RACE REPORT BY SUSY PRYDE - Trading in the gentle seaside breezes of last weekend's Manhattan Beach for Northern California's torched, inland furnace the Jazz Apple Team blazed to victory both in the seriously tough, Leesville Gap Road Race and the Northern Californian Criterium Championships in Vacaville over the weekend.

In the 18th annual 108km Leesville Gap epic, every rider is certain to have a tale to tell by the day's end. Ruth ended the day with a crushing victor's account of events but certainly there is no doubt that everyone involved suffered a crusade worthy of mention. Susy joined the first solo attack of the day by ValueAct's Courtney Brown after only four kilometres. With a two minute buffer, the pair hit the 50km stretch of the 'Gap', a vague footprint of an access road now a crater-riddled trail scattered with long gravel road sections. At the first 8km incline, the duo began dodging the strewn remains of the earlier men's groups either repairing punctures in their numbers or resolving to pull over to stretch their weary limbs.

In the group behind, Ruth launched as the ascent steepened quickly joining the breakaway pair mid-way up. Brown could not quite handle the quickened pace as Susy and Ruth pulled away hitting the gravel road sections at speed. That was until Ruth punctured 20km later. With mechanical support caught behind the group, Susy swapped out her rear wheel with Ruth and sent her on her way.

Sidelined in the torching heat pending mechanical support, Susy then watched the chase group of four fly by with Lauren conveniently lodged on the back of the group. Malindi had suffered two punctures at the bottom of the climb and also suffered the wait for support. Meanwhile Ruth continued a colossal effort on her own, her diminutive frame deceptively continuing to gain time on the chase. Into the last 8km, Ruth had assured her win with an impressive 5 minute lead while Lauren was setting up for a three up gallop. Surprisingly there was one final 5km gravel road, with the three jockeying in the graduated gravel, the day almost culminated in disaster. Emerging safely, Lauren began launching only to be shut down approaching the final dash. One final jump, and Lauren crossed the line a dominating second. However, Lauren had inadvertently snuck a few inches over the centre-line in the sprint and was unluckily disqualified on a technicality. Nevertheless it
 was an outstanding voyage and aside from being completely destroyed, we all quietly admired the pulverizing strength of Ruth's ride.

Vacaville Criterium

Slipping into our Champion System Jazz Apple threads, the body made every known firm objection to the idea of anaerobic effort for today's 1 hour  Northern Californian Criterium Championships. Vying for the title were vast sets of fresh, Leesville Gap Road Race-free legs, calling for a careful plot on the 1.6km technical and rolling course. Staying close to the moves but out of the wind, the Jazz Apple crew launched their first attack with 7 laps to go. Susy was caught after one lap to be countered by Ruth into the course's 200m climb. Malindi patrolled the front and noting the field's muscle clearly faltering, Susy countered again to fly solo. Lap by lap, Susy's lead yo-yo-ed until a concerted chase sucked back the Jazz Apple rider on the final lap. Executing faultless timing, Lauren rocketed past on the opposite side of the road heading up the final climb with Cheerwine's, Sarah Bamberger chasing hard midway between Lauren and the group. Driving over
 the climb, Lauren extended a gap and crossed the line in a very thrilling victory. In front of a cheering crowd, Lauren had her first chance to celebrate victory, all the more rewarding after yesterday's unfortunate finish. 
Ruth, feeling recovered from her exceptional day yesterday jumped early in the sprint and powerfully held off the remaining field to claim a gutsy third place.
 
This week spells the last in the Monterey area as the team prepare to leave for BC Superweek in Vancouver on Thursday, a 9 day spell of racing.