(from right to left) 2K TT Podium: Team Kenda riders Megan McLaughlin and Kate Gracheck

A pair of  Team Kenda women headed to the 7-Eleven Velodrome in Colorado Springs, CO to contest the USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships scheduled for August 18 to 23, 2009.

DAY 1 – Women 30-34 500m Time Trial
Megan McLaughlin earns 4th place

Day 2 – Women 30-34 2,000m Time Trial
Kate Gracheck earns 3rd place
Megan McLauglin earns 5th place

 2K TT impressions by Megan McLaughlin

This is my first year of track racing, and I was very keen to see what I could do. More than anything, I wanted to learn as much as I can. Since I honestly believe that I learn things best by doing them, I put Nationals on my schedule, just to see what would happen.

The 500 on Tuesday evening was plagued by chilly winds and intermittent rain. The event had to be stopped for a while to wait for the storms to pass, but they eventually did, and we were able to continue. I was reasonably happy with my time, but I felt I lost time on my standing start. Mostly this is due to inexperience. It’s an area I will focus on next year for sure.

In the 2K TT, the weather was breezy but beautiful. I was beginning to suffer the effects of altitude sickness, so I just wanted to see what I could do. I pace fairly well in road time trials, but I am still learning how to pace for the shorter, more intense efforts on the track. Again, this is something I will work on in the future.

Overall it was a great learning experience. I plan to focus more of my efforts next year on the track, and will certainly return to the event next year, if at all possible. This season has been a fantastic one, and I especially enjoy being a part of such a great team. We have a tremendous support structure and sponsors that are second to none. There are people who work hard “behind the scenes” to make sure our Team Kenda racing experiences are the best they can possibly be. I’m grateful to them, as well as our sponsors and all my teammates for their support and encouragement.

2K TT impressions by Kate Gracheck

What where your goals?  My goals for the day were to get a good start lap in, hold 26.4s on laps 2-6, keep my breathing steady, and finish in 2:44. I got a great start lap in, was way too hot on my second lap, and paid for that in the last two laps. Overall, it was my best execution of a pursuit in my track racing career.

Did you think you could medal?  Yes…but I was actually hoping for silver. Had I ridden my goal time I would have been in contention for second place.

How were you feeling going into it? what was the weather?, did it affect you?  For the three weeks leading up to USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships, my legs felt terrible. I rested, still felt off, rested more, and still had bad legs. I was psyched when I got on the trainer that morning and had great legs. I knew I would have a good day on the track. It was warm and sunny but super windy. Fortunately, I know the track well and know how to ride it in the wind. But even with that experience the wind still swiped me sideways on the first lap and played a roll in my overall time.

Why did you choose this event? (played on your strengths, testing the waters, etc)  For some reason I love racing against the clock. The race itself is painful and not a lot of fun but I love it.

Was this your first trip to USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships?  Yes. I am one of the babies at this race…not even 30 yet!

What’s next?  I am racing in the Points race on Day 4 and the Team Pursuit on Day 6. My team is composed of two other local riders who I have been training and racing with for six years.

My biggest motivation for this race has been to win a jersey the same year I beat cancer…I would like to save that part of the story for later, though, as I hope to write about it as a national champion. Let’s wait and see what happens…I will put it up no matter what but would like to have that special part of it. I’m going to give these races all I have and hope for the best!!!:)

With both grazing the podium the team is looking good for the remainder of the contest.

Jackie Kurth, earns the gold medal in the USA Cycling Jr, U23, Elite Road National Championship while competing in the Women Jr 17 to 18 segment of the championships.  Kurth is no stranger to jersey earnings as she picked up accolades in 2003 and 2006.

Once at home, Kurth was interviewed by the Treasure Coast Newspapers.  The article, “Palm City cyclist wins national junior title before racing off to college” can be viewed by clicking here.

