Several riders from the women’s ranks were in striking distance of winning the overall TUFMED USA CRITS Series, but after the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium on August 20, Tina Pic (Happy Tooth Pro Cycling) slipped on the coveted Pactimo Orange Overall Leader’s jerseys after nine races over the course of the 2016 season.
Much was at stake for the women during the conclusion of the TUFMED USA CRITS Series. Downtown West Chester at dusk set the scene for the finale of the exciting run of criterium races set all over the country, and, for the first time in its 12-year history, equal prize money was on offer – $10,000 each for both pro men and women.
Eighteen-year-old Skylar Schneider (ISCorp p/b Smart Choice MRI) outfoxed her breakaway companion Iris Slappendel (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling) at the end of an aggressive race, which saw the breakaway duo almost caught by the approaching peloton. On the last lap, ISCorp played their cards right and lead out Schneider’s sister, Sam, to win the sprint for third out of the remaining bunch.
Slappendel was awarded the TUFMED TUFRIDE Inspired Ride for the toughest rider in the race, while the blue jersey of the Cyclingnews Lap Leader was Sara Tussey (Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling). Jessica Mundy (Fearless Femme) won the BikeReg Best Young Rider.
In the team competition, Visit Dallas DNA reigned victorious ahead of Happy Tooth Pro Cycling and ISCorp p/b Smart Choice MRI.
Full Results
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skylar Schneider (Iscorp P/B Smart Choice Mri) | 1:00:01 |
| 2 | Iris Slappendel (Unitedhealthcare) | 0:00:01 |
| 3 | Samantha Schneider (Iscorp P/B Smart Choice Mri) | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
| 4 | Yussely Soto (Iscorp P/B Smart Choice Mri) | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
| 5 | Tina Pic (The Happy Tooth Pro Cycling) | 0:00:02 |
| 6 | Tiffany Pezzulo (Visit Dallas Dna Pro Cycling) | 0:00:03 |
| 7 | Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers P/B Van Dessel) | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
| 8 | Christina Gokey-Smith (The Happy Tooth Pro Cycling) | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
| 9 | Ashley Barson (Rise Racing) | 0:00:05 |
| 10 | Colleen Gulick (Cercacor P/B Podium Sports) | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
| 11 | Lauren Dagostino (H+H Racing) | 0:00:06 |
| 12 | Ainhoa Perez-Diez (Abrt) | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
| 13 | Kate Kirkpatrick (Mellow Mushroom) | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
| 14 | Nicolle Bruderer (Iscorp P/B Smart Choice Mri) | 0:00:07 |
| 15 | Jessica Mundy (Fearless Femme Racing) | 0:00:08 |
| 16 | Lucy Bechtel (Fearless Femme Racing) | 0:00:11 |
| 17 | Louisa Lobigs (Fearless Femme Racing) | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
| 18 | Anna Grace Christiansen (Visit Dallas Dna Pro Cycling) | 0:00:20 |
| 19 | Sara Tussey (Visit Dallas Dna Pro Cycling) | 0:01:04 |
| 20 | Paige Shumskas (Fearless Femme Racing) | 0:01:13 |
| 21 | Diana Penuela (Unitedhealthcare) | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
| 22 | Leslie Timm (Sunapee/Continental Paving/Buchikas) | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
| 23 | Josie Talbot | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
| 24 | Lexie Millard (Iscorp P/B Smart Choice Mri) | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
| 25 | Rachel Rubino (Level Eleven Racing P/B Pb2) | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
| 26 | Danielle Ruane (Sunapee/Continental Paving/Buchikas) | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
| 27 | Deborah Leedale-Brown (Team Eps/Css P/B Shebell & Shebell) | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
| 28 | Marielle Ritchie (World Cup Ski & Cycle Racing Team) | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
| 29 | Shequaya Bailey (Qcw Cycling P.B. Breakawaybikes) | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
| 30 | Tess Oliver (Qcw Cycling) | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
| 31 | Sarah Iepson (Team Eps/Css P/B Shebell & Shebell) | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
| 32 | Amy Cutler (Fearless Femme Racing) | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
| 33 | Meredith Ehn (Team Eps/Css P/B Shebell & Shebell) | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
| 34 | Chanel Zeisel (Crca/Radical Media) | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
| 35 | Rebecca Ivins (Team Carytown Bicycle Co) | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
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