Minneapolis – With one race remaining in the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series, new U.S. national road champion Mara Abbott (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12) holds a slim lead over Alison Powers (Team Vera Bradley Foundation) and Evelyn Stevens (HTC-Columbia).

Abbott has held the lead in the individual standings since her win at the SRAM Tour of the Gila. But Stevens closed the gap at the Nature Valley Grand Prix with a runner-up finish to Abbott’s teammate, Shelley Evans – who climbed into the top five on the strength of her victory. Abbott, Powers and Evans all plan to compete in the final Series event, the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic, in Oregon later this month.

In contrast, Abbott holds an insurmountable lead in the Series Best Young Rider competition in her last year of eligibility. The race is now for second place, with TIBCO/To the Top teammates Rebecca Much and Amanda Miller and Specialized D4W/Bicycle Haus teammates Chloe Forsman and Melanie Meyers separated by a scant 44 points.

Evans, the newly crowned U.S. national criterium champion, took over the lead in the top sprinter category from Carmen Small (Colavita/Baci presented by Cooking Light). Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12’s domination extends to the team standings and Abbott’s commanding lead in the Best Young Rider (Under 26) standings.

Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty 12 not only holds the lead in all of the Series classifications, but also in the team competition, where they lead Team Vera Bradley Foundation by 341 points. Like the Best Young Rider competition, the race may be for second place here as well, with Team Vera Bradley Foundation leading HTC-Columbia by only 30 points.

Individual Classification
1. Mara Abbott, Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 – 360.
2. Alison Powers, Team Vera Bradley Foundation – 319.
3. Evelyn Stevens, HTC-Columbia – 275
4. Erinne Willock, Webcor Builders – 246
5. Shelley Evans, Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 – 242.

Best Young Rider (U26) Classification
1. Mara Abbott, Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 – 605.
2. Rebecca Much, TIBCO/To the Top Pro Cycling Team – 319.
3. Amanda Miller, TIBCO/To the Top Pro Cycling Team – 319.
4. Chloe Forsman, Specialized D4W/Bicycle Haus, 297.
5. Melanie Meyers, Specialized D4W/Bicycle Haus, 275.

Sprint Classification
1. Shelley Evans, Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 – 385.
2. Carmen Small, Colavita/Baci p/b Cooking Light – 289.
3. Brooke Miller, TIBCO/To the Top Pro Cycling Team – 286.
4. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg, HTC-Columbia – 220.
5. Carla Swart, Team Vera Bradley Foundation – 198.

Team Classification
1. Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 – 1,185.
2. Team Vera Bradley Foundation – 844.
3. HTC-Columbia – 814.
4. Colavita/Baci presented by Cooking Light – 644.
5. Webcor Builders – 616.

In its seventh year, the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series is the only national bicycle racing series solely showcasing the country’s top female cycling talent in four events across the country. For more information about the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series, visit the official website, www.WomenCyclists.com.

Photo: Stephanie Williams

Powers rounds out podium in Bend; Cash wins back to back races in Wisconsin

The 2010 USA Cycling Elite Women’s National Championships opened in Bend, OR with the 35K Skyliners Time Trial. Alison Powers, the 2008 U.S National Time Trial Champion, rounded out the podium in fifth place with a time of 49:53:20 behind Evelyn Stevens (HTC-Columbia), Amber Neben (Webcor), Mara Abbott (Peanut Butter & Co Twenty12) and Alison Starnes (Team TIBCO). Kristin Sanders finished 30 seconds down on Powers for sixth. “We are competing against some of the best time trialists in the world here,” said Sanders. “To stack up where we did is commendable. Personally, I’m thrilled.”

Powers had her sights set on regaining the national title and initially expressed some disappointment with her result. She noted that the competition is especially strong this year and recognized she put in a strong ride against one of the most talented fields assembled for time trial championships in years.

Sanders is eager to embrace her result. Ask her how happy she is, and she practically bubbles over with excitement. “I’m beside myself,” she said. “This has obviously been a long time coming. All the work that I put in for nearly a year now, it paid off today. I really couldn’t be happier.” Sanders improved her time on this course by over three minutes from the 2009 National Time Trial Championships. “You know, I think the wind was more of a factor last year, but still -- that is huge,” she remarked.

USA Cycling Nationals continue tomorrow in Bend with the 50K criterium. The 2010 Canadian Cycling Association National Championships begin tomorrow when Alison Testroete and Anne Samplonius contest the time trial.

