LUNA Pro team athletes in the Olympics

Catharine Pendrel Only 9 Seconds From Bronze, Georgia Gould Finishes a Solid 8th

August 23, 2008 Vail, CO
Congratulations to Catharine and Georgia for an outstanding race at the Olympics! I went online last night and watched the entire race from my computer. It was amazing coverage, except I had to make up my own commentary. I was thrilled that we actually got to watch the entire race, and not a five minute highlight segment squished into the NBC swimming and gymnastics show. I have few details on the race, but from what Isaw and read, it was brutally hard.

Catharine had the ride of her life and finished 4th, only 9 seconds out of the bronze medal. Georgia got the hole shot off the start line and then rode steadily in the top ten to finish eighth, just 23 seconds behind her fellow US teammate Mary McConnelog. It was an incredibly difficult course with many of the athletes saying it was the hardest circuit they've seen all year.

Catharine rode in the top five the entire race. She was third with two laps to go. An unfortunate missed shift on the last climb of the last lap allowed Irina Kalentieva, the 2007 World Champion, to squeak past her and claim the bronze by a mere nine seconds. "Irina and I were together for most of the last lap," said Catharine. "There was one little 'popper' climb before the final descent, and I made an error there. I tried to downshift to my granny [gear] on the steepest part, and had to put my foot down, and that's when she got by me. It hurts, but it was still a fantastic ride for
me, and I feel that I didn't lose third, I won fourth."

After a strong start, Georgia rode steadily up through the field. With one lap to go Georgia was in 12th behind China's Ying Liu, winner of the 2007 test event. A last lap surge saw Georgia come across the line in 8th.

"It wasn't what I was hoping and dreaming for," said Georgia, "but it's a solid result. I had a strategy to be conservative at the beginning, because I knew people would be blowing up at the end. If you're tired, you can't make it up those climbs." Still, a top ten finish at the Olympic Games is outstanding!

Congrats to both Catharine and Georgia. Enjoy the Closing Ceremonies and safe travels back home.

LUNA Mountain Bike Team Dominates UCI World Cups

From the backyard patio of Alison Dunlap. I've decided to change the format of our team race reports. I want to make them more interesting and exciting to read, instead of the usual play by play you get in Velo News. I will share the stories of my teammates from my window on the mountain bike world, complete with expert commentary of course. (Sorry for the typos) Enjoy!

World Cup #2: Offenberg, Germany
After a successful first round World Cup race in Houffalize, the team was on the road again, travelling to Offenberg, Germany, a small town situated between the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland. This was the fourth year of hosting the World Cup and the first year it didn't rain. Many of the riders complained about the course last year, but when the crowds are over 30,000 strong, the race organizer isn't inclined to listen. In 2007 the course was dry and fast only to be wrecked the day before with rain. The technical drops that were once sort of rideable became terrifying. It can be incredibly stressful to ride up to the top of a drop that is so steep it looks vertical and you wonder how in the world you're going to get down. And that's when it is dry. Now throw in heavy rains and mud that is as slick as peanut butter covered ice and that's when things become a real challenge. You literally lay awake at night thinking of those sections, feeling your heart rate start to climb and the anxiety building. (One of the many reasons I retired!) That's what the course became known for. Now in 2008, it was time to go back. This year the course stayed dry and everything was rideable, albeit still quite challenging. The girls finished the event ranked #1 in the women's team World Cup rankings and continue to be the #1 ranked UCI team in the world.

Georgia had this to say:
"Europe has been great- with the exception of my sucky race in Offenburg! Oh well, sometimes you just don't have it. Pretty frustrating. I was hoping to redeem myself after last year's rainy, muddy fiasco. I had a great start and was in the top three heading into the 1st lap, but I never managed to find a rhythm (or go very fast). As the race went on I lost more and more places, eventually finishing 13th- not the worst race I've ever had, but not what I was hoping for either. It was a frustrating race for sure, but sometimes you need a bad race to get you fired up for the next race. We still managed to win the team competition (and A LOT of beer). I'm looking forward to better things in Madrid!

