Jun 9th, 10. NZ Road Champion Rushlee Buchanan and fellow Kiwi Genevieve Whitson tell of the smell of beer and BBQs which taunted them as they raced up the challenging 'wall' at Philly.

Buchanan in her team branded NZ champion jersey ©Veronika Lenzi

Buchanan (Colavita Baci) was one of five Kiwi women who raced the Liberty Classic race on Monday (NZ time).  

The Liberty Classic is raced on the same course, at the same time, as the men compete on for the Philadelphia International race with its famous 17% Manayunk Wall.

It was on the wall that the spectators partied as they watched the men and women riders challenge themselves to the limit - four times for the women and ten times for the men.

"There are people with hoses and bagpipes and horns, and so much yelling, you have to fully concentrate on your pedaling!" said Buchanan.

"And on the last time up, when the last thing you want to smell is beer and BBQ, and you're trying not to fall over or go zig-zag up the hill, there is always someone yelling in your ear - which just helps that last little bit to get over the top."

Whitson, racing for US team MVP Healthcare Cycling, echoed Buchanan's words.

"Gosh what a full on race. The crowds were like nothing I have ever seen before apart from racing the World Mountain Bike champs," she told RoadCycling.co.nz

"It was insane and amazing to be part of it! The only issue was there were so many spectators up the wall having parties that the smell of BBQ'd meat was waffling into the peloton. We all felt pretty sick smelling that climbing up the wall - ah it was pretty funny though, looking back now."

Buchanan's race

Buchanan was racing for her team Colavita Baci with Kiwi teammate Cath Cheatley, but it was a local rider they were there to support.

"Theresa Cliff- Ryan lives here in Philadelphia and so I think she was a bit nervous to race around her home roads in front of a home crowd, but she did us all proud and got the first ever Colavita Baci podium place at Philly (she got 3rd)," explained Buchanan.

"The team was really happy with our ride. It is a big task to come up and race with the likes of HTC Columbia who flew in from Europe, but it is also great to have teams like them here. It really brings the calibre of racing up and makes everyone step up that little bit more."

"We went into the race knowing Theresa would be able to get amongst it in the sprint and we were confident of her ability to put her best foot forward and get a result. We were looking after her, but at the same time also keeping all threats which may have gone up the road in sight and in contact, and always making sure we were represented on the front of the peloton."

"The major damage is done in the lead up to the wall and on the hill on the last circuit lap.  I had been on the front with the other teams bringing back the solo attack of the day so when we hit the hill I left it to Cath, Theresa and the other girls to fight their way up the hill and to the finish."

Cheatley helped lead out Cliff-Ryan, and held on for 14th place herself to Cliff-Ryan's 3rd.

Buchanan said it was great to be racing with so may other Kiwis amongst the big teams of this peloton.  She now heads to Ottawa, Canada, as does Cath Cheatley, Linda Villumsen and Jo Kiesanowski, for the two new UCI one day races this weekend.

See also: Liberty Classic champion for a fourth year (includes Jo Kiesanowski's post-race thoughts) and results.