Gateway Cup

By TiffP:
While our teammates were duking it out in the mountains, Gwen and I headed to the Show Me state of Missouri for 4 days of crit racing.

Lafayette Square:
Day 1 was a night crit around Lafayette Square.  It was smoking fast and hard to see in some places.  The shadows did crazy things to the brain.  I ended up 7th in a big field sprint (with Colavita's Modesta winning) and Gwen was about 20th.

Tour des Hills:
I did not like this race that much last year and so some of the hating must of transferred over to this year.  Its all about the attitude! A big square with some rollers, the race would go from strung out to sitting up.  Kristin Sanders from Colavita broke away and solo'ed for the win. Gwen and I both ended up about 20th.  I was pretty un-psyched but definitely motivated for the next day...

Giro della Montagna:
Day 3 was a large rectangle with a hill and it was held in the Italiano neighborhood!  The race was aggressive and a break with Laura VanGilder, Colavita, Vanderkitten and Team Type 1 got off the front.  Argh.  Gwen snagged a $100 prime--taking a page out of her husband Michael's book.  On the last lap there was some serious bumping and grinding.  There were words between several riders, but ultimately everyone stayed upright and I took 5th in the field spring (for 9th overall).  Shontelle Gauthier from Colavita sat in the break the whole time and then won the sprint. VBF's Lauren Hall won the field sprint.  Gwen finished about 20th.

Benton Park:

This was a new race for 2010.  Differing somewhat from the other courses, it was a figure eight with lots of corners and challenging pavement.  It was pretty windy and the smell of the Anheuser brewery was also something to contend with as we rode right by it.  The course was also LONG--at about 1.6 miles.  There were many attacks but ultimately it came down to a field sprint with Gwen and I finishing 10th and 11th, with Sam Schneider winning.

Along with the racing, we enjoyed spending time with our excellent hosts Jerry and Dana in the Southwest Garden neighborhood.  We met a lot of really cool St. Louis-ans and definitely look forward to racing this excellent series next year!