Race Report by Jen Rasmusson

Tyson’s Corner Circuit race is always a tough race. Whether it’s the uphill finish, or because it’s early season and the day after a road race, or perhaps a combination of both, it’s never less than a gut-checker! This year was easily one of the highest quality fields we’ve had since I started racing; Team Kenda’s Marni Harker, Chris Kelley, Janelle Hubbard and myself lined-up against riders Sarah Caravella (BMW Bianchi), Amanda Watson and Erin Silliman from Fruit 66/Artemis, the ABRT Women’s Elite team and all the other high-quality women from the area.

The course is selective and tends to be a race of attrition, but that didn’t stop numerous attacks lead by Team Kenda, BMW Bianchi and Fruit 66/Artemis from making the race aggressive from the gun. Team Kenda raced like a well-oiled machine and there were several attacks throughout the race that looked like they would stick as a break, each time Team Kenda being represented by either Chris Kelley, myself or both of us. About half-way through the race I was able to counter a move from Chris Kelley and solo away going up the hill and quickly had about a 20 second gap! I really wanted it to stick, but knew with 25 minutes/10 laps to go it would be a long time to stay off the front with this tenacious field.

As the race counter came down to 2-3 laps to go it became clear that other than a possible flyer on the bell-lap, this race was going to come to a field sprint (meaning time to “recover”). The Bell came and we proceeded around the course for one last time. Fortunately, even with the tired legs the tempo did manage to ramp-up. Coming into the final corner we were about 400m downhill from the finish-line. I was fairly well-positioned in 3rd or 4th wheel behind Sarah Caravella (BMW/Bianchi). and Amanda Watson (Fruit 66/Artemis)., but still a little too far for me to make it to the finish line. Knowing my sprint, I need a high-speed lead-out in order to maintain the speed I need to contest a field sprint and generally in local races that does not happen. Suddenly, I felt a light touch on my hip and there was teammate Marni Harker coming on my inside to give me that much needed 15m catapult launch to the finish. The sprint was on! Sarah Caravella easily took the win, but the race for last two podium spots was tough. My legs started to lock-up about 10m from the finish, (now hating me for all the earlier breakaway attempts), but the thought of Marni sacrificing her race to push me forward gave me that last “umph” to get across the finish line and hold onto a podium at 3rd place!

Race Report by Silke Wunderwald

Oh so close!, 2nd place Silke Wunderwald (rider to the right), Photo by Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net

Several pre-race reports confirmed that the course was in terrific shape and the dirt sections which account for about 25% of the course were all reported to be mostly smooth and hard packed. Chilly temperatures greeted the racers on the line, but the forecast called for cool, dry and near perfect conditions.

Several domestic and Canadian teams as well as a number of strong individuals were represented, most notably elite cyclocrosser Maureen Bruno Roy (MM Racing) who was to be expected to tear it up on the dirt sections, team Nanoblurs-Gears who had several riders just coming off an early spring campaign in California including the Redlands Bicycle Classic, perennial Beth Miller (Anthem Sports Women Cycling), Canadian Jennifer Stephenson (Ultralink), and team NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental.

Team Kenda fielded a team of six and the pre-race plan was to set up 2009 third place finisher Anna McLoon for the win. Right from the beginning, Silke Wunderwald put in several attacks hoping to get some of the other teams to chase and to force a selection. Break-away attempts from other teams including one that contained a rider from NEBC and Ultralink were successfully brought back with convincing help from Melissa Ross and Catherine Walberg. Stiff crosswinds and disorganization in the lead pack slowed the pace enough that allowed dropped riders the opportunity to catch back on after each climb. Unfortunately, McLoon’s race was cut short about mid-way when she double flatted after hitting a pothole, and a further mechanical set her back too much to be able to make her way back to the main group.