Wentworth solos for a second prime (Photo by Paul Forsythe)

Race report by Paul Forsythe

Perfect weather greeted the women’s field at Sunday’s Tour of Elk Grove finale. In a move that has become typical for Kenda’s Kristin Wentworth, Kristin soloed off the front from the start. Remaining unchallenged, Kristin built her lead to 12 seconds when the first prime was announced. Glancing over her shoulder, Kristin confirmed her advantage and rode alone to take the prime. The pack was concerned and Kristin’s gap was cut in half until another prime was announced. Head down, and finish line bound, Wentworth motored to another prime win before returning to the safety of the pack for recovery.

The race then became the Joelle Numainville show, as she won sprint after sprint, ringing Kenda’s cash register again and again until Saturday’s race winner, Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom), gave her a challenge she could not match for the mid-race prime. It looked like Laura and Joelle might try to carry their gap from that sprint effort, but just one half lap later found Laura and Joelle sitting at the front of the reformed group of women.

Van Gilder remained carefully checked by Kenda for the balance of the race, which set up Catherine Walberg (3rd place in Saturday’s race) to take yet another prime for Team Kenda. With three laps to go, Numainville nipped Van Gilder at the line for the final prime of the race.

In the end, it was Numainville (Kenda), Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom), and Meshberg (BH USA) for the medals, Joelle crossing the line well ahead after a very animated field sprint.

Pictures to come…

Ally Stacher earns a Silver medal at the 2009 USA Cycling Elite/U23/JR Road National Championships in Bend, Oregon in the U23 category. Elite women and U23 women race together with separate results reported.  The race had fifteen starters; however, only six finished the race.

After racing in Bend, OR she quickly departed to Europe to join the national team. I caught up with her in between settling in and below is what she had to say about her experience.

What was your goal for the national championships?
I wanted to win the national championship.

Did you meet your expectations? , why/why not? I did not, I missed the break and had to chase extremely hard.

Did you think you could earn the jersey? Yes, I will someday.

What’s next for you?, Are you racing the National Criterium Championships? (Downers Grove). No, I am currently traveling with the national team and I am in Lucca, Italy (August 6th) right now; however, I will leave for France tomorrow to participate in the Route de France Feminine (August 9th to the 14th). The race consists of a six day stage race. It should be great.

In a field of eighteen riders, Junior rider Jackie Kurth earned the Bronze medal at the 2009 USA Cycling Elite/U23/JR Road National Championships in the Junior Women 17-18 Road Race.

Numainville scores Gold at the Pan Am Championships (Photo by Matthew Knight/Canadian Cycling Association)

The Chicago Criterium was greeted with sunny skies and a brisk north wind with thirty five women lined up for the 50-minute plus 2-laps criterium on a 1.1 mile rectangular course.    They were there to battle for a piece of the $7,000 purse in the Women 1/2/3 race segment. 

Numainville outsprints Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) to win the Chicago Criterium.   The win comes in the heels of scoring gold at the Pan Am Championships in Tlaxcala, Mexico.

Here is how it all unfolded…

 5:00 minutes:  Team Kenda is leading in the initial laps of the race with a chasing peloton. Kristin Wentworth (Team Kenda) takes first prime of race on second lap.

12 minutes: Off the front is Team Kenda’s (Ashley James and Kristin Wentworth) with Kristin Meshberg (BH USA) in tow followed by Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) and a charging field.

14:??: four women in the next move, Ashley James (Team Kenda) Debbie Dust (PACT/Dishnetwork), Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) and Kristin Meshberg (BH USA). This break will be quickly absorbed as the peloton is not far behind.

18:05: The women all together now. We shall see what the next move will be.

20:46: the pack is all together, with Numainville, (Team Kenda) in the front followed by Catherine Walberg (Team Kenda) and a close on looking peloton checking out everyone.

23:29: gruppo compacto, a prime has been announced so the scramble begins.

26:22: Numainville wins the second prime with a close but spread out peloton.

