NVGP: Mankato Stage, Part 5

In our first four episodes, you learned that on Saturday, June 17 Tuffy was invited by an employee of the French bike maker Time to ride in the McGuire Elite Womens Team car for the Mankato stage of the Nature Valley Grand Prix. Needless to say, he accepted.


Soon, we were nearing our return to Mankato. A steep descent was quickly followed by a long, slow ride up into the highlands encircling the city. Then, we descended again into the city, promenaded down the finishing straight, and followed that up by removing the support car from the finishing circuit via stage right.

Ped and I went to watch the ladies battle the hill while Smithers went down to take in the finish.

The women had to do four laps of the finishing circuit. Sarah Ulmer of Jazz Apple and an Olympic gold medalist attacked early and led the first two laps. Kristin Armstrong of TEAm Lipton caught Ulmer on the hill on lap 3 and stayed away for the victory.

[photo caption] Jazz Apple's Sarah Ulmer leads the field up the hill on the third finishing lap...

[photo caption] ...until she was caught by TEAm Lipton's Kristin Armstrong.

Of the McGuire riders, Melodie finished in the first chase group, and Taitt finished with the second group.

[photo caption] McGuire's Taitt Sato battles the hill.

In the parking lot following the finish, Courtenay was already waiting for her teammates. Then, amazingly, 26 minutes after Armstrong's win, Martina appeared at the team van ecstatic that she had made the cut-off time. I'm still not sure how she pulled that off.

[photo caption] Flanders Bros/MBRC's Teresa Moriarty finishes up in Mankato during her impressive Nature Valley Grand Prix effort.


Look for our conclusion tomorrow...