Merco Cycling Classic

Finally a race where I didn't have to get up too early, my hometown favorite, our cherished Merco Cycling Classic, formally known for so many years as Mclane Pacific. Again, the weather wouldn't cooperate, with overcast skies and strong winds, 15-30 MPH. The festival atmosphere was somewhat buffered by the winds and chill in the air as table vendors fought to keep their fliers and corporate advertisements from being blown about. Despite the winds, children played on the temporary playground that was set up in the park, as parents feasted on Mexican barbecue which they set up every year on the S-corner.

Ironically I guess because that's where the action is, a tight corner which herds the riders in the tight group, and sometimes unfortunately provides ghastly spectatorship with a few crashes that have marred the race nearly every year. It's known as the corner where they stack it, but this year the women's race went off without a hitch, and as far as I know, there were no crashes in the women's pro 1-2 event.

The race started with the introduction of Mara Abbott and Kim Anderson of High Road to a very welcomed applause, the high profile celebrities of Merco this year, and quite noticeable with the striking contrast of their black and white jerseys. The 40 lap circuit started with the usual fanfare, and things started to heat up immediately and the high winds prevailed for a time, then the wind died down and sun came out for the rest of the race as a perfect backdrop, a beautiful day.

Early on Kim Anderson took a flyer to win one of the primes, and built up such a considerable lead that fans encouraged her to keep going. That's really cool when you get this kind of interaction between a rider and the fans, and Kim is such a high profile rider that it made it real exciting for the fans at Merco. However even over the race radio, she was told that she had a hole, and to go for it! Anderson said she just wanted to win a prime and then fade back into the pack, but then High Road realized she had a good thing going, and told her to stay away, and stay away she did opening up an 18 second lead and maintaining it for 20 laps or more.

However with 16 laps remaining, the high winds was taking it's toll on the High Road rider, and she was drawn back into the peloton. Anderson said she was able to sit back in the group and recover for a second go at the lead. Along with team mate Emilia Fahlin of Sweden, Anderson tried for the lead again. Imediately Rushlee Buchanan burst from the pack to chase down Anderson. Proman riders also were in hot pursuit with Kristina Seley often seen at the front pushing it to the limit!

Between Rushlee, Kristina, Kim and Emilia, this made for some spectacular action at the front, 4 incredible riders. Rushlee and Emilia were together alone at the front for a time, pushing the pace. Rushlee was very animated at the front, an incredible rider, she looks very professional, she's absolutely stunning on the bike! I was standing right there after the S-Curve when Rushlee hit the gas, and bridged up to Anderson. It was an incredible display of power, she's really strong!

Kristina Seley of Proman is also an incredible rider, and she really added a lot of excitement to the race! In fact most of the Proman riders were either near the front, or at the front at one time of another, especially Kristina Seley and Virginia Perkins. Seley been racing well, and placing well in the spring classics and she should have a great season this year. The Swedish powerhouse Emilia Fahlin has rode well in most of the spring classics, and was always active at the front. Combined with Anderson, High Road was also dominate throughout the race.

Near the last lap, I saw Mara Abbott bridge to the leaders right on the final straight-away, an amazing effort! On the final lap, Emilia Fahlin sprinted clear, and gave the victory salute. A bit late for most of the cameras I think, perhaps she misjudged it, so I didn't get a photo of that, as she lifted her arms well after crossing the line. Someone way down there might of got the shot! Mara crossed the line alone for 3rd place, after a huge effort to bridge, and Kim Anderson came across alone also, and you could tell she was really spent after working so hard all day long for the fans.

Such a great rider, she really gave the Merco fans a great show on the day! Team mate Emilia Fahlin also went on to win the Foothills road race as well the following day. Rushlee Buchanan took 2nd place, a well deserved hard fought victory, and also took 2nd place in the Foothills road race the following day. Rushlee took 3rd in the Snelling road race, another season opening in which she drove the pace in 50 MPH head winds!

Well, they always say it's not so much about winning, but competing that counts, and Kim, Rushlee and Kristina really gave the fans a spectacular show for their money, but the best part about bike races in America, its all free to the public. We had a good turnout, and the photos reflect a solid base of fan support at Merco this year. The atmosphere was very festive, and everyone had a great time on what turned out finally to be a nice sunny day.

The Merco cycling classic was a great race and Rushlee Buchanan has really added spice to our spring classics. If anyone made the races special, in my mind, she did in a big way. She's my hero of the series, and I think this could be a great rider in the years to come! She reminds me of Jan Ulrich, this young lady has a huge motor, heavy duty diesel with power to spare! She's just a totally awesome looking rider on the bike!

