Fitchburg Longsjo Classic 2009: Time trial Results

Tom Zirbel (Bissell) again proved his pedigree in the time trial by taking the opening stage of the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, a 14.3km test against the clock in Fitchburg. The Boulder native finished ahead of a slew of Kelly Benefit Strategies riders - Scott Zwizanski in second, David Veilleux in third and Zach Bell in fourth.

"I was happy with the way I rode today," said Zirbel. "I think Kelly Benefit Strategies did a great job too. So far they've done a lot of racing the we haven't been at so it was nice to see them racing so well. I'm also really happy for Scott because he was an awesome teammate of mine for two years and he is riding really well. But, I'm glad I jabbed him in the time trial!

The race kicked off with a brand new time trial course - predominantly flat out and back. Zirbel won the 14-kilometre event in a time of 17:15 to take the overall lead with a 22-second margin ahead of Zwizanski and 32 seconds ahead of Veilleux. "It was good for me," Zirbel said. "It wasn't completely flat a lot of undulations and rough in some parts. The way back was a lot tougher than the first half. But Kelly Benefit Strategies is going to be tough to deal with and they have a lot of options right now - it should be a fun weekend."

Bad weather rolled in for the start of the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic silver anniversary. The unexpected conditions caused several flight delays arriving into the Boston, Massachusetts. The delays caused Zirbel to arrive in the middle of the night before the time trial start, a fine deal considering his teammates Ben and Andy Jacques-Maynes arrived twenty minutes before their scheduled time trial start and New Zealand national champion Jeremy Vennell who did not make it to his scheduled start.

Powers placed second to Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team) in the Tour of the Gila in May and the Nature Valley Grand Prix in June. She won her first overall title at the Joe Martin Stage Race in May and hopes to continue that success this weekend. "It's hard to win with Kristin around," Powers said. "This is a race she was not coming to. I targeted Joe Martin and Fitchburg races to try to be able to win. Hopefully I'm able to go on and win the overall here. It is such a close race between the top five and there are three more stages with time bonus at the finishes. A couple seconds here and there and you can move ahead or back."

Powers has not competed at the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic in the past, normally in Europe with the US National Team racing at the conflicting Giro d' Italia Femminile. "I've been in Europe most of the season in the past and I'm really happy to be able to race here in the states, being with my family and loved ones," Powers said. " I haven't been able to do that the past two summers and it is really special this year.

