EL TOUR DE TUCSON RESULTS

It was a beautiful partly cloudy day with perfect temps and 15-18 mph winds.   A record 1600+ turned out for the 60 mile event.   Mark Schleish, a big TEAM supporter who many of you know, joined us for the big event

We arrived 1.5 hours early to get a spot up front.   We had two goals:
#1 - Take Teenie to the Women's Overall Championship.
#2 - All finish in the Top 10.

The start found us in great shape with me setting pace up the initial climb but 2 miles from the start the course of the race changed fast.   To my left a rider center punched a road barrier causing him to careen right and take out 6-7 riders.   I went down immediately but Teenie stayed up even though she ran over a man on the ground.  With a broken cleat, I was finished.   She and Mark, collected themselves for the chase to get back on the lead group.  Bird was ahead as I headed for the car and then a mid point on the course.

Mark and Teenie spent the next 45 minutes on the rivet, getting very close to the lead pack untila red light stopped them for over 1 minute.

At mile 27 the race passed me with Bird 2 minutes off the lead in the second grupeto and Teenie and Mark in the 3rd, another 3 minutes back.   I saw no woman in front of her.   I yelled and headed for finish.  Mark took almost all the pulls with Teenie on his wheel and a large group of wheelsuckers behind her.  Bird dropped back with about 18 miles to go and took some work.   He also thought Teenie was in the lead!

At the finish the leaders crossed.  Again, I saw no woman.  Soon I saw the TEAM coming up the long straight away with the distinctive kits.  Mark pulled away and Teenie sprinted across the timing mat.

UNBELIEVABLE:

ELAPSE TIME: 2:44 and change
COMPUTER TIME: 2:42:12 (bike time without the stops)
Speed: 22.6 MPH

We hugged........we laughed.

Soon the computer chips times came up.   Teenie was 36th overall and 2nd in the Overall Women.   She will receive a commemorative 2nd place medal for accomplishment.   I guess I just missed the woman leading?

With the crash and two long stoplights, this was a great individual and TEAM accomplishment.  Mark was a great team mate, giving up what could have been a top finish.  Bird overcame injuries of  the last weeks just to be here.   I am bruised and cut but not broken.

And Teenie, well, she IS the TEENZANATOR

I was proud to wear the jersey today as I am every day.