A day for the workers, Fort Ord Road Race by Kristy Scrymgeour

April 16, 2005

Another gruelling day on the roads on and around Laguna Seca made for some exciting racing to wrap up the Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada Stage race for 2005. Both T-Mobile and Health Net kept the leader's jersey within the team for the final, with Kristin Armstrong holding onto her lead in the women's event - the jersey swapped hands once again to yet another Health Net rider in the men's event, with Doug Ollerenshaw taking the stage and the overall.

The women's race consisted of seven laps on a 10.2 mile circuit around the dead roads of Fort Ord before heading back into Laguna Seca Raceway for a final lap and a half.
An early break saw five riders head up the road early in the race, gaining a substantial lead. In the break was Mari Holden (T-Mobile), Grace Fleury (Quark), Felicia Greer (Webcor), Lynn Gaggioli (Monex) and Rebecca Larson (Colavita/Cooking Light).

Eventually the field became nervous of the break's advantage, with Quark working hard to bring it back. As the break got a little closer, T-Mobile's Ina Teutenberg went on the attack to bridge the gap; not long after joining them she attacked the break in her customary 'Superwoman' style - it was simple - "They were sitting on me," said Teutenberg, "and Mari was getting dropped, so I decided to go myself."

Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile) wins the Sea Otter road race
Photo ©: Russ and Nancy Wright

Teutenberg powered away to gain over a minute on the field, holding the gap for about 40km. Finally back with the bunch, Christine Thorburn (Webcor) saw the urgency to get further up the road and attacked, taking Kristin Armstrong and Tina Pic with her. The three caught the original break which eventually split under the pace on the climbs. The four remaining riders - Pic, Armstrong, Thorburn and Fleury were the only ones left from the original break.

With Teutenberg up the road Armstrong was able to sit comfortably, letting the other three do the work to chase. Thorburn and Pic didn't want to waste themselves, keeping some energy in reserve for a likely final effort, but Fleury put it on the line for her teammate Pic and drove the chase, eventually nearing Teutenberg.

"Thank God Grace was there," said Pic after the race. "She totally sacrificed."

With Teutenberg in sight, Thorburn decided to attack again, preempting another T-Mobile move, but Pic and Armstrong were able to hold her wheel, allowing Armstrong to counter. Her attack was the decisive move, and encouraged by her teammate as she went past, Armstrong was able to hold off the Quark and Webcor chase to the line.

Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile)
Photo ©: Russ and Nancy Wright

Pic and Thorburne worked together in the chase, but theirs was a race was for second - Pic taking the sprint for second place. Teutenberg managed to hang on for fourth with Fleury hanging in there for fifth place.

Amstrong was very excited with a race that definitely made up for being beaten out in the same race last year. "It was a really good day for us," she told Cyclingnews after the stage. Ina did a great job and when I went past her on that final attack I heard "go, go" in that German accent and I just wanted to go as hard as I could because my teammates had worked so hard for me."

Despite having a good gap on the chasers, Armstrong was still nervous until the end. She said "Christine and Tina are both so determined and with Christine such a good time trailer, I knew they could chase well."

Teutenberg was exhausted after the race but pleased with the result. "Tactically, it was good for day for us. It was hard out there and my legs didn't feel good, but somehow when I attacked, they seemed to work."

Pic, although disappointed with losing the jersey was happy with the way her team worked. "Ina was awesome out there, but Grace really matched her and was able to chase her down.

"T-Mobile really played it well today," she added. "Any time Ina's out there, it's a tough race."

Fort Ord Road Race Results

1. Kristin Armstrong (USA) T-Mobile                               4.05.58
2. Tina Pic (USA) Quark                                                    1.27
3. Christine Thorburn (USA) Webcor Builders                      1.29
4. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile                                        3.12
5. Grace Fleury (USA) Quark                                             4.38
6. Felicia Greer (USA) Webcor Builders                              7.11
7. Erinne Willock (Can) Webcor Builders                            8.10
8. Kimberly Baldwin (USA) T-Mobile                     
9. Kim Anderson (USA) Colavita/Cooking Light                                
10. Dotsie Cowden (USA) Colavita/Cooking Light                8.37
11. Kori Seehafer (USA) T-Mobile                      
12. Sima Trapp (USA) Subway                                                 
13. Laura Vangilder (USA) Quark

