Van Gilder busts out her winning sprint
By Kirsten Frattini published
Laura van Gilder over Bruno-Roy at Trexlertown 'cross opener
Laura van Gilder (C3 Athletes Serving Athletes) kicked off the season winning Saturday in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania. She defeated Mo Bruno-Roy in a two-up sprint and saw teammate Deidre Winfield cruise in for third place.
"I don't always look at the course as an opportunity to sprint, I just look to see where my strengths are," said Van Gilder. "This particular course was more of a roadie type course and I did plan my move for the end to try to beat her in the sprint. But I think the next time we race together you will probably see a different tactic."
The women's race donned a handful of key national contenders amongst a healthy some 40 riders who lined up to start the season opener. It was no surprise to see a select group of five riders led by Bruno-Roy, Van Gilder and Winfield along with Rebecca Wellons (Team Plan C), Arley Kemmerer (Hub
Racing) and Kristin Gavin (Human Zoom).
"It's the first race of the year for a lot of us and Mo's a great competitor and I never put her to the sides or discount her ability," said Van Gilder. "With having a teammate like Dede behind us I thought, 'I'm going to let Mo do all the work.' Things can happen and it's not a cut and dry race. You can have flats or mechanicals and I really just wanted to get one [win] under my belt."
Bruno-Roy took control of the race and set a pace strong enough to reduce the front-runners down to a more manageable three -- or not! She found herself followed by teammates Van Gilder and Winfield. One extra burst of power was enough to shed Winfield from the pursuit of victory however, Bruno-Roy had to contend one of the fastest sprinters in the country.
"It was really fast course overall and exposed to the sun," said Bruno-Roy. "Laura Van Gilder sat on my wheel the whole race and I couldn't let up because it would have been really hard with both her and Winfield together. They are smart racers."
"I have to race to my strengths and that's what they are," she continued.
"Mo's a great mud rider and a runner and today those elements weren't there but when we do see those elements I'm going to have my work cut out for me. There won't be any gifts after me sitting on her today but you have to ride the race to win and I would be foolish to miss an opportunity to try and win."
1 | Laura Van Gilder (USA) C3-Athletes Serving Athletes | 0:42:32 |
2 | Maureen Bruno Roy (USA) MM Racing-Seven Cycles-Wheelworks | 0:00:03 |
3 | Deidre Winfield (USA) C3-Athletes Serving Athletes | 0:00:29 |
4 | Rebecca Wellons (USA) Team Plan C | 0:00:43 |
5 | Kristin Gavin (USA) Human Zoom-Pabst Blue Ribbon | 0:01:17 |
6 | Arley Kemmerer (USA) Hub Racing | 0:01:37 |
7 | Carolyn Popovic (USA) Cape Atlantic Racing/beaconcycling.com | 0:01:49 |
8 | Nikki Thiemann (USA) Human Zoom-Pabst Blue Ribbon | 0:02:18 |
9 | Vicki Thomas (Can) Ottawa Cross | 0:02:21 |
10 | Kacey Mandefield (USA) | 0:03:03 |
11 | Erica Yozell Miller (USA) South Mountain Cycles | 0:03:15 |
12 | Lauri Webber (USA) Secret Henry's Team | 0:03:44 |
13 | Jennifer Maxwell (USA) ATAC Sportswear p/b The Bike Rack | 0:03:53 |
14 | Patricia Buerkle (USA) Haymarket Bicycles | 0:04:00 |
15 | Jessica Singerman (USA) Wissahickon | 0:04:19 |
16 | Kristine Church (USA) Human Zoom-Pabst Blue Ribbon | 0:04:28 |
17 | Beth Mason (USA) Verge Test Pilot | 0:05:02 |
18 | Julie Kuliecza (USA) Alan North America Cycling | 0:05:10 |
19 | Diane Grim (USA) C3-Athletes Serving Athletes | 0:05:34 |
20 | Jill Waggett (USA) Guy's Racing Club | 0:05:39 |
21 | Kristy Swope (USA) Team EPS/CSS p/b Brielle Cyclery | 0:05:51 |

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Kirsten Frattini is an honours graduate of Kinesiology and Health Science from York University in Toronto, Canada. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's WorldTour. She has worked in both print and digital publishing, and started with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. Moving into a Production Editor's role in 2014, she produces and publishes international race coverage for all men's and women's races including Spring Classics, Grand Tours, World Championships and Olympic Games, and writes and edits news and features. As the Women's Editor at Cyclingnews, Kirsten also coordinates and oversees the global coverage of races, news, features and podcasts about women's professional cycling.
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