Allie Dragoo Solos to Victory
August 3, 2015 – Logan, UT (CU): There is a myth that women’s sport is not as exciting as men’s sport, but to the true fans, it doesn’t matter who is playing … the competition is always exciting, and this is as true if not even more so in women’s cycling.
Today’s first stage of the Tour of Utah Women’s Edition was set to be an epic battle with a hilly 3km course in downtown Logan, climbing Canyon Boulevard, before a straight drop back down 300 North into a 90-degree left turn into the finishing straight.
Conditions on the day made it that much harder, as the riders lined up in pouring rain which never let up. Attacks began from the gun, as local rider Breanne Nalder (DNA Cycling p/b K4 Racing) launched off the front on the first trip up the hill, holding the position for the first two laps, until the field was able to bring her back. Immediately the counter attacks started with various riders including Coryn Rivera (United Healthcare) trying to get a break together, and causing several splits in the field.
After about 20 minutes of racing, Utah-transplant Allie Dragoo (Twenty16 p/b Sho-Air) launched her own solo flyer, with a group of 6 riders including Linda Villumsen (United Healthcare) and Olivia Dillon (Visit Dallas Cycling) about 20 seconds behind.
As the race continued, Dragoo held on to her solo lead, widening the gap not only between herself and the chase, but going about a half of a lap on the rest of the field, taking several cash and omnium point primes along the way, while most of the field was pulled from race about the halfway mark, leaving just under 40 riders still on course.
With 3 laps to go, it became obvious that Dragoo would not be brought back into the fold barring disaster, and the cat-and-mouse games began in the chase group to figure out who was going to take the sprint for second.
As the rain continued to fall, Dragoo widened her gap on the chase to about a minute, while the 6-rider chase had to contend with the 30-strong field closing the gap from behind.
Coming into the final corner on the last lap, Dragoo kept pushing all the way to line, celebrating as she crossed with no one else in the photo.
Gretchen Stumhofer (Colavita-Bianchi) gapped the rest of the chase in the last corner to finish second, 49 seconds behind Dragoo, while Linda Villumsen led home the remainder of the chase another 4 seconds further back, just pipping Alison Arensman (Twenty16) and Olivia Dillon on the line.
When asked how the race progressed at the post-stage press conference, Dragoo had the following to say:
“The first few laps there were a few attacks; I covered a few and then my teammates Chloe, Sofia, and Alison covered the rest. About 20 minutes in, we were catching a group and then I just countered on the hill and just went from there. I figured ‘oh, they’re gonna catch me’ but then I got like a minute.”
“The course today was pretty hard with the rain first off, and then the little climb that we had. I just knew to keep a tempo, keep it smooth, and keep the flow going pretty steady. I didn’t have to deal with anyone going into the turns since I was off the front solo, so it just made things easier for me.“
“It’s nice that we got the win today, because we were such a small team. Actually, the four of us have never raced together, so it worked out really well. We want to thank the City of Logan for hosting a women’s event and Ogden for tomorrow as well.”
Local favorites Mindy McCutcheon (Canyon Bicycles-Shimano), Janalynn Luttrell (Roosters-Bikers Edge), and Breanne Nalder (DNA Cycling) all finished in the main field about 1:45 behind Dragoo.
Photo Gallery by Steven Sheffield:
breanne_nalder_touwe_stage1_web_small
Results:
1. 41 DRAGOO Allie Twenty16 pb SHO-AIR T16 1.16’53”
2. 75 STUMHOFER Gretchen Colavita Bianchi pb Fine Cooking COL 1.17’42” 49″
3. 6 VILLUMSEN Linda UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling UHC 1.17’46” 53″
4. 43 ARENSMAN Allison Twenty16 pb SHO-AIR T16 1.17’46” …
5. 63 DILLON Olivia Visit Dallas Cycling pb Noise4Good VDC 1.17’46” …
6. 85 CLIFT Justine Fearless Femme pb Haute Wheels Racing FEA 1.17’46” …
7. 65 MILLER Amanda Visit Dallas Cycling pb Noise4Good VDC 1.18’13” 1’20”
8. 1 RIVERA Coryn UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling UHC 1.18’33” 1’40”
9. 51 SCHNEIDER Samantha ISCorp Cycling pb Smart Choice MRI ISC 1.18’33” …
10. 2 BARNES Hannah UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling UHC 1.18’33” …
