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U.S. National Criterium Championships - NE
Downer's Grove Village, Illinois, USA, August 18-19, 2007
Main Page Results Overall standings Stage Details Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 3 - August 19: USCF Women's National Criterium Championship,
Pic returns to the top crit spot
By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor in Downers Grove, Illinois
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It seems the Tina Pic (Colvita-Sutter Home) merely lent Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway Racing) her stars and stripes jersey this year, after suffering a dramatic final-lap crash in last year's national criterium championship. For not even wind, nor rain nor coming into the final turn a distant third place was going to keep Pic from regaining her iron-fisted hold on the criterium champion title - making this her fifth title in just six years.
"I was worried because I like to be first through that thing," said Pic, referring to the always treacherous final turn. "There was no control at the end. My team-mate Allison [Powers] was up there, but still, one person can't go that fast for that long. [Anna Lang] (Karl Strauss/SDBC) made this awesome attack from the fourth corner. Jen [McRae] (Advil-Chapstick) was the first one on her and they went through the last corner and I still hadn't caught them! I was scared."
"I heard a lot of crashes behind me all day," said McRae. "I've ridden a lot in the rain in Texas so I was used to it. On the last jump for the finish Land was on the front - Tina was third going into the final turn and I thought I had it. I had looked behind me before going into that turn and we had a gap on her. But I guess she took that turn faster than us!
Maybe it was speed, or maybe it was revenge - whatever got Pic to turn her pedals faster than McRae and Lang, it was enough to make-up a more than five bike-length gap going up the finish stretch. "I was like, 'the line is right there - it's now or never!'" said Pic.
Notably absent from the race was the majority of TEAm Lipton whose riders are racing with the national team in Europe. Without a dominant team like Lipton to take control and keep the speeds high, it was every woman for herself at times. Such was the case for Brooke Miller (Team Tibco) - a pre-race favourite after winning Saturday night's warm-up event. "Going into the hill and a couple of riders tangled and crashed right in front of me. I went over one of them and was completely off my bike, swearing profusely and trying to get back on. I thought I was going to be able to catch back on and I was so mad. I wanted that win! I was so excited when it was raining - I love the rain!"
The team with the best chance of controlling the race was Cheerwine, with heaps of sprinters. After sweeping last weekend's podium in Elk Grove the lack of a podium placement is a stark contrast. "I thought Cheerwine would have been more organised," admitted Pic. "If Lipton was here, they would have had the attacks going and we would have had to chase a lot more."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us
- Tina Pic (Colovita-Sutter Home) knew she had the win before she even got to the line.
- The women head into downtown Downers Grove.
- Erica Allar (Salamander Racing) blazes by.
- Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) fighting her way at the front.
- A few of the girls line up through a turn.
- Kristin Wentworth (Team Kenda) jumps out of a turn.
- Looking pretty in pink.
- Colavita-Sutter Home did lots of work today to get the win.
- Kristin Sanders Aarons chases.
- The bunch coming through downtown.
- Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) does her work on the front.
- Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) on the way to her win.
- Sarah Bamberger (Cheerwine) closes her eyes from the wheel spray.
- Stacy Marple (Team TIBCO) having a good ride.
- Colavita-Sutter Home comes to the front.
- Stacy Marple (Team TIBCO) tried to get a gap on the field.
- The girls bunch up after a prime.
- Heading into the last lap.
- Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) easily takes the win.
- Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) gets congratulated by a teammate.
- The girls take to the podium.
Images by Kurt Jambretz/Action Images
- Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) was all smiles on the line as the only bit of sunshine penetrated the clouds
- The women’s peloton rolls through the start/finish line
- Kristin Sanders (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) climbs the small hill on the back side of the course
- The rain began to fall and so did the riders.... The wheel pit was teaming with riders after a crash in the early going
- Katie Weber (Xplane/Team Revolution) eyes the first turn as the peloton strings out a bit
- Catherine Powers (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) leads the way up the hill into the first turn
- Beth Galenti (American Dairyland) concentrates on her line in the first turn
- Jishi Reem (Advil/Chapstick) with a teammate on her wheel picks up the tempo
- Brenda Lyons (Tibco) Struck out on her own for a partial lap as the rain began to fall
- Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) looked calm and relaxed as the rain intensified
- Target Training went to the front and controlled the race for a few laps
- Sarah Caravella (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) corners carefully in the rain
- Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway Racing) suffered a mechanical in the early going, but was back in the race quickly
- Marni Harker (Kenda Tire) navigates turn one carefully on the extremely slick pavement
- Heather Labance (Advil/Chapstick) climbs the front stretch in the rain
- Shannon Hutchison (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) doesn’t seem at all affected by the rain
- A disgusted look from Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) as she retired from the race
- A ValueAct Capital Cycling Team rider climbs the hill into turn one on slick pavement
- Aaron’s Pro Cycling team director Carmen D’ Aluisio wills her riders safely through the turn
- Brooke Miller (Tibco) went down on the slick pavement late in the race and was forced to chase
- Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) takes a narrow victory over Jen McRae (Advil-Chapstick)
- Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) celebrates her victory and her new title
- The Champagne flies on the podium as the women celebrate
- The women’s podium (left to right) Jen McRae (Advil-Chapstick), Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home), and Anna Lang (KARL STRAUSS/SDBC)
Results
1 Tina Pic (Colavita Sutter Home) 1.18.24 2 Jen Mcrae (Advil-Chapstick) 3 Anna Lang (KARL STRAUSS/SDBC) 4 Samantha Schneider (Mesa Cycles Racing Team) 5 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway Racing) 6 Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) 7 Shontele Gauthier (Austin Flyers) 8 Lara Kroepsch (Team Lipton) 9 Shelley Olds (PROMAN/Paradigm) 10 Allyson Brandt (Williams Cycling) 11 Sarah Bamberger (Cheerwine) 12 Kacey Manderfield (Verducci Breakaway Racing) 13 Alison Powers (Colavita Sutter Home) 14 Taitt Sato (ValueAct Capital Cycling) 15 Holly Borowski (US Armed Forces) 16 Catherine Powers (Aaron's Professional Women's) 17 Gina Voci (Kenda Tire) 18 Jennifer Bodine (ABRT/Latitude) 19 Kristin Sanders (Aaron's Corporate Furnishings) 20 Sarah Caravella (Aarons Pro cycling team) 21 Chrissy Ruiter (Cheerwine) 22 Brooke Miller (team TIBCO) 23 Martina Patella (ValueAct Capital Cycling) 24 Laura Bowles (Advil-Chapstick) 25 Rebecca Larson (Aaron's/L5Flyer) 26 Rebecca Much (Cafeteros) 27 Mackenzie Woodring (Priority Health Bissell) 28 Sharon Allpress (ValueAct Capital Cycling) 29 Hutchison-Krupat (Aaron's Corporate Furnishings) 30 Stacy Marple (Team TIBCO) 31 Kristin Wentworth (Team Kenda Tire) 32 Katie Weber (XPLANE Team Revolution) 33 Sarah Tillotson (Colavita Sutter Home) 34 Trish Bell (Morgan Stanley/Specialized/24) 35 Catherine Walberg (Mesa Cycles Racing Team) 36 Heather Labance (Advil-Chapstick) 37 Tricia Carnila (Verducci Breakaway Racing) 38 Marni Harker (Team Kenda Tire) Back to top
