2015 Recap and BIG News for 2016

I have been procrastinating this post for too long now. And, hey, it's the first day of the New Year so I better get on it! Scroll to the bottom for the BIG NEWS if you can't wait :)

2015 Year in Review:
January - A few races in Miami, I thought I was strong and that I was going to do well in a UCI race in Europe (ha!).
February - Moved to Italy, it was cold and raining and I spent most of my hours freezing inside of a cold house or on the trainer...which was also inside of the house.
March - Strade Bianche! That was probably my favorite race of the year. I was happy to finish my first UCI race.
April - Probably made one of my best decisions in cycling so far and started training with Hunter Allen (CEO Peaks Coaching Group / Developed WKO4+ Software / One of the world's leading experts in training with power)
May - I spent most of May in the USA for Pro Road and TT National Championships. Not the best races but I did set a new power test record the day before the TT...so there's that at least!
June - Back in Italy preparing for the Giro. Getting a bit lonely, homesick, and tired of sharing a room with two other girls.
July - The GIRO ROSA! During the actual race I would not have added that exclamation point. Yet, whenever I look back on a painful experience, I never remember it to be that painful. A crash on Stage 2 before a climb left me alone for the better part of 125km. POW, now ride 8 more days with that in your legs! Needless to say there was a fair amount of suffering, disappointment, and thoughts of quitting. But I didn't quit and I made it to the finish!
After the Giro, and 3 trains-2 buses-3 planes later I was back home in Miami and boy did it feel good!
August - Enjoying palm trees and cycling in the 305 with some local crit races peppered throughout the weekends.
September - Tried my legs at some National Criterium Calendar races in the Northeast and almost made it into the top 10 (11th)! I continued to train casually to keep some fitness until Six Gap in Georgia. This is one of my all-time favorite rides - 100 miles through the Georgia mountains with 11,000+ feet of climbing. I bested my time from last year despite some fog and rain and was even able to win the KOM competition (wait, what?).
October - A much needed mental and physical BREAK.
November - Back into the gym with newly invigorated motivation for the 2016 season.
December - I told Hunter I wanted to start training harder and he is currently kicking my butt, it's great. I'm so stoked for the new year and the upcoming season.

​The NEWS:
I signed a contract with a women's UCI team based out of California called Hagens-Berman Supermint Pro Cycling Team. I am so excited to be on an American team this year with a wonderful group of women. I will be based out of Miami but will have the opportunity to race in some of the big UCI races in the USA. This means LIVE STREAMING, reliable WiFi connections, and being surrounded by the amazing support group I have here. Let's do this, 2016!