28:42: gruppo compacto, Kristin Wentworth (Team Kenda) up front with Catherine Walberg (Team Kenda) getting squeezed on the outside east side of the course. A prime has been announced.

31:39: The charging peloton with Numainville taking the third prime of $100 merchandise prize

34:00: an attack by Team Kenda (Kristin Wentworth) covered by a rider from Sugar CRM, the peloton reacts with Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom), Debbie Dust (PACT/Dishnetwork), followed by Alberto’s (Francine Haas). The three women attempting to go with an alert peloton following right behind.

??:??: another prime announcement, Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) wins …

gruppo compact with a prime to rattle up the peloton: Numainville wins another prime followed by Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) with an edgy peloton

42:00: gruppo compacto again, everyone sits up awaiting the next move. Another prime has been announced with Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) winning it.

Off the front a Black Mountain Rider.

3 laps to go:  everyone watching with a keen eye as to what the next move will be an by whom.

2-laps to go: A gamblers prime has been announced and Kate Ross (Lipsmacker) heads into turn one.

The PR announced that Jen Greenberg (Vanderkitten) scopes up the $400 dollar gamblers.

For the win: this is for the “whole enchilada”, I see the charging peloton coming around the last turn with $1500 for the first arrival, 100meters, 50 meters to go and Joelle Numainville out sprints Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) for the win.

While on the podium, Numainville jolts the crowd with a spray of bubble at the Chicago Criterium (Photo: Paul Forsythe)

Team Type 1 professional rider Timothy Hargrave (Auckland, New Zealand) linked up with the Team Type 1 Regional Riders in the Eastern Nebraska/Western Iowa area for a training ride. He also took the opportunity to reach out to the up-and-coming professionals with his cycling expertise.

Our very own Megan McLaughlin was a participating rider and had the opportunity to network with Mr Hargrave.

The ride was geared toward further promoting diabetes awareness in the area. A media summary can be found by visiting Team Type 1’s website. Also, check out the article, “Cycling: Diabetes no block for Hargrave”.

Jamie concentrates while heading into bike leg (Photo by Paul Forsythe)

Jamie Beal took 5th overall among 128 female finishers. The race brought early morning showers and threats of even more rain had everyone worried about slippery roads for the bicycle leg. Fortunately, the course dried out and the mostly overcast conditions were a blessing for the competitors; as a result, the change in weather created a picture perfect day for the Northwest Indiana race. The race covered 0.25 mile swim, 12.4 mile bike and a 3.2 mile run.

Happy with her swim and bike splits; Jamie was disappointed with her running, something she is working on. Jamie is a mother of three boys, and she works full-time as well. How does she get it all in? She is at the health club swimming at 5:00 am. Whatever it takes, Jamie is focused and becoming very successful in her sport.

Colleen with her winnings

The 2009 USA Cycling Junior Track National Championships was recently held in Carson, CA from July 2 to 5 and Team Kenda was represented by Colleen Gulick.

After a few days of rest I caught up with Colleen to briefly talk about her week in California.

What were your goals going into the contest? Going into the 2009 USA Cycling Junior Track National Championships my main goal was to earn at least one jersey. I had a full schedule of eight events and I obviously wanted to do well in all of them but I really wanted a jersey. Moreover, I was looking forward to being the first girl to ever compete in the 16-18 year old Madison, which has traditionally been a men’s event.

How confident were you that you could win one or more of the events? I knew that there was a strong possibility that I could produce a win in the 500m TT. However, I never discount any rider as a potential threat so the possibility for an upset was always in the back of my mind. After a win in the 500 I gained some confidence to be able to control my next race, the scratch. Starting the second day with two jerseys was certainly exciting. My third jersey came in the Keirin and that is my favorite event and one of the races in which I was really shooting for a jersey. I was confident with my tactics behind the motor. My coaches prepared me well to handle any Keirin situation that could possibly arise.

