We didn't have long to wait for the first riders to appear. We found they were still in a small pack. The small dirt road going toward the top of the photo leads to one of my favorite boat ramps.
My telephoto lens gives a better idea of how jammed up the riders still were.
Here they are starting up the hill. Remember, it's a 12% grade.
The pack is a lot more scattered as they level out the head for their second lap.
About 30 minutes later they made it around for a second try at the grade. Note that the first pack is small and strung out.
Note the camera crew on the motorcycle filming the first group as they approach the grade.
Things were a lot more strung out when they topped that hill for the second time.
As the last of the ladies topped the hill the crowd dispersed and headed toward Nampa for the finish of the race. We followed the last girl, since the race course was heading down the same roads we take to get home. One poor girl was about a quarter mile from the last of the stragglers and we followed her for a couple of miles before the course headed west. We turned east and then north, then realized that the course was going to again cross our path. We waited at an intersection for a short time and then they again appeared, and were all jammed up again in two packs, except for a few stragglers.
Even though we know nothing about cycling, it sure was fun to watch these ladies, many of whom will be in the Olympics this summer. They came from all over the world to peddle past. Here's to the winners, and all who competed. It was a fun afternoon.
