Quark Cycling Team

San Dimas Stage Race

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Special delivery for Laura & Tina

Stage 3: San Dimas Hospital Classic Criterium by Jim Williams
"One-Two-Four-Seven for Quark in San Dimas Final"

March 20, 2005

San Dimas, CA.  After two days of steady to heavy rain the skies opened and showed the magnificent hills that surround the San Gabriel Valley.  The sun and dry conditions were a welcomed change as the riders took to the Streets of San Dimas for the San Dimas Hospital Old Town Classic. Generally the final day crit has very little impact on the general classification but with milli seconds separating the top two GC placings and 40 seconds in time bonuses up for grabs the out come of the race was far from over.  This set the stage for what would be an exciting day of racing.  The pace of the race was fast from the start as the Webcor team and race leader Erinne Willock went to the front to discourage attacks and protect Willock's yellow jersey. The Green of Webcor had help from the Yellow of Quark because the first hot spot sprint contained points as well as time and Quark wanted to secure the Green jersey for Tina Pic.  As riders made the wide sweeping left onto the finishing straight Quarks Pic and Laura Van Gilder gave the peloton a bit of foreshadowing of what was to come as the crossed the line 1, 2, 5, 7, cementing Pic's hold on the sprinters jersey. Kristen Armstrong of T-Mobile picked up 3 seconds for 3rd and moved within 26 seconds of Willock. The field remained together and the pace remained high all the way to the second sprint which was once again won by Pic. Second was Webcor's Christine Thorburn gaining seconds to protect her teammates lead. Armstrong again took third.  From that point on the Quark team moved to the front and began setting up their lead-out train. With 2 laps to go it was all Quark with Candice Blickem, Grace Fleury, Audery Lemieux, Helen Kelly driving it.  Down the back stretch Annette Beutler took over lifting the pace even higher and sweeping left after the final corner. Pic then launched her sprint with Laura VanGilder tucked right behind after spending the last lap sweeping her teammates wheel of the other sprinters. At the finish it was Pic with VanGilder in second with arm raised high.  The battle for third was won by Magen Long over Victory Brewing's Gina Grain. 
 
Senior Women 1/2
1. Tina Pic   (Quark Cycling Team)                                54:29
2. Laura Van Gilder (Quark Cycling Team)                          
3. Magen Long (The Bicycle Store)                                      
4. Gina Grain (Victory Brewing)
5. Grace Fleury (Quark Cycling Team)                        

Final General Classification

1. Erinne Willock  (Webcor Builders Cycling Team)   3:44:41
2. Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile)                                  :23
3. Kim Baldwin (T-Mobile)                                          :30
4. Christine Thorburn (Webcor)                                  :31
5.  Tina Pic (Quark Cycling Team)                         1:01
6. Annette Beutler (Quark Cycling Team)               1:12
12. Grace Fleury (Quark Cycling Team)                 2:21         
 



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Candice & Helen driving the pack

Stage 2: Incycle/Cannondale Road Race by Candice Blickem
"The rain is following me"
 
March 19, 2005
 
After a few conflicting start time decisions for the women's road race we finally put our heads down knowing we had an 8am start time.  We had our team meeting the night before, so we didn't have to deal with talking tactics early in the morning.  What are you wearing?  I don't know.  Well, what are you wearing?  I'm not sure.  Knee warmers or leg warmers?  This was the tone of our team all morning.  Now it was time to hit the port-o-potties.  After standing in line for 20 minutes, I realized the square I was assigned had no TP, so I had to trade someone.  This is always my favorite part of race prep.  The race started about 30 minutes late.  It was misty, wet and a bit cold but I was thankful because it could have been worse.  We had it great compare to the men, whos race it poured on later in the day.  Good thing for the early start.  Our race started out brisk and stayed that way for a bit.  Three laps into the race Laura VanGilder got a flat through the start/finish line and it happened to be a sprint lap.  I noticed her and waited.  We chased back on in about 3 miutes.  However, the wheel she received from Mavic didn't quite work.  It kept shifting all the way into the 12.  So, at that point I told her to pull over and trade me wheels.  No more than 10 seconds after I pulled off, I feel a huge mass run into my right leg.  It was a Masters racer who wasn't paying attention and ran straight into me and my bike.  I got up and continued to take my wheel out for Laura and told the Mavic support to take care of her.  She was set and probably caught up in about 5 minutes.  It took me a bit longer to get going again and a lap and a half later of chasing alone, I was on again.  As soon as I caught back on Erinne Willock (Webcor) attacked right after the sprint line.  It was perfect timnig.  T-Mobile's Kimberly Baldwin and Kristin Armstrong (race leader) were on the front trying to bring her back.  On one of the downhills I coasted past eveyone and went to the front to pick the pace up and immediately was accosted by Christine Thorburn, telling me to "get off the front and let T-Mobile chase, it's thier job." because Kristin was in the leaders jersey.  "I know you're used to working hard but this isn't the time to do it."  Knowing who was up the road and that none of my teammates were up there I thought I'd rather bring it back when it's a 20 second gap and 3 laps to go.  Of course Christine didn't want me to chase because it was her teammate up the road.  I also heard a teammates voice telling me to stop.  So, I stopped and didn't go with my gut feeling. At this point Audrey's seat post bold broke and she had to ride a spare bike furnished by Mavic.  I'm sure that fit well.  She finished the race on a bike that made her look like "The Jolly Green Giant."   In the end I should have continued to chase because guess what?  Erinne stayed away for the win, and she deserved it.  Tina slaughtered the rest of the pack for 2nd place while picking up most of the sprint point to obtain the green jersey.  By the end of the day we lost 2 places for our GC rider but Tina moved up a few and added another green jersey to her collection.
 
Senior Women 1/2
1. Erinne Willock (Webcor)                      2.34.36
2. Tina Pic  (Quark Cycling Team                 .19
3. Magen Long (The Bicycle Store)
 

Stage 1: San Dimas Stage Race (Glendora Chevrolet TT)by Candice Blickem
" All I have to say is burzzzz."
 
March 18, 2005
 
San Dimas, CA.  Annette and I started the day by looking out the window at a dark sky.  Annette insisted that the sun was peeking through.  With all the talk the previous day about rain rolling in, I thought to myself, " yeah right."  It seems that no matter where I go East or West coast that the rain follows.  I mean, how often does it rain in Pheonix, AZ or Las Cruces, NM?  All the girls rode about 5 miles to the Time Trail course (why don't they just call it a hill climb,) in the morning.  We got there with a little over an hour before the first Quarkie went off.  Well, guess what?  No more than 5 minutes after we roll in, it starts to rain.  Geeze, what a surprise.  I'm probably like most people, I don't mind when it starts raining after the race has started but I don't like starting in it.  Nevermind  the fact that it was probably in the 40's and getting colder as the day went on.  Audrey was the first to start.  Along with some of my other teammates, I sat in the van where it was warm and watched Audrey try her best to warm up in the rain.  I'm not a sucka, so I decided to just sit in the van till the start.  No sense getting wet and cooling down any sooner than need be.  One by one we went off.  Personally, on the way up I was steaming.  Some of my teammates said thier legs felt like blocks of ice.  I guess that's why I finished last on the team.  Maybe if I didn't feel my legs I could have gone faster, ha!  Anyways, I got to the top and what a lack luster finish line.  I carried up a rain/wind jacket and a plastic bag that I cut holes in for Annette on the chilly way down.  Heading back I cheered for all other Quarkies and thought to myself, "I'm so glad that "time trial" is over.  I was in complete awe when I saw Annette on her way to the finish.  I've given her a new nickname, "Tinker Bell" because she was dancking on the pedals like a fairy all the way up.  I need to get some fairy wings.  Anyone know where I can get a pair?  We headed back to one of the host houses, where we all took showers and ate a scrumptious meal that was cooked by our host.  THANKS, NADINE
 
Senior Women 1/2
1. Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile)                             15.46
2. Genevieve Jeanson (Rona)                                   .19
3. Kimberly Baldwin (T-Mobile)                                 .31
4. Annette Beutler (Quark Cycling Team)               .46
5. Christine Thorburn (Webcor)                                .50
 
10. Grace Fleury (Quark Cycling Team)               1.52
12. Tina Pic (Quark Cycling Team)                      1.53
 
 

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Hurtin' Helen

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"Tinker Bell" Annette

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Lovin' it Laura

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Tearin' it up, Tina

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Annoyed Audrey