Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Bike Racing
Once again, Philly was a hot contest in the women's 98 kilometer Liberty Classic Bike Race. The pro women took to the streets on a cool, overcast day. In the history of the race, it has yet to rain on our parade.
The cool temps brought a blistering pace for the women. Lez Albrecht (Juvederm-Specialized) was not concerned with the overall win for the day. Lez was looking for the ultimate title of Queen of the Mountain. Otherwise known as QOM, you win points and the glory of being the best climber of the day.
When the ladies hit the famed Manayunk Wall, Lez sprinted away from the women, taking the first QOM points. When she found herself alone at the top, Lez kept the pressure on, riding solo for the majority of the race until the final lap. While Lez was queen for the day, her gap narrowed to about 15 seconds on the final climb up Lemon Hill, eventually being swept up by the peloton for the final sprint.
Typically, it is the men's race that sees this sort of race tactic play out. In the past, the women set a blistering pace, shattering the field to pieces, shaking the fodder. While the peloton remained strung out, Lez is the first woman to ever break away 70 kilometers of the race. An amazing ride for the day.
Once the race hit the Ben Franklin Parkway for the final sprint, the Italian rider, Giorgia Bronzini (Colavita d' Asolo) wound it up for the win. Shelly Olds (Diadora Pasta Zara) was the first American across the line, finishing 2nd overall. Local hero, Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) finished 8th in the sprint.
On a side note: Van Gilder is no stranger to this race, having competed for more than a dozen years in a row, a win continues to elude her on home turf. Van Gilder is a sprint specialist who knows how to place herself well and always finds a good wheel. Van Gilder would like to win this race one day and her resume says she will. All bets are on her next year.
RESULTS Sir Anthony's Pics