A large group remained at the bottom of the last climb on Stage Road and a field sprint seemed likely at that point. However, Anna Barensfeld (Ladies First p/b Milton Cat) increased the pace and only Wunderwald could jump on her wheel. The pair started to work together once the road turned to pavement again and drove the pace to increase the lead to 26 seconds ahead of a chase group of five. An exciting finale saw Wunderwald and Barensfeld in a furious sprint to the finish where Barensfeld claimed the victory by a few scant inches ahead of runner-up Wunderwald.

Team Kenda successfully concluded this early season race with four riders finishing in the money: Catherine Walberg in 8th, Melissa Ross in 14th, and guest rider Rebecca Blatt nabbing the final spot in 20th.  (Cambridge, NY – Sat April 10, 2010)

Wisconsin natives and under 23 (U23) riders Kaitie Antonneau and Beth Engwis have both signed early commitments to attend Marian University in Indianapolis, IN. They will commence studies this upcoming 2010-11 academic year.

KAITLIN ANTONNEAU
Kaitlin shared that she has an interest in Biology; however, is unclear on what career path she will follow. Her collegiate athletic goals include winning a cyclocross title and helping the Knights earn another National Championship Team Title.

During spring, she will travel with the U.S. National Team to race in Spain, Czech Republic and Italy.

BETH ENGWIS
Beth Engwis, tells us that she is still deciding on her major but has narrowed it down to law or engineering.

Since Beth excels on the track, her collegiate goal is to win a collegiate national track event.

While she attends Marian University she would like to explore team cycling opportunities and hopes to make her mark at the elite level of the sport.

Engwis added that after she graduates she will continue active in the cycling community and begin her professional career in her chosen major.

(From Right to Left), Collegiate Criterium: Jackie Crowell (University of Florida), and Jackie Kurth (Marian College) sprint for the silver (Photo by Keith Creeden)

Race Report written by Jackie Kurth
Sat/Sun, February 6/7, 2010

COLLEGIATE TIME TRIAL and  CRITERIUM

As I’m writing this, I am sitting in the airport watching Super Bowl XLIV. This weekend I left the Midwest snow for some milder temperatures in Gainesville, Florida.  On Saturday I competed in the nine painful miles of the Collegiate Time Trial of which I placed 2nd. It was a fast downwind on the way out but on the way back it was a fiercely strong headwind. I felt like I was going about fourteen on the way back. After it was done I was very relieved. Thanks to my hard effort I now have a cold cough. After my race I had a nice long endurance ride with my dad and went back to the hotel to rest and prepare for my criteriums that waited on Sunday.

I woke up early on Sunday to temperatures in the forties Fahrenheit, which was disappointing, even though it was significantly warmer than in the State of Indiana.  My first race was the collegiate women’s race. I love the criterium course in which this race is held on. It is a rectangle shape with a hill to the finish and a downhill on the back stretch. The first two corners are old cobble stones which add to the fun and the last two corners are on the downhill making it fast and technical.

It was pretty slow the first couple laps so I decided to make an attack up the finish stretch which had a little hill. Three other riders came with me and we worked together for five laps. Jackie Crowell (University of Florida) and her teammate bridged up and her teammate immediately countered. I was caught off guard and missed the move. I knew if I attacked Crowell would sit on my wheel and counter when I caught the other rider so I watched first place ride up the road. Soon after the University of Florida (Alexis Dabroski) rider was out of reach the field caught our group. There were some other attacks but the group stayed together until the finish. After the last corner I was sitting in about third position. I knew I needed to jump before Crowell did or I wouldn’t win the field sprint. I jumped out of my saddle when I though the time was right and powered up the hill as hard as I could. Crowell started coming up beside me but I came in just ahead of her at the line. I wasn’t thrilled with second place in my race but I had a race later to make up for it.

