April 13, 2014 (Monterey, California) – It was another big day for Team Optum pb Kelly Benefits Strategies as the Canadian team of four riders took two podiums and Canada swept the top three spots, with Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team Optum pb Kelly Benefits Strategies again showing true grit at the finish line of the Pro Women’s Circuit Race at Sea Otter.
After nearly winning the Redlands stage race last week, Kirchmann showed her form with her teammates making the pace for much of the 75 minutes of racing.
Joelle Numainville (Can) Optum pb Kelly Benefits Strategies snatched third spot, even after spending the last few laps up front charging through strong headwinds as she and Denise Ramsden (Can) Optum pb Kelly Benefits Strategies took turns at the helm.
Ramsden, who finished 19th, chased down the solo attack from Amber Gaffney (USA) TWENTY16 Pro Cycling who took over the lead when Kristin Mcgrath (USA) TWENTY16 Pro Cycling held an 11-second lead for with five laps to go until getting absorbed after an hour of racing.
Lex Albrecht (USA) TWENTY16 Pro Cycling kept in the mix and turned out a stellar performance, taking second at the line.
A 90-minute Pro Men’s race in perfect conditions save headwinds prevailed today with Tyler Magner (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development taking the finish line sprint to best three others for the win, with Jacob Keogh (USA) Kenda 5 Hour Energy noticeably upset at missing out on top spot. Luke Ockerby (USA) Garneau Quebecor and Feredrico Marchiori (USA) H&R Block finished one second ahead of the pack in third and fourth spots, respectivley.
The lead group of four had a 19-second lead until the penultimate lap, and by the last lap, it had been pared down to an 11-second advantage as the peloton reeled them in and turned on the afterburners.
Garrett McLeod (Can) Team H&R Block was the top Canadian finisher in 15th.
Fellow Canadian Adam De Vos (Can) Team H&R Block came out strong for the first half, staying in the lead group with Ben Chaddock (Can) Team Garneau Quebecor mixing it up in the pack until the final sprint finish to take 38th and 44th, respectively.
U23 rider De Vos showed good form when he took a big chance to escape the peloton after the first lap, bridging up to the leaders: “I felt really good out there and wanna come here again, a very good experience all weekend.”
De Vos’s BC-based Team H&R Block had a great weekend as perhaps the most promising young team coming out of Canada with all of the riders under 25.
Results (brief)
Women
1. Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 1:12:41
2. Lex Albrecht (Can) TWENTY16 Pro Cycling
3. Joelle Numainville (Can) Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 1:12:42
19. Denise Ramsden (Can) Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 1:13:34
DNF Felicia Gomez (Can) Pinnacle-Reactor p/b JL Velo
Men
1. Tyler Magner (USA) Hincapie 1:18:58
2. Jacob Keough (USA) 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda
3. Luke Ockerby (USA) Garneau Quebecor
4. Federico Marchiori (ITA) Team H&R Block
15. Garrett McLeod (Can) Team H&R Block 1:19:00
17. Simon-Pierre Gauthier (Can) Garneau-Quebecor
20. Remi Pelletier-Roy (Can) Garneau-Quebecor
21. Kyle Buckosky (Can) Team H&R Block
24. Ryan MacDonald (Can) Raleigh Clement 1:19:01
38. Adam de Vos (Can) Team H&R Block 1:19:03
44. Benjamin Chaddock (Can) Team Roaring Mouse 1:19:12
DNS Christopher Prendergast (CAn)
DNS Stuart Wight (Can)