 Final General Classification

1. Kristin Armstrong (USA) T-Mobile                       5.51.24
2. Tina Pic (USA) Quark                                           1.27
3. Christine Thorburn (USA) Webcor Builders              1.42
4. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile                                3.39
5. Grace Fleury (USA) Quark                                    5.20
6. Felicia Greer (USA) Webcor Builders                       7.51
7. Kimberly Baldwin (USA) T-Mobile                             8.42
8. Kim Anderson (USA) Colavita/Cooking Light             8.46
9. Erinne Willock (Can) Webcor Builders                                         
10. Laura Vangilder (USA) Quark                              9.07
                           

Stage 1, Laguna Seca Circuit Race by Kristy Scrymgeour

April 15, 2005

The circuit race of Sea Otter proved grueling and exciting yet again today, with the yellow jersey changing hands in both the men and women's race. Tina Pic (Quark) managed to redeem herself after a slight jump of the gun in yesterday's prologue to take today's stage and the yellow jersey from Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile), whilst in the men's race later in the day, Health Net dominated a very early break to keep the jersey in the team, but it was a dark horse from across the Atlantic that took the stage win. On another beautiful day at Laguna Seca Raceway, the women set out for 17 leg-breaking laps of a circuit race around the raceway which consisted of a tough one kilometer steep climb each lap before descending the corkscrew and winding around the racetrack to the finish line. Lynn Gaggioli was the aggressor early in the race, trying on a couple of attacks, but both were reeled by T-Mobile and the race was relatively steady until the final seven laps of the race. T-Mobile then started to put the hurt on, with Ina Teutenberg putting in some strong attacks. A few breaks started to appear and one in particular that looked like it could stay away consisting of Teutenberg and Armstrong from T-Mobile; Erinne Willock and Christine Thorburn from Webcor, Lynn Gaggioli (Monex), Kim Anderson (Colavita Olive Oil) and Pic. Eventually the break was reeled in, but it wasn't long before another break went with four of the same riders. Thorburn and Willock were involved, as well as Teutenberg and Armstrong, but after hanging out there for a lap, the four didn't quite get it together and were caught by the field. It was on the last climb, as an attack was just being pulled back that Erinne Willock took the opportunity to counter. Armstrong went with her, as did Willock's teammate Thorburn and Tina Pic. The break stayed and became a four up sprint for the win with Pic showing her strength in the sprint to take the stage win and the leaders jersey with the time bonus earned. Taking second in the sprint was Armstrong, but her placing wasn't enough to keep the jersey. Thorburn rounded out the podium with Willock taking fourth. The bunch came in not far behind, keeping the times close and the race open for stage three. Pic was pleased after the race, claiming that "it made up for yesterday." Not only does Pic hold the leaders jersey going into the final stage, but she also holds the sprint and the mountain jersey. Despite her win, Pic explained that it wasn't an easy day at the office. "It was so brutal out there," she laughed, "especially when I was in that break. I didn't know who would attack [out of the break] and I just wished I had eyes in the back of my head. "Finally when that last break went, there were just four of us and Erinne just drove it, she was awesome." Despite losing the jersey Armstrong was still happy after the race saying that it was fun. "You know sometimes in women's racing nothing happens, but today there was always something happening, so it was great." With Pic now in the jersey, Armstrong is confident that T-Mobile can take it back off her tomorrow. "We have a strong climbing team and we're just going to be aggressive and try to isolate [Pic]. One of us can get away and win the race," she added. Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing) had another impressive ride to keep the U23 jersey and is looking forward to the final stage. "Its been a long time since I've been on the course and that last climb is really hard," she said. "You just have to grit your teeth and hang on." Franges who says she has been "keyin" for this race, nevertheless remains confident.

Laguna Seca Circuit Race Results

1 Tina Pic (USA) Quark                                                      1.42.38
2 Kristin Armstrong (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling                   
3 Christine Thorburn (USA) Webcor Builders                                
4 Erinne Willock (Can) Webcor Builders                                 0.05
5 Helen Kelly (Aus) Quark                                                     0.11
6 Sima Trapp (USA) Subway                                                 
7 Michelle Beltran (USA) Colavita/Cooking Light                           
8 Laura Vangilder (USA) Quark