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Tulsa Tough - NE
USA, May 29-31, 2009
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Stage 1 - May 29: Blue Dome Criterium
Huff blows down Blue Dome sprint
By Kirsten Robbins
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Brad Huff (Jelly Belly) claimed victory at Tulsa Tough's first round of criteriums in a bunch sprint ahead of runner up Mark Hekman (Mountain Khakis) and the US National Criterium Champion, Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) in third place.
The fun began at dusk at the Blue Dome Criterium in the city's main entertainment district, a hopping place on a Friday night. The figure-eight course suited the technical prowess of some of the top criterium racers in the country. The finish line was located at the historical Blue Dome building where spectators gathered to catch a glimpse of the action.
Some 130 professional men lined up to compete in the newest addition of the National Racing Calendar (NRC) series. Squads included Jelly Belly, OUCH p/b Maxxis, Time Pro, Fly V Australia Hotel San Jose, Trinikal Wheelman, Kahala Lagrange, California Giant Berry Farms and Texas Road House among other strong local squads.
"The pace was intense from the gun and the field was strung out for several blocks on a course that travels past 11 bars and restaurants with an electric atmosphere," said Chris Zenthoefer, event press official. "In the end it was Jelly Belly who provided a lead-out train for Brad Huff for the last five laps."
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No break away succeeded to the finish line and Huff rewarded his team by taking the sprint ahead of Hekman and Bahati. Formidable sprints also came from Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia), Emile Abraham (Trinikal Wheelman) and Carlos Vargas (Hotel San Jose).
Van Gilder takes Tulsa's round one
Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) patiently waited until the last second to make her bid for victory ahead of Team Type 1 sprinters Jen McRae and Samantha Schneider to claim round one of the Tulsa Tough Blue Dome criterium held in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Friday, May 29.
"I battled McRae for position," said Van Gilder who marked McRae as the race favorite for winning the previous year's event. "This was her event really, I picked a key moment to start sprinting off her wheel. It was almost a photo finish and I honestly thought I might not have gotten it. It was a great event and now we have two more days to continue to assess each other out there."
Gaining a spot on the National Racing Calendar (NRC) and providing three days of racing opportunity beefed up the professional women's field by more than half of what it was the previous year. Some 90 women lined up to have at the large cash purse and the valuable NRC points, among them were a plethora of heavy hitting sprinters. "The racing was fast from the start and everyone was on top of all the attacks," Van Gilder said. "Nothing was able to get any distance from the field that was meaningful."
A crash with 10 laps to go shook the confidence of the field as one rider lay on the fourth corner while receiving medical attention. "It took until three laps to go for the medics to remove her from the course," Van Gilder said. "We kept racing but it was a bit distracting, not ideal. But I'm happy that everything worked out."
With the field intact, Van Gilder keyed off of Team Type 1, Lip Smackers and Value Act Capital to arrive in good position before the final turn toward the finish line. "I knew that those teams had good sprinters," she said.
The women's peloton has been dispersed around North America, each team sending partial squads to Tulsa Tough, US Air Force Cycling Classic and the Montreal World Cup. Van Gilder noted that while she traditionally competes at the US Air Force's Clarendon Cup this weekend, she decided to 'spread the love' around to events that also support women's bike racing.
"I haven't been able to do this race because of scheduling conflicts in the past," she said. "I think it's great to have three days at Tulsa Tough and that gives an incentive to travel. I do like the Clarendon Cup race, it is one of my favorite events. I'm sorry to miss that race this year. They do such a nice job of supporting women, too, and if I could be at both, I would be. It's important to support races that support women."
The Tulsa Tough will continue for round 2 at the Brady Village Criterium held in the Arts district on Saturday, May 30.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Tulsa Tough
- Brad Huff (Jelly Belly) celebrates his win on the podium.
- Podium (L-R): Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing), Brad Huff (Jelly Belly) and Mark Hekman (Mountain Khaki P/B EP-NO).
- Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) and Mark Hekman (Mountain Khaki P/B EP-NO) shake hands after finishing on the podium together.
Images by Rob Evans /www.otbphoto.com
- The Touchstone ladies warm up in the Saris tent.
- Proman Hit Squad's Cari Higgins and Aussie guest rider Rachel Neylan at the start line of the $10,000 Tulsa Blue Dome Crit.
- Value Act Capital's Emily Zell hits the front early in the race.
- Team Type 1 was all over the front of the race.
