Stage 1, Tetrick-Starnes debut brings podium at Merco Stage Race

March 3, 2011

McClure Lake, Merced County, CA

HTC Brings European Power to US Soil

Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 rises to meet the challenge

The Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic kicked off four days of racing today in sunny Merced County. Despite being held in an area whose roads have seen many different races, today’s stage was held on a new course around the Lake McClure area. Stunningly beautiful, and breathtakingly challenging, today’s route was a 12.5 mile course that the women’s 1,2,3 categories raced 58 miles on. With 864 feet of climbing per lap and a hard uphill finish, the 52 rider field had their work cut out for them.

On the start line were some of the premiere teams in the country including Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12, Team Tibco/To the Top, Vaderkittin/Focus and Primal/Map my Ride. Regional teams like Metromint , Red Racing and Touchstone also had representatives in the field. The top team in the world, HTC, was present, albeit with three riders. However, no matter how small the contingent, if HTC’s leader, Ina Teutenberg is present, hard, fast and smart racing is sure to ensue.

Teutenberg got things off to a brisk start when she attacked, bringing Swiss National Champion Pascale Maria Schnider with her. Teutenberg would soon attack Schnider, leaving her to be re-absorbed by the peloton and would go it alone for most of the 4.5 lap race.

As Teutenberg fiercely fought her way into the wind, the Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty Twelve Team manned the chase behind, organizing quickly and working with seamless teamwork. The gap would swell to nearly 2 minutes at one point, but the work alone into the wind soon called Teutenberg to task.

In the end, after a brave effort, Teutenberg was brought back into the fold on the bottom of the final QOM climb. From there until the finish, the pace was conservative as the women allowed a natural selection to take place on the final climb to the finish.

As the group snaked their way onto the final climb, Kristin McGrath (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12) tried a series of short attacks, to no avail, and at the 500 meter to go mark it was Amanda Miller (HTC), Alison Starnes (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12) and Flavia Oliveira. Charging to the line, Miller passed Starnes, with Oliveira making a late surge for second.

Miller’s win puts her in Yellow for tomorrow’s 12 mile time trial, with Oliveira and Starnes trailing her in a close second and third. Miller’s brilliant race also garnered her the Young Rider’s jersey, with her teammate Teutenberg claiming the Combined QOM and Sprint Leader’s Jersey.

Peanut Butter & Co. Had three riders in the top ten, with new up and comer, Tayler Wiles in fifth and McGrath in sixth. The Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 riders will certainly have their work cut out for them to strip Miller of the coveted Yellow Jersey. However, with the cohesive team work exhibited by the Lauren Tamayo, Olivia Dillon and Alisha Welsh today, Peanut Butter & Co TWENTY 12 looks like the team who will give HTC a run for their money.

The time trial kicks off tomorrow at 1 pm for the women.