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Pro-1 Men
1	Tom Zirbel (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling	0:17:15
2	Scott Zwizanski (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies	0:00:23
3	David Veilleux (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies	0:00:32
4	Zach Bell (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies	0:00:35
5	Ian McKissick (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:00:38
6	Michael Creed (USA) Team Type 1	0:00:38
7	Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling	0:00:42
8	Jonathan Chodroff (USA) OUCH/MAXXIS	0:00:44
9	Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:00:48
10	Rory Sutherland (Aus) Ouch/Maxxis	0:00:53
11	Mike Friedman (USA) Garmin Slipstream	0:00:53
12	Luis Amaran (USA) Colavita Sutter Home p/b cooki	0:00:54
13	Paul Mach (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling	0:00:55
14	Charles Dionne (Can) Fly V Australia	0:00:58
15	Frank Pipp (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling	0:01:03
16	Jonathan Mumford (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies	0:01:04
17	Darren Lill (USA) Team Type 1	0:01:04
18	Phillip Gaimon (USA) Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team	0:01:07
19	Roman Kilun (USA) Ouch pb Maxxis	0:01:07
20	Antonio Cruz (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:01:08
21	Kirk Obee (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling	0:01:09
22	Morgan Schmitt (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling	0:01:10
23	Chris Barton (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:01:11
24	Clayton Barrows (USA) CRCA/Empire Cycling Team p/b N	0:01:11
25	Andy Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling	0:01:11
26	David Williams (USA) Priority Health U25 Developmen	0:01:12
27	Matt Winstead (USA) Kenda Pro Cycling P/B Spinergy	0:01:14
28	Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita Sutter Home p/b cooki	0:01:14
29	Jake Keough (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies	0:01:16
30	Russell Langley (USA) Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma	0:01:16
31	Jonathan Garcia (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:01:17
32	Michael Mathis (USA) CRCA/Empire Cycling Team p/b N	0:01:17
33	Matthew Johnson (USA) CRCA/Empire Cycling Team p/b N	0:01:19
34	Dan Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies	0:01:20
35	Daniel Zmolik (USA) CRCA/Empire Cycling Team p/b N	0:01:21
36	Thomas Soladay (USA) Mountain Khakis Pro Cycling Te	0:01:21
37	Gregory Christian (USA) Panther/RGF pb Felt	0:01:22
38	Daniel Vaillancourt (USA) Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooki	0:01:23
39	Anthony Colby (USA) Colavita Sutter Home p/b cooki	0:01:29
40	Kyle Wamsley (USA) Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooki	0:01:30
41	Valeriy Kobzarenko (USA) Team Type 1	0:01:32
42	Jake Rytlewski (USA) KENDA PRO CYCLING Presented by	0:01:32
43	Michael Joannisse (USA) Nativo Concept	0:01:34
44	Derrick St-John (USA) Garneau Club Chaussures	0:01:35
45	Otavio Di Bugarelli (USA) Garneau Club Chaussures	0:01:36
46	Joshua Dillon (USA) BikeReg.com / Cannondale	0:01:36
47	Hugo Houle (USA) Garneau Club-Chaussure	0:01:38
48	Alister Ratcliff (USA) BikeReg.com / Cannondale	0:01:38
49	Gary Douville (USA) NEBC	0:01:39
50	Matt Wilson (USA) Team Type 1	0:01:40
51	John Minturn (USA) CRCA/Empire Cycling Team p/b N	0:01:41
52	Andrew Applegate (USA) Kenda Pro Cycling presented by	0:01:42
53	Timothy Johnson (USA) OUCH/Maxxis	0:01:42
54	Bennet Van Der Genugten (USA) Kenda Pro Cycling presented by	0:01:42
55	Blair Berbert (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV A	0:01:42
56	Spencer Gaddy (USA) Uptown Cycles Racing	0:01:43
57	Jacob Mueller (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV A	0:01:43
58	Alex Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies	0:01:45
59	William Dugan (USA) CCB RACING	0:01:46
60	Jamey Driscoll (USA) Rock Racing	0:01:47
61	David Boily (USA) Probikepool/Kuota	0:01:48
62	Christopher Jones (USA) Team Type 1	0:01:48
63	Patrick McCarty (USA) OUCH/Maxxis	0:01:49
64	Guillaume Boivin (USA) Volkswagen-Specialized	0:01:50
65	Andrew Baker (USA) Mountain Khakis Pro Cycling Te	0:01:51
66	Taylor Tolleson (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:01:52
67	Isaac Neff (USA) Alderfer Bergen	0:01:52
68	Carter Jones (USA) Team Waste Management	0:01:52
69	Tyler Stanfield (USA) Kenda Pro Cycling presented by	0:01:53
70	Will Hoffarth (USA) Mountain Khakis	0:01:54
71	Devon Novakowski (USA) Garneau Club Chaussures	0:01:55
72	Cheyne Hoag (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies	0:01:55
73	Cameron Evans (USA) Ouch presented by Maxxis	0:01:55
74	Charles McCarthy (USA) MetLife Cycling Team	0:01:56
75	Spencer Beamer (USA) Mountain Khakis Pro Cycling Te	0:01:56
76	Robbie King (USA) IF/Lionetteas	0:01:57
77	Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Colavita Sutter Home p/b cooki	0:01:59
78	Boyd Johnson (USA) -	0:02:00
79	Todd Hesel (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV A	0:02:00