- Lip Smackers ladies on the front.
- Shelley Olds was part of the three rider Hit Squad for Proman.
- Eventual race winner Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom).
- Meredith Miller (TIBCO) applies some pressure at the front.
- Allison Powers (Team Type 1) was at the service of Jenn McRae all weekend.
- A massive pileup midway through the race rattled some nerves.
- Multiple national track champion Cari Higgins (Proman Hit Squad)
- 1-to-go-1-to-go-1-to-go-1-to-go!
- Laura Van Gilder (far left) edges out Jen McRae (Team Type 1) for the win.
- Steve Reaney (California Giant Berries) in the mens pro race.
- The perils of racing.
- Jelly Belly sets it up for Brad Huff.
- US Olympian Bobby Lea cools down.
- The Jelly Belly team was all smiles after the race.
Results
Men Pro/1 1 Charles Huff (Jelly Belly) 1.04.45 2 Mark Hekman (Mountain Khaki P/B EP-NO) 3 Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing) 4 Jonny Cantwell (Fly V Australia) 5 Emile Abraham (Trinikal Wheelmen) 6 Carlos Vargas (Hotel San Jose) 7 Cody Stevenson (Uci: Team Budget Forklifts) 8 Victor Ayala (Kahala Lagrange) 9 Ben Kersten (Fly V Australia) 10 Bernie Sulzberger (Fly V Australia) 11 Stephen Tilford (Trek) 12 Rodney Santiago (Champion Cycling) 13 Chad Cagle (Mercy) 14 Jeremiah Wiscovitch (Sc Velo) 15 Kirk Albers (Texas Roadhouse Cycling Team) 16 Kyle Gritters (Southern California Velo) 17 Nicholas Reistad (Jelly Belly) 18 Chris Wherry (Hotel San Jose) 19 Jeff Hartman (Big Shark Racing) 20 Alexi Martinez (Kahala Lagrange) 21 John Grant (Texas Roadhouse) 22 Benjamin Baumgartner (Metro Volkswagen Cycling Team) 23 Jared Barrilleaux (California Giant Berry Farms/s) 24 Bernard Vanulden (Jelly Belly) 25 Joey Rosskopf (Jittery Joe's U-25 P/b Kudzu.c) 26 James Esser (Southern California Velo) 27 David Wenger (Bicycle Sport Shop Pb Girling) 28 Jt Cody (Solar Eclipse) 29 Emilio Asgoneguy (Aerocat Cycling Team) 30 Joseph Kukolla (Texas Roadhouse) 31 Brandon Gritters (Kahala Lagrange) 32 Philip Wikoff (Super Squadra) 33 Joseph Pinkerton (Natural Grocers P/b Xp Compani) 34 Yosvany Falcon (Champion Porsche P/b Herbalife) 35 Gavi Epstein (Raft Genius) 36 Johnny Clark (Jelly Belly) 37 Nick Clayville (Hagens Berman Llp) 38 Matthew Crane (Jelly Belly) 39 Rob Bush (Texas Roadhouse) 40 Justin England (California Giant Berry Farms/s) 41 Adam Myerson (Mountain Khaki P/B EP-NO) 42 Ryan Parnes (Webcor/alto Velo) 43 Chris Hall (Hrrc/ Trek Stores) 44 Thomas Brown (Jittery Joe's U-25 P/b Kudzu.c) 45 Adrian Hegyvary (Hagens-berman) 46 Stefan Rothe (Txtough P/b Hybridsports) 47 Brian Forbes (Rideclean P/b Patentit.com) 48 David Guttenplan (Time Pro Cycling) 49 Christian Helmig (Metro Volkswagen Cycling Team) 50 Kevin Attkisson (Texas Roadhouse Cycling Team) 51 Andrew Dahlheim (Metro Volkswagen) 52 Adam Bergman (Kentucky Flyers) 53 Diego Garavito (Aerocat Cycling Team) 54 Joshua Carter (Abd Cycling Team) 55 Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly) 56 Floyd Landis (OUCH Presented By Maxxis) 57 Roman Kilun (OUCH Presented By Maxxis) 