Ryan wins Winston-Salem women's criterium
Rowney, Hogan round out podium
Alexis Ryan (UnitedHealthcare) powered over a swift downhill sprint and held off Loren Rowney (Velocio-SRAM) for the win at the Winston-Salem Classic Criterium Saturday in North Carolina. Joanne Hogan (Tibco-SVB) was third after joining Ryan and Rowney in a three-rider breakaway that lapped the field with 18 circuits remaining.
From that point the race was an all-out effort to set up the final sprint, where Velocio-SRAM lined it up for Rowney over the final two laps. In the finale it was Ryan's teammate Coryn Rivera who provided the perfect lead out, however, with Ryan diving into the final turn on an inside line and forcing Rowney to come around the long way. The tactic gave Ryan her first national level victory since the U23 criterium title in 2013.
The win was particularly poignant for Ryan, who spent all of last year recuperating from a severely broken arm sustained in the Energiewacht Tour in the Netherlands in April 2014. After seven months off the bike, the American who normally acts as a lead out for sprinter Coryn Rivera, finally got her own chance to shine.
"It feels pretty incredible, I've worked hard for the girls all year. Today, anyone could win, and it happened to be me. They were happy for me, and I was happy my giving to the team came back full circle," she told Cyclingnews. "I'm super happy to be back racing with such a great team."
The organisers changed the course from last year, finally settling on a short, rectangular circuit that started and finished in the middle of a fast descent. With a big field lining up for the National Criterium Calendar round and plenty of nerves, UnitedHealthcare decided to start attacking from the gun to shake out some of the many strong European riders in the race and keep their riders out of danger.
"Coryn attacked first, and then once we caught her I countered and two others went with me. It just stuck," Ryan said. "It wasn't the original plan, but it worked out. It's a really hard, fast course, and they probably weren't expecting us to stick it, it's not a normal thing to do."
The pressure from Unitedhealthcare on the first lap caught a number of teams napping, with Optum missing out completely. They weren't alone, as top European riders like Kirsten Wild (Hitec Products), Dutch champion Iris Slappendel (Bigla) and most of the Alé Cipollini team were caught in the whiplash-inducing changes of pace in the pack and missed the front split.
Ryan, Rowney and Hogan settled in and benefiting from a steady effort, worked together to slowly stretch their gap over the first hour and lap the field with about 20 minutes to go. Hogan knew she was outgunned in a sprint finish, knowing Rowney well from racing in Australia.
"I was in with two sprinters, and I'm not known to be a quick sprinter. I thought if the three of us stayed away I could try to be a bit cunning - Lauren is one of my good friends and I've been head to head with her in Australia and I know how good she is in a sprint. Alexis is a known sprinter, when the bunch caught us I thought it'd be a bit harder, people got a bit pushy, but my teammate Jo really pushed for me and got me into position in the finish."
As the laps ticked down, the three riders had help getting into position from their teams. Rowney's Velocio-SRAM team began its leadout a bit earlier than they had planned with 5 laps to go, but Rowney said she hesitated at one critical moment before the last turn and it was game over.
"The team did a brilliant job, but Coryn also did a good job taking Alexis through and I just hesitated a for a moment at the top [of the course] and she got the jump on me. I was cooked. I held on and tried to come at her but couldn't get over the top. I'm happy to be back - it's nice to get a podium."
