Ah, Bermuda

Team presentation: Carmen, Felicia, Sarah, Rebecca

Someone missed their flight : (

This past week 4 members of the A-Team arrived on the island of Bermuda to race in the final race of the Women's Prestige Series, The Bermuda Grand Prix.

This go around I was thankful to arrive a day early to relax and hang out with Felicia who had also arrived early straight from the Tour of Leelanau in Traverse City, MI.

The day proceeding the opening day of racing the organizers put on a reception at the Bacardi Headquarters where teams are all formerly presented and everyone has a nice dinner and of course a little rum, perhaps in a Dark and Stormy or maybe a Swizzle.

The first night of racing gets things rolling with a 30 min. criterium in downtown Hamilton. It's and evening race starting at dusk and ending in darkness. Some of the A-Team was still finding it's legs while Felicia was duking it out with some of the top sprinters in the US. She would finish 4th on the evening behind race winner Kelli Benjamin, Laura Yoisten, and Laura Van Gilder.

Day 2 - The Lighthouse Challenge, a 1K uphill time trial, would see Felicia Gomez take the leaders jersey with an exciting stage win. Felicia bested her time of the previous year by 7 seconds!! Teammate Sarah Caravella would put in a good ride placing her in the top ten. With solid rides by everyone, the team was in the hunt for the team competition, trailing first place by a mere 3 seconds.

Hill Climb Podium

Day 3 - The Dockyard Criterium would prove to be a tough day for the A-Team. Upon completion of the race Catherine found she had a loose spoke that was causing her wheel to rotate "out of true". Generally what this means to a rider is a little unplanned resistance training. Felicia would try time and again to sprint for bonus seconds only to be outdone each time by LVG and Karen Brems. Let's just say, it was a good learning experience : )Felicia Leads the bunch at the top of the Cork Screw Hill

Day 4 - The Catlin Hamilton Circuit Race would be a new stage that would take the riders up a steep twisty hill which we were excited to see, however, not really long enough to take the sprinters out of the competition it would again be a day to contest the intermediate time bonus sprints. Powers was back and the team gave it a good go but at the end of the intermediate sprints it was LVG with 9 seconds, Karen with 9 seconds, and Felicia with 9 seconds...a net gain of zero. There was still hope, as the finish of the race offered still enough seconds for Felicia to be able to place 2nd overall in the race which would be enough to take the series. It wasn't meant to be as Felicia just didn't have another jump in her to go with the sprinters to the line. Sarah would be the team's top finisher in 6th for the stage.Team Podium: Sarah, Felicia, and Powers

Once all the seconds were tallied Felicia would be the team's top finisher in 3rd place overall. Catherine and Sarah would round out the top ten in 9th and 10th respectively. The A -Team would take the win in the Team Competition!

Manny, Felicia, Laura, Sarah, Kelli, Carmen, Catherine

It was a GREAT Bermuda this year! The best trip in my three years of going to the race. Our host families were the best...thank-you's go out the the Pilgrim's, Conway's, Manny Packwood and Lynden Rowe. We had a lot of fun hanging out on the beautiful beaches with several of the women from the other teams as well as nights out dancing and scooter racing...oops, I mean riding : )

After race Awards Presentation: Jon, Catherine, Felicia, Rebecca


And now...it's Viva Las Vegas!!!