Minneapolis Downtown Criterium, Women

Brooke Miller Pounces in Minneapolis Downtown Classic; Armstrong Retains Overall Lead

By Lindsey Dickinson

Team TIBCO’s Brooke Miller sprinted to the stage victory in the party-like atmosphere of the Minneapolis Downtown Classic during the fourth stage of the Nature Valley Grand Prix, beating her competitors to the line with an outstanding effort. Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light rider Tina Pic took second in the stage, while Team High Road rider Kate Bates took third. The peloton finished in a pack, and general classification standings weren’t affected.

 

 

 

Photo:  Matt Moses

 

“I had a fantastic lead-out,” said Miller after her victory,“Lauren [Franges] and Jo [Kiesanowski] did a great job. It was a fantastic team effort. Tina [Pic] and Laura [Van Gilder] are fantastic sprinters but with my lead out, I could focus on my race. I can’t say enough about how my team did, they did a great, great job.” TIBCO’s team effort was rewarded, with Joanne Kiesanowski keeping the Wheaties Sprint Leader jersey and Lauren Franges winning the Freewheel Most Aggressive Rider jersey. The team’s performance no doubt soothed some of the psychic wounds from bad-luck crashes and mechanical problems during the early stages of the race. “As I’ve been told, we’ve been getting the fuzzy end of the lollipop,” said Miller.

To retain the Wheaties Sprint jersey, TIBCO’s Kiesanowski won two of the three sprint laps in the 25 lap race. “I felt really confident with my team tonight,” said Kiesanowski. “Someone either attacked or covered every move.”

Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light rider Tina Pic again demonstrated her sprinting prowess by taking second in the stage, despite the fact that her squad lost three riders to time cuts after the morning time trial. Pic managed the result by staying toward the front of the pack. “Once you get back, it’s really hard to get back up,” Pic said. “There’s only a couple of spots on the course where you can move up and people are always going really hard in those spots.”

Third place finisher and Team High Road rider Kate Bates is using the Nature Valley Grand Prix as part of her preparations for track racing in Bejing with the Australian Olympic team. Bates, who is the current world champion for the points race in track cycling, saw the criterium as training.  “For me, the focus this year isn’t really on road racing,” said Bates. “I’ve been really kind of single-minded and narrow-focused.” Bates also noted how Armstrong controlled the race. “Kristin, she’s a motorbike. As soon as she felt threatened, she got to the front and strung it out… I tried to get away a million times, but I’m not the strongest sprinter here, you can see that.”

Armstrong, who led some of the laps during the stage is pleased to be the race leader but still focused on Bejing. “The yellow jersey is a bonus,” said Armstrong. “I’ve won the last two years, and I love this race. If I can take home the yellow jersey, I’ll take it.” After her dominating performance at the criterium in Saint Paul and leading for part of the Downtown Minneapolis Classic, Armstrong attributes her actions to preparing for the Olympics. “It’s part of training and it’s part of staying safe.”

Katharine Carroll of Aaron’s Professional Women’s Cycling Team and Cheerwine’s Anne Samplonius are trailing Armstrong in second and third in the general classification standings. PROMAN Racing’s Shelley Olds and Aaron’s Felicia Gomez round out the top five. Twenty-five women are within two minutes of Armstrong’s time with two stages left to ride.

Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light rider Kristin McGrath is currently wearing both the BOOST Best Young Rider jersey and the Nature Valley Top Amateur jersey, while Felicia Gomez of Aaron’s Professional Women’s Cycling Team retained the Jelly Belly Queen of the Hill jersey.

As the women turn their attention to Saturday’s 91-mile road stage in Mankato, Armstrong is keeping her Olympic focus, and the way in which the women’s field is helping her prep for the medal race. “I appreciate it,” said Armstrong. “I couldn’t do this kind of training at home.”