May 8, 2008 (Berne, Switzerland) – After three weeks of racing in the European peloton, on the unforgiving cobbles of Holland and the narrow windy roads, fighting for position every second of the race with a death grip on my handlebars, scared to even take a sip of water, the racing has definitely been an experience and has made me a faster and tougher racer.

Following the first portion of our 2-month stay in Europe with the national team, Erinne (Willock) and I took a day trip by train from Stoumont, Belgium to Bern, Switzerland to join our Webcor team for the Berne World Cup. We arrived there a few days early so we tried to make good use of our time by checking out the course, the country, the town and maybe do some shopping. It turns out that Switzerland is the most expensive place on the planet! So after spending $200 each on groceries over three days we decided to spend most of our free time in our hotel room on the internet, and hand washing our clothes.

Two days before the race, three team mates, staff, and Chris Georges – acting Director Sportif and host for our European trip – joined us in Berne.

The race was 136km consisting of four 34km laps. Each lap had a 6km climb with a GPM/QOM at the top and a sprint at the start/finish, each time through. After pre-riding the course we knew the climb would determine the race and we had three riders here capable of making any moves that went on the climb. Since the finish was on a flat, I was probably the best shot for the sprint finish, so our plan was for the girls to cover the moves and save me for the finish.

The climb started only 4km in to the course, so needless to say the field shattered in the first 10km of the race. Many of the climbers were not well positioned going into this first climb and Cervelo Lifeforce drove it up until there was only Cervelo team mates Christiane Soeder, Kristin Armstrong, Nicole Brändli (Bigla) and I. Since I was there, I got the first GPM. We had a pretty big gap over the top and Cervelo just kept rotating through until the gap grew to 40 seconds. Since it was so early in the race, and Nicole wasn’t pulling through, I didn’t either. High Road chased for the whole lap until we got caught right before the start/finish of the first lap.

On climb #2 & #3, the climbers were better positioned, Cervelo and Bigla drove it up these climbs usually with about six of us by the top. But over the top the break never lasted longer than 5km because nobody really wanted to work, people only attacked and nothing stayed away. On the 2nd and 3rd lap about 5km over the top, a group of about 20 riders caught back on with Christine and Erinne. There were several attacks which they covered and brought back.

As expected on climb #4, riders like Armstrong, Brandly, and Amber Neben (Flexpoint) made their last attempts to get away or at least form a very small break that they could ride away with. Suddenly Suzanne Ljungskog (Menikini-Selle Italia) came out of nowhere and flew by us immediately creating a fairly big gap that nobody attempted to close. This time at the top there were about 10 riders that had managed to hang on, hoping to make that winning break to the finish. But again over the top nobody was willing to work, so there were some more unsuccessful attacks.

Our group stayed off the front for about 10km or so this time, and eventually a group of about 15 more riders caught us including Erinne and more team mates for Cervelo, Bigla and High Road. Once these riders caught on Suzanne got reeled back. Many more attacks were launched by Cervelo, Bigla and Flexpoint. Then Suzanne went again and got another gap. Nobody chased her. For the last 5km of the race, riders like Kristin, Amber, Priska attacked but didn’t get away.

The chase on Suzanne was over and the turn at 1km to the finish came quick. Cervelo had two riders giving Kristin a lead out, so I tried to squeeze in behind them taking some wind. The lead out died and riders started swarming, I stayed near the front on about 5th wheel into the last turn – 500meters before the finish – unsure of when to jump, and High Road’s Judith Arndt went first, and behind her was Mirjam Melchers (Flexpoint). I started coming up on the left but both girls kept veering to the left until there was a loud scream of a girl getting squeezed into the guard rails behind me. Across the line we were only cm’s apart and I got 4th.

Somehow they seemed to forget me on the initial results – but now that has been fixed.

And next up for Webcor is Tour de L’Aude.