Primal Pro Race Clinic – By Nicky Wangsgard

Primal PRo Race Clinic

Primal Pro Race Clinic – By Nicky Wangsgard

 

Primal Pro Race Clinic – By Nicky Wangsgard

 

 

I’m so excited to share that Primal Pro Women p/b BH hosted an enriched cycling skills clinics May 21st in West Valley City, Utah. Our clinic was an overwhelming hit in the community as fourty men and women participated. In fact one attendee, Shirley Leydsman from St. George, Utah, drove over 300 miles to attend the clinic. We chose to have our clinic in conjunction with the Utah Crit Series at RMR (Rocky Mountain Raceway) so attendees could practice skills immediately after our clinic in the C and D race flight. We taught attendees valuable racing/cycling skills and I gave them precious race winning secrets that I used to keep hidden in my back pocket. I lead the clinic with teammates Tiffany Pezzulo and Kaytie Scott. The clinic was such a hit that I recruited help from a local racing star, who has been racing for thirty-five years, Margaret Douglass and well known community coach Mark Deterline (Leadout Endurance Coaching)

After the clinic I watched attendees successfully apply skills in the C and D flight race. Attendee Jarren Garvin from FFKR Architects Velosport Racing stated, “Thanks so much, that was the safest I’ve ever felt in a criterium peloton.” Also, attendees succeeded in their race after our clinic. Michael Conti riding for K2 The Church won the C flight and Steven Perry riding for Infinite Cycles took third in the D flight. [Read more...]

News From Joe Martin and the Gila by Robin Farina (NOW)

 

http://cyclingillustrated.com/category/tour-of-gila/

http://cyclingillustrated.com/category/tour-of-gila/

News From Joe Martin and the Gila

by Robin Farina

 

It’s been a couple of weeks since my last column and I’ve recovered from the racing and travel, so I am back to give loyal readers and women’s professional cycling fans some insight as to what has been going on in the stage racing scene in the USA.

 

As I mentioned in earlier articles, I ride for the NOW and Novartis for MS women’s team. The team has had quite an aggressive early season schedule so far and has already secured an overall win at Redlands, stage wins, and podium spots. After coming off the win at Redlands, we took 2nd overall and the young rider’s jersey at the Joe Martin Stage Race. Then, last week at Tour of the Gila, the team finished with another 2nd overall in the general classification, which has helped Alison Powers hold onto the lead of the NRC’s individual competition. As it turns out, because of the solid team performances, NOW is leading the team NRC competition too. So all in all it’s been a pretty good two weeks. Now I will give you a little insight to how it all went down and update you on our adventures.

[Read more...]

Dana Point Grand Prix by Suzanne Sonye (Helen’s)

Copyright Danny Munson

Dana Point Grand Prix

Dana Point Grand Prix

by Suzanne Sonye (Helen’s)

I LOVE doing this race! The city is awesome.  The course is awesome.  The spectators are awesome.  The competition is always awesome. Our field size may not be as large as the masters races or the other categories, but our racing is just as exciting in my opinion and I felt we tried to put on a great race.  The unfortunate fact about Dana Point Grand Prix for women is the that you have Tour of Gila and Speed Week going on at the same time.  I believe that if these conflicts were not there this race would be HUGE for women because the atmosphere is so awesome! [Read more...]

One Goal In Mind By Shelley Olds (Team TIBCO)

Shelly Olds TIBCO

Shelly Olds TIBCO

 

Joe Martin Stage Race

by Shelley Olds (Team TIBCO)

 

We came to Arkansas with one goal in mind, to win the overall. Claudia Hausler is in great form right now and she set a course record on the opening TT, putting 6 seconds on the next best rider, Alison Powers. We knew that Alison was a very dangerous threat to our GC lead, and that she has a strong team around her that race very aggressively. We protected Claudia every day, controlling the race as much as possible and making it as easy for her as possible to focus on her GC threats. The stage 2 and 4 victories were just icing on the cake, because our primary goal was to win the individual and team GC.

