USA Cycling Nationals

The start of the road race at Fort Gordon in Augusta, GA

The race winning break - I am the last helmet in the back of the front group of riders

After I dropped back to help my teammates chase

Alisha says: Nationals this year were held in Augusta, Georgia. I had never been there and wasn't quite sure what to expect. It was hot, humid, and a lot of trees. We also traveled into South Carolina so I can add that to my list of states visited. We met some nice people and had some good hard racing.

I raced the crit, which wasn't much fun at all. It was a flat, four corner course with long straights. We started racing at 8:00 pm with some very dark clouds starting to roll in as the sun was also getting close to setting. As we raced the wind picked up and soon the clouds were right over us. About halfway through the race they informed us that we only had 5 laps to go (total race time was only 35 min vs. if we did the whole 50k it would have been about over an hour). From there it got a bit sketchy as everyone was eager for a chance to be national champ. My amazing teammate Coryn finished 3rd and won the Under 23 Title. Right after we stopped it started dumping rain. We basically finished, gave our bikes to Vince, jumped in the car, and could barely even see the road because of how hard the rain was coming down as we drove home.

Here is our director's Giana's report from the road race:

Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 Animate US Elite National Road Race
Alison Starnes braves the merciless sunshine for a 100 KM effort
June 27, 2011
Augusta, GA

Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 continued their quest to develop the emerging talent on their young squad, racing the Elite National Road Race Championships aggressively. The 120 KM road race course was a circuit around Fort Gordon. Up and down, without any flat terrain, the seemingly benign route had a cruel way of making the 1000 feet of climbing per lap known in the final laps. The undulating terrain combined with the relentless heat made for a challenging day.

Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 kicked things off early with an effective attack from Alison Starnes. Starnes was joined by two other riders, Jennifer Wheeler (Tibco – To the Top) and Kasey Clark (Primal/Map my Ride). The group of three put time into the peloton without an initial reaction from the group. When the gap steadily began to increase, HTC went to the front, joined by Colavita to do the bulk of the work to bring it back.

As the peloton bore down on the group, Starnes attacked the break, and held off the chase for another lap. Finally succumbing to the hard chase behind, Starnes was reabsorbed as the group saw 5 to go. From there the attacks began to fly with HTC desperate to have the finish of the race be anything but a field sprint. Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12’s Alisha Welsh, Kristin McGrath, Coryn Rivera, Kaitie Antonneau and Tayler Wiles countered many moves but it wasn’t until 15 kilometers to go that a group of seven separated from the peloton. Welsh made the move, but realizing instantly that it was not a fortuitous one for Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 she sat up immediately to return to help her teammates chase.

As the kilometers ticked away, the gap came down, but not enough in the end. As the group of six sprinted it out, with Robin Farina taking the win over Meredith Miller, the chase was only hundred meters or so behind.

The road race wrapped up a successful week for the Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12 Team with two National Championship Jerseys, as well as two bronze medals. The team has a short break now to rest and prepare for the Cascade Cycling Classic, kicking off July 19.