Carrie Cash takes her first win of the Tour of America's Dairyland series at the Trek Waterloo Criterum

Carrie Cash, dubbed the Tour of America’s Dairyland “crowd favorite” by VeloNews, nabbed back-to-back wins in the Trek Waterloo Criterium and the Greenbush Road Race in Wisconsin. The two wins bring her total podium count to five podium finishes over eight days of racing. “The Waterloo course was a blast,” said Cash. “The goal was to move up in the omnium and concentrate on the finish. I accomplished both -- and I had a lot of fun out there.” Both the Waterloo and Greenbush races came down to field sprints. On both days, Cash edged out current omnium leader Sarah Caravella (Team CARD) for the win.

“It’s been good racing. A drag race to the finish today. A tactical sprint yesterday. We’ve been putting on an exciting show,” stated Cash. “Three days of racing remain. All crits. Sarah’s still in yellow, and she’ll need to be on the defense. I’m focused on the finish. The finish and the overall. I’m in a position where I have much to gain. I like it here.”

Bend, OR - Team Vera Bradley Foundation will be aiming for National Championship titles in both the U.S. and Canada this week. This is the first time that all National Championships - both in North America and in Europe - will be held at the same time.

This is the second consecutive year that the USA Cycling Elite National Time Trial and Road Race championships have been held in Bend, OR. The Criterium championships make their Bend debut this year after a long run in Downers Grove, IL. The Team Vera Bradley Foundation women have high hopes of climbing onto the top step of the podium this week in all three disciplines.

The Time Trial will be held on Thursday, June 24. 2008 National Time Trial Champion, Alison Powers, aims to regain her title. “The field is really strong this year,” remarked Powers. “For several years we’ve had nationals at a strange time of year, so a lot of the U.S. girls who race in Europe have not been able to race our national championships. This year, we have everyone here. The person who wins tomorrow will truly be the best time trialist in the nation.”

Robin Farina and Kristin Sanders will also contest TT Nationals. Farina finished 11th in the TT last year; Sanders finished 12th. Both riders spent time in the wind tunnel earlier this year to perfect their positioning.

The trio will be joined by former U23 National Criterium Champion, Erica Allar, and Lauren Hall for the Criterium and Road Race Championships. Unlike the Downers Grove course, the criterium course in Bend is a flat, fast rectangular course. “I’m looking forward to this,” commented Allar. “It’s a new course for everyone, so that puts us all in the same playing field. To make up for the lack of technicality that made Downers Grove so interesting, I expect the teams to make the race aggressive and hard. It should be good.”

The final event for the elite women is the 113K road race held around the challenging Aubrey Butte circuit. Last year, a small breakaway group held off a hard charging field with Meredith Miller (TIBCO) taking the win. A similar situation could occur this year. “I wouldn’t be surprised if a break got away,” said director Lisa Hunt. “We have a strong team here, and all of our riders can ride a breakaway and win. It’s a great course for us.”

Testroete and Samplonious Hope for Maple Leaves

Edmonton, AB Canada - While the American contingent races in Bend, their Canadian counterparts prepare for the Canadian Cycling Elite National Championships in Edmonton, Alberta. Nationals were last held in Edmonton in 1994.

Canadian Nationals opens for the women with the time trial on Friday, June 25. The TT course is a wide-open fairly straight forward out and back. The road ventures into a river valley with a little descent and a short power climb. Without any tree coverage on the course, wind will likely be a factor.

Anne Samplonious, a multiple-time former National Canadian TT Champion and silver medalist at the 1994 World TT Championship, recognizes that Tara Whitten is the favorite on this course. “She is a double world champion on track this year and won nationals last year,” said Samplonious. “Still, I’d love to win. That’s my goal. If not, I definitely want to podium.” Samplonious finished 3rd in the time trial last year after suffering mechanical issues.

Alison Testroete, current Canadian National Road Champion, will contest both the time trial and road race with Samplonious. She looks to defend her title against a competitive field on Sunday, June 27. The 127K road race is a bit hillier than the course on which Testroete rode to victory last year. Samplonious considers it a course that favors sprinters and hopes to see Testroete win from a break. “I’d rather not see it come down to a bunch sprint,” commented said Samplonious. “Alison’s a good breakaway rider. She can win this race on smarts. I’d like to see her get in a break without the top sprinters. It’s something she’s capable of pulling off.”

