(l-r) 4th Kristin Wentworth; 2nd, Catherine Walberg; winner Rebecca Much (Webcor Builders);3rd Bri Kovac;5th Jess Prinner (ABD)

Team Kenda was the largest team represented in the Women’s 1/2/3 race segment of the 2009 Hillsboro Roubaix race installment.  The weather was a perfect 60F plus, sunny and windy.  A talent peppered peloton brought about 40-50 women for the entire women’s field. The reigning 2008 USA National TT Champion was part of that group, in addition to several state champions.  The team fielded eight women in the Women’s 1/2/3 and two in the category 4 race. Hillsboro Roubaix is billed as a one day spring classic. The race is held an hour outside the City of St. Louis. The race is also part of the Nature Valley Grand Prix Pro Ride

Kristin Wentworth, provided her report as follows:  The race consisted of a 22 mile/35.2k circuit that winds through a rural farmland on a narrow, gravely, beat up roads with plenty of exposure to the wind. A decent little hill in the last mile followed by a fast descent on bumpy cobbles all add to the “classic-ness” of the race. We organized ourselves as a team and laid out our plan for the day. To succeed as a team we were all going to have to play our parts. In a field of 40 strong riders we were the largest team and the pressure was on. Madeleine Puissant (Team BH USA) started out the race fast and had us strung out on the first stretch. The key to Team Kenda was positioning for the entire race. I carefully and quickly moved myself into the top ten riders. A slight lull in the action caused Jill Kislia to move up and keep the pace high just as we had planned. With a small hill approaching and the crosswinds blowing I attacked hard and hammered up the hill. I kept the gas on through the corner when Rebecca Much (Webcor Builders) past me with Sydney B of Mercy Girls on her wheel. The three of us began working together. These girls were fast. I was a bit blown from my attack and was trying desperately to stay in the rotation. Next thing I know my teammate Catherine had bridged up to us – perfect! I pulled through a few more times but I could feel myself reaching my limit. Up a small incline I lost a wheel and watched as the trio slipped away.

Looking back I saw a group of four riders chasing – maybe 30 seconds up on the main field. I tried to catch my breath and sat up to wait for them and integrate into the chase. I was very happy to see who was in this group {Superstrong Bri Kovac (Alderfer Bergen), her teammate Katie Weber (Alderfer Bergen), Christy (Team Kenda), and teenage powerhouse Jessie P. (ABD)}. We began working together to hunt down the break and keep distance on the chasing peloton. A great group to be in, everyone was encouraging each other to close the gap. After about 7 miles we finally caught them but lost Katie in the process.

We were now a break of seven riders. Having three Team Kenda riders and four solo riders was exactly what we wanted. Everyone was riding incredibly strong, especially Rebecca (Webcor Builders) and Syd.  Again, the group was a very positive and encouraging. We knew there were plenty of teams not represented in the break and that the chasers would not give up easily. My hope was that the Team Kenda riders were doing what they could to block for us.

Coming into the finish of the first lap the girls upped the pace on the climb and unfortunately we lost Christy. Down to 6 of us we continued to work together and rode hard the second lap. My legs felt like lead and there were several instances where Sydney Brown or Rebecca pushed it just slightly and I thought I was going to be gapped off the back. Never one to try to just sit on I missed one or two pulls to regain myself and then continued on with our rotation. The winds were mildly annoying but they could have been much worse.

With about 5 miles to go Sydney got a flat tire. We sat up initially but in a race like this we knew that a flat fix could be a 5 minute ordeal and that we couldn’t risk the field catching us. We slowed the pace slightly for several minutes but as we approached the finish we ramped it back up. At the base of the last short climb Rebecca Much (Webcor Builders) attacked hard. There was a vehicle from a different race in the lane and we were forced to zig zag through the cones and around the car to try to follow her. I was hurting and the legs were not feeling very snappy. Catherine and Bri (Alderfer Bergen) chased after Rebecca who had opened up a big gap. I sat on Jessie over the top and down the cobbles and apologized to her that I wasn’t going to pull the two of us up to Catherine and Bri who were maybe 10 seconds up the road. She continued to ride hard and once we got closer to the final corner I jumped hard around her. As I rounded the final corner I was a bike length behind Catherine who was sitting on Bri’s wheel. I pushed to try to get her wheel and prepare to try to be a contender in the sprint but I was toast. Catherine came around Bri (Alderfer Bergen) at the line to snag second and I was just behind them for 4th.

Whew! What a race. It was a great fast race and an excellent way for Team Kenda to start out the season. We were very pleased to have two of us on the podium for the day and congratulations to Rebecca Much (Webcor Builders) on her well deserved win. It’s great to have a rider of her caliber show up to a Midwest event. Syd’s ill timed flat was unfortunate and I have no doubt the podium may have looked a little different had she been with us at the end. It was an honor to ride with all my break mates and kudos to everyone on a great race.

All of my teammates worked really hard to get Catherine and I up there. Jill and Jess were working really hard to block and disrupt the chase and I had several other riders compliment Team Kenda’s teamwork and tactics in this race. It’s such a thrill when the team’s plan goes as hoped and the unselfishness of teammates creates opportunities for other riders. I was so proud of how all the girls rode. And then to top it off Jill took second in the field sprint to pull of 8th! Not bad for the first race of the year! Christy suffered like a dog out there solo for the second lap and was reeled in by the main group with only a mile to go to the finish. Definitely a valiant effort! An excellent way to start the season and proof that we’ve got a solid Midwestern team assembled this year. Can’t wait to race more with my great teammates!