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North American Trophy # 6 - Boulder - C1
Boulder, Colorado, USA, November 2, 2008
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Race 2 - November 2: Elite Women
Boulder on Georgia's mind
Lloyd second again, Dombrowski leads series into finale
By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor in Boulder, Colorado
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To say that Georgia Gould (Luna Chix) had control over the second race of the Boulder Cup early would be an understatement. While she did not lead the entire first lap, she did have a 15 second lead on Rachel Lloyd (California Giant Berry Farm/Specialized). The impressive number would be the nearly one minute gap she had on the rest of the field at the end of lap one - and both of those gaps grew exponentially the rest of the race as she doubled her Boulder wins.
"I just try to make these races as hard as possible, because at this time of the year it is where I get my training," said Gould about her strategy... or lack thereof. "I never know, so I just always stay on the gas."
Gould also said that the length of the races also contribute to a lack of drama. "People complain that the women's races break up so fast, but yeah -- because we don't race for an hour! It is ridiculous, we should be racing longer. We would ride around and do team tactics if we had 10 laps to go... But with 40 minutes you have to just go for it."
In second place, for the second day, was Lloyd, who gave Gould the only challenge of the day on the first lap. "I slotted myself on Georgia's wheel and told myself I was going to enter the sand pit before her this time," she told Cyclingnews. "I went around her before it and got there before her, but she still rode past me... on a different line."
Lloyd was able to keep Gould relatively close, but after a few laps she saw the writing on the wall again. "After a couple laps of chasing really hard I had to go my own speed, I was not going to catch her," she said. "And then they said four to go, so I knew it was going to be a long time -- if I kept pinning it I was going to blow. So I backed off and rolled around."
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So the only major difference today was the course, with a lot more grass and hills. "The course was a lot more short punchy climbs, so a lot of accelerating," said Gould. "The sand was rideable so not as much running as yesterday. I felt really good there today, it's where I passed Rachel.
"This course was fun," said Lloyd. "Whenever you have hills you can't fake it. I thought my legs felt good but I still had to ride my own race, because it all pretty much happened on the first lap again."
The race for third came down to a field sprint again, this time taken out by Kelli Emmett (Giant).
For the top two, the schedule shifts back to the east coast, with Gould looking to keep her position with team-mate Katerina Nash in the United States Grand Prix series and have an outside shot at the North American Cyclo-cross Trophy title behind leader Amy Dombrowski (Velo Bella-Kona). "Katerina and I are pretty close on [the USGP] -- who, by the way, got third at the European championships -- and had a back row start with no UCI points," she said. Gould will finish her 'cross season with United States of America nationals.
Lloyd is not in the running for the NACT series because she has had a different schedule in mind, which saw her start the season much later. "I want to go to Europe after nationals and do the last four World Cups -- hopefully get some results over there. And then maybe do worlds, though I hear that is decided by UCI points."
"I am praying for snow!" she said about nationals. "If it snows again I will have a chance, the only chance I will have."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Jonathan Devich/
- The women get strung out right from the gun.
- Georgia Gould (Luna) immediately got a gap on the rest of the field.
- Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/Subaru) rounds the corner at the top of the stairs.
- Riders had to tackle the deep sand again today.
- Kelli Emmitt (Giant) rode smoothly today to make it into the top 3.
- Rachel Lloyd (California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized) couldn't quite close the gap on Georgia Gould (Luna) but rode strong for second place.
- Meredith Miller (California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized) gets in some training for next years road season.
- Rachel Lloyd (California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized) didn't have any time to enjoy the fall colours today.
- Kerry Barnholt (Tokyo Joes/Van Dessel) powers along.
- Amy Dombrowski (Velo Bella) rides in her NACT leader's jersey.
- Georgia Gould (Luna) made it two for two on today's tough course.
- Kerry Barnholt (Tokyo Joes/Van Dessel) and Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/Subaru) ended up in a close sprint for third and fourth place.