Carrie Cash will continue to seek out a jersey of a different sort through the week. After winning the yellow and white spotted leader’s jersey at Tour of America’s Dairyland on Sunday, Cash missed the winning break in Monday’s road race. The road race offered double points, and the finish led to a complete reshuffle of the overall omnium. Cash’s third place finish at the Sheboygan Criterium in Sheboygan, WI yesterday afternoon has moved her back up to third in the overall. With her sights set on yellow, Cash races the Trek Waterloo Classic in Waterloo, WI this afternoon. The Tour of America’s Dairyland continues through Sunday.

Photos: © Brian Hodes/VeloImages

Minneapolis – The Women’s Prestige Cycling Series continues with this week’s Nature Valley Grand Prix, the third of four stops for the Series.

Mara Abbott (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12) is the favorite to retain the lead in the individual competition, although second-placed Alison Powers (Team Vera Bradley Foundation) is within striking distance and could claim the lead if she wins the Nature Valley Grand Prix. A number of other riders have a mathematical chance of taking the lead, but they would need both Abbott and Powers to turn in poor performances.

Abbott appears to have a lock on the Series’ Best Young Rider competition in her last year of eligibility. With nearly double the points of her nearest rival, Rebecca Much (Team TIBCO/To The Top Pro Cycling), Abbott would have to fail to finish to lose the lead. The Best Young Rider classification may be a race for second place, with Specialized D4W/Bicycle Haus teammates Chloe Forsman and Melanie Meyers hot on Much’s heals and TIBCO teammates Allison Starnes and Amanda Miller close behind.

Carmen Small (Colavita/Baci) has a comfortable lead in the sprinter competition. Although HTC-Columbia will be competing at the Nature Valley Grand Prix, second placed Ina-Yoko Teutenberg is not on the race roster. Coryn Rivera (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12) is nearly 100 points behind Small.

If Abbott performs up to expectations, Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12 should retain its lead in the team competition, since bonus points are awarded for Best Young Riders. Team Vera Bradley Foundation is more than 200 points back in second place.

“This is a reverse of the standings on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar,” Women’s Prestige Cycling Series co-founder David LaPorte pointed out. “It also highlights the mission of the Series, which is to give women’s teams a smaller calendar that allows them to focus on key events.”

Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12 Director Kristin Armstrong said the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series is a priority for her team.

“The women's teams have a major voice in organizing the Series and vote on the events to include,” Armstrong said. “The four Series races were included because they highlight women's racing. Our goals for the Nature Valley Grand Prix are to keep Mara in the leaders and best young rider jerseys and to defend our position as the top team.”

The Women’s Prestige Cycling Series is the only national bicycle racing series solely showcasing the country’s top female cycling talent in four events across the country. It began at the Redlands Bicycle Classic (March 25-28) and continued at the SRAM Tour of the Gila (April 28-May 2). Following the Nature Valley Grand Prix, the finale comes at the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic (July 20-25).

For more information about the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series, visit the official website.

Alexis Rhodes wins criterium; Powers, and team, win overall

By Lisa Hunt

Fayetteville, AR - Team Vera Bradley Foundation put a stamp on the Joe Martin Stage Race today, with Alexis Rhodes attacking with two laps to go and winning the criterium. Alison Powers sprinted to third place, with Webcor's Katheryn Mattis taking 2nd place. Powers took the crown jewel and won the overall general classification. The team also took top honors in the team general classification, wrapping up a very successful week of racing in Arkansas.

The 60 minute criterium was fast from the gun, as TIBCO's Sam Schneider set a blistering pace on the first lap. The field began to whittle down to a group of 20, which included all of the top GC contenders, with the exception of 3rd place rider Alison Starnes (TIBCO). Both Colavita and Webcor launched attacks, but they could not get rid of the VBF women. In the closing laps, Modesta Vznesiauskaite went on the attack with three laps to go, and as she was reeled in, Alexis Rhodes launched her timely attack just before the start finish and immediately got a gap. "I knew that if I got caught, we had Powers to counter my move and win the race," stated Rhodes. Rhodes held off the charging field by a mere second. There was a slight reshuffling in general classification, with Robin Farina moving up to 5th place overall, Kristin Sanders to 9th place; Rhodes in 12th place and Testroete in 15th place. This enabled the team to win the overall team general classification.