Was there a competitor you wanted to beat? There were a few key competitors that are strong every year. Our core age group has virtually grown up racing each other. We know everyone’s strengths and weaknesses, so racing each other is even more difficult. However, there were a few unknown riders this year that suddenly popped onto the national scene as strong competitors.

What were your overall feelings once you arrived (nervous, can wait to get going, etc)? At national competitions I am generally a nervous person. However, I entered nationals this year feeling prepared with my best racing record ever. This gave me the confidence to settle down and just race. Once I had my first win under my belt it was a lot easier to relax seeing as though I had accomplished my goal of a jersey in the first event.

Can you describe your feelings on the day of the win? After I won the 500 I was ecstatic. I was texting all of my friends and calling my family to tell them the good news. I had seen so many other riders put on the stars and stripes over the past seven years and it was great to finally be able to experience the thrill of having one for myself. After the scratch race that night I was still riding the high from the 500 win. I couldn’t ask for anything more than two jerseys in one day. Before the Keirin finals I was so excited to race. The Keirin is my favorite event and I couldn’t wait to get rolling behind the motor. After the conclusion of the race and the ceremony I was off to drug testing for the fifth time in the three and a half days of nationals (they test first and second place riders).

Now that the 2009 USA Cycling Junior Track National Championships are behind you, what are you future goals?, What is your next event? Now that nationals have unfortunately passed I will be petitioning for a spot on the USA Junior National Track Team. I aspire to travel with them to Moscow, Russia in the middle of August for the Junior World Championships. With three jerseys and eight national medals I think I have a decent shot at selection. However, in the immediate future I still have the Iron Hill Criterium on Saturday, July 11. In addition, to two nights of track racing every week.

In the distant future, I have always dreamed of going to the Olympics but this aspiration will hopefully be accomplished many years from now. This means that if Chicago is awarded the 2016 bid I will have a short flight to travel. (editors note)

What are your strengths on the track? (Sprint vs. endurance). I am mainly an endurance rider. However, evidenced by my participation in eight national events with eight national medals, I love the Omnium. I believe it is hard to find a rider that can consistently place in all types of events. I also love the Madison event. This is historically a men’s partner race event but I love being the only girl and racing with the guys anyway. The Madison is one of those races when you’re on the start line and you see 80 laps to go and you’re thinking to yourself, “wow, this is going to take a while.” But once the race gets going, the pace is high and you start to feel the pain all you think about is how much it hurts but at the same time, how much fun you’re having. This year I raced the Madison at nationals. They do not have a female Madison category so I raced with the 16-18 men and placed 5th with my partner, making me the first girl ever to medal in the national Madison.

If I had to choose one event that is my favorite, it would definitely be the Keirin. It is such a close contact race. Everyone is bumping for position in this tactic oriented race. Once the motor pulls off it’s a free for all. If someone goes early it could be an endurance effort, or it could turn into a cat and mouse game; you never know what to expect.

In addition, I would like to thank Paul Forsythe for everything he has done to allow me to pursue my track ambitions. Even though Team Kenda is a road based team, Paul has been extremely supportive of my track racing and I would not have had such a successful 2009 USA Cycling Junior Track National Championships without his assistance.

OMG! This is a close one but Wentworth wins (Photograph by Pelopix)

Kristin Wentworth took on the big guns in her home state at The Downer Classic Criterium.  The race was the penultimate stop in the Tour of Americas’ Dairyland.   In the end, a perfectly timed bike throw netted her the  win.  Check it out for yourself here.  

A big thank you to Monique Karlen for her support during the race and for supplying road communication directions.

Yum! The sweet taste of success (Photograph by Monique Karlen)

Race Report by Kristin Wentworth

The Downer Classic has a long history in the State of WI of being part of the Superweek race series. It had always been a course that only the Pro men got to race. It’s in a hip neighborhood just north of the city and always draws in huge numbers of spectators. Four corners but kind of shaped like a big triangle there’s one turn which is greater than 90 degrees and if riders aren’t paying attention they might swing wide and hit the curb. Fun course though! When the promoters of the Tour of America’s Dairyland secured the course they graciously allowed all the categories to race and I was super excited for the chance to race in front of a big crowd on this legendary course.

