretch of road took its toll.   Unfortunately, I was forced to abandon.  Now it's time to reevaluate and make decision because all TLE riders want to be healthy and flying in August.  

Hope all of you readers are well!

-Phil

Race 1: Shorewood Criterium

Good news or bad I promised to report to you all the activities here at Superweek.  I regretfully report today did not go as planned and I was forced to exit the race early.  Apparently my injuries sustained from the crash at the Cascade Classic criterium have lingered and the pain was unbearable during today's race.  I'm looking forward to getting some treatments tomorrow and hope to be back in full form as Superweek continues.  Thanks for your support!  -Phil

Stay tuned for Superweek MADNESS!

Hello fellow fans of TLE!  Please stay tuned to the blog during the next couple weeks as I charge forward looking for TLE's next win at the International Cycling Classic, also known as Superweek!  Racing has already begun here in the beautiful region between Chicago and Milwaukee, but I have yet to test my meddle against the strong competitors making up the field.  I will begin my midwest stint at the Shorewood criterium tomorrow.  My goal is to keep you all informed, sharing my experiences and hopefully my successes.  Stay tuned!  -Phil

Stage 6

Today was the circuit race at the Cascade Classic stage race.  Fast, hot and hard pretty much sums it up.  The first of five laps was very fast and nerve racking with riders attacking left and right.  The course was thoroughly tough, up and down with a few climbs.  At the beginning of the second lap a few guys started to move up the right side and I jumped on their wheels.  Then they attacked and I followed and Rolf came with me.  The counter attack went and Rolf made the break and proceeded to ride out of his mind and get all the KOM points.  He ended up 3rd in the competition overall.  The break came back on the last lap and made for very fast last final 10k.  Rolf, Paul, Ian and I ended up just off the front group at the finish.  We are all glad the race is over, and looking forward to the next one.   -Jarred

Stage 5

There have been many firsts from this weekend….

It’s the first time we’ve all ridden with Rich Davis (personal accounts will come with personal requests)…

It’s the first time Workman has ridden in a Pro 1 field – congrats Dan!

It’s the first time I’ve (Ian) felt humbled in cycling by team members who have done everything to set me up for success…

And of course it was Andy’s first fine in the caravan… Thanks for the pacing Clark!

Following from the humbling feeling riding with these guys and as the most important first – on the eve of the last stage – has been the complete evolution of a team dynamic catalyzed by veterans Cole (Brad) and Spoti (Paul), as they lead five Legacy riders to the base of the final climb today, ready to take on what was left of the peloton by storm.

Now, as you’ve likely read from the rest of this weekend, this fifth stage did not play out exactly the way we had hoped; this was not a first…

The race was aggressive from the gun and having planned for this we too prepared on being aggressive. As the initial climb kicked up we were present at the front, feverishly attacking. Phil took a flier, Brad took two more and then Rolf, Jarred and I each took one, if not two. This takes us most of the way up the first climb, redlined and realizing that only about 70 of the starting 135 were left. So we hit the KOM and began descending, five Legacy boys left.

Just after the descent more attacks emanated from the pack and a group of eight got away. With no Legacy riders in it and Andy on the radio clamoring about the need to be aggressive and to “bridge that gap,” Jarred took a flier and quickly put 60 seconds on the peloton. For miles he worked with a USA national team member to bridge and then, just 30 seconds from the break, he fell back when his co-chaser took off up a rise… with too many matches previously burnt he came back to the bunch.

As the day evolved so did the team play, as Cole and Spoti took multiple trips back to the car for bottles and then, as the climb drew near, aggressively got Jarred, Rolf and I to the front. The climb kicked up and so did the pace. Now here’s a personal account of what followed…

Sitting in the top ten, I road the first 1k of the climb with the front riders and then just didn’t have it. Falling back I was quickly met by a push and Rolf urging me to get on. Again, another dig and then, popped again, sent to the third group on the climb. After working all day, Spoti was in the next group back and Berger, matches spent, was just behind him. Finishing in that order, Cole came across, hopefully knowing that all his hard work did, in the end, pay off.

