Women's Woodstock Cycling Grand Prix '17
Slideshow |
Local-First-Timer and Women's Riding Community “Two years ago I watched the race and I never thought I could do it,' local and first timer in the Women’s Woodstock Cycling Grand Prix, Kellie Tyler said. "I’d just gotten my cross bike and wasn’t part of the team. Since then I’ve worked my way up from a C-rider to an A- rider".
The conditions on race day were formidable even for Pros with pouring rain, fog, and slick roads. “I went into saying ‘I’m going to be safe’,” Tyler explained about her plan for handling the challenging conditions. “And that’s what happened and I felt good in the beginning. I was hanging with the pack but, I got dropped and couldn’t get back on.” |
Tyler has been riding for about two years and considers herself more of a mountain biker than road biker. She started training about two months before the May 6th race. Being a local this is something of a home course for her.
“The other women on the Overlook Mountain Bikes Team talked me into it,” Tyler said.
Transitioning from mountain biking to road riding Tyler had to learn about riding in packs. Trying to figure out how other people ride was a large part of that.
Once in the pack riders can’t get out, in wet conditions the slightest touch of the breaks can have huge consequences all around.
“After I got dropped I could ride my own race, but I lost a lot of time,” Tyler said. “I was nervous. I’m much more comfortable on the trails. This race was way outside my comfort zone.”
While Tyler is an experienced mountain bike racer the USA Cycling rates each type of riding separately. Any rider in a road or Cyclo-Cross race for the first time has to start in the First Timer/Category 5 and work their way up. Riders must podium, or place top three, and write a letter to USA Cycling to Cat Up to next higher category.
For Cat 4 and 5, First Time road racers, the course was 33.6 miles with 2327 feet of elevation gain and -2320 feet of elevation loss. The Pros and Cat 1/2/3 riders road 62.4 miles up Overlook Mountain and over the Seven Sisters for a total of 4202 feet gain and 4198 feet of loss through Woodstock, Saugerties, and Phoenicia.
The valley around Woodstock was fairly clear after two days of rain but the top of Overlook Mountain was invisible from the starting line, being cloaked in fog.
“It felt like you were all alone going up Overlook Mountain, it was nice, and eerie. The Monks from Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism were up on top cheering and ringing bells,” Tyler said.
Tyler, having the home-field advantage road Meads Mountain Road up Overlook Mountain a few times before the race and found it gave her confidence to try the race.
She also rode the Cross Mountain Crusher Gravel Grinder, a few weeks before. “It was a good prep”.
Tyler rides in the New York State Mountain Bike Series and Cycle-Cross in the fall. She is currently training for the Lake Placid Marathon.
“It’s all about the mental, It’s knowing what you’re capable of, and having a community of women to ride with helps”.
Tyler referred often to her Overlook Team mates Anna and Sarah.
Tyler and Sarah finished the race together. "In the middle," Tyler said.
Anna Millenson finished fifth in Cat 4 right behind Local Sophie Russenberger roding for Team DaHanger. TRT Bicycles rider Lindsey Bauer finished well in Cat 3.
The Woodstock Women Cycling Grand Prix is the only all women’s race in the US and has amassed a solid following of Pro women riders who return year after year.
The top three finishing Pro women were Rebecca Fahringer, Regina Legge, and Cheryl Clark.
Late in 2016 Ellen Watters, a Pro rider who had ridden in the WWCGP died after being hit by a car while riding her bike.
The scene on the podium was very emotional, according to Tyler, as her friends spoke about Ellen, the race, and bicycle safety.
The WWCGP works to raise awareness, not only of women's cycling, but also of need to be conscious of cyclists as the sport continues to grow.
“I felt really good about taking part in a cool all women local event,” Tyler concluded.
Results HERE
“The other women on the Overlook Mountain Bikes Team talked me into it,” Tyler said.
Transitioning from mountain biking to road riding Tyler had to learn about riding in packs. Trying to figure out how other people ride was a large part of that.
Once in the pack riders can’t get out, in wet conditions the slightest touch of the breaks can have huge consequences all around.
“After I got dropped I could ride my own race, but I lost a lot of time,” Tyler said. “I was nervous. I’m much more comfortable on the trails. This race was way outside my comfort zone.”
While Tyler is an experienced mountain bike racer the USA Cycling rates each type of riding separately. Any rider in a road or Cyclo-Cross race for the first time has to start in the First Timer/Category 5 and work their way up. Riders must podium, or place top three, and write a letter to USA Cycling to Cat Up to next higher category.
For Cat 4 and 5, First Time road racers, the course was 33.6 miles with 2327 feet of elevation gain and -2320 feet of elevation loss. The Pros and Cat 1/2/3 riders road 62.4 miles up Overlook Mountain and over the Seven Sisters for a total of 4202 feet gain and 4198 feet of loss through Woodstock, Saugerties, and Phoenicia.
The valley around Woodstock was fairly clear after two days of rain but the top of Overlook Mountain was invisible from the starting line, being cloaked in fog.
“It felt like you were all alone going up Overlook Mountain, it was nice, and eerie. The Monks from Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism were up on top cheering and ringing bells,” Tyler said.
Tyler, having the home-field advantage road Meads Mountain Road up Overlook Mountain a few times before the race and found it gave her confidence to try the race.
She also rode the Cross Mountain Crusher Gravel Grinder, a few weeks before. “It was a good prep”.
Tyler rides in the New York State Mountain Bike Series and Cycle-Cross in the fall. She is currently training for the Lake Placid Marathon.
“It’s all about the mental, It’s knowing what you’re capable of, and having a community of women to ride with helps”.
Tyler referred often to her Overlook Team mates Anna and Sarah.
Tyler and Sarah finished the race together. "In the middle," Tyler said.
Anna Millenson finished fifth in Cat 4 right behind Local Sophie Russenberger roding for Team DaHanger. TRT Bicycles rider Lindsey Bauer finished well in Cat 3.
The Woodstock Women Cycling Grand Prix is the only all women’s race in the US and has amassed a solid following of Pro women riders who return year after year.
The top three finishing Pro women were Rebecca Fahringer, Regina Legge, and Cheryl Clark.
Late in 2016 Ellen Watters, a Pro rider who had ridden in the WWCGP died after being hit by a car while riding her bike.
The scene on the podium was very emotional, according to Tyler, as her friends spoke about Ellen, the race, and bicycle safety.
The WWCGP works to raise awareness, not only of women's cycling, but also of need to be conscious of cyclists as the sport continues to grow.
“I felt really good about taking part in a cool all women local event,” Tyler concluded.
Results HERE
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The Women's Woodstock Cycling Grand Prix, in it's fifth year, is the brain-child of Martin Ernst Bruhn. The mission is to highlight the need for equal sportsmanship and attention for female bicycle racers in the male dominated sport of competitive cycling. The movement is gaining momentum and there is now a growing team of volunteers who bring energy and expertise to the cause. Together they are making this dream of highlighting the bicycle through a community-inspired women's bicycle race. The race has become a community event with volunteers from local fire and police departments. Host families putting up traveling riders and locals of all stripes working as course marshals. |
