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Sequoia Cycling Classic - NE
Exeter/Visalia, California, USA, March 15-16, 2008
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Stage 4 - March 16: Pro Women's Criterium
Teutenberg takes bunch sprint
By Kirsten Robbins in Visalia, California
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Double crashes marred the end of the women's 40 mile NRC criterium held in down town Visalia. But when it comes to dodging bullets in a field sprint Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road) proved more than capable of running away with the victory ahead of the Tibco duo Brooke Miller and Lauren Franges.
"There were a lot of attacks and the race was really fast today but there was never the right group so the small breaks always came back," said Teutenburg. "With twenty laps to go we realised a break was not going to go away and we switch our focus onto preparing for a field sprint."
According to the race winner teams like Aaron's and Colavita/Sutter Home were amongst the most active riders looking for a break away. There was never the correct combination of riders, revealed Teutenburg, which lead to the main peloton's discontent.
Third placed on the day Lauren Franges noted that like Team High Road, her team's best shot at a victory was also in a field sprint. "No one seemed interested in rolling off the front so we were content in saving our legs, not go for primes and just save our legs for the finish," said Franges.
"The racing this weekend was great because it shows the women can race really hard and in longer distances so with the increased prize money and distances made for very exciting racing," added Franges, regarding the event's $10,000 USD prize list and lengthy 40 mile criterium. "It raises the level in general and attracted more women to come out and take part in the weekend events. We are thankful for the prize list and we are happy to work hard for it with increased distances."
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A large crash happened through the final corner before the finish line, disrupting much of the field's chance at an NRC win. Furthermore, a rather strong head wind on the finishing straight played into the hands of the more powerful rider.
"I came out of the corner in third place just behind Brooke, we shared the lead out with Tibco because neither of our teams had enough people left to do a full lead out," said Teutenburg. "Kim Anderson and Anke Wichmann did a great job in the lead out and then Lauren Franges took over for Brooke Miller. I knew I had a good position and the headwind on the finishing straight was a good advantage for me."
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Second place sprinter Brooke Miller has been coming into her own, winning regularly in field sprints across North America. Miller was excited when the opportunity to sprint against a world ranked sprinter like Teutenburg arose.
"I always love sprinting against Ina, she's my favourite rider, so fast and impressive," said Miller. "I was excited when I found out that she was going to be racing here and to have the chance for my riders to lead me out and see what I could do in a sprint against her.
"She's a tough rider and I'm proud of my team who gave me the opportunity to go head to head with a rider like her," she added.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road - Women) celebrates her victory in the women's race.
- No, it's not the next race waiting to start, but the victims of a big crash waiting to get back into the race.
- Lauren Frangges (Tibco) took a very respectable third.
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road - Women) was very aggressive during the entire race.
- Meredith Miller (Aarons)
- A crash victim that came away a little worse off.
Images by Mitch Friedman/www.mitchophoto.com
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg plays with her puppy before the race.
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road - Women) on her way to victory.
- Felicia Gomez (Aarons) rides in the peloton.
- Anne Samplonius (Cheerwine) in the pack on her way to fourth place.
- Kim Anderson (Team High Road - Women) riding in the bunch.
- Andrea Dvorak (Colavita/Sutter Home) attempts to get away with Aarons riders.
- No wonder Ina-Yoko Teutenberg wins the Team High Road rider can pedal through turns.
- Anne Samplonius (Cheerwine) takes the inside line.
- Andrea Dvorak (Colavita/Sutter Home) goes through turn two.
- Brooke Miller (Tibco) ended the day in second place.
- Anke Wichmann (Team High Road - Women) goes into turn two.
- Vanderkitten at the front of the peloton.
- Rushlee Buchanan (Tibco) takes the corner.
- Lauren Franges (Tibco) finished third, behind her team-mate.
- Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) pushing hard.
- Kristen Sanders (Aarons) rides in the bunch.
- With one lap to go Tibco is at the front of the peloton.
- Tibco at the front of the pack.
- Southbay Wheelmen women have a chat after the race.
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road - Women) takes the win.
- Anke Wichmann (Team High Road - Women) can ride with a box of oranges!
- Aarons has a team meeting after the race.