80	Ryan Fleming (USA) MetLife Cycling Team	0:02:01
81	Daniel Holt (USA) Team Type 1	0:02:01
82	Keck Baker (USA) Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma	0:02:02
83	Shawn Milne (USA) Team Type 1	0:02:02
84	Alejandro Borrajo (Arg) Colavita Sutter Home p/b cooki	0:02:04
85	Stephen Housley (USA) Myogenesis p/b United Healthca	0:02:04
86	Jeff Brandon (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV A	0:02:05
87	William Goodfellow (USA) VW SPECIALIZED	0:02:06
88	Timothy Henry (USA) DLP Racing	0:02:07
89	Michael Lanham (USA) Tristar/ Warp9bikes.com	0:02:07
90	David Wiswell (USA) GS Mengoni USA	0:02:09
91	Andrew Guptill (USA) Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooki	0:02:11
92	Bobby Lea (USA) OUCH/Maxxis	0:02:12
93	Michael Grabinger (USA) Fly V Australia	0:02:15
94	Todd Yezefski (USA) IF/Lionetteas Racing	0:02:16
95	Austin Roach (USA) MetLife Cycling Team	0:02:16
96	Jeff Schiller (USA) Garneau Club Chaussures	0:02:17
97	Brett Stewart (USA) Alderfer Bergen	0:02:18
98	Peter Bradshaw (USA) Embrocation Cycling Journal	0:02:20
99	Justin Lindine (USA) BikeReg.com / Cannondale	0:02:21
100	William Nowak (USA) Alderfer Bergen	0:02:21
101	Lisban Quintero (USA) CRCA/Foundation	0:02:22
102	Austin Carroll (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:02:23
103	James Carney (USA) Salamander	0:02:30
104	Jake Hollenbach (USA) CRCA/Empire Cycling Team p/b N	0:02:30
105	Emerson Oronte (USA) IF/Lionetteas	0:02:33
106	Andrew Dahlheim (USA) Metro Volkswagen Cycling Team	0:02:36
107	Jermaine Burrowes (USA) WS United/Sheepshead Cycle	0:02:36
108	Amos Brumble IV (USA) CCB/Time/Clif Bar	0:02:37
109	Charles Marzot (USA) Mountain Khakis Pro Cycling Te	0:02:37
110	Stephen Kincaid (USA) CRCA/Empire Cycling Team p/b N	0:02:38
111	Cole House (USA) BMC Racing Team	0:02:39
112	Ian Macgregor (USA) Team Type 1	0:02:41
113	Nicholas Keough (USA) BikeReg.com / Cannondale	0:02:41
114	Hugues Lapointe (USA) Nativo Concept	0:02:43
115	Adam Farabaugh (USA) Hershey Cancer Institute-GPOA	0:02:44
116	Colin Jaskiewicz (USA) CCB Racing	0:02:45
117	Mark McCormack (USA) Team FUJI fueled by Clif Bar	0:02:46
118	Eric Brownell (USA) CRCA/Empire Cycling Team p/b N	0:02:46
119	Joshua Bartlett (USA) Land Rover-Orbea, Benefitting	0:02:46
120	Mike Sherer (USA) Alderfer Bergen	0:02:47
121	Jamie Kimberley (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV A	0:02:47
122	Joshua Lipka (USA) BikeReg.com / Cannondale	0:02:49
123	Charles Hutcheson (USA) Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma	0:02:51
124	Eric Schildge (USA) BikeReg.com / Cannondale	0:02:51
125	Alan Tripp (USA) aerocat cycling team	0:02:51
126	Jonathan Page (USA) Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma	0:02:52
127	Salv Scotto Divetta (USA) GS Mengoni USA	Row 126 - Cell 2
128	Timothy Swain (USA) Kenda Pro Cycling presented by	0:02:52
129	Jesse Dekrey (USA) Anthem Elite Sports Developmen	0:02:57
130	Thom Coupe (USA) BikeReg.com / Cannondale	0:02:58
131	David Fuentes (USA) Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma	0:02:59
132	Cristian Velasquez (USA) Ten Speed Drive / BH Bicycles	0:02:59
133	Alder Martz (USA) DLP Racing	0:03:01
134	Gregg Brandt (USA) Bianchi / Grand Performance	0:03:02
135	Jonathan Bruno (USA) IF/Lionetteas	0:03:05
136	John Hanson (USA) IF/Lionetteas	0:03:06
137	Benjamin King (USA) Fly V Australia	0:03:09
138	Ryan Knapp (USA) Panther/RGF pb Felt Bicycles	0:03:09
139	Joshua Alexander (USA) CRCA/Foundation	0:03:11
140	Stephen Weller (USA) BikeReg.com / Cannondale	0:03:11
141	Scottie Weiss (USA) Kenda Pro Cycling p/b Spinergy	0:03:12
142	David Guttenplan (USA) Mountain Khakis Pro Cycling Te	0:03:17
143	Adam Myerson (USA) Mountain Khakis Pro Cycling Te	0:03:19
144	Jon Hamblen (USA) RICHARD SACHS - P/B KENaS BIKE	0:03:21
145	Isaac Howe (USA) Mountain Khakis p/b EP-NO	0:03:23
146	Eric Tremble (USA) Spooky / NCC / Kenda	0:03:25
147	Frederick Stamm (USA) METROMINT CYCLING	0:03:35
148	Jacques Gagn (USA) Nativo Concept	0:03:36
149	Gabrielle Gentile (USA) nativo concept	0:03:36
150	Matthew Howe (USA) Inland Construction	0:03:36
151	Derrek Ivey (USA) Team MCOR	0:03:36
152	Jonathan Awerbuch (USA) NorEast Cycling	0:03:37
153	Alejandro Guzman (USA) CRCA/Foundation	0:03:37
154	Franklin Burgos (USA) Western Union	0:03:40
155	Adam Carr (USA) Ten Speed Drive / BH Bicycles	0:03:40
156	Daniel Estevez (USA) CRCA/Foundation	0:03:42
157	Adam Sullivan (USA) Spooky / NCC / Kenda	0:03:45
158	Aliaksan Bialiauski (USA) CCB Racing Team	0:03:48
159	Nathaniel Williams (USA) Bissell/ABG Cycling	0:03:59
160	Kevin Wolfson (USA) IF/Lionetteas	0:04:00
161	David Talbott (USA) Team Waste Management	0:04:13
162	Michael Freiberg (USA) Aussie Crates	0:04:17
163	Yahor Buben (USA) CCB Racing Team	0:04:31
164	Travis Hagner (USA) Warp9bikes.com/Tristar	0:04:33
165	Benjamin Day (Aus) Fly V Australia	0:04:54
166	Vincent Scalia (USA) MetLife Cycling Team	0:05:07
167	Perez Fernandez, (USA) GS Mengoni USA	0:06:20
168	Nick Bennette (USA) MetLife Cycling Team	0:07:24
169	Ryan Nye (USA) MVP Healthcare Cycling	0:07:36
170	Jerome Townsend (USA) IF/Lionetteas	0:12:15
171	Adam Leibovitz (USA) Kenda	0:12:45