However, I'm not forgetting Kim Anderson, she gave 100 percent in every race, and has also been dominate in every race in one form or another, regardless of the winner. Behind it all, Mara Abbott has been the steady beacon mixing it up in nearly every race and she's been on the podium as well. High Road with addition of the Swedish powerhouse Emilia Fahlin has made our classics fantastic this year, but Tibco and Proman have really been competitive, and without them, our classics wouldn't have faired nearly as well as they did. I think Merco organization was really happy with the turn out, considering it's non NRC status, and drawing our national road champion Mara Abbott has really given the race credibility.

Final note: I'm sure this isn't really a balanced view of the over all mood or accessibility of the pro women and their teams, but personally as a fan and photo-journalist, I found Proman to be the nicest. It's not just Nicola Crammer opening the door to allow me to connect with the riders, but even when my car had a flat tire, and I missed nearly the whole race at Foothills, I know some of those Proman girls were willing to connect with us fans after the race, but for me personally I had already thrown in the towel at that point since I got stuck behind a crash scene for over half an hour, not to mention being stuck in the field another hour because the media car didn't come back around. I shouldn't of taken my bad luck out on the podium, but I did by skipping it. I just wanted to go home at that point, but I admire those girls for being even handed and accessible after the race. I've said it before, that we wouldn't of had a race without the Proman, or High Road for that matter, those two teams were clearly what made my efforts worthwhile.

On the other hand, the worse are teams where you think they are guarding the President of the United States or something, and getting near them is almost impossible. They should know as well as anyone, that the riders are there first and foremost for the fans, and without us, there would be no race, no sponsors, nothing. We are the ones who carry the torch for them at all the races, and if we can't connect with them, even as briefly as that might be, then I really think the sport is lost as it existed in the old days. However I am an optimist, and believe there is always next year, and things will get better. New teams and riders will be there, and there are always at least a few riders every year that are willing to connect with the fans, and for me personally, that always makes it worth it, since I can share these photos with the whole world, even the poorest nations on earth, can see what we take for granted here in the United States, but that also allows them to dream about what could be.

Kristy Gough won Snelling, and both her catagories at Merced Criterium and the Merco Classic. She was racing with the pros at Merced Criterium! There is a small gallery of Kristy here!

In Memory of Kristy Gough.

Podium

1 Emilia Fahlin (High Road)
2 Rushlee Buchanan (Tibco)
3 Mara Abbott (High Road)

Some of the registered riders.

Trish Bell Morgan Stanley - 24 Hr Fitness-Specialized - 186
Laurel Green Dolce Vita Cycling - 184
Mara Abbott Team High Road - 154
Kim Anderson Team High Road - 155
Emilia Fahlin Team High Road - 156
Anke Wichmann Team High Road - 157
Elis Bradshaw Metromint Cycling on Marin Bikes - 177
Lana Atchley Team Rock - 163
Priscilla Calderon Team Rock - 164
Ashley Dymond Team Rock - 165
Courtney Hammond Team Rock - 166
Rachel Herring Team Rock - 167
Ginger Hsieh Team Rock - 168
Yukie Nakamura Team Kenda Tire - 169
Virginia Perkins Proman Racing - 159
Megan Elliott Unattached - 191
Amanda Seigle code 3 racing - 183
Giana Roberge Proman Racing - 158
Claire House NorCal Velo Women's Cycling Team - 187
Sarah Lightfoot Metromint Cycling on Marin Bikes - 176
Rushlee Buchanan Team Tibco - 151
Olivia Dillon Touchstone Climbing - 190
Jerika Hutchinson Team Tibco - 153
Coryn Rivera Kahala-La Grange - 185
Kristina Seley Proman Racing - 160
Erin Dunn Easton-Sugar CRM-Specialized - 171
Jennifer Van Muckey Easton-Sugar CRM-Specialized - 172
Amy McGuire Team Kenda Tire - 170
Victoria Bastide Team Tibco - 150
Holly Roberts Easton-Sugar CRM-Specialized - 173
Liza Rachetto Team Tibco 152
Karla Kingsley Easton-Sugar CRM-Specialized - 174
Liz Hatch Vanderkitten 178
Kate Ligler Proman Racing 161
Abby Lyn Cooper Proman Racing 162
Rae Brownsberger Stanford Cycling 189
Jane Despas Vanderkitten 179
Anna Drakulich Bicycle Johns Serious Cycling 182
Rebecca Much Webcor Builders 192
Taitt Sato ValueAct Capital 180
Hannah Banks ValueAct Capital 181
Morgan Kapp South Bay Wheelman 188
Brianne Burgess Easton-Sugar CRM-Specialized 175