"This was an incredible week for the team," stated team director, Lisa Hunt. "We were on the podium for every stage, won the individual and team overall GC. I am so proud of these girls."

Next up for the team will be the Women's Amgen Tour of California/Sacramento Grand Prix. "We'd love to continue this podium streak in California," said Hunt. "I'm confident we can do it."

The 33rd Joe Martin Stage Race concluded on Sunday with a challenging 12-turn criterium. A pair from down under ruled the day as Australian Alexis Rhodes (Team Vera Bradley Foundation) and Tasmanian Karl Menzies (UnitedHealthcare-Maxxis) took the women's and men's race, respectively.

Rhodes' teammate, Alison Powers finished in third on the day and claimed the overall victory by a slim margin over Webcor Builders' Katheryn Mattis, who finished in second in the criterium.

Likewise, Luis Amaran (Jamis - Sutter Home presented by Colavita) held on to take the General Classification ahead of Bissell Pro Cycling teammates, Ben Jacques-Maynes and Jeremy Vennell.

Results - Women
1. Alexis Rhodes (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
2. Katheryn Curi Mattis (Webcor Builders Cycling Team)
3. Alison Powers (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)

Final General Classification - Women
1. Alison Powers (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
2. Katheryn Curi Mattis (Webcor Builders Cycling Team)
3. Amanda Miller (TIBCO/ To the Top)
4. Meredith Miller (TIBCO/ To the Top)
5. Robin Farina (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
6. Anne Samplonius (Team Nanoblur-Gears)
7. Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Colavita/Baci Pro Cycling Team)
8. Alisha Welsh (Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty12)
9. Kristin Sanders (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
10. Anna Mcloon (Team Kenda)

Results - Men
1. Karl Menzies (UnitedHealthcare-Maxxis)
2. Matthew Crane (UnitedHealthcare-Maxxis)
3. Jonathon Cantwell (Fly V Australia)

Final General Classification - Men
1. Luis Romero Amaran (Jamis - Sutter Home presented by Colavita)
2. Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (Bissell)
3. Jeremy Vennell (Bissell)
4. Francois Parisien (Spidertech presented by Planet Energy)
5. Benjamin Day (Fly V Australia)
6. Karl Menzies (UnitedHealthcare-Maxxis)
7. Bernard Sulzberger (Fly V Australia)
8. Tyler Wren (Jamis - Sutter Home presented by Colavita)
9. Jason Donald (OUCH Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team)
10. Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia)

Photo: UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling

Powers Takes 3rd on Stage, Assumes Overall Lead

By Jessi Braverman

Fayetteville, AR - Alison Powers sprinted to third place today at the Joe Martin Stage Race. Powers' 4 second time bonus ensured that she moved into first place on general classification. Colavita-Baci's Modesta Vzesniauskaite won the stage, with Veloforma's Christina Smith taking 2nd.

Today's 64 mile stage began in Cedarville, under threatening skies and windy conditions. As the peloton approached the 9-mile climb, 23 miles into the race, they were greeted with a stiff headwind, which made it difficult for any attacks to succeed. "We were hoping to get a select group up and over the climb," commented team captain, Robin Farina. "But that headwind was tough and nothing would stay away." The field approached the final 3 kilometers intact, with both Colavita and TIBCO assembling lead-out trains. But the VBF women had their own plan of attack, as Alexis Rhodes drove the pace into the final turn to set up Powers for the sprint. "Colavita and TIBCO set up a perfect lead-out, but they got a bit tired on the rollers," stated Rhodes. I took over and drilled it into the corner and Ali took it from there." Vzesniauskaite and Smith nipped Powers at the line. "The team did an amazing job," said Powers. "Alex's lead-out was perfect!"

Tomorrow's stage is a 69 mile circuit race, which features challenging rolling hills and a fast flat finish. "We are ready to defend the jersey," commented team director Hunt. "But we also have some fast finishers, so we'd love to win the stage."

Watch for updates on the team's Twitter and Facebook pages.

Lithuania’s Modesta Vzesniauskaite became yet the latest of the Colavita/Baci presented by Cooking Light team to garner a victory this season as she took the Stage 2 bunch sprint in front of Christina Gokey-Smith (Veloforma) and Team Vera Bradley Foundation’s Alison Powers. The 26-year-old all-rounder, originally from Panevezys, rode for the Swiss powerhouse, Bigla, last year.

