March 1/11 10:40 am - Willock Takes First Win for TIBCO, UPDATED

Posted by Editoress on 03/1/11
 

Team TIBCO/To the Top opened the 2011 season with a pair of races in Northern California to put into practice some of the tactics and teamwork they developed during training camp the past week. The results gave the team a strong start to the new campaign.

On Saturday, the Team worked hard to animate the Snelling Road Race with a steady string of attacks. However, the strong NorCal pro-1-2 field wouldn't allow any breaks to establish.

"We tried to get a move going early but nothing stuck," said Team Directeur Sportif Lisa Hunt.

Until the fourth of five laps on the roughly 12-mile circuit, when Team TIBCO's Erinne Willock put in a dig and opened a gap with nearly 20 miles (30 kilometres) to go.

"Erinne went and never looked back," Hunt said. The former Canadian Olympian put her head down and showed her strong time-trialing skills enroute to a solo victory.

Behind her, the rest of the Team lined it up on the front of the pack and executed a perfect leadout to deliver sprinter Samantha Schneider to the front of the bunch sprint and a fine second place finish.

On Sunday, the Team lined up for the Original Merced Criterium in downtown Merced. The Team was once again active early, and this time, was successful in establishing a break, with six of the Team's riders in a 10-rider move. One of the other four riders was Swiss champion Pascale Schnider.

"Schnider has been racing a bit in Northern California a bit this year and posting great results," Hunt said. "We knew she was strong."

Schnider was strong enough, in fact, to overcome another well-executed lead-out for Schneider. "The Team was lined up and ready to drop off Sam coming out of the last corner but Pascale got the jump on the second to last corner and was able to hold it to the line. Give her credit for a very strong finish."

"The Team rode well again, but I think today's race was a good learning experience," Hunt added. "But ultimately this was a very successful opening weekend for the Team. We picked up a great win Saturday, got some good, hard racing into our legs and got a chance to practice some of the things we were working on at camp. They give us some nice momentum heading into the big California swing in March."

That swing kicks off next weekend with the Merco Credit Union stage race in and around Merced.

Snelling Road Race (February 26th) in Snelling CA

1 Erinne Willock (Can) Team TIBCO/To The Top
2 Samantha Schneider (USA) Team TIBCO/To The Top
3 Mary Elizabeth Maroon (USA) Webcor/AltoVelo
4 Liza Rachetto (USA) Primal/MapMyRide Womens Racing
5 Carmen Small (USA) Team TIBCO/To The Top
6 Elis Bradshaw (USA) Touchstone Climbing
7 Kendall Ryan (USA) Team TIBCO/To The Top
8 Ruth Winder (USA) HDR p/b Lomdardi Sports
9 Kimberly Fong (USA) Michael David Winery Cycling T
10 Lindsay Myers (USA) Chico Corsa
11 Michelle Melka (USA) RED Racing
12 Jane Robertson (USA) Metromint Cycling
13 Elizabeth Newell (USA) Fremont Bank Cycling Team
14 Anne Fulton (USA) Metromint Cycling
15 Susannah Breen (USA) Fremont Bank Cycling Team
16 Amy Russo (USA) Red Racing
17 Emily Matheu (USA) Red Racing
18 Juliette Olson (USA) RED Racing
19 Jennie Phillips (USA) Wells Fargo Racing Team
20 Kim Wik (USA) Sycomp Racing
21 Julie Bellercose (USA) Metromint
22 Molly Van Houweling (USA) Metromint Cycling
23 Rebecca Rising (USA) Metromint Cycling
24 Rikke Preisler (USA) Metromint Cycling
25 Anna Barensfeld (USA) Missing Links Coaching & Training Systems
26 Josephine Morgan (USA) Michael David Winery
27 Alison Powers (USA) Team TIBCO/To The Top
28 Carlee Taylor (USA) Team TIBCO/To The Top
29 Amanda Seigle (USA) Metromint Cycling
30 Heather Nielson (USA) Touchstone Climbing
DNS Lauraleen Fenech (USA) los gatos
DNS Jane Wolcott (USA) Webcor/Alto Velo
DNP Mary Ellen Ash (Can) Metromint Cycling
DNP Jerika Hutchinson (USA)
DNP Emma Mackie (USA) Team TIBCO/To The Top
DNP Christine Sodaro (USA) Red Peloton
DNP Tore Nauta (USA) Webcor/Alto Velo
DNP Kira Prokopakis (USA) Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club
DNP Jane Despas (USA)
DNP Ryan Hostetter (USA) Metromint Cycling
DNP Anna Davenport (USA) Los Gatos

Original Merced Criterium (February 27th) in Merced, CA

1 Pascale Schmider (Sui) Swiss National Team
2 Samantha Schneider (USA) Team TIBCO/To The Top
3 Carmen Small (USA) Team TIBCO/To The Top
4 Mary Elizabeth Maroon (USA) Webcor/Alto Velo
5 Kendall Ryan (USA) Team TIBCO/To The Top
6 Marissa Axell (USA) Touchstone Climbing
7 Ryan Hostetter (USA) Metromint Cycling
8 Erinne Willock (Can) Team TIBCO/To The Top
9 Emma Mackie (USA) Team TIBCO/To The Top
10 Tara Mccormick (USA) Team TIBCO II
11 Carlee Taylor (USA) Team TIBCO/To The Top
12 Kira Prokopakis (USA) Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club
13 Jennie Phillips (USA) Wells Fargo Racing Team
14 Christine Sodaro (USA) Red Peloton
15 Josephine Morgan (USA) Michael David Winery Cycling T
16 Anna Barensfeld (USA) Missing Link
17 Jerika Hutchinson (USA)
18 Amanda Seigle (USA) Metromint Cycling
19 Alison Powers (USA) Team TIBCO/To The Top
20 Mary Ellen Ash (Can) Metromint Cycling
DNP Kimberly Fong (USA) Michael David Winery Cycling T
DNP Mary Elizabeth Maroon (USA) Webcor/AltoVelo