WOMEN’S RACE

After completing the Collegiate criterium, I waited for three hours to compete in the the women’s race. We lined up with over twenty five riders and four national champions including myself. It was going to be a solid women’s race. I went with almost every move. A couple of times I thought the break were going to stick when it consisted of Jackie Crowell (University of Florida), Tina Schofield, and me. The other riders, however, knew this was a dangerous mix and would not let us get away. The race again came down to a field finish. Tina was leading out the field with her teammate on her wheel and I was following close behind. I needed to jump again before anyone else did. In a similar spot as the previous race I launched out of the field to the inside and this time finished first with a decisive win! It felt really good to finish my first race with a win. What a great way to start the season!

Team Kenda has been awarded the designation of USA Cycling Center of Excellence by the USA Cycling Development Foundation for displaying a comprehensive development plans for their junior and U23 riders. You may read the entire announcement by clicking here.

U23 Champion (Photo by Amy Dykema)

The Elite Women and U23 events were run concurrently and
Ashley James won the U23 women’s championship honor in this event. 

James, shared that she arrived in Bend, Oregon three days prior to the race which left plenty of time to build up nerves!

Due to weather conditions, the course conditions left all competitors in a guessing game till race time. But that’s all part of the fun of cyclocross she remarked.

Weather woes aside, Ashley James had a forty minute break between the finish of the U23 race and the start of the Collegiate Women’s race. She indicated that she did not have any defined goals going into these races. James, said “I started near the back of the 100 woman field (our small U23 field was combined with elite women) so I wanted to try and move up at the start.”

In the collegiate race, she acknowledged that she had a front row start and hoped to get in the main group and race from there. While watching the multiple races all week, spectators witnessed a number of unpredictable crashes that left racers running for the pits in icy conditions.

James, stated that, she really hoped to have smooth races and was fortunate for a mechanical free weekend. She felt lucky and extremely grateful to have friends’, collegiate teammates, Team Kenda teammates, and home state fans- who made the weekend go smoothly. She said, “the cross atmosphere is so supportive. With this thought James looks forward to 2010.

Later in the day, Ashley James (Lindsey Wilson College), Jennifer Greenberg (Lees McRae College) and Kristin Jo Markham (Lees-McRae College) achieved top 10 performances in the Women Collegiate D1 race segment at the USA Cycling Cyclocross Championship in Bend, Oregon. James earned the silver medal while Markham (Lees-McRae College) placed 4th and Greenberg placed 8th place respectively.

Greenberg reports that she felt ok, but thought maybe she left too much pressure in her tires. She said, “perhaps it was just my bike handling, but I was sliding all over the place.”

“I got a great start, but crashed in the first lap at a crucial dividing part of the course (the up down run up) and the top five got a way from me.” As a result, she never made up the gap to get back on.

Greenberg is content with her top ten placing despite having a rough couple of days in Bend, Oregon. Her set backs started with the post office losing her shoes followed with falling down the stairs and bruising her ribs and hurting her knee.

“I was super excited about achieving my goal of getting on the podium at my first nationals. Additionally, I really enjoyed the muddy conditions of the course and glad the ice thawed in time for our race by late afternoon on Sunday. Definitely crashed a few times and had a few bobbles, but it was a ton of fun!,” said a thrilled Kristin Jo Markham.

Race report by Jennifer Maxwell

Elite Women

Perfect conditions greeted the riders who awaited a technical course consisting of short power climbs and a long gradual climb on the back section of the course. It was a perfect sunny autumn day in rural Middletown, Maryland filled with lots of fans cheering racers in each race segment.

The paved down hill start was key to getting onto the first technical grass section that lead to tight corner. Julie Kuliecza (Alan North America Cycling) got the hole shot with Jennifer Maxwell (ATAC Sportswear p/b The Bike Rack) and Lenora Pipes on her wheel.

The field reached the first natural barrier quickly and Jennifer Maxwell felt more confident dismounting after seeing that it was faster to remount with momentum rather than try to bunny hop and lose speed for the quick 180-degree turn. The grassy section was dry and fast and was the start of many power turns and out-of-the saddle attacks of the lead group of Lenora Pipes, Julie Kuliecza (Alan North America Cycling) and Jennifer Maxwell (ATAC Sportswear p/b The Bike Rack).

