I’ve been fortunate enough to witness the last stage of the Nature Valley Grand Prix for many years straight and the excitement of the race never ceases to amaze me. The course is setup in a way that all spectators get a true understanding around the various tactics each team is using with hopes to win both the day’s stage and the overall position.
For Sunday, Rory Sunderland and his United Healthcare team were in the catbird seat – as he was only 3 seconds back with the race leader on another team. This allowed United Healthcare to send a flyer up the road, forcing the leading team to chase (and wear down), all the while anticipating the last round pushes to get Rory into position to secure the overall win. It played perfectly and the other teams of the day seemed powerless to prevent it.
Feel free to checkout Velonews.com or Cyclingnews.com for the details, but I will share a few pictures I took while at the event. No great ones – but they should provide a true sense of the steepness that is Chilkoot Hill in Stillwater.
Although Chilkoot Hill is the infamous climb, the downhill section is really the most treacherous part of the race
Every pedal stroke up the hill is earned by each of the riders
If it looks steep, that's because it is steep
Rory Sunderland was buying his time before the last minute attack that won him the stage and the overall lead
There were a few brave souls who road the hill in the big ring, but most geared down to the smallest possible gearing
The crowds on the hill showcase the great support that Minnesotans have for professional cycling
Ice cream in the middle of a short bike ride - perfect when the temps are in the 80s
Once back from the afternoon race, I joined The Kid™ and The Ex™ at the Mall of America for an early supper at my daughter’s favorite – The Rainforest Cafe. This got me home with plenty of time to contemplate a simple ride – this time for ice cream to the nearest Dairy Queen in Hamel.
I dug out the Old Steed™ for the ride and simply turned the pedals lightly on a lovely, June evening in Minnesota. No performance goals in-mind, but you can look at the profile on the Garmin site, if that type of thing interests you.
