Come watch Team TIBCO bust it in Burlingame this Sunday!

Los Altos, California – This Sunday, Team TIBCO, the fastest start-up in Silicon Valley, will take its speed show to downtown Burlingame for the Burlingame Criterium. The women’s race, run around a tight, technical 0.7-mile course, starts at 1:30 p.m.

Team TIBCO is looking to dominate the race the same way it did the Santa Cruz Criterium in April, where the team stacked the podium. Leading the charge will be U.S. National Road and Criterium Champion Brooke Miller. Miller will have powerhouse support from Amber Rais, who dominated the Tour de Nez in her hometown of Reno last weekend. Also racing will be rising stars Alison Starnes and Rushlee Buchanan along with Katharine Carroll, Emma Rickards, and Alison Rosenthal, all experienced riders who have been key to many of the team’s top performances this year

“It’s not often you get to see one of the top teams in North America race in your own backyard,” said Team TIBCO founder and manager Linda Jackson. “We have a ton of supporters in the Bay area, and on the Peninsula and Silicon Valley in particular, who have been with us since we were a small startup just a few years ago. They’ve been critical to our growth and success. So it’s important to the team that we race close to home and invite all those people to join us and really make it more than just another race on the calendar, but a celebration of their contribution to the team’s success.”

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Los Altos, California – Team TIBCO brings its strongest roster ever into the first NRC stage race of the season this weekend, the Redlands Classic, beginning Thursday, March 26.

“We’re definitely focused on the overall,” said Team TIBCO directeur sportif Jeff Corbett. “It’s a wide open race. It’s not a pure GC rider’s race. Redlands isn’t for pure climbers or time trial specialists. Just about any one of our riders could be in contention for the overall. Someone like Lauren (Tamayo) or Kat (Carroll) could get in the right move on Beaumont (Friday) and get in contention.”

The team will still look to several riders in particular in pursuit of the overall title, including Carroll, who finished 3rd in the 2008 edition, and rising Canadian star Julie Beveridge, who posted a 9th overall last year.

The team also can look to Kiwi Joanne Kiesanowski, who finished 8th in the 2008 world championship road race, as well as veteran Aussie Emma Rickards, who returns to racing in the U.S. after four years with top-level teams in Europe and a 2nd place finish in the 2008 Geelong World Cup. Powerhouse Amber Rais gives the team yet another weapon for the overall and stage wins. For the downtown Redlands criterium, Tamayo is the top candidate for a sprint finish after posting strong results at the Tour of Qatar and the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium.

But Corbett adds that “We’re coming out of a really good training camp and everyone is going really well. I’ve been impressed. We’ll see how things go in the opening prologue. That often decides the hierarchy.”

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With the help of team mates Amber Rais and Rushlee Buchanan, Brooke Miller easily won the tight bunch sprint finish at the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix on Sunday, June 29^th.

Jazz Apple was quite aggressive all race long. With two laps to go Alison Shanks built a 20 second lead before Team TIBCO sent Rais to chase the break down. “With five laps to go Jazz Apple went,” stated Miller. “Linda told us that we needed to bring that break back. Rushlee attacked first…then Amber went. That was great for me because Cheerwine had to chase it. Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) had to chase Amber which set me up perfectly. I knew I could fend for myself going into the finish. I needed to make sure I was in a good position. I wanted to be in the top 5 going into that last corner because I did not want to get swarmed or boxed in. With the curves in the backside it’s really easy to get pinched. One of the Vanderkitten riders (Melissa Sanborn) tried to go with about 500 meters….which was perfect. It caused everyone to jump so I didn’t have to worry about get swarmed. Jen McRae (Team Advil/Chapstick) followed….Van Gilder (Cheerwine) followed… Martina Patella (ValueAct Capital) followed….I followed. Coming around that last turn I was following third wheel which was great. The pace was fast so I could relax. Jen McRae then jumped which gave me a perfect bike lane to run. I was really fortunate to have it set up really well for me.”

Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO)
Amber and Rushlee did a fantastic job covering everything so that I could just sit in. I don’t often get amped or get nervous before a race but today I was like a chicken with its head cut off. It was so nice to have such great team mates to calm me down. I trust that are going to do their job…and sure enough they did. There was a lot of aggression trying to get breaks off. It was a nice and aggressive field with nice and aggressive riders.  

Linda Jackson (DS-Team TIBCO)
That was just a fantastic race. We really wanted to set up Amber to win today. Amber was going to try to go early and then she was going to try again with a few laps left to go. Alison Shanks (Jazz Apple)went off the front and Amber single handedly brought back Alison. That was a phenomenal ride by Amber. Brooke owes the win today to both Amber and Rushlee for all of their hard work. They did a fantastic job. Once it was a bunch sprint it was all Brooke. We didn’t care that she was up there alone. Get into a bunch sprint and Brooke can take care of herself.

Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine)
I had three of my team mates with me. We have really been having a good season. Kelly (Benjamin) has been winning a lot. Sarah (Bamberger) has won races. We raced with Ally in
Austin. We thought we had a super strong team. This is always a difficult course to have breakaways get away. Certainly a lot of the teams tried but felt pretty confident in our ability to keep things going our way. With two laps to go, the two rider breakaway definitely put the pressure on us  to bring it back. First Sarah tried to get across…then Ally (Brandt ) tried. There was a flurry of activity going into the finish. I thought there was going to be good competition for that sprint finish. I was probably about third, coming into the last corner, behind Jen (McRae) and Brooke (Miller). We kind of remained in that position. It’s still a long way to the finish after that turn. The wind made it a little trickier. It’s always windy here.

Amber Rais (Team TIBCO)
Sometimes on a course like this people can get complacent but it was pretty aggressive with lots of attacks. The attacks made it fun because we could counter and we could chase. Rushlee  was very active in the first part of the race covering everything so that we could have gas for the second half. Alison Shanks put in a good move off the front. I knew that we had to bring her back. I didn’t want to go right away because I didn’t want to be towing people. I waited for a few people to start chasing and railed the hairpin turn and just attacked straight out of it to get a gap. I kept that gap and caught her at the backside of the course. The group then caught the both of us at the straight section on the backside. We needed to have that happen for Brooke. Brooke got into a great position.

Rushlee Buchanan (Team TIBCO)
I was just trying to go out and cover for the girls…do the work so that they could race. We only had three people and some teams were out there with six. We just had to go out there, watch and cover. Brooke was patient. She knew what she was doing…it was awesome.

Women Cat 1-2 Final Results: 

1          Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO)

2          Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine)

3          Jennifer McRae (Team Advil/Chapstick)

4          Melissa Sanborn (Vanderkitten Racing)

5          Beatriz Rodriguez (Southern California Velo)

6          Martina Patella (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team)

7          Lara Kroepsch (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team)

8          Rebecca Quinn ( South Bay Wheelmen)

9          Melodie Metzger (PROMAN)

10        Rachel Herring (Rock Racing)

All photos by Stephanie Gutowski

Team High Road’s Emilia Fahlin won her second race of the weekend in the Merco Cycling Classic Road Race on Sunday March third in Merced, California. Fahlin easily won the bunch sprint ahead of Tibco’s Rushlee Buchanan who also finished second in the Saturday Criterium, and Proman’s Virginia Perkins.

Her teammates Kim Anderson and Anche Wichman kept the pace fast at the front of the field and then Fahlin looked after herself in the final meters. “I had Anche and Kim with such good help in the last corner and the climb so that just perfect. I headed off from Anche’s wheel and then I didn’t see anybody.” said Fahlin.

With her back-to-back wins, Fahlin was enjoying the weekend. “It’s been a really good weekend for all, the team is racing really strong, it’s been fun and we learn to race with each other.”

The 72 miles, or 3 loops of a rolling hill course surrounded by blooming almond trees were raced aggressively. Attacks were unsuccessfully launched until High Road’s Mara Abbott launched her solo foray on the second lap just before the feed zone.

“The plan was to try and be aggressive, we did a lot of attacking in the second lap, but it’s really windy so if you don’t have anyone with you, it’s hard to stay away. Mara managed to stay away for the most significant break of the race but she was on her own.” said High Road directeur Kristy Scrymgeour.

Mara Abbott attacks the field

The other teams including Tibco and Proman let Abbott dangle in front always in view and gobbled her up in the last lap.

“Mara Abbott was up the front, we had some people at the front, and Proman was at the front and we were just watching Mara, making sure she didn’t get out of sight.” said Buchanan.

After the catch, the peloton slowed down, preparing for the final attacks and counter moves and the final bunch sprint.

“With 10k to go, some attacks again were started from my team, we tried to get something going, otherwise we go for the sprint.” said Fahlin.

In the last kilometer, Amber Rais (Tibco) and Abbott attacked, increasing the speed of the peloton, and launching the sprinters.

“Coming about 1k out there, it’s a bit rolly and Amber and Mara attacked and they crested the hill first and then I just jumped on the High Road train, but Emilia just got the jump on me, she’s really strong.” said Buchanan.

Fahlin doesn’t consider her form to be close to one hundred percent. “Because I’m used to starting my season in April, so I didn’t think I was ready to race at all at this time of year but it has been going better than I expected so that’s just great, maybe I can hope for a good year.”