The back section was a fast down hill that led a tight left hand turn around a tree and a long gradual uphill climb. It was long and hard and the three stayed together for the first few laps. The only section of the course for reprieve was on the back grass section after the downhill but it quickly brought racers to the technical creek and wooded platform section. With momentum slowed due to a grassy muddy after the creek the women had to power up a grass climb and navigate the final off camber grass section before the last climb to the start line.

With each lap Maxwell used the big ring for the paved section and grass section, which was important in shedding her companions. The three women fought hard and Maxwell continued to power through the grass section and up the Wheel Base Bikes of Frederick fly over. This was one fast and sturdy fly over and great to finally have at a local race. Since there was a natural barrier before the fly over, Maxwell was able to shoulder her bike before the barrier and continue her speed straight up the stairs to quickly remount and click into her pedals for the down hill ramp. Each lap Maxwell was able to stay at the front of her group and then she would try to recover at the start finish behind Kuliecza and Pipes. With a few laps to go Maxwell saw Pipes take the first grass section and barrier cautiously, so she powered ahead of Pipes and then decided to put the pressure on through the corners and jump out of the saddle on the flats. With a few laps to go Maxwell punched a small hill after the fly over and was able to get a gap and maintain her rhythm throughout the remaining laps. The last few laps were focused on technique and maintaining her speed for the win. Julie Kuliecza was able to drop Pipes for second place and Pipes came in for third.

Maxwell placed 2nd in the Elite Women field in the Breast Cancer Awareness Cyclocross race on Saturday, October 3rd held at Hagerstown Maryland.

Elite Men
The Elite Men race was won by Jeremiah Bishop (Mona Via Cannondale).

This race was put forth by the efforts of the Team Kenda Mid-Atlantic Regional Elite team and HPC.  Chris, a Team Kenda Mid-Atlantic Regional Elite racer and her husband Fred Kelley allowed the race course to be set up on their property.  Additionally, Kenda USA provided swag for prizes plus the team contributed a cash donation that was distributed to the top three category 3 women podium finishers in the race.

Note: Race winner Jennifer Maxwell is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Elite team.

Team Kenda Mid-Atlantic Regional Elite Team and HPC are hosting a cyclocross race on Sunday, October 4th in Middletown, MD.  This race is stop number three in the MABRAcross Cyclocross Series.  Further information can be found by clicking here.

Marian College Wins Team Omnium (Div I)

Report by Paul Forsythe

TREXLERTOWN, PA (September 24-26, 2009) – Kenda’s Jackie Kurth is attending Marian College on a cycling scholarship. The 2009 Junior National Criterium Champion’s first ride on a track bike was only about one month ago.

Also present in the women’s track competition was Kenda rider Jo Markham, who is riding for Lees McRae. Jo had battled some health issues during the road season, but she recently shared that she is feeling much better and happy with her progress.

Jackie’s first event was a 3KM pursuit on Thursday, where she was pleased with a 4th place. Jackie was subbed in for that event, and some others, in place of Marian’s injured rider, Sinead Miller. Coming in at 9th position of the 29 entries was Kenda rider Jo Markham (Lees McRae).

Friday was a very busy day for women competitors. In individual competition, Jackie took bronze in the Women’s Point race. Also a member of Marian’s victorious Team Pursuit and Coed Team Sprint teams, Jackie added to her expanding collection of National Champion Jerseys. Jo Markham and her teammates (Lees McRae) took second place in the Women’s Team Pursuit trailing the Marian Team by 7.2 seconds.

Kurth took 8th place in Saturday’s final Sprint event. Jackie’s efforts resulted in a 3rd place overall in the women’s Individual Omnium scoring, not bad for a beginner on the track and a sign of good things to come. Jo’s comeback is progressing and her results are promising as well.

Congratulations to Jackie and Jo! Team Kenda is very proud of you.