58 Bill Elliston (Van Dessel) 59 Caleb Manion (Rock Racing) 60 Phillip Mann (Ciclismo Racing) 61 Kurt Fletcher (St John's) 62 Justin Beard (Hincapie/gary Fisher Pb Barkle) 63 Barry Lee (Hotel San Jose) 64 Alex Welch (Mercy/specialized) 65 Tucker Olander (Team Einstein's Racing) 66 Frank Travieso (Champion Porsche P/b Race Edge) 67 Chris Winn (Rmcef/ Westside Cycling) 68 Mat Ankney (Mercy Cycling) 69 Bigdaddy Walker (Txtough P/b Hybridsports) 0.18 70 Brian Jensen (Tradewind Energy/trek Stores) 71 Cooper Lange (Hagens Berman) 72 Joseph Schmalz (Mercy Cycling) 73 Warney Crosby (Tx Tough Cycling) 74 Ben Day (Team Fly V Australia) 75 Rand Miller (Webcor/alto Velo) 76 Danny Kam (Bearclaw) 77 Steven Wheeler (Super Squadra) 78 Randy Reichardt (Natural Grocers P/b Xp Compani) 79 Jared Gilyard (Rideclean P/b Patentit.com) 0.29 80 Aaron Johnson (Hagens-berman) 81 Sheldon Deeny (Bissell Pro Cycling Team) 0.37 82 Jesse Moore (California Giant Berry Farms/s) 83 Oscar Clark (Jittery Joe's U-25 P/b Kudzu.c) 84 Jonathan Mccarty (OUCH Presented By Maxxis) 85 Curtis Gunn (Fly V Australia) 86 Daniel Ramsey (Mountain Khaki P/B EP-NO) 87 Tyler Jewell (Txtough P/b Hybridsports) 88 James Carney (Rideclean P/b Patentit.com) 89 Jorge Alvarado (Kahala Lagrange) 90 Bryce Mead (Jelly Belly) 91 Jonathan Baker (Vitamin Cottage P/b Xp Compani) 92 Steve George (Fly V Australia) 93 Bobby Lea (OUCH Presented By Maxxis) 0.52 94 David Kemp (Fly V Australia) 1.10 95 Scott Davis (Fly V Australia) 1.38 96 Pat Lemieux (Texas Roadhouse) 1.54 97 Sean Sullivan (Hotel San Jose) 2.02 98 Heath Blackgrove (Cycling Timara) DNF Marco Aledia (Kenda Pro Cycling P/b Spinergy) DNF Jim Baldesare (Kenda Pro Cycling P/b Spinergy) DNF Kolt Bates DNF Kurt Bickel (Joes Pro Bikes) DNF Micah Cloteaux (Great Eagle) DNF Nicholas Coil (Tradewind Energy / Trek Stores) DNF Andrew Crater (Team Wheel & Sprocket) DNF Michael Creed (Rock Racing) DNF Freddie Cruz (Rock Racing) DNF Ian Dille (Bicycle Sport Shop Pb Girling) DNF Danny Finneran (Rock Racing) DNF Justin Fraga (Webcor / Alto Velo) DNF Victor Gil Llorens (Mercy Cycling) DNF Cesar Grajales (Rock Racing) DNF Justin Hale (Team Wm) DNF Seth Hansley (Champion Porsche P/b Race Edge) DNF Allen Hossley (Unattached) DNF Brice Jones (Mercy Cycling) DNF Nick Kiernan (Morgan Stanley/24 Hr Fitness/s) DNF Sterling Magnell (SC Velo) DNF Bill Marshall Jr (Kccx/verge) DNF Adam Mills (Mercy Cycling) DNF John Murphy (OUCH Presented By Maxxis) DNF Steve Reaney (California Giant Berry Farms/s) DNF Matty Rice (Jelly Belly) DNF Bill Stolte (Tradewind Energy/trek Stores) DNF Paul Thomas (Rideclean P/b Patentit.com) DNF Andrew Wetherington (Team FlyAm) DNF Tom Luff (Epic Cycling Team) DNF Jason Allen (Rock Racing) Women Pro/1/2 1 Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) 54.27 2 Jennifer Mcrae (Team Type 1) 3 Samantha Schneider (Team Type 1) 4 Jen Purcell (Colavita/Sutter Home) 5 Shelley Olds (Proman Hit Squad) 6 Carmen Mcnellis (Colavita/Sutter Home) 7 Meredith Miller (Team TIBCO) 8 Liza Rachetto (SugarCRM) 9 Alison Powers (Team Type 