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Elite Women
1	Alison Powers (Team Type 1)	0:19:55
2	Evelyn Stevens (Team Lip Smackers)	0:00:04
3	Anne Samplonius (Team Lip Smacker)	0:00:09
4	Jeannie Longo (Vital Plus)	0:00:13
5	Kristin McGrath (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team)	0:00:16
6	Olivia Dillon (Touchstone Climbing)	0:00:38
7	Carla Swart (Team Lip Smacker)	0:00:39
8	Anna Milkowski (Unattached)	0:00:39
9	Stacy Marple (Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light)	0:00:46
10	Heather Logan (Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light)	0:00:46
11	Jessica Phillips (Team Lip Smacker)	0:00:46
12	Robin Farina (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team)	0:00:52
13	Kate Veronneau (Altarum Women's Cycling Team)	0:00:56
14	Lyne Bessette (October Factory Team)	0:00:58
15	Cath Cheatley (Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light)	0:00:59
16	Nicole Evans (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team)	0:01:01
17	Karol-Ann Canuel (Specialized-Mazda-Samson)	0:01:04
18	Audrey Lemieux (Specialized-Mazda-Samson)	0:01:05
19	Veronica Leal (Team Type 1)	0:01:06
20	Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom)	0:01:07
21	Amanda Miller (Team Lip Smacker)	0:01:08
22	Jacquelyn Crowell (Team Type 1)	0:01:10
23	Cheryl Thonney (Wines of Washington/bikesale.com)	0:01:10
24	Jennifer McRae (Team Type 1)	0:01:11
25	Vronique Labont (Equipe Cascades - ABC Cycles)	0:01:13
26	Patricia Bailey (Wines of Washington/bikesale.com)	0:01:14
27	Rachel Warner (Salamander)	0:01:15
28	Rachel Heal (Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light)	0:01:15
29	Kori Seehafer (Team Type 1)	0:01:16
30	Sophie Matte (Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery)	0:01:17
31	Cara Gillis (Touchstone Climbing)	0:01:19
32	Tina Pic (Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light)	0:01:20
33	Davina Summers (Verducci/Breakaway Racing )	0:01:21
34	Andrea Dvorak (Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light)	0:01:21
35	Jessie Maclean (Verducci/Breakaway Racing )	0:01:22
36	Natasha Elliot (Specialized-Mazda-Samson)	0:01:26
37	Tricia K. Spooner (Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery)	0:01:28
38	Carmen McNellis (Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light)	0:01:29
39	Denise Ramsden (Team Kenda)	0:01:31
40	Silke Wunderwald (Team Kenda)	0:01:33
41	Emily Zell (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team)	0:01:34
42	Beth Miller (Anthem Sports Women's)	0:01:37
43	Toni Bradshaw (Team Lip Smacker)	0:01:39
44	Audrey Friedrichsen Scott (Anthem Sports Women's Cycling)	0:01:39
45	Wentworth, Kristin Friedrichsen Scott (Team Kenda)	0:01:46
46	Kyla Rollinson (Specialized-Mazda-Samson)	0:01:46
47	Veronique Bilodeau (Equipe Cascades - ABC Cycles)	0:01:47
48	Melissa Ross (Unattached)	0:01:47
49	Martina Patella (ValueAct Capital Cycling)	0:01:48
50	Carrie Cartmill (Team Ultralink)	0:01:50
51	Lucie Poulin (Equipe Cascades - ABC)	0:01:55
52	Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci/Breakaway Racing )	0:01:57
53	Erica Allar (BMW-Bianchi)	0:01:58
54	Kelly Benjamin (Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light)	0:01:59
55	Laura McCaughey (Salamander)	0:02:01
56	Anna McLoon (Altarum Women's Cycling)	0:02:03
57	Kathyrn Bertine (Specialized D4W/Bicycle Haus)	0:02:04
58	Emma Petersen (Team Ultralink)	0:02:04
59	Rebecca Wellons (NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire)	0:02:05
60	Julia Bradley (Stevens Racing p/b The)	0:02:12
61	Louise Turner (Alderfer Bergen)	0:02:13
62	Joanie Caron (Equipe Cascades - ABC)	0:02:15
63	Rebecca Blatt (Team Kenda)	0:02:18
64	Kristen Lasasso (Mellow Mushroom)	0:02:18
65	Kacey Manderfield (Team Lip Smacker)	0:02:19
66	Kendi Thomas (Hagens Berman)	0:02:19
67	Sally Annis (Hub Racing)	0:02:21
68	Krystal McNutt (Team Kenda)	0:02:32
69	Meredith Ehn (Anthem Sports Women's)	0:02:35
70	Christiane Knobbe (Team MCOR)	0:02:37
71	Mary Zider (Specialized-Mazda-Samson)	0:02:38
72	Elena Dale (Anthem Sports Women's)	0:02:41
73	Jacqueline Kurth (Team Kenda)	0:02:44
74	Carola Berger (NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire)	0:02:44
75	Hilary Billington (Team Lip Smacker)	0:02:49
76	Ashley Anderson (Metro Volkswagen Cycling)	0:02:49
77	Krystal Jeffs (Team Ultralink)	0:02:51
78	Kathleen Billington (Powerbar)	0:02:55
79	Yvette Labombard (Full Moon Vista)	0:02:58
80	Allison Lampi (Team Ultralink)	0:02:58
81	Kirsten Davis (BMW-Bianchi)	0:02:59
82	Joelle Noumainville (Team Kenda)	0:03:00
83	Julia Farell (Team Ultralink)	0:03:03
84	Ashley James (Team Kenda)	0:03:11
85	Emma Bast (Unattached)	0:03:12
86	Amity Elliot (Salamander)	0:03:14
87	Kristen Gohr (Colavita Racing Inc.)	0:03:14
88	Amy McGuire (Hub Racing)	0:03:19
89	Samantha Schneider (Team Type 1)	0:03:22
90	Ireen Wieditz (Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery)	0:03:23
91	Janet Olney (Team Latitude/ABRT)	0:03:26
92	Clara Kelly (NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire )	0:03:26
93	Sarah Maguire (Verducci/Breakaway Racing )	0:03:27
94	Elisa Gagnon (Specialized-Mazda-Samson)	0:03:28
95	Kathryne Carr (aW SUNAPEE S)	0:03:30
96	Josephine Giddens (Hub Racing)	0:03:30
97	Sheba Farrin (Hub Racing)	0:03:31
98	Rose Long (Flatbread pb GMBC)	0:03:33
99	Sarah Krzysiak (Syracuse Bicycle/Spokepost.com)	0:03:35
100	Sarah Iepson (Salamander)	0:03:46
101	Christine Wehlburg (Team Latitude/ABRT)	0:03:46
102	Natalie Dumont (NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire )	0:03:54
103	Ainhoa Perez-Diez (NVRC/Cardio Sports Lab)	0:03:55
104	Pamela Loebig (Alderfer Bergen)	0:04:03
105	Arley Kemmerer (Hub Racing)	0:04:07
106	Brooke O'Connor (NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire )	0:04:08
107	Tricia Carnila (Verducci/Breakaway Racing )	0:04:12
108	St-Arnaud Wat Chloe (Team Ultralink)	0:04:18
109	Veronica Martinez (Hub Racing)	0:04:28
110	Elle Anderson (NorEast Cycling)	0:04:37
111	Kristine Church (Human Zoom/ Pabst Blue Ribbon)	0:04:38
112	Samantha Dery (NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire )	0:04:41
113	Liz Leyden (Hub Racing)	0:05:04
DNS	Debony Diehl (SaW Racing Sunapee)	Row 113 - Cell 2
DNS	Sinead Miller (Alderfer Bergen)	Row 114 - Cell 2
DNS	Briana Kovac (Alderfer Bergen)	Row 115 - Cell 2
DNS	Ally Stacher (Kenda)	Row 116 - Cell 2
DNS	Yuri Matsumoto (MIT cycling club)	Row 117 - Cell 2

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.