Three time Olympian Katerina Hanusova has been struggling at these first World Cups due to a nasty injury she acquired in the National Mountain Bike Race in Phoenix, AZ the first weekend of April. Going into the first turn of the Arizona race she slid out and put a large gash into her knee. After spending 5hrs at the emergency room she came back with 4-6 stitches in her knee. After a few days rest she resumed training, hoping to maintain her stellar form. Adding to the stress was the fact that the Czech Olympic Team was being decided after the first three World Cups. There was only one other woman Katerina had to worry about. If Katerina could finish higher than the other rider in two of the three World Cups she'd be going to Beijing. But it was not to be.

Here's what Katerina had to say:
"Sorry for not getting back to you but I haven't been online much and really did not feel like communicating with the world the last couple of days. I did not make the Olympic team and you know how much it sucks. My leg hasn't been hurting but has not been super strong either. I felt like things were getting better before last weekend but I sort of rode the same lifeless pace. I hope to ride better soon just to prove to myself that I can. I have not found my optimum form yet, but trust me, I am still looking and will be back soon. My teammates are doing a great job at the front of the field, which helped us to win the team competition again and that was great."

In only her second World Cup with the LUNA Team, Catharine Pendrel finished eighth. For a rider so new to the sport and the European racing scene, finishing in the top ten is a HUGE result, especially when each rider out there is trying to make her country's respective Olympic Team. It is scary to think of what she'll do in the next few years as her experience and confidence grow.

And Catharine said:
"After last weekend in Houffalize, I tried for a more conservative race and the pacing paid off. After getting up into the top 8 on lap one, I settled in until the 4th of six laps and then stepped it up. I was able to finish the race feeling strong and capable of more - a welcome change from last weekend. The course in Offenburg was exciting and there were thousands of people lining the entire course creating an amazing atmosphere."

World Cup #3: Madrid, Spain
And then it was off to Madrid for the third World Cup. The trip down south is usually a welcome change from the cold wet weather of Germany and a chance to eat food that isn't drowning in a dark gravy. Of course both years I raced in Madrid it was sunny in Germany and pouring rain in Madrid. Travelling around Europe can be an exhausting challenge. Usually on Monday after the race, the team packs up and drops the girls off at the airport. The drive to Madrid is huge and most of the teams will either send their riders home for a few days, (only the Europeans) or fly them down, to be met by the team truck a few days later. Finding the hotel and places to eat in the chaotic city of Madrid can take hours. Katerina has been studying Spanish in her spare time so I'm sure that helped.

The course was in downtown Madrid at a giant city park called Casa de Campo. It is a beautiful park with lots of paved roads as well as bike paths and great trails. It is also quite seedy. There are hookers all over the place. And we're not talking women sneaking around in the bushes. The women, in groups of five to six, were "advertising", very minimally clothed, on the main roads through the park, even as the race was going on. The year I raced in Madrid there were used condoms hanging from the bushes and the occasional naked couple fooling around in the more secluded areas of the course. Some of the mechanics even found used condoms under the awnings of their team trucks. By race day you don't see any of this because the 40,000 very enthusiastic, and very drunk Spanish fans screaming "Venga venga venga" (Spanish for go, go, go!) make it difficult to solicit for sex. Haha!

The race course is super fast with lots of short steep power climbs. Not much technical riding, but that doesn't mean the course is easy. You could have a World Cup race in a parking lot and it could be the hardest thing you've ever done. The riders definitely make the race, not the course. Start position is crucial because it is almost impossible to move up when the fields are large and the speeds super fast. The riders do multiple loops of the course which means getting to fly through the start/finish line as well as suffer up the "wall"; a short climb with a 25% grade, between 4-6 times. At the end of the day, the LUNA women had achieved a remarkable first. All three riders finished in the top ten of the Madrid race and maintained their #1 ranking in the team competition. First time in the history of the LUNA team!

"World Cup #3 in Madrid was a tough one," said Catharine. "The course was very fast which meant time gaps were tight and a rider was always there to take your place if you went wide on a high speed corner. I rode consistently in the top 10 with only a minute separating 6-12th position at the finish. Having three LUNA riders in the top ten all day was pretty incredible." Catharine's 8th place finish is a career best.

And Katerina had this to say about her much improved race. "Yes, my legs are back and it feels great. The injury is off my mind and is history. I had a super good start, moving from 3rd row to 6th place by the end of the first lap. The course here in Madrid was fast and had several steep hills. I felt like I was racing cyclocross at times." Katerina's 10th place finish is one of her best World Cup results.

Team on podium in Madrid Georgia found her mojo and rode to an outstanding 5th place finish. "I had a good start and was riding in the top 4 for most of the first 2 laps, " remarked Georgia. "During the second lap I was a little bit sloppy on a couple of the downhills, and I got dropped from the front group. A few riders passed me, but I was able to move back up to 5th by the finish. My legs felt good (the pre-race espresso Waldek brewed for me didn't hurt either), and I am happy with another solid result at the World Cup. It was great to see the whole team riding at the front of the race. Three LUNA riders in the top-10: hopefully this is just a taste of what is to come!" Georgia's 5th place finish in Madrid and Houffalize make her the leader in the Olympic points chase.

What's next for LUNA:
After a much needed rest week at home, the girls will join forces again this coming weekend in Santa Ynez, CA for the third round of the National Mountain Bike Series. Then it is back to Europe for two more World Cup races and the prestigious World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy. With the conclusion of Worlds, the Canadian and US Olympic Teams will be officially announced, so stay tuned.

That's all for now. Have a great weekend and happy trails!

Alison

Georgia Gould 5th at UCI World Cup

Georgia Gould 5th in Opening Round of World Cup Competition. Sea Otter Classic a Huge Success for Honorary Teammate Angela Mysliwiec
Berkeley, CA: The LUNA Pro Team was busy on many fronts this past weekend. Waldek Stepniowski, the team soigneur, and Zeph Wadsworth, team mechanic, joined Georgia Gould, Katerina Nash, and Catharine Pendrel for a three week trip to Europe to contest the opening rounds of the Union Cycliste International World Cup series. Chris Mathis, and past mechanic Zac Demeritt were joined by Alison Dunlap, Marla Streb, Chloe Forsman, Danelle Kabush, and Shonny Vanlandingham for three days of fun at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, CA. Angela Mysliwiec (pronounced "my sleeve itch"), winner of the Breast Cancer Fund Auction, was also on hand to experience the excitement and chaos of being a LUNA Chix for the weekend.

Houffalize, Belgium World Cup #1: Houffalize is a small town in the Ardenneregion of Belgium. It is historically significant because the town was decimated during World War II at the Battle of the Bulge. In the mountain bike world, Houffalize is better known for its beer, rice cakes, and the World Cup race. It has become an annual event and is embraced by thousands; thirty-five thousand fans to be exact. It is one of the premier races on the World Cup circuit, and this being an Olympic year, the race was a qualifier for almost every rider.

In Georgia's own words: "I knew it was going to be a long race, so I didn't want to blow myself up at the start. Maybe I was a little too conservative. I had a decent start, but by the top of the climb I had been passed by at least 20 women. I had to run a couple of the downhills because there were so many women off their bikes. The nice thing about the course at Houffalize is there is plenty of room for passing, so I was able to move up steadily through the field. I was riding in 4th for the last two laps, but was passed at the beginning of the last lap by the woman who went on to win the race. Overall, I felt good and rode a solid race to end up 5th- my best result in a European World Cup. I'm looking forward to next week!"

In Katerina's own words: "Houffalize is a very cool place to race and the fans are unbelievable. I was riding well but with every lap I was loosing more places and more power in my leg that got injured in Arizona. Those are the tough times for athletes to go through but I know my strength will return soon. With some good training this week and good Euro coffee I will be ready to fight again."

In Catharine's own words: "I felt fantastic in my first World cup of the season....well till about 1.5 hrs in then I really started to suffer! I had a great start and found myself in the top 7 by the end of the start loop. From there I moved up to 2nd, but rather than being patient I burned all my matches early and it became a fight to just finish. I feel confident as the team heads to Offenburg, Germany, that we will be holding onto our position as the top women's team."

The LUNA girls are ranked #1 in the team standings after the first World Cup.

Sea Otter Classic: The rest of the LUNA mountain bike and XTERRA team was busy competing at the Sea Otter Classic, a three day event at the Laguna Seca Raceway outside of Monterey, CA. Also joining them was Angela Mysliwiec, winner of the Breast Cancer Fund auction.

