NorCal Cycling News – Cycling and Racing in Northern California

I know, I know … Bed Turns has been carrying the water for this website over the past weeks. His barrage of April Fool’s jokes sent riders and administrators of USACycling scrambling to find out which butts to kick or kiss. It was like somebody dropped a bag of irony on a herd of autistics.

There has been more than a few bucketfuls of happenings spilling over the past month that I should have been spewing satire about, as well. During a week where two major races were announced for women’s cycling – the Pittsburg Crit & Scotts Valley Grand Prix … each with a powerpacked prize list for women – the boy-centric Tour of California knuckledraggers leaked information that they were considering putting out a BillyJeanKing v BobbyRiggs battle of the sexes time trial down in Solvang.

Gavia at PodiumCafe squared out a strong bit of thinking on the subject – so you can read her critique of the leak and check out the good links she provides of others’ punditry … but, I’ll just say ~ AEG can suck it. The time for scraps at the table is over. Step up and invest in women’s racing. It’s just good business.

Speaking of women racing

Redlands was pretty awesome … even if I had to put up with SoCal for a week. Being in SoCal is like watching TV … the overwhelming sense of un-reality makes me want to call up Tyler Durden and break something beautiful.

Primal Wear rider, and Norcal hottie Emily Kachorek had a very, very strong Redlands. She was always in the action at the front end of things, and got a ton of exposure for the clothing company and MapMyRide website. Her Norcal hommie, Liza Rachetto was also prominent on the front end of things and was always out and about with her smashing smile and bashing pedalstroke. I have to say, the Primal team is one of my new favorites of the peloton and I very much hope that they will be able to expand their program in 2012.

Vanderkitten/Focus had a superb final day ride put in by Emily Collins on the Sunset Loop. She was caught out in the first lap explosion sparked by HTC’s Amanda Miller and Amber Neben. That first launch up the Sunset climb was in-tense. Collins chased bravely, went through groups, and ended up finishing up in the first chase. Well done. And big kudos for Vanessa Drigo on her ride in the criterium … she was consistently near the front and popped out a strong result.

The Vanderkitten team likely had about as much Socal press as any team out there … doing all the right things like visiting schools and networking with reporters. I don’t know how much clothing they’re selling lately, but VK is putting both there brand and Focus bikes in thousands of impressionable minds … every damn week.

The Webcor women were lead in GC by the Aussie sensation, Rebecca Werner. What a fighter this one is … just tough as nails and always ready to hammer. She’s an exciting rider to watch. For me, I have to toss out a huge apology to Webcor’s Mary Maroon for missing her feed on the Beaumont Road Race. I had a bottle out, but Beth was right behind her and I didn’t quite see that it was Maroon who was asking for a feed. My concentration was solely on Beth and I just flat out missed seeing Mary. What a douche! I owe her.

Speaking of Beth … her Audi/Danbury composite team had a pretty huge week of racing. Jen Purcell podium’d both at the Beaumont RR and the downtown criterium. Those are massive results. Lindsay Myers did all the right things and just BARELY missed out on a top-10 in the final day’s Sunset Loop horrorfest. She was superb for 8 laps, gliding at the front end of all the carnage … but, in that final lap she just lost contact as TIBCO’s Erinne Willock went ape-shit in the front group trying to crack the HTC stranglehold on the GC. But Myers did secure her spot on the US National Team for a European trip … where she is now, racing it up.

TIBCO had a decent week of racing – but had to settle for the kissing-sister awards of a podium in GC and team manager Lisa Hunt getting the ‘redlands good girl award.’ Willock and Carmen Small were in the lead group on the Sunset Loop … but couldn’t isolate Neben, nor shake her from the top-spot. It’s a tall order, and they did give it a solid go.

Colavita Forno D’Asolo were the major players regarding stealing headlines and crushing stage results. They won all stages after the prologue, and demonstrated a depth and talent that will be difficult to overcome in regards to team standings or year-long consistency. TCR is on spectacular form for the sprints, and Cath Cheatley is a major badass when it comes to working for her team, and taking advantage of her own opportunities. And while I think they have a few too many blondes on this squad for my personal tastes (speaking of sexism), I will say that I’m incredibly impressed with this team.

PeanutButter&Co had a bit of a struggle at Redlands, unable to crack the top end of things. But the race did confirm the return of Kirsten Armstrong … and since the US Natz time trial looks to be on a flattish course this year, look for her to be the favorite. She’s hungry and she’s dedicating everything to that one goal. The PB team is looking like they need another GC threat to make up for the loss of both Mara Abbott and Shelley Olds to the European Diadora-Pasta Zara team.

Olds is absolutely crushing it over in Europe this spring, hardly ever seeing the outside of the top-10 in any of her events. With a couple wins already under her belt, Olds is definitely one of the big names for the Olympic Road Race selection.