 

On the last stage of the race, we had a 16-second lead over Powers.  Claudia did an amazing job of defending her jersey and reacting to all the dangerous moves throughout the race, making our jobs easy, particularly mine. I was able to conserve a bit more in the final laps as we set ourselves up for the final sprint. Lauren Stephens jumped early out of the last corner and was very fast up the final climb to the finish.  Luckily, I was able to follow and come around her on the line for a victory that I will share with my whole team. Without their hard work and sacrifice over the last 4 days, I never would have been able to win.

 

The team GC podium is an honor for us, as we celebrate a victory in which we all had a huge part.

Giorgia Bronzini Second On Final Stage And Overall In Luxembourg Elsy Jacobs Race

 

Luxembourg Elsy Jacobs Race

Luxembourg Elsy Jacobs Race

Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s Girogia Bronzini was narrowly beaten into second place in the second and final stage of the Festival Luxembourgeois du Cyclisme Féminin Elsy Jacobs, in Mamer, Luxembourg. Having been beaten in the sprint the previous day, World and Olympic champion Marianne Vos (Rabobank-Liv/Giant) attacked into the final bend with half a kilometre to go, and managed to hold off the rest of the peloton all the way to the line.

Former two-time World road champion Bronzini outsprinted the rest, just a few lengths behind Vos, ahead of Swedish champion Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS) [Luxembourg champion Christine Majerus (Sengers), who finished fourth, is pictured on the podium].

 

“It was a bit chaotic coming into the finish,” explained Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling directeur sportif Simon Cope. “It was a very, very fast run final kilometre, with a right hand bend with 500 metres to go – off-camber and downhill – then with about 250 metres to go there was a chicane.

“Vos jumped into the final bend and got a gap over the rest of the field,” he added.

The race, also known as the GP Nicolas Frantz, was made up of a 54.1km opening loop five laps of a 9km circuit. Unlike the previous day’s stage, however, the peloton did not split up on the repeated climbs and arrived at the finish more or less together and ready for the sprint. The Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling team once again did a good job protecting Bronzini from the wind, so that the Italian sprinter would be as fresh as possible for the final dash for the line.

Unfortunately Bronzini was just unable overhaul Vos once the World and Olympic champion had escaped on the final corner. Time bonuses on the line meant that overnight leader Vos held on to win the race overall, but Bronzini moved up to second place, just nine seconds behind her.

 

“You can’t fault it really,” said Cope. “It was a pretty good effort. Vos must have been confident with that finish, to be able to take Giorgia on, rather than take it to the line. If it had been a straight, normal, head to head sprint I think the race would have been slightly different.

“It’s good, but it’s just a shame that Giorgia couldn’t quite finish it off because it would have been the first stage race that she’s ever won,” he added.

 

Result
1. Marianne Vos (Rabobank-Liv/Giant)
2. Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling)
3. Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS)

Final general classification
1. Marianne Vos (Rabobank-Liv/Giant)
2. Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling)
3. Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS)

 

   

Women’s Joe Martin Stage Race, Friday Road Race Results

 

Average Speed of Winner 23.53 MPH 37.87 Km/H

Pl Bib Name Team Time Bon(Pen) Behind

1 228 Olds, Shelley Team Tibco 2:43:11 10 0:00

2 214 Numainville, Joelle Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strate ” 6 ”

3 224 Haeusler, Claudia Team Tibco ” 4 ”

4 235 Stephens, Lauren FCS|Zngine p/b Mr. Restore 2:43:13 @ 0:02

5 201 Powers, Alison NOW and Novartis for MS ” ”

6 206 *Kinsella, Maura NOW and Novartis for MS ” ”

7 225 Kiesanowski, Joanne Team Tibco 2:43:15 @ 0:04

8 203 Albrecht, Lex NOW and Novartis for MS ” ”

9 212 Gaffney, Amber Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strate ” ”

10 234 Sanders, Anna FCS|Zngine p/b Mr. Restore 2:43:18 @ 0:07 [Read more...]