Super Downhill: Marla Streb was the only one slated to compete in the Super-D event on Friday afternoon. Super-D is a combination of downhill and cross country racing. The best courses are designed so that neither rider is favored. Sea Otter was a mass start event, meaning everyone started together. Marla had this to say about her race. "After three practice runs and all warmed up for the Super-D, I was pedaling to the top before the Le Mans mass start and my right thumb stopped working. Then, I noticed my trigger finger stopped working too. Immediately I was imagining some sort of delayed onset fast acting nerve agent from an exotic Haliconia that I had brushed up against back in Costa Rica, or maybe it was a parasite that was crawling along my forearm taking over my manual controls. I was just about to check on the status of my pinkie finger when I glanced down and saw that my derailleur was dangling. It had sort of exploded into springy bits and twisted metal the like a wind-up toy gone bad on Christmas morning. So, I sprinted down to the Luna pits, and Chris expertly repaired everything in less than 5 minutes. I raced back through the sea of Sea Otter crowds convincing myself that the effort was a good way to open up my lungs for the race, only to find that the pro women had already taken off. The first (and hopefully only) time I've ever missed a race due to dangly bits."

Short Track Cross Country: With the top US and Canadian riders racing in Europe, the Short Track Cross Country event was wide open and it was anyone's guess who would get the win. LUNA's Shonny Vanlandingham finished in 5th after a slow start. Shonny is like a diesel truck. It takes a while for her to get warmed up, but once she gets going her power and speed are amazing. With her focus on XTERRA, the STXC races are more for training. Chloe Forsman had a strong ride finishing 10th. Danelle Kabush didn't have a great start position which made for a difficult race. The STXC is only 20 minutes long which doesn't give riders much time to move up through the field. Despite being pulled she rode well and gained valuable fitness for the upcoming XTERRA races.

Circuit Road Race: Angela Mysliwiec did her first event of the weekend on Friday. She entered the Category 4 Women's Circuit Race. Riders negotiated the racetrack of Laguna Seca for 50 minutes. It was a challenging course with one steep climb followed by the famous corkscrew descent. Being new to the sport of road racing, Angela struggled on the descent and came off the back of the field. However, she continued to fight and got faster each lap, using less and less brake down the corkscrew descent. She finished with a big smile on her face.

Sport Cross Country: Angela raced one lap of the cross country course for a total of 20 miles. In only her second mountain bike race, Angela rode like a champ and finished in 2hrs 13min. She loved it and thought the course was awesome.

Pro Cross Country: The conditions were much improved for Sunday's race. The 30mph winds had died down and the skies were clear and sunny. The women went off at 12:25pm for two laps of the cross country course. The LUNA girls rode hard. It was a long race thanks to the winds that picked back up during the second lap. Shonny in 9th and Danelle in 21st gained valuable fitness for their first XTERRA event in Temecula, CA in May. Chloe, despite severe back cramps, finished in 3hrs 16 minutes.

Dual Slalom: Marla had this to say. "Saturday was the Dual Slalom, and in a stacked field I qualified 10th, my right foot popping out of the pedals both runs (my last Dual Slalom happened when gas was $1.75). So, I tightened things down for the next round. During the intervening years, the courses have become much more technical, and the turns much more aggressive. In my qualifying runs I felt the turns were coming at me so fast that I was not surfing down the course as much as I was being tossed up on the beach like a seal carcass. The next two runs went well, and I slipped past European Anneke Beerton both times, mainly due to muscle memory. Then, I was up against World Cup winner Rachel Atherton. She beat me the first run, so the second run I wanted to go brakeless. Usually thinking "No brakes!" while I am getting sideways on a berm takes my mind off how I will get down off the berm. But this time I almost two-wheel drifted into some fans from Bakersfield. Barely saved it, but lost valuable seconds. Rachel took the round, which sat me down on the sidelines early to watch everyone else like it was prom night back during the slow Duran Duran song."

Alison Dunlap: "I spent four days taking care of Angela. I picked her up from the airport and we laughed the rest of the weekend. With Waldek in Europe I got to play soigneur , minus the massages. I also led a clinic for 20 girls from the Northern California High School Mountain Bike League, of which Clif Bar is a major supporter. High school clinic It was great fun watching these young women learn things they never knew how to do before. I gave each girl some LUNA Moons and a signed poster. You'd think they died and gone to heaven. It was great!" feed zone

What's next: Katerina, Georgia, and Catharine will race in Offenburg, Germany at the second World Cup event this coming weekend. Marla heads back to Costa Rica and the rest of the team is home training. The LUNA Pro Team will be reunited at the National Mountain Bike Series event in Santa Ynez, CA in late May.