1) 0.01 10 Anne Samplonius (Lip Smacker) 11 Malindi Maclean (Jazz Apple) 12 Kacey Manderfield (Lip Smacker) 13 Carrie Cash Wootten (Team Revolution) 14 Tiffany Pezzulo (Dft P/b Treads) 15 Cari Higgins (Proman Hit Squad) 16 Shannon Koch (Metro Volkswagen Cycling Team) 17 Christina Smith (Veloforma) 18 Rebecca Larson (Jittery Joe's) 19 Magen Long (Team Pg13) 0.02 20 Beatriz Rodriguez (Kahala Lagrange) 21 Olivia Dillon (Touchstone Climbing) 22 Amanda Miller (Lip Smacker) 23 Kristen Lasasso (Mellow Mushroom) 0.03 24 Melodie Metzger (Vanderkitten) 25 Martina Patella (ValueAct Capital) 26 Catherine Walberg (Team Kenda) 27 Ally Stacher (Team Kenda) 0.04 28 Casey Gale (Tulsa Tough Racing) 29 Jennifer Wilson (Vanderkitten Racing) 30 Toni Bradshaw (Lip Smacker) 31 Emily Zell (ValueAct Capital) 32 Elizabeth Hatch (Vanderkitten) 0.05 33 Erika Graves (Kahala Lagrange) 34 Steph Roorda (Jazz Apple) 35 Mary Ellen Ash (SugarCRM) 36 Starla Teddergreen (SugarCRM) 37 Katherine Sherwin (Team Advil-chapstick) 0.06 38 Karla Kingsley (SugarCRM) 39 Whitney Schultz (Metro Volkswagen Cycling Team) 40 Christine Roettger (Team Revolution) 41 Daniele Wikoff (Austin Flyers) 0.07 42 Tammy Wallace (Moritz Chevrolet Cycling) 43 Melinda Weiner (Kahala Lagrange) 0.08 44 Rachel Neylan (Proman Hit Squad) 45 Sabrina Savage (Veloforma) 46 Carol Irving (Touchstone Climbing) 47 Bri Kovac (Alderfer Bergen) 48 Vanessa Drigo (Touchstone Climbing) 49 Marina Duvnjak (Jazz Apple) 50 Rachel Byus (Team Hotel San Jose) 51 Leigh Hopkins (Vanderkitten) 52 Kendi Thomas (Hagens Berman) 0.09 53 Kristin Wentworth (Team Kenda) 0.10 54 Stacy Marple (Colavita/Sutter Home) 0.11 55 Kathryn Donovan (Kahala Lagrange) 56 Dotsie Bausch (Jazz Apple) 0.12 57 Jennifer Reither (Momentum Cycling Powered By Ha) 0.13 58 Lauren Ellis (Jazz Apple) 59 Miranda Long (Team Indiscovered) 0.17 60 Kate Ross (Lip Smacker) 0.18 61 Monique Hanley (Team Type 1) 0.20 62 Michelle Jensen (Mercy Cycling Team) 0.29 63 Christina Ruiter (ValueAct Capital) 64 Lauren Hecht (ValueAct Capital) 0.31 65 Jacquelyn Crowell (Team Type 1) 0.32 66 Holly Borowski (Touchstone Climbing) 0.59 DNS Melissa Brown (Velossimo) DNS Rushlee Buchanan DNS Marina Duvnjak DNS Ashley James DNS Jill Kislia DNS Veronica Leal DNS Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO) DNS Kori Seehafer DNF Lori Barrett (Team Hotel San Jose) DNF Patricia Black (Morgan Stanley/team Spine/spec) DNF Christy Blakely (BMW-Bianchi) DNF Linsey Bradshaw-Sandoval (Dft P/b Treads) DNF Sydney Brown (Mercy Cycling) DNF Priscilla Cazer (Carve) DNF Kim Ciolli (Team Solar Eclipse) DNF Kathryn Clark (Team Kenda) DNF Shontell Gauthier (Colavita/Sutter Home) DNF Monique Hein (Dft P/b Treads) DNF Jennifer Herrell-Rhoades (Mercy) DNF Michelle Montoya (Moritz Chevrolet Cycling) DNF Lise Olivier (Tulsa Tough Racing) DNF Morgan Patton (Team Type 1) DNF Virginia Perkins (Vanderkitten Racing) DNF Lauren Robertson (Metro Volkswagen Cycling Team) DNF Katharine Carroll (Team TIBCO) DNF Cathlyn Merla-Watson (Solar Eclipse) DNF Melissa Sanborn (Vanderkitten)
