Just a few updates on the team. . .

Leigh Valletti dominated the Dick Lane Velodrome’s Festival of Speed on June 17, 2006 by winning the snowball, points, miss-n-out, and sprint final events, and, subsequently, the omnium.  Here’s a good picture of Leigh (scroll to the bottom of the page): www.sadlebred.com looking ready for victory.

That same weekend, Megan Esmonde won the field sprint to take 4th in the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium after 3 riders (Colavita/Cooking Light, Team Fuji, and Victory Brewing) escaped the field.Next up:  Union City Mayor’s Race and Fitchburg Longsjo Classic.

Next up:  Union City Mayor’s Race and Fitchburg Longsjo Classic.THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Liberty Classic; Philadelphia, PA

This past weekend, travelgirls Leigh Valletti, Kim Foland, Kim Sawyer, and Megan Esmonde lined up with guest riders Cora Webb and Missy Petty (along with over 150 other women) to tackle the infamous Manayunk Wall of the Liberty Classic.

Despite getting and holding excellent starting positions, two crashes near the front on the first lap (before even reaching Manayunk) took its toll on the team, immediately separating all but Leigh Valletti, Kim Foland, and Kim Sawyer from what would become the lead pack.

The day would not be the best for the team. After cresting Manayunk (with Leigh secure in the field for the time being) Kim S. was almost back in contact on the early parts of the descent when she crashed, breaking her collarbone.Leigh, after fighting with the main field a few laps, eventually threw in the towel. Thanks to the crashes and the relentless pace of the race, only 50 women would see the finish line.

But. . .the travelgirls rebound quickly, and (all but the broken one and her designated sitter ) the team showered, got spiffed up, and went off to party in, as a sign in our hotel proudly proclaimed, the city that loves you back.

The next few weeks will be quiet ones for the team (except look for Tiffany Ballew at the Fitchburg-Longsjo Stage Race).

Next big race: Crit Nationals.

Thanks for your support!

First year Advil/Chapstick endure many mishaps in one the toughest women’s races at Philly and come away with 5th and 17th. From flats, to crashes to fending off punches in the pack, the girsl rose to the ocassion and made it a great day for the team. Guest rider and international pro Rochelle Gilmore pushed through a hard crash and snagged 5th for the team which rode their heads off to get her to the line.

Check out Rochelle’s full report at her web site: http://www.holidaykoala.com.au/athletehk/showPage1.asp?athleteID=1

Check out the following photos of the girls on Cycling News.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2006/jun06/commercebank06/?id=/photos/2006/jun06/commercebank06/commercebank063/JD06_liberty005

Mara Miller finishes Philly

Our recent training seminar at Athens Twilight went very well. Those who attended were treated to an intimate evening with some of the country’s top pro’s including past Twilight winner, Brice Jones along with Ivan Stevic, Adam Myerson, Mark Anderson & Trent Wilson. They offered some interesting insights into what doing a race like this is all about and shared with the audience what it is like to race and train at the highest level. Elite coach Rick Crawford gave us his insights and PhD Dan Benardot enlightened us on the fallacies and benefits of supplements and former US Pro Champion, professional commentator and promoter, John Eustice gave us his insights on race promotion, where the sport’s going and what it looks like from his vantage point. Insightful and informative to say the least.

 Everyone then convened to the 100 block to watch the Twilight Computrainer finals. These were time trials done on Computrainers to determine a winner and to qualify the riders for call up spots to the fastest race in the country. If you don’t have a good start at this race, it can mean an early end to it, so these call up spots have become coveted. Athens very own US National Team member John Murpy took 3rd, Matty Rice of Jelly Belly took 2nd and Robbie King of Priority health took the win. These guys gave it everything they had in front of a cheering crowd. This kind of thing may seem strange to some but it’s a really good way that promoters can bring cycling closer to the public. You could sit and watch these guys suffer while giving their all and congratulate them afterwards. All in all, it was a fun evening had by all.

The following day was no exception. Yours truly got the bug and did his first racing of the season at none other than twilight. Going from no racing to 3 races in 24 hours was a swift kick in the you know what, but I fared well and had a blast. The amateur race was fast and furious as usual and the women’s race was amazing. The key players being of course home town favorite and seemingly unbeatable Tina Pic and super sprinter Laura Van Gilder. They and a small group proceeded to lap the field and Laura tried her darndest to isolate Tina by attacking her myriad times. However, in the end her efforts netted her a middle of the pack finish with Tina 2nd and a stealthy Jenn McCrae taking the win withy a last lap solo flyer.

