NorCal Cycling News – Cycling and Racing in Northern California

Women’s Race
Coryn Rivera continued Peanut Butter 2012 (formerly Proman) dominance of Project Sport races with a sprint win on the final lap. Rivera was heavily favored going into the night, but it was teammate Olivia Dillon who stood out with the most impressive performance. Dillon held a solo break, up to 35 seconds at one point, in the first half of the race for almost 30 minutes before Vanderkitten and Touchstone powered the field to catch Dillon who managed to recover and then lead Rivera out for the final sprint, and still take second place ahead of a charging field.

The races started off quickly with some early attacks and primes led by Webcor and Fremont Bank.  Peanut Butter, Webcor, and Vanderkitten put a break of six up the road which shattered the field down to 23 riders. After the remnants of the field caught the first half of the race was spent catching Dillon who held a lead sizeable lead until Vanderkitten and Touchstone decided enough was enough.

Once Dillon was reeled in there were a few more attacks but nothing that could stick on the classic crit course which shattered races through most of the day with its tight corners and windy straight aways.  As the pack bunch up the last two laps Jane Wolcott (Webcor) jumped which spurred Dillon and Rivera into action.  As Dillon heled onto second even after leading Rivera down the final straight into the finish and teammates Mary Marron, who won the P&G Livermore Crit earlier in the day, and Bec Werner (Webcor) came on strong for 3rd and 4th.

Men’s Race
The men’s race looked ugly with a course long strung out field from the gun. Giro stage win Fast Freddy Rodriguez (Specialized) outsprinted national crit champion Steve Reany (Cal Giant) after soloing away from the pack. Old guys are smart.

Project Sport
This is my second or third Project Sport race and I have to say these guys put on a show. The most fun I have had at a a race was the SF Twilight they put on a few years ago… the atmosphere in Pittsburg was electric. The racers were amp’d, the crowd was amp’d. It was too cool. Looking forward to San Rafael.