11. 111 PENUELA Diana Sun & Ski Women’s Elite SUN 1.18’33” …
12. 101 ALLAR Erica LA Sweat LAS 1.18’33” …
13. 11 RYAN Kendall Team Tibco – SVB TIB 1.18’33” …
14. 82 HANSON Lauretta Fearless Femme pb Haute Wheels Racing FEA 1.18’33” …
15. 56 SOTO Yussely ISCorp Cycling pb Smart Choice MRI ISC 1.18’33” …
16. 12 KIESANOWSKI Joanne Team Tibco – SVB TIB 1.18’33” …
17. 62 MANGANELLO Mia Visit Dallas Cycling pb Noise4Good VDC 1.18’33” …
18. 25 JORGENSEN Laura Pepper Palace pb The Happy Tooth PEP 1.18’33” …
19. 52 SCHNEIDER Skylar ISCorp Cycling pb Smart Choice MRI ISC 1.18’33” …
20. 3 RYAN Alexis UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling UHC 1.18’33” …
21. 162 GILGEN Jamie Canyon Bicycles-Shimano CAN 1.18’33” …
22. 61 SANDERS Anna Visit Dallas Cycling pb Noise4Good VDC 1.18’33” …
23. 83 KEELY Christy Fearless Femme pb Haute Wheels Racing FEA 1.18’33” …
24. 44 ARREOLA Sofia Twenty16 pb SHO-AIR T16 1.18’38” 1’45”
25. 66 ORTON Beth Ann Visit Dallas Cycling pb Noise4Good VDC 1.18’38” …
26. 81 HEINTZ Mandy Fearless Femme pb Haute Wheels Racing FEA 1.18’38” …
27. 152 ALLEN Bethany Zoca-Colnago pb Novatec ZOC 1.18’38” …
28. 72 CUTLER Jessica Colavita Bianchi pb Fine Cooking COL 1.18’38” …
29. 73 DONOVAN Kathryn Colavita Bianchi pb Fine Cooking COL 1.18’38” …
30. 156 GRANT Emma Zoca-Colnago pb Novatec ZOC 1.18’38” …
31. 64 CHRISTIANSEN Anna Grace Visit Dallas Cycling pb Noise4Good VDC 1.18’38” …
32. 161 MCCUTCHEON Mindy Canyon Bicycles-Shimano CAN 1.18’38” …
33. 142 LUTTRELL Jannalyn Roosters Bike Edge ROO 1.18’38” …
34. 31 FARINA Robin BMW p/b Happy Tooth BMW 1.18’38” …
35. 74 SCHULTZ Whitney Colavita Bianchi pb Fine Cooking COL 1.18’44” 1’51”
36. 93 NALDER Breanne DNA Cycling pb K4 DNA 1.18’46” 1’53”
37. 33 BAYER Lindsay BMW p/b Happy Tooth BMW 1.18’50” 1’57”
38. 115 SHERWIN Kate Sun & Ski Women’s Elite SUN 1.20’53” 4’00”
39. 166 MUEGGE Hanna Canyon Bicycles-Shimano CAN 1.25’00” 8’07”
40. 22 FADER Sarah Pepper Palace pb The Happy Tooth PEP 1.25’00” …
41. 53 MERTZ Nicole ISCorp Cycling pb Smart Choice MRI ISC 1.25’00” …
42. 91 PEZZULO Tiffany DNA Cycling pb K4 DNA 1.25’00” …
43. 92 DE CRESCENZO Lauren DNA Cycling pb K4 DNA 1.25’00” …
44. 144 LOUGH Sarah Roosters Bike Edge ROO 1.25’00” …
45. 24 KULIECZA Julie Pepper Palace pb The Happy Tooth PEP 1.25’00” …
46. 133 CASAS Tere JET Cycling JET 1.25’00” …
47. 134 DINAN Clio JET Cycling JET 1.25’00” …
48. 112 YAN Flora Sun & Ski Women’s Elite SUN 1.25’00” …
49. 135 KELTER STREMPKE Katie JET Cycling JET 1.25’00” …
50. 154 SAYLE Clarice Zoca-Colnago pb Novatec ZOC 1.25’00” …
51. 155 ALDERETE Megan Zoca-Colnago pb Novatec ZOC 1.25’00” …
52. 94 PERRY Anne DNA Cycling pb K4 DNA 1.25’00” …
53. 4 TAMAYO Lauren UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling UHC 1.25’00” …
54. 5 HIGGINS Cari UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling UHC 1.25’00” …
55. 71 BROWN Morgan Colavita Bianchi pb Fine Cooking COL 1.25’00” …
56. 54 BRUDERER Nicolle ISCorp Cycling pb Smart Choice MRI ISC 1.25’00” …
57. 145 INGLIS Gwen Roosters Bike Edge ROO 1.25’00” …
58. 32 RACHETTO Liza BMW p/b Happy Tooth BMW 1.25’00” …
59. 143 SHARP Jennifer Roosters Bike Edge ROO 1.30’00” 13’07”
60. 84 CUTLER Amy Fearless Femme pb Haute Wheels Racing FEA 1.30’00” …
61. 113 FRANCO Natalia Sun & Ski Women’s Elite SUN 1.30’00” …
ToUWE.str : 1754548224 : V3.24 final update
The following competitors were signed out from the race:
Chief Referee: KNIGHT George // Chief Judge: BLANCO Richard
Last calculated: 3-08, 13.16 (Mountain Daylight Time)
62. 114 FEE Kirsten Sun & Ski Women’s Elite SUN 1.30’00” …
63. 95 FEGAN-KIM Catherine DNA Cycling pb K4 DNA 1.30’00” …
64. 146 BREWER Mollie Roosters Bike Edge ROO 1.30’00” …
65. 106 BRECK Holly LA Sweat LAS 1.30’00” …
66. 123 RUANE Danielle SKINourishment pb Paceline Projects SKI 1.30’00” …
67. 151 SCOTT Kaytie Zoca-Colnago pb Novatec ZOC 1.30’00” …
68. 105 WINTHER- OLSEN Amalie LA Sweat LAS 1.30’00” …
69. 102 AUDRAIN Ivy LA Sweat LAS 1.30’00” …
70. 132 JONKER Chane JET Cycling JET 1.30’00” …
71. 124 SMITH Chelsea SKINourishment pb Paceline Projects SKI 1.30’00” …
72. 131 TANNER Amelia JET Cycling JET 1.30’00” …
73. 164 WETZEL POLIN Lindsay Canyon Bicycles-Shimano CAN 1.30’00” …
74. 121 CARR Kat SKINourishment pb Paceline Projects SKI 1.30’00” …
[…] Dragoo Wins Tour of Utah Women’s Edition Race 1 – Results, Report, Photos […]
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