Results - Women
1. Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Colavita/Baci Pro Cycling Team
2. Christina Gokey-Smith (USA) Veloforma
3. Alison Powers (USA) Team Vera Bradley Foundation

With her third place finish, Powers takes over the lead in the General Classification from Stage 1 winner Katheryn Mattis (Webcor Builders).

General Classification After Stage 2 - Women
1. Alison Powers (USA) Team Vera Bradley Foundation
2. Katheryn Curi Mattis (USA) Webcor Builders Cycling Team
3. Alison Starnes (USA) TIBCO / To the Top
4. Meredith Miller (USA) TIBCO / To the Top
5. Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Nanoblur-Gears
6. Amanda Miller (USA) TIBCO / To the Top
7. Rushlee Buchanan (NZl) Colavita/Baci Pro Cycling Team
8. Robin Farina (USA) Team Vera Bradley Foundation
9. Alisha Welsh (USA) Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty12
10. Kristin Sanders (USA) Team Vera Bradley Foundation

Bernard Sulzberger (Fly V Australia) out-dueled breakaway companion Luis Amaran (Jamis-Sutter Home presented by Colavita) to take the 177km Stage 2 of the Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Team Type 1's Thomas Rabou would round out the podium.

By virtue of his second place, Amaran took the lead in the men's General Classification.

Results - Men
1. Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Fly V Australia
2. Luis Romero Amaran (Cub) Jamis-Sutter Home presented by Colavita
3. Thomas Rabou (USA) Team Type 1

General Classification After Stage 2 - Men
1. Luis Romero Amaran (Cub) Jamis-Sutter Home presented by Colavita
2. Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell
3. Jeremy Vennell (NZl) Bissell
4. Benjamin Day (Aus) Fly V Australia
5. Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Fly V Australia
6. Jason Donald (USA) OUCH Bahati Found Pro Cycling
7. Tyler Wren (USA) Jamis-Sutter Home presented by Colavita
8. Francois Parisien (Can) Spidertech presented by Planet Energy
9. Kyle Wamsley (USA) Bissell
10. Corey Collier (USA) OUCH Bahati Found Pro Cycling

Alison Powers in 2nd place after Devil's Den Hill Climb TT

Fayetteville, AR - Alison Powers came within eight tenths of a second from winning the Devil's Den Hill Climb Time Trial today at the Joe Martin Stage Race. Webcor's Katheryn Mattis took the top step on the podium, winning by that very small margin. TIBCO's Alison Starnes was 3rd, 10 seconds behind the leader. Team VBF's Robin Farina was 8th and Kristin Sanders was 11th. The top 15 are within seconds of each other.

Hot and breezy conditions greeted the riders for the 2.5 mile hill climb. Temperatures were in the high 80's and there was a strong headwind at the start. "My time was 2 seconds slower than last year," commented Powers. "Katheryn got second last year. I can't believe how close we were in time. That's about a pedal stroke!" Tomorrow, the riders will contest a 64 mile point to point road race from Cedarville, AR into downtown Fayetteville. The race features a finishing time bonus, with the winner taking 10 seconds, second place gets 6 seconds; third place receives 4 seconds. "A lot can change tomorrow," commented team director Hunt. "The time bonuses can make a big difference in how this race plays out."

Powers, the defending champion here at Joe Martin, is looking forward to tomorrow's stage. "We've got a great team here and we will be going for the win."

Watch for updates on the team's Twitter and Facebook pages.

The Joe Martin Stage Race has blossomed into one of the most well liked events among racers and fans alike over the course of 33-year running. A perennial fixture of USA Cycling’s National Racing Calendar, the Joe Martin Stage Race began this past Friday with a 4.02km Individual Time Trial up Devil’s Den near Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Katheryn Mattis (Webcor Builders) continued to show her good early season form by taking the uphill race-of-truth ahead of Team Vera Bradley Foundation’s Alison Powers and Alison Starnes (Team TIBCO/To The Top).

Results – Women
1. Katheryn Curi Mattis (Webcor Builders Cycling Team)
2. Alison Powers (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
3. Alison Starnes (TIBCO/ To the Top)

On the men’s side, Andrew Talansky (California Giant Berry Farms) surprised. The U23 rider bested a pair of Benjamins, in Day (Fly V australia) and Jacques-Maynes (Bissel l) to take the early lead in the four-stage event.

Results - Men
1. Andrew Talansky (California Giant Berry Farms)
2. Benjamin Day (Fly V australia)
3 Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling)