Wendy's International Cycling Classic - NE

Ohio, USA, July 25-30, 2000

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Stage 4 - July 28: Bexley Street Sprints

Andrea Ratkovic's report

Hey, it's Rat. Guess what? I MADE THE STREET SPRINTS FINAL!!! Yeah, is that cool or what? I was lined up with Tina Mayolo, Nicole Reinhart, Suzanne Sonye, Karen Dunne, Sarah Ulmer, Joanne Kiesanowski (a New Zealand 500 meter trackie), Erin Mirabella, Laura Van Gilder, and Kim Davidge. Okay, it's like one of those puzzles: who doesn't belong? Heh, heh, but I MADE IT!

So, let me tell the story... We were suppose to start at 8 pm, but a wicked storm came through, and so we didn't start until 8:55 pm. The streets were wet, and there was paint (crosswalk, yellow line, etc.), so a lot of luck as well as skill were involved in surviving this sprint let alone win it. There were heats of 9, and the top 3 advanced in each one until it came down to a final of 10. There was a heat for 11-15th and 16-20th. Lynn Bessette edged out Marjon Marik for 16th place in a very exciting finish. In case some of you don't know, speedy Lynn was 4th in the Redlands street sprints behind Petra, Nicole, and Tina Mayolo.

Some people pulled out of pedals, but there were no crashes thank God. I had good starts except for the final one when I slipped around a bit. Also, in the other heats I started in my 53-23, and in the final I decided to try a 21. Bad mistake for me considering my lack of power wattage and my sensitive achilles tendon. I ruptured my right achilles tendon twice before when I was running and had 2 surgeries. In fact, that's how I got into cycling as rehabilitation for my achilles. But anyway, the 21 proved to be a bit too much for me; although, I think it was the gear of preference for everyone else including alot of the dudes. Erin Hartwell of Saturn won the men's division by the way, and I think Todd Littlehales of Navigators was 2nd. Marco of Shaklee may have been 3rd, but I'm not sure. I'm getting this information second hand.

So, Karen Dunne just rocked the house and finished clearly in first place. Then it was Nicole and Joanne followed by Tina. Then I'm not really sure how it played out. I know Laura Van Gilder was right next to me, and I know I wasn't last! I was pretty psyched about that.

I must extend an apology to Nicole Reinhart for mistakenly listing Nicole Freedman as finishing first yesterday. Freedman is in Europe. I guess I just had her on the brain and inadvertently typed her name. Sorry everybody! Also, the ghost rider in our break yesterday was Joanne Kiesanowski. She's pretty studly I hafta say. Jeez, in one of my preliminary heats she just coasted across the line while I was still pumping my legs up and down like there was no tomorrow!

The race organizers did a stupendous job on this event, and the town was extremely supportive. They had nice signs up on their lightposts and everything. It was well publicized, and there was a terrific turnout. I absolutely loved the racing and the atmosphere.

Check ya later...

Report courtesy of racereport@vcnet.com

Results

Men

1. Erin Hartwell (USA) Saturn
2. Todd Littlehales (USA) Navigators

Women

1 Karen Dunne (USA) Elita Cycling
2 Nicole Reinhart (USA) Saturn Cycling
3 Joanne Kiesanowski (USA)
4 Tina Mayolo (USA) Autotrader.Com
5 Suzanne Sonye (USA) Saturn Cycling
6 Laura Vangilder (USA) Charles Schwab
7 Andrea Ratkovic (USA) Autotrader.Com
8 Ashley Mccullough (USA) Team Procter & Gamble
9 Sarah Ulmer (NZl) Elita Cycling
10 Erin Veenstra-Mirabella (USA) Timex Cycling
11 Kim Davidge (USA) Elita Cycling
12 Bridget Evans (USA) Team Villongo
13 Emily Thorne (USA) Team Proteus.Com
14 Melissa Holt (USA) Elita Cycling
15 Anne Samplonius (Can) (USA)
16 Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling
17 Marjon Marik (USA) Autotrader.Com
18 Laurel Green (USA) Cronometro Racing
19 Kori Kelly (USA) Team Procter & Gamble
20 Jenn Dial (USA) Team Proteus.Com

General classification after stage 4:

1 Karen Dunne (USA) Elita Cycling                       2.32.41
2 Annie Cariepy (Can) (USA) Elita Cycling                  0.36
3 Nicole Reinhart (USA) Saturn Cycling                     0.47
4 Katrina Berger (USA) Charles Schwab                      0.49
5 Anne Samplonius (Can) (USA)                              1.15
6 Catherine Cardwell (USA) Charles Schwab                  1.28
7 Sarah Ulmer (NZl) Elita Cycling                          1.30
8 Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling                       1.33
9 Elizabeth Emery (USA) Charles Schwab                     1.39
10 Julie Young (USA) Autotrader.Com                        1.42
11 Laura Vangilder (USA) Charles Schwab                    1.47
12 Joanne Kiesanowski (USA)                                1.53
13 Pam Schuster (USA) Autotrader.Com                       1.53
14 Julie Hanson (USA) Saturn Cycling                       1.54
15 Suzanne Sonye (USA) Saturn Cycling                      1.56
16 Emily Thorne (USA) Team Proteus.Com                     2.01
17 Melissa Holt (USA) Elita Cycling                        2.10
18 Erin Veenstra-Mirabella (USA) Timex Cycling             2.11
19 Marie Holjer (USA) Charles Schwab                       2.14
20 Odessa Gunn (USA) Timex Cycling                         2.18
21 Tina Mayolo (USA) Autotrader.Com                        2.18
22 Jenn Dial (USA) Team Proteus.Com                        2.21
23 Marjon Marik (USA) Autotrader.Com                       2.24
24 Kori Kelly (USA) Team Procter & Gamble                  2.34
25 Anke Erlank (RSA) Autotrader.Com                        2.35
26 Heather Cole (USA) Team Procter & Gamble                2.39
27 Cheryl Binney (USA) Team Procter & Gamble               2.41
28 Kim Davidge (USA) Elita Cycling                         2.58
29 Andrea Ratkovic (USA) Autotrader.Com                    3.04
30 Bridget Evans (USA) Team Villongo                       3.06
31 Ann Turrin (USA)                                        3.48
32 Elizabeth Morse (USA)                                   4.03
33 Sally Gilbert (USA) Wendy's Cycling                     4.47
34 Chloe Black (USA)                                       4.55
35 Angie Vargas (USA) Team Proteus.Com                     6.02
36 Mary Georgetti (USA) Southern New England              10.07
37 Cybil Diguistini (Can) Elita Cycling                   16.17
38 Lenora Felker (USA)                                    18.45
39 Tiffany Pezzulo (USA) Team Proteus.Com                 18.58
40 Amy Matson-Hyland (USA)                                19.54
41 Naomi Williams (USA) Team Proteus.Com                  20.10
42 Amy Tremelling (USA) Make A Wish                       23.39
43 Claire Fisher (USA) Wendy's Cycling                    24.02
44 Laurel Green (USA) Cronometro Racing                   24.32
45 Kathleen Hughes (USA) Wendy's Cycling                  35.35
46 Ashley Mccullough (USA) Team Procter & Gamble          36.23