Travel Girl race Report

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:Â
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
Next up:  PHILLY!
Megan at the front at Bike Jam
www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=/photos/2006/may06/bikejam06/DSCN0969

Thanks for you support!