The men, not to be outdone, pushed the pace and for the first time in a while, no breaks ever materialized. This was due to the high pace being kept all night. The usual damage was done and of the 150 or so who started, probably 50 finished. Endurofit friend and VMG rider Rudy Robaina rode an excellent race never coming out of the top 30 and snagged himself a 20th place finish. With no one up the road, Colavita took over the front with about 15 laps to go only to burn them selves out in the process. Next Jelly Belly did the same thing and then in the final laps, Toyota United finished the job trying to put JJ Haedo in the winning position. However, it was a crafty Vasili Davidenko who decided to play the spoiler who took the win. Instead of riding off the front for 20+ laps like he did last year, he also took a solo flyer and won by at least 5 bike lengths at the line to repeat.

Check out the following link for the full report at Cycling News - http://www.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2006/apr06/athens06

Travelgirls Leigh Valletti, Kim Foland, Kim Sawyer, Megan Esmonde, and Tiffany Ballew traveled up the East Coast this past Memorial Day weekend to compete in three NRC Crits:  the Raleigh Twilight Criterium, Bike Jam, and Tour of Somerville.

Raleigh Twilight Criterium
Raleigh’s 8-turn crit featured a great mix of both up and downhill turns, long and short straight-aways, downhill stretches, and short, steep climbs. The team rode near the front of the race all night, both covering and inititiating attacks, but ultimately the 30-lap race would come down to a sprint finish. In the drag to the line, Leigh took 7th. Tiffany, who rejoined the race after a mid-race crash, came in 12th. Finally, after some late race efforts, the Kims managed 17th and 20th (still in the money!). Sara Caravella (TEAm Lipton) won the race.

Bike Jam; Baltimore, MD
Bike Jam’s course consisted of narrow sweeping paths, roundabouts, and a less-than-90 degree turn that scrubbed racers’ speed and caused many to take advantage of the well-worn lines through the grass on either side of the turn.  100 women on such a course made for interesting racing.  Megan was our star of the day, consistently patrolling the front and taking a prime. The rest of the team (with the exception of Tiffany who was again involved in a crash!) gained and lost  ground all day long and finished in the field.  Tina Pic (Colavita/cooking Light) took 1st place.

Tour of Somerville; Somerville, NJ
Tour of Somerville, the oldest bike race in the country, was a 4-corner, flat, rough course with a finishing straight that seemingly went on for miles. Over 100 women lined up in temperatures approaching 90 degrees. The team rode an excellent race, with Megan, Kim S., and Leigh taking care of things at the front of the field.  Megan took a prime, and Kim S. got nipped at the line for another prime.  In the finish, Kim S. took Leigh as far foward as possible for the sprint, and Leigh managed 12th.  Kim F. (suffering from a cold) and Megan (suffering from a crash) came in with the field. Tina Pic (Colavita/Cooking Light) again saw victory.

It was definitely an action-packed 4 days!

Photos

Tiffany @ Raleigh:
www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=/photos/2006/may06/raleigh06/IMG_904cn Megan hits the ground @ Somerville:
www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=/photos/2006/may06/somerville06/2006Somerville-USA-08

Megan at the front at Bike Jam
www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=/photos/2006/may06/bikejam06/DSCN0969

Next up:  PHILLY

Thanks for you support!

——————————————
Kim Sawyer
Manager, travelgirl Women’s Cycling Team
http://www.travelgirlcycling.com/

Travel Girl Cycling Team Race Report

This past weekend, travelgirl stayed close to home and raced a crit and a circuit race in nearby Duluth, Georgia.

On Saturday, the crit course featured a 180-degree turn, a narrowing course, a fast, downhill left-hand turn onto the finishing stretch, and an uphill rise to the finish. travelgirl was active from the beginning, with Leigh Valletti countering Kim Sawyer’s early attack to get away.  Lee Ann Asbury (Aarons Rents) bridged across with Deb Borden in tow. In the field, once the success of the break with was certain, travelgirl began attacking the field to secure 4th place. It was Tiffany Ballew’s counter that finally stuck. Leigh took the win, with Deb 3rd.  Tiffany stayed away for 4th, and Kim won the field sprint for 5th. Tracey Grimshaw was not far behind in the field.

Sunday’s 1.6 mile circuit race was windy with one hill and a flat, windy finish.  Deb Borden started out the action with an early attack that was eventually brought back.  After attacking and countering attacking, Kim Sawyer and Alexis Brown escaped the field. The two stayed away, with Alexis besting Kim (2nd) for the finishing sprint. Cheryl Fuller (Reality Bikes) won the field sprint for 3rd, with Deb and Tracey Grimshaw taking 4th and 5th respectively in the race.

The travelgirl team will be splitting up next weekend. Look for us in Dahlonega, Georgia and the Liberty Classic (Philadelphia).

Thanks for your support!

As always, check out our blog (which can be accessed at http://www.travelgirlcycling.com/) for fun updates!!
———————
Kim Sawyer
Manager, travelgirl Women’s Cycling Team
http://www.travelgirlcycling.com/