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Alexis Ryan (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team | 1:19:14 |
2 | Loren Rowney (Aus) Velocio - Sram | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Joanne Hogan (Aus) Team Tibco-Svb | 0:00:01 |
4 | Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Team Tibco - Svb | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Coryn Rivera (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Erica Allar (USA) Colavita-Bianchi | 0:00:02 |
7 | Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Ale Cipollini | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Tina Pic (USA) Pepper Palace Pro Cycling p/b The Happy Tooth | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Tayler Wiles (USA) Velocio - Sram | 0:00:12 |
10 | Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Velocio - Sram | 0:00:13 |
11 | Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Velocio - Sram | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Liza Rachetto (USA) Bmw p/b Happy Tooth Dental | 0:00:16 |
13 | Samantha Schneider (USA) Is Corp p/b Smart Choice Mri | 0:00:18 |
14 | Sara Headley (USA) Team Tibco - Svb | 0:00:19 |
15 | Skylar Schneider (USA) Is Corp p/b Smart Choice Mri | 0:00:27 |
16 | Diana Peñuela (Col) Colombian National Team | 0:00:29 |
17 | Sara Tussey (USA) Mellow Mushroom | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Flavia Oliveira (Bra) Ale Cipollini | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Emilie Moberg (Nor) Hitec Products | 0:00:31 |
20 | Lindsay Bayer (USA) Pepper Palace Pro Cycling p/b The Happy Tooth | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Dalia Muccioli (Ita) Ale Cipollini | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Laura Van Gilder (USA) Mellow Mushroom | 0:00:32 |
23 | Beth Ann Orton (USA) Visit Dallas Cycling p/b Noise4Good | 0:00:34 |
24 | Kristabel Doebel-Hickok (USA) Team Tibco - Svb | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Cari Higgins usa Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team | 0:00:35 |
26 | Briana Walle (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Doris Schweizer (Swi) Bigla Pro Cycling Team | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Nicole Mertz (USA) Is Corp p/b Smart Choice Mri | 0:00:39 |
29 | Janelle Cole (USA) Fearless Femme Haute Wheels | 0:00:41 |
30 | Kirsti Lay (Can) Sas Mazda Macogep Specialized | 0:00:43 |
31 | Kathryn Donovan (USA) Colavita-Bianchi | 0:00:44 |
32 | Whitney Schultz (USA) Colavita-Bianchi | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Debbie Milne (USA) Mellow Mushroom | 0:00:45 |
34 | Breanne Nalder (USA) Dna Cycling p/b K4 | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Olivia Dillon (Irl) Visit Dallas Cycling p/b Noise4Good | 0:00:46 |
36 | Brittlee Bowman (USA) Crca/ Stan's Notubes p/b Velo Classic Cycling | 0:00:49 |
37 | Heather Fischer (USA) Dna Cycling p/b K4 | 0:01:01 |
38 | Christina Gokey-Smith (USA) Pepper Palace Pro Cycling p/b The Happy Tooth | 0:01:06 |
39 | Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Velocio - Sram | 0:01:30 |
40 | Elise Delzenne (Fra) Velocio - Sram | 0:01:31 |
41 | Kendall Ryan (USA) Team Tibco - Svb | 0:01:33 |
42 | Elena Berlato (Ita) Ale Cipollini | 0:01:43 |
43 | Hannah Barnes (GBr) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Rushlee Buchanan (NZl) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Tiffany Pezzulo (USA) Dna Cycling p/b K4 | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Lauren Tamayo (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Jacqueline Parker (USA) Sas Mazda Macogep Specialized | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Ariane Horbach (Ger) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Miranda Griffiths (Aus) Bmw p/b Happy Tooth Dental | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Annalisa Cucinotta (Ita) Ale Cipollini | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Erica Zaveta (USA) Bmw p/b Happy Tooth Dental | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Kathrin Hammes (Ger) Team Tibco - Svb | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Christy Keely (USA) Fearless Femme Haute Wheels | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Catherine Dessureault (Can) Sas Mazda Macogep Specialized | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Iris Slappendel (Ned) Bigla Pro Cycling Team | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Megan Rathwell (Can) Bmw p/b Happy Tooth Dental | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Anna Sanders (USA) Visit Dallas Cycling p/b Noise4Good | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Jessica Cutler (USA) Colavita-Bianchi | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Joelle Numainville (Can) Bigla Pro Cycling Team | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Fiona Meade (Irl) Fearless Femme Haute Wheels | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Meredith Bunkers (USA) Crca/ Stan's Notubes p/b Velo Classic Cycling | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Kirsten Wild (Ned) Hitec Products | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Justine Clift (Can) Pain Pathways | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Sharon Laws (GBr) Bigla Pro Cycling Team | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Julie Leth (Den) Hitec Products | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Amy Charity (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Fearless Femme Haute Wheels | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Starla Teddergreen (USA) Fearless Femme Haute Wheels | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Allison Arensman (USA) Pcp Racing | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Clara Koppenburg (Ger) Bigla Pro Cycling Team | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Valentina Paniagua (Col) Colombian National Team | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 | Vanessa Drigo (USA) Mellow Mushroom | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Kat Clark (USA) Pcp Racing | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Lex Albrecht (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Dafné Theroux (Can) Sas Mazda Macogep Specialized | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Laura Jorgensen (USA) Pepper Palace Pro Cycling p/b The Happy Tooth | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
77 | Ashley Barson (Can) Mellow Mushroom | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Hannah Arensman (USA) Pcp Racing | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 | Nicole Bruderer Cofino (Gua) Is Corp p/b Smart Choice Mri | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
80 | Elena Valentini (Ita) Btc City Ljubljana | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
81 | Adriane Provost (Can) Sas Mazda Macogep Specialized | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
82 | Kristin Lotito (USA) Crca/ Stan's Notubes p/b Velo Classic Cycling | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 | Morgan Brown (USA) Colavita-Bianchi | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
84 | Annie Ewart (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
85 | Alison Tetrick (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 | Mia Manganello (USA) Visit Dallas Cycling p/b Noise4Good | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
87 | Lauren Decrescenzo (USA) Dna Cycling p/b K4 | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
88 | Stephanie Roorda (Can) Sas Mazda Macogep Specialized | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
89 | Jamie Gilgen (Can) Mellow Mushroom | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
90 | Lenore Pipes (Gum) Pain Pathways | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
91 | Marta Tagliaferro (Ita) Ale Cipollini | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
92 | Eugenia Bujak (Pol) Btc City Ljubljana | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
93 | Jelena Eric (Srb) Btc City Ljubljana | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
94 | Sarah Fader (USA) Pepper Palace Pro Cycling p/b The Happy Tooth | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
95 | Janicke Gunvaldsen (Nor) Hitec Products | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
96 | Miriam Bjørnsrud (Nor) Hitec Products | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
97 | Yussely Mendevil Soto (Mex) Is Corp p/b Smart Choice Mri | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
98 | Carrie Cartmill (Can) Pain Pathways | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
99 | Meghan Korol (USA) Pain Pathways | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
100 | Mia Radotic (Cro) Btc City Ljubljana | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
101 | Mary Zider (USA) Colavita-Bianchi | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
102 | Jennifer Nordhem (USA) Crca/ Stan's Notubes p/b Velo Classic Cycling | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
103 | Gabrielle Pilote-Fortin (Can) Dna Cycling p/b K4 | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
104 | Anna Grace Christiansen (USA) Visit Dallas Cycling p/b Noise4Good | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
105 | Erin Wittwer (USA) Fearless Femme Haute Wheels | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
106 | Katherine Shields (USA) Pain Pathways | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
107 | Debbie Prouty (USA) Pcp Racing | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
108 | Alexandra Millard (USA) Is Corp p/b Smart Choice Mri | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
109 | Kristie Nichols James (USA) Qcw Breakaway Bikes | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
110 | Courteney Lowe (NZl) Pepper Palace Pro Cycling p/b The Happy Tooth | Row 109 - Cell 2 |
111 | Lorena Vargas (Col) Colombian National Team | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
112 | Tess Senty (USA) Qcw Breakaway Bikes | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
113 | Cinthia Lehner (USA) Pain Pathways | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
114 | Diana Ramos (USA) Pcp Racing | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
115 | Natalia Franco (Col) Colombian National Team | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
116 | Lindsey Knast (USA) Qcw Breakaway Bikes | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
117 | Marianna Williams (USA) Qcw Breakaway Bikes | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Joanne Hogan (Aus) Team Tibco - Svb | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Anne Perry (USA) Dna Cycling p/b K4 | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
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Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.
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