Lighthouse Time Trial,
Bermuda Grand Prix

By Stacy Marple
Date: September 8, 2006
Team mates: Brooke, Victoria, Eryn, & Flavia
Winner: Amber Rais (Webcor), Stacy 3rd, Victoria 6th
Final GC: Winner: Stacy !!, Victoria 8th

Sadly, this would be the last event of Bermuda Grand Prix 06 due to the imminent arrival of Hurricane Florence. I was really hoping to just destroy this time trial. Two days previously I went up in 2:38 in about an 80% effort. As it ended up I did not feel nearly as strong in the race as in the practice, not really sure why. Warm up? Nerves? Lack of TT experience? No roger rabbit? Who knows. I was strong enough to take 3rd in 2:34, 4 seconds off the winning time. This however did put me into the leader's jersey! WOW, how exciting! It's a tough call which is better, coming home with the leader's jersey or having the opportunity to defend the leader's jersey. As things worked out, we all left hungry for the chance to defend a leader's jersey, which is a good way to end a season. And as every cyclist tells me, a win is a win-because on every given day, in every race, all the riders are putting their best efforts forth to win.

We weren't able to get off the island before the hurricane, but our fabulous hosts made it more than bearable, sharing wine and delicious dinners. And in the end we got one last fun day of body surfing, beach lounging and margarita drinking in!

Big thanks to all the families that have opened their doors and hearts to us, to TIBCO, PABW and all our sponsors without whom none of this would have been possible, and especially to Linda, Roger and everyone on the team. This has been great fun and I look forward to next year.