- Although it seemed warm for a cross race the colour in the trees made it feel like fall.
Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net
- Harlow Platts Park in Boulder, Colorado.
- The view of the mountains was spectacular.
- Rachael Lloyd (California Giant Berry) is called up to the line.
- Rhonda Mazza (Team S & M) got a front row call-up.
- Katie Compton (Spike) is interviewed before the race.
- Georgia Gould (Luna) wins another start and never looks back.
- Georgia Gould (Luna) leading at the stairs.
- Kathy Sherwin (Velo Bella) running the steps.
- Meredith Miller (California Giant Berry) rode a strong race.
- Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/ Subaru) running the steps.
- Sarah Maile (Ventana Mountain Bikes) carrying her bike.
- Lindsey Bishop (Mafia Racing) in a wooded section of the course.
- Georgia Gould (Luna) leading the race and riding the sand like a mountain biker should.
- Rachael Lloyd (California Giant Berry) staying on her bike in the sand.
- NACT series leader Amy Dombroski (Velo Bella) leading a group of riders through the sand.
- Rachale Lloyd (California Giant Berry) running the steps in second place behind Georgia Gould (Luna).
- Lisa Strong (Tough Girl) running some steps.
- Rhonda Mazza (Team S&M) cornering in the grass.
- Kerry Barnholt (Tokyo Joe's) riding in the top five.
- Georgia Gould (Luna) wins again and sweeps the weekend.
- Kerry Barnholt (Tokyo Joe's) beats Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/Subaru) by inches.
Results
1 Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Chix Racing Team 49.01 2 Rachel Lloyd (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/S 1.04 3 Kelli Emmett (USA) Giant Bicycles 2.58 4 Kerry Barnholt (USA) tokyo joes / van dessel 3.10 5 Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru/Gary Fisher 6 Rhonda Mazza (USA) Team S&M 3.31 7 Meredith Miller (USA) California Giant Strawberries/ 8 Lisa Strong (USA) Tough Girl 4.31 9 Judy Freeman (USA) Tough Girl / Contessa 5.21 10 Sarah Kerlin (USA) HRS/ Rock Lobster 5.28 11 Kris Walker (USA) KRIEGCYCLING.COM 5.38 12 Amy Dombroski (USA) Velo Bella - Kona 5.52 13 Anna Young (USA) Planet Bike 7.02 14 Sarah Maile (USA) Ventana Mountain Bikes 7.05 15 Becca Blay (USA) Mafia Racing 7.45 One lap down 16 Brenda Moczygemba (USA) Tough Girl / Contessa 17 Shannon Gibson (USA) VeloBella 18 Amanda Miller (USA) Mesa cycles RT 19 Lindsey Bishop (USA) Mafia Racing 20 Kate Scheider (USA) Mafia Racing Two laps down 21 Jennifer Tilley (USA) VeloBella 22 Susan Prieto (USA) Blue Sky Velo 23 Maria Stewart (USA) Velo Bella 24 Lynn Bush (USA) Tough Girl / Contessa 25 Alie Kenzer (USA) RGM WATCHES - RICHARD SACHS - Three laps down 26 Kacey Manderfield (USA) Verducci/Breakaway DNS Kelly Benjamin (USA) 360 Racing DNS Lauren Costantini (USA) Sycip Racing DNS Lora Heckman (USA) Peloton Cycles - Specialized DNS Catherine Johnson (USA) Organic Athlete DNS Megan Monroe (USA) DALE'S PALE ALE! DNS Tiffany Pezzulo (USA) PCIM DNF Kari Studley (USA) Velo Bella DNF Andi Burnum (USA) tough girl DSQ Kathy Sherwin (USA) Velo Bella - Kona Series standings 1 Amy Dombroski 182 pts 2 Georgia Gould 120 3 Sarah Kerlin 100 3 Wendy Simms 100