We’re excited about tomorrow, so please check back soon… oh and as far as firsts go, this is my first ever blog, I hope it conveyed our experience…

The 30 mph bike change

Today's stage was yet another brutally fast day that finished with a long 10 mile climb to the finish.  The elements and mishaps of the day made the race, but TLE prevailed and one of our strong climbers, Ian, rode into the top 20 in the finale.  

One thing we are mastering is patience.  No matter how well you are prepared, mishaps and unlucky moments will happen, and it is how you deal with these moments that determines if you are still competing in the end.   You can choose to get freaked out and lose your head, or you can choose to be patient, do all you can to improve your situation in the moment, and weather the storm successfully.  One of these moments, which showed how well we are gelling as a team and how cool-headed we are becoming under stressful conditions, is when Ian's bike broke down, again.  Brad and Ian promptly motored to the front of the peloton.  Andy shot up the left side on the shoulder of the road, and all came together to switch bikes.  Props to Brad for giving up his bike and riding Andy's "backwards" bike.  (The brakes are backwards, right brakes the front, and left brakes the rear...and it is Campy)  Other than the bike change, Paul visited neutral support twice.  Rich made laps to the car retrieving water during brutally hard moments of the race.  And Dan learned how to go back and get teammates in distress.  In the end, we were able to get all of our heavy hitters to the front and establish position for the finishing climb.  Ian, Rolf, and Jarred finished the stage as super stars; all were somewhere in the top 40.  At this time, we are still waiting for results, but please visit http://www.mbsef.org/CascadeCyclingClassic/Results/2008/index.cfm.  

Thank you for tuning in!

-Phil

Cascade: Stage 1

Wow! The eyes were opened today and we got to experience our first day of big racing. The temperature hovered around 90 as we barreled through the desert terrain, we covered the 83 mile stage in around 2:50.00, which come to an average speed of just over 29 mph. The first attack of the day went from the gun and we were scraping pedals out of the parking lot. Phil and myself were on early breakaway duty and went right to work, trying to get into any move that we could . Nothing would stick and after 30 miles of trying we resigned ourselves to riding in the field. Eventually a high powered group of 15 got up the road and the winner of the day came from this group. We took care of each throughout the stage and gave our climbers the opportunity to light up the final climb. We still haven't shaken the bad luck bug, as Ian broke a derailleur cable and Jarred hit the deck. Both of the guys held their composure well and rode back to the field with a little help (thanks Rich) to have solid finishes. The results are posted so check them out. Thanks to all those who are following us this week, keep checking back for daily updates.

BC

Sacrifice

At the young age-range of 21-35 years many distractions and temptations present themselves on a daily basis.  For a cyclist of this age-range trying to make it at the next level, succumbing to these deleterious, devilish, and misguided...also know as FUN...activities may mean the difference between surviving the crucial moments of struggle during a bike race or faltering and being defeated.  

Today is the 4th of July (HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!) and I unfortunately have opted out of the fun partying and debauchery for a phenomenal evening with the parents and grandparents.  I am up in the mountains without any cell service and a complete disconnect exists between the rest of the world and myself, aside from an internet connection allowing me to write this blog post.  My words may seem a bit cynical but I ensure you I have chosen this route for a reason.  You see, in about 4 days we dance toe-to-toe with some of the best professional cyclists in the country and in the world.  Notable names such as Mann, Leipheimer, Horner, Jacques-Maynes, Garcia (FoCo rep!), and Baldwin will be challenged by the force known as Team Legacy Energy.  At this point, nervousness, anxiousness, insomnia, and preparing the physical body are enough to deal with to make any jollification unmanageable.  This means the word fun has to come from a new, different medium.  My grandmother has suggested the Boston Pops (don't worry if you are unaware of its existence), and we can watch a beautiful fireworks display without even leaving the couch.  God bless technology and America!  For my sacrifice, I think I'll have some of that!

-Phil Mann