Friday, March 18, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Peanut Butter & Co TWENTY 12’s Starnes blossoms into her potential – finishing in Yellow
March 6, 2011
Merced, CA
HTC’s Teutenberg makes it two in a row
Peanut Butter & Co TWENTY 12’s Starnes blossoms into her potential – finishing in Yellow
Today’s fourth and final stage at the Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic was the 120 KM Almond Blossom Road Race. Waking to pattering drops of rain, an early start, chilly temperatures and gray skies did nothing to lighten the mood of the starters. As the race unfolded, so did the weather, leaving the competitors wet, cold and covered in grime. However, the rain did nothing to dampen the feisty racing, as HTC and Tibco unleashed early attacks, one after another, trying to loosen Alison Starnes’ grip on the Yellow Leader’s Jersey.
It looked like the relentless attacks would never cease, until finally Tibco’s Kendal Ryan succeeded in breaking the Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 leash on the field. Shortly after, HTC’s Ally Stacher, and Starla Teddergreen (Vanderkitten-Focus) joined her. After 12 kilometers, Peggy Legrand (US Military) bridged and the foursome worked well together.
Although none were a threat to Starnes’ Yellow Jersey, the Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 team began their seamless rotation at the front. However, the cohesive foursome slowly put time into the Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 powerful rotation, with some thinking maybe this would be the group that finally edged their way through the Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12’s control of the peloton.
Although none were a threat to Starnes’ Yellow Jersey, the Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 team began their seamless rotation at the front. However, the cohesive foursome slowly put time into the Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 powerful rotation, with some thinking maybe this would be the group that finally edged their way through the Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12’s control of the peloton.
Just when it looked like the break might have some hope, Starnes’ well oiled machine brought the pace up and within a few kilometers the group was back in the fold. At this point, Teutenberg and third place Pascale Maria Schnider put pressure on the now stretched thin field, sensing weakness in the Peanut Butter & Co. Team.
As HTC and Schnider upped the ante, the Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 answered in kind and soon the field was Groupo Compacto and headed to the finish line for what was to be an inevitable fireworks between the top sprinters in the field, Teutenberg, Schnider and Tamayo.
As Tamayo’s team wound up for the sprint, the pace reached 30 mph, and HTC matched Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12’s speed pedal stroke for pedal stroke. As the group crested the final hill and the lead-out riders pulled off it was Teutenberg, Schnider and Tamayo in a drag race to the finish. At the line it was Teutenberg throwing her hands in the air for the victory over Schnider and Tamayo in third.
Today’s win was Teutenberg’s second of the race, and secured her the “Combined Jersey” competition. Her young HTC teammate, Amanda Miller’s, stellar ride on day one put her in the White Young Rider’s jersey which kept throughout the entire race.
Today’s win was Teutenberg’s second of the race, and secured her the “Combined Jersey” competition. Her young HTC teammate, Amanda Miller’s, stellar ride on day one put her in the White Young Rider’s jersey which kept throughout the entire race.
However, the big winner of the 2011 edition of the Merco Credit Union Stage Race was Alison Starnes and her Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 teammates. Kicking off the 2011 season with a fantastic show of unity and well executed teamwork, the Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 team is off to a great start. Schnider finished second to Starnes and narrowly edged out her Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 teammate McGrath, who finished in third.
The Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 team now has a brief break before racing kicks off again next weekend. The next North American Stop is the San Dimas Stage Race, followed shortly thereafter by the Redlands Bicycle Classic.
Thank you to everyone for following us on our journey to Gold. You can read more about the team on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
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.
Friday, March 04, 2011
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.
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