Three TEAM KENDA riders (Ashley, Jackie, and I) on the line with Krystal heading home to get a few days rest before Fitchburg. A few more riders showing up for the weekend and we had 30 on the line. The race lends itself for lots of friends and family to witness the action. Among the spectators were my parents, my brother Jason, and his girlfriend Jesse. Monique also made the drive over from Madison to be our super fan and take pictures and be on the radios.

I knew I wanted to race aggressively and made sure the girls were prepared to be watching wheels and going with promising moves. It seemed that in most of the crits breaks were sticking and I expected something to work out in this race too. There were some attacks early on and both Ashley and Jackie were involved in some short lived breaks. Things were pretty strung out and about 15 minutes in a $100 prime was called and I attacked hard. I got a good gap and crossed the line solo for the cash and continued to ride tempo. I soon see two riders working their way up to me with a big gap back to the field. Toni (Lipsmackers) and Davina (Verducci) were soon rolled up and we began to work together.

This was a great break for me. Before the race I was 5 points behind Theresa for 3rd in the general classification. If this break stuck I had the possibility of gaining some points on her. I also liked riding with Toni and Davina – both strong riders and with all of us having teammates back in the field we were likely to stay away. I figured Verducci might not be super happy with the break since I was relatively close to Theresa for points and I made sure to take strong pulls in our rotation.

As the minutes ticked by and our gap grew I knew this was the race and it was time to start thinking about how I was going to try to win this race. By this point in the series I knew Toni liked to race aggressively and that Davina is a great sprinter. I figured my odds were better by attacking in the last two laps. I was planning on attacking with 1.5 to go but with our rotation my position wasn’t right so instead as we came through the finish stretch and heard the bell I went for it.

Figured I’d at least make it exciting for all the spectators watching by the announcing stand! I had a gap through the first corner and made it through the wide corner alone but saw Davina charging up behind me. I knew I was caught and slowed up to try to recover as much as possible. Toni, who had been on Davina’s wheel, saw her chance and attacked on the other side of the road. I had been ready for this and quickly got on her wheel. We slowed up again and Toni began to ramp up the speed and essentially lead us out. I knew I wanted to be on the outside on the last corner as I felt there was some wind advantage and as we swung around it was Davina and I drag racing to the line.

As we got closer she was pulling just ahead of me but I continued to push remembering that the line was beyond the banner. We were right next to each other and as the line approached I threw the bike in hopes that I might pip her.

As we crossed I heard the announcer (the very talented Brad Sohner!) call out Davina as the winner and I was bummed at how close the win had been! I congratulated Davina and Toni and I chatted on our cool down lap. There were lots of friends out on the course and many were asking what happened and I smiled and held up two fingers. As we came around the final corner a buddy of mine shouted out to me that I had won! I was shocked and didn’t believe him. As I rolled up to the finish more and more people were congratulating me and Brad was in the road on the microphone telling me that it was a photo finish and that I had won by millimeters!

I was ecstatic! I had so badly wanted TEAM KENDA to take a win in this series and now I had done it and had won at Downers in front of so many family and friends. What a great feeling. I found my parents and hugged them and then found my screaming teenager teammates and hugged them. After calling Dave to tell him the news I headed back to the podium to see the photo finish.

By getting first I had also moved closer to Theresa in the overall. She had taken 5th so I was now one point out of 3rd place! It was all going to come down to the final race in Waukesha, WI.

Thanks so much to all of my cheering family and friends out there on the course – getting a win in front of people who are important to me is an unbelievable feeling! Thanks also to my fabulous teammates Jackie and Ashley who were blocking and sticking to wheels back in the pack!