- Shannon Koch (Metro Volkswagen Cycling) rounds a corner.
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road - Women) crosses the line in first, in California
- Teutenberg is all smiles after the victory
Images by Kurt Jambretz /www.actionimages.cc
- Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) has some fun during call up’s.
- Carmen McNellis (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) leads the peloton through turn one in the early going.
- Carmen McNellis (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) attacks with a couple of Tibco riders on her wheel.
- Kristin Sanders (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) sits on the front of the group as Laura Van Glider (Cheerwine) keeps a close eye on the riders up the road.
- America’s Dairyland sent several riders to this event including a few Australians.
- There was no shortage of attacks today.... Team High Road sends a rider up the road with Colavita in tow.
- Meredith Miller (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) chases down the pair of escapee’s.
- Then disaster struck, a crash in turn three sent over half the field scrambling.
- Rushlee Buchanan (Team Tibco) looked comfortable and ready for action today.
- Carmen McNellis (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) again at the front pushing the pace with Amber Rais (Team Tibco) right behind.
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road) rode aggressively in the front all day.
- Anne Samplonius (Cheerwine) fresh off the podium from yesterday’s Time Trial rode well and spent time on the front.
- Virginia Perkins (Proman) attempts to get something going after the crash.
- Andrea Dvorak (Colavita/Sutter Home) and teammate patrol the group.
- A new very slim and fit looking Mara Abott (Team High Road) rode an aggressive race.
- Kristin Sanders (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) always seemed to be at the front or chasing something down.
- All the big teams sent riders to the front in the later portion of the race.
- Kristin Sanders (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) and Anne Samplonius (Cheerwine) pull through.
- Meredith Miller (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) attempts to organize things at the front for her team.
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road) looks back as she takes a late race flyer.
- The view from her rear view mirror was Katharine Carroll (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) leading the group.
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road) takes the victory as Brooke Miller (Team Tibco) storms up the inside.
- The women’s podium (left to right) Lauren Franges (Team Tibco), Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road), and Brooke Miller (Team Tibco).
Results
Pro 1/2 Women 1 Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road) 2 Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO) 3 Lauren Franges (Team TIBCO) 4 Anne Samplonius (Cheerwine Cycling) 5 Meredith Miller (Aaron's Pro Women's Cycling Tea) 6 Nichole Wangsgard (Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cook) 7 Megan Guarnier (PROMAN Racing) 8 Anna Lang (Aaron's Pro Women's Cycling Tea) 9 Janel Holcomb (Webcor Builders) 10 Leigh Hobson (Cheerwine Cycling) 11 Jennifer Wilson (SouthBay Wheelmen) 12 Shontell Gauthier (Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cook) 13 Virginia Perkins (PROMAN Racing) 14 Michelle Beltran (Biciycle John) 15 Amber Rais (Team TIBCO) 16 Iona Wynter Parks (Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cook) 17 Rachel Tzinberg (Bicycle Johns) 18 Marni Hambleton (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team) 19 Jennifer Reither (SouthBay Wheelmen) 20 Morgan Kapp (SouthBay Wheelmen) 21 Andrea Dvorak (Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cook) 22 Elizabeth Galenti (Helen's) 23 Anke Wichmann (Team High Road - Women) 24 Taitt Sato (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team) 25 Mara Abbott (Team High Road - Women) 26 Elis Bradshaw (Metromint Cycling on Marin Bike) 27 Shannon Koch (Metro Volkswagen Cycling Team) 28 Nicole Evans (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team) 29 Molly Van Houweling (Metromint Cycling) 30 Helene Drumm (PROMAN Racing) 31 Chellie Terry (Fitzgerald's Bicycles) 32 Olivia Dillon (Touchstone Climbing) 33 Rachel Heal (TIBECO) 34 Hannah Banks (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team) 35 Amanda Seigle (Code 3 Racing) 36 Abby Lyn Cooper (PROMAN Racing) 37 Kristin Sanders (Aaron's Pro Cycling Team) 38 Holly Borowski (Touchstone/US Armed Forces) 39 Martina Patella (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team) 40 Helen Kelly (Team TIBCO) 41 Kim Anderson (Team High Road - Women) 42 Tiffany Cromwell (Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cook)
