Exeter Time Trial (TT)

Note: Some of these shots are pretty decent, some not so good. Its because the sun was in and out of the clouds all day with high winds, and very chilly at Rocky Hill.

Once again, Saturday March 15, started out under cloudy skies and windy conditions. According to the forecast, rain was likely along with high winds. Already battle hardened from the relentless stormy conditions that have persisted through every race this year, I headed out in search of Professional cycling women in the Exeter Time Trail. With my ice chest stocked full of Starbucks doubleshot, I didn't have any trouble staying awake on the long drive to Exeter. I parked along the back side of the course, and walked in, since the Sun was in and out of the clouds, and the conditions improved a bit.

I took some great shots of awesome scenery during our springtime posted above. I was really enjoying the walk up to Rocky Hill when a lone Tibco rider went past, but I didn't really pay much attention so early in the morning. Who could it be? Well I continued on taking some shots along the way, and once I was about half way up the hill, I stopped to take a few more shots when I saw the Tibco rider returning up the hill with a partner.

Just about that time, I saw a rattlesnake skin by the side of the road, as I just had to fool with it out of curiosity. This Tibco rider said to me, "What is that?" I said its a snake, and she said, "What Kind", and I said its a rattlesnake! She said, "That's what I thought!". While, I reconized her voice right away, and then her face, yes, it was Linda Jackson! Manager of Tibco out for a morning ride, and for being a retired veteran, she didn't seem to be having any trouble climbing that big hill! I got a photo of her above, but I didn't get a close shot because I didn't even know it was her, and I put my camera away when she came close, and then she was gone! Too late!

I continued on to Rocky Hill and took a few more shots before the race of the surrounding scenery. Once the race started, the men went by pretty fast, since their field was not NRC this year. The women started very soon after, and I made my way down the crest a bit to take some shots overlooking Exeter. Since the rain and wind blew out the smog, that was a plus for these photos and allows a good depth of field for the photos. If you noticed the soft tones, that's the trade off sometimes when you use a higher F-Stop for a greater depth of field.

It was windy and really chilly at the top of Rocky Hill. I was wearing two wind breakers and one water proof jacket. My hands were so cold, and with the wind, it was almost impossible to hold the camera steady. I fought with ISO and F-Stops all day to get the right mix of light. The last option was again to lower the speed, but I didn't want to do that unless I had to. I was nearly changing the ISO or aperture on every shot, conditions were that bad. The sky was like a checkerboard of clouds and patches of sun, which played total havic with the settings.

I shot all the riders coming up Rocky Hill, then I moved to the other side of the mountain to catch the riders on the return run. Conditions improved on the back side, and I captured some of the springtime in those shots. Lighting also improved in a lot of shots as the Sun stayed out for a while on the return run. Once the last rider came up the hill, I walked back to the car and went home. I didn't go back to Exeter for the podium because of last year, it was done very late in the day, and its also a long ride back to Exeter. Instead I headed to Taco Bell and home!

I don't know anything about the actual time trail report. Armstrong won by an overwhelming margin and I had heard that even Mari Holden came to race. I ran into a Aarons manager on the hill, as he was coaching one of his riders over the crest. I ran out of space on my photo card, so a few more riders came back over when I was walking back to my car. The last rider I saw was Amber Rais, I didn't have any way of capturing her effort, but I do remember the team car was following her, and I think that was the last rider up the hill on the return.

All in all, all things considered, it went reasonably well considering I am used to this amazing run of bad weather in our spring classics. Maybe next year will be different, or then again, maybe I should buy a waterproof camera! I had actually went through all the trouble to ask the elites who live on Rocky Hill at Badger resorts if I could park on their service road, but elites are elites for a reason, and I didn't live in their gated community, so as they say, that was that! However, this is one race, I actually like a lot, and I hope to return next year!

Podium

1, Kristin Armstrong - Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team
2. Alexis Rhodes - Team High Road
3. Felicia Gomez - Aaron's Pro Cycling Team

Some of the registered riders.

Julia Lafranchise Leader Bikes - Big City
Mara Abbott Team High Road
Rhodes Alex Team High Road
Kim Anderson Team High Road
Emilia Fahlin Team High Road
Anke Wichmann Team High Road
Katharine Carroll Aaron's Pro Cycling Team
Felicia Gomez Aaron's Pro Cycling Team
Carmen McNellis Aaron's Pro Cycling Team
Meredith Miller Aaron's Pro Women's Cycling Team
Kristin Sanders Aaron's Pro Cycling Team
Molly Van Houweling Metromint Cycling
Nicole Evans ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
Martina Patella ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
Christina Ruiter ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
Yukie Nakamura Team Kenda Tire
Tracy Kubas Bicycle John's
Cari Higgins America's Dairyland
Kate Ross America's Dairyland
Clare Vlahopoulos America's Dairyland
Abby Lyn Cooper Proman Racing
Betina Hold Proman Racing
Kate Ligler Proman Racing
Giana Roberge Proman Racing
Emily Zell Proman Racing
Jane Despas Vanderkitten
Kristy Gough Third Pillar
Cara Gillis Organic Athlete's Team Vegan
Morgan Kapp SouthBay Wheelmen
Jennifer Reither SouthBay Wheelmen
Jennifer Wilson SouthBay Wheelmen
Marisa Asplund-Owens Cheerwine Cycling
Sarah Bamberger Cheerwine Cycling
Kelly Benjamin Cheerwine Cycling
Allyson Brandt Cheerwine Cycling
Leigh Hobson Cheerwine Cycling
Stacy Marple Cheerwine Cycling
Anne Samplonius Cheerwine Cycling
Laura Van Gilder Cheerwine Cycling
Chellie Terry Fitzgerald's Bicycles
Holly Borowski Touchstone/US Armed Forces
Olivia Dillon Touchstone Climbing
pat ross Touchstone Climbing
Elis Bradshaw Metromint Cycling on Marin Bikes
Amy McGuire Team Kenda Tire
Maria Monica McGuire Cycling Team
Victoria Bastide Tibco
Rushlee Buchanan Tibco
Lauren Franges Tibco
Rachel Heal Tibco
Jerika Hutchinson Tibco
Helen Kelly Tibco
Amber Rais Tibco
Megan Hottman DFT-QA3
Kelly McDonald Touchstone Climbing
Kelli Jones Paramount Racing
Janel Holcomb Webcor Builders
Flavia Oliveira Vanderkitten Racing
Heather Sborz Vanderkitten Racing
Alison Littlefield Contender Bicycles
Shannon Koch Metro Volkswagen Cycling Team
Sue Palmer-Komar Team Advil - ChapStick
Kristin Armstrong Lipton