Emilia Fahlin enjoys his victory

Top 10 Results

1. Emilia Fahlin (Team High Road - Women)
2. Rushlee Buchanan (TEAM TIBCO)
3. Virginia Perkins (PROMAN Racing)
4. Laura Charameda (Dewars Racing Team)
5. Taitt Sato (ValueAct Capital)
6. Amanda Seigle (code 3 racing)
7. Ginger Hsieh (Team Rock)
8. Ashley Dymond (Team Rock)
9. Morgan Kapp (South Bay Wheelman)
10. Heather Sborz (Vanderkitten)

All photos copyright Lyne Lamoureux.

See also:

• Merco Cycling Classic Men’s Road Race Report and Photos
• Merco Cycling Classic Men’s Crit Report and Photos
• Merco Cycling Classic Women’s Crit Report and Photos

Nineteen-year old Emilia Fahlin of Team High Road launched from her five-woman breakaway to take the sprint ahead of Rushlee Buchanan (Tibco), and her teammate US National Road Mara Abbott. With three High Road riders in the break, Fahlin was able to recover from her move to initiate the break before launching her winning attack.

“After my attack, I got a bit tired and had to hang on for a bit so I was really happy that Kim came up, she did a really great job today, she’s so strong and I’m so impressed at such great team, and but after a while I went around with all the others to keep up the speed and to get everybody to work.”

The Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic race has a long rich history and denotes the opening of the California road racing season. While this year the race is not part of the National Race Calendar (NRC), and with the Women’s World Cup races being held in New Zealand, a smaller but powerful women’s field took to the 32 miles Downtown Grand Prix held in Merced, California.

High Road, Value Act and Tibco teams getting ready before the start of the crit

The attacks started off early in the 40-lap races with Kim Anderson (High Road) launching solo off the front early on in the race. The solo move was not part of the original plan.

“I don’t know how, I think I was just going for the sprint and then Kristy (Scrymgeour) said you have a gap, and I said allright. I was just getting the go, go, go, it just happened that I was out there for ever.” said Anderson.

The field let Anderson dangle in front about half the race before reeling her in with 15 laps to go, and counter-attacks started immediately. Buchanan attacked and Fahlin followed her move to get a small gap, and Proman’s Virginia Perkins with Anderson bridged to create a four-rider break.

The riders in the break cooperated together to try and escape from the field. “It was good, I raced with these girls last weekend and I kind of knew what to expect. I was just watching and tried to be patient, and then go when I needed to go. We formed a break and we all worked well together, everyone was pushing through.” said Buchanan.

Having two High Road riders in the break gave a chance for Fahlin to rest before the final lap. “It was good because I told Emilia just to come and roll whenever she wanted but actually we were all working pretty strong so it worked well, it was good, it was a really fun crit.” said Anderson.

Field chasing

High Road’s Anke Wichman unsuccessfully tried to bridge to the break and when she was reabsorbed by the field, Abbott started chasing solo with 3 laps to go, and managed to catch the break with a bit less than two laps to go.

“Mara had attacked when she got to us so we had two laps to go, and then she kept on going, then I think I attacked again to keep it really fast with one lap to go, and then Mara attacked coming around this corner, and then Emilia went around for the sprint. It worked out perfect.” said Anderson.

A smiling Abbott, known more for her climbing ability, was happy to have been able to help the team win. “I enjoyed the crit, crits are challenging for me, to be able to feel that I did something useful, and I did something right is a very good feeling. This is my first year on the team and I want to learn to work with everyone and I want to learn the ropes, you want to be there for everyone.”

Buchanan was happy with her results, and looking forwards to the next day of racing. “With two laps to go I tried to put the pressure on because I knew that Mara was coming right behind us and then Mara caught us, I was just watching, just try to go with them. Kim went over here with lap to go and I chased her down. I was pretty much on the red line for the whole last lap and then only just got there.”

High Road’s plan of aggression payed off with 3 riders in the top 5. “We decided that we wanted to be there from the start but still we weren’t sure about all the girls racing here. We try to have someone in the break if something goes and we want to be part of the whole race so we want to have a girl in every attack.” said Fahlin.

Final podium (l-r): Mara Abbott (High Road), Emilia Fahlin (High Road), Rushlee Buchanan (Tibco)

Top 10 Results

1. Emilia Fahlin (Team High Road - Women)
2. Rushlee Buchanan (TEAM TIBCO)
3. Mara Abbott (Team High Road - Women)
4. Virginia Perkins (PROMAN Racing)
5. Kim Anderson (Team High Road - Women)
6. Anke Wichmann (Team High Road - Women)
7. Flavia Oliveira (Vanderkitten)
8. Mary Ellen Ash (Easton/SugarCRM/Specialized)
9. Rachel Paul (Procyclery)
10. Natasha Perry (Velo Bella-Kona)

All photos copyright Lyne Lamoureux.

See also:

• Merco Cycling Classic Men’s Road Race Report and Photos
• Merco Cycling Classic Women’s Road Race Report and Photos
  
• Merco Cycling Classic Men’s Crit Report and Photos