Why I ride by Emily Kachorek (Vanderkitten)

(C) Image by Jason Perry

(C) Image by Jason Perry

Why I ride-

I ride because I was born an athlete and will always be an athlete.

I ride because the desire to push my body is hardwired in.

Because I am addicted to the endorphins and adrenaline.

I ride because no matter where in the world I go I will always have a family and a community that I feel a part of.

I ride because it takes me new places.

I ride because it challenges me to ride further, faster, smoother, safer, smarter.

I fear failure, and to some degree success. It allows me to explore and test my fears.

I ride because of the bonds I have built with teammates and friends. We share pain, success, failure, disappointment, laughter and life.

I ride because the second my legs start turning circles I become a happier person.

I ride because I love to be outside. To feel the wind on my face and listen to the birds and bugs.

I ride because it allows me to take out my aggression and anger.

I ride because it stabilizes my life and creates balance.

I ride because going downhill at 40mph is fun.

I ride because I get to eat more pastry and crave more salad.

I ride because I can’t cry and pedal and the same time.

I ride because it makes my mind and body strong.

I ride because I can; because it is a constant reminder of the value of health.

I ride because it allows me to play with the boys.

I ride because no matter how bad my day, pedaling puts my mind at easy and a smile on my face.

I ride because I can go alone.

Because even though I have ridden the route a 1000 times, I never know what is around the next bend.

 

Thanks for reading :) Emily

Highlight Weekend By Greta Neimanas

Highlight Weekend By Greta Niemanas

Highlight Weekend By Greta Niemanas

The highlight of my weekend was pinning on numbers. Let me explain.   After the London Games I was at a crossroads. The years leading up to the Games were laden with stress. They were packed with international travel, dozens of intense training camps, seemingly endless training at home, and the underlying stress of what if? What if I do all this work and don’t make the team? What if I get sick or injured and can’t compete? It felt like it was building and building and would eventually erupt like a volcano. This isn’t to mention all the same stress that an athlete puts on their family and friends. There are missed birthdays, graduations, summer barbeques and the more mundane movies with friends or nights on the town because of training. It’s tough on everyone involved. Riding and racing stopped being fun. [Read more...]

Racing My Mom at Sea Otter by Alison Tetrick

Racing My Mom at Sea Otter  by Alison Tetrick

Racing My Mom at Sea Otter
by Alison Tetrick

Racing My Mom at Sea Otter

by Alison Tetrick (Exergy Twenty16)

 

Families that race together, stay together.  Or something like that.  The first time I did the Sea Otter Classic, I raced with and against my mom.  Talk about tough and inspiring. How does that even work?  Does she apologize after she executes a vicious attack?  Does she make sure I am eating and drinking during the race?  If I have snot on my face, does she ride by and wipe my nose for me?  Does she frown if I have a brief “potty mouth”? Yes to all.

 

Although my mom is a phenomenal athlete, she is first and foremost my mom, and I don’t think she could shake that even if she tried.  My mom is known for her realistic approach to life that is peppered with just the right amount of pure, infectious dynamism.  I was not necessarily brought up in an environment fueled by competition, but I was taught to take pride in doing my best, staying active, and striving to achieve great things.  That being said, try lining up to a start line with your mom.  She oozed competitive spirit.  She wanted to race her bike and race her bike she did.   Mom always knows best.  Racing against your mom puts you in a slight conflict of interest.  Who wins?  I think the answer is always the both of us.  It is a family affair, after all.

[Read more...]

Specialized lululemon Leads the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series

 

Specialized lululemon Leads the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series

 

(Minneapolis – April 16, 2013)  Team Specialized lululemon sits atop the team standings for the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series after the Series opener at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, thanks to an impressive second place performance by Tayler Wiles, despite being only 22 years old.  The Series rules are designed to encourage participation by young riders, so her points were doubled for the team competition.  Also adding to the team total was 25 year old Ally Stacher, whose points were also doubled.  Specialized lululemon leads NOW and Novartis for MS by over 100 points, with TIBCO to the Top in third.

[Read more...]