Coryn takes 2nd at Merco GP

March 5, 2011

Merced, CA

Teutenberg’s Supersonic Speed Claims the Win in Stage Three of the Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic

Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 Coryn Rivera in a very close second place

Teammate Starnes Remains Brilliant in Yellow

Today’s third stage of the Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic was a downtown criterium, featuring a 180 degree hairpin turn at the top of the course. Held under sunny skies, downtown Merced was warm and welcoming for the 52 women competitors as they rolled to the start line. Racing for 40 laps, totaling 32 miles, the race was a show down between the wily and race savvy HTC Team and the young, raw talent of the Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 team.

The race got off to a brisk start with attacks early on. Nothing stuck until HTC’s Amanda Miller slipped off the front, and was joined by two other riders. The break remained for almost half the race, but never opened more than a 15 second gap, with the Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 team calmly protecting Race Leader Alison Starnes’ lead behind.

With 16 laps to go the field was back together and the attacks came fast and furious from the HTC team, With Ina Teutenberg repeatedly blasting off the front of the group; with every attack matched by the Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 team. Team Tibco and Vanderkitten also took their turn, and all were responded to immediately. Although the attacks kept coming, they were in vain; with 10 laps to go it was clear a field sprint would ensue.

As the laps counted down, HTC, Team Tibco and Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 organized their lead-outs, increasing the speed and fighting to position into the hairpin turn. Elbow to elbow, each team fought to get their sprinter the advantage into and out of the turn.

Coming into the final turn it was a battle between with HTC and Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 team, as young rider Tayler Wiles and Double Irish National Champion Olivia Dillon brought teammates Lauren Tamayo and 19 year old Coryn Rivera to the forefront of the action. HTC was pounding away beside them, bringing the champion, Teutenberg into position. With 200 meters to go it was Teutenberg rocketing to the finish line with 32 time National Champion, Rivera fighting hard to get by her. In the end, Teutenberg claimed the win with Rivera nipping at her heals. Third went to Pascale Maria Schnider.

With the General Classification unchanged, tomorrow’s Stage Four will see Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12’s Alison Starnes in Yellow at the start of 72 mile Almond Blossom Road Race, followed by teammate Kristin McGrath in second. Their work will be cut out for their Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 team, as Miller’s HTC Team and Schnider’s Red Racing Team are sure to bring double barrels to the race in an effort to unseat Starnes and McGrath from their stranglehold on the General Classification. The battle kicks off bright and early at 8:15. Stay tuned on Facebook for results or on Twitter for minute by minute, blow by blow reports as service allows.