Wenatchee Omnium Stage Race
May 15-16, 2009

The team headed south to the Wenatchee, Washington for the Omnium Stage Race on May 16th and 17th.   The race consisted of three stages starting with a 15 km time trial, a downtown twilight crit and a grueling road race that featured at 16km climb.  With preparations for Mt Hood in full force, it was a great weekend to get in some race miles with plenty of climbing.

The time trial on Saturday morning was deceptively hard with lots of false flats and a strong cross wind.  Both the men and women had deep fields to contend with as every team from the Pacific Northwest attending.  Jessica was the top women for TR with a 10th place finish and Jeff riding in for a solid 16th. 

The criterium was up next on a fast and technical 4 corner loop that included a fast downhill on one end with a rough and punchy climb on the opposite end.  With only three women racing from TR, they had no pressure to defend a GC placing, so were free to race as they wished.  The race blew apart quickly with several riders falling off the back and three groups establishing.  Jessica, Gillian and Alison all rode very strong, staying near the front and covering any threatening breaks.   In the end it was a group sprint where Alison launched for a great 2nd place finish, with Gillian and Jessica rolling across the line with what was left of the lead group.  The men’s race was animated from the start as a small group of strong riders broke off the front and held a 10 second lead.  As the race wore on and riders fell off the back, the lead group started to lose its impotence and was brought back together with the main field with only 10 minutes remaining.  Dan, Tim and Chris rode strong in an effort to set up Tim for the final sprint.  Coming around the last corner it was mayhem, and Tim threw down a wicked sprint for 3rd place, with Chris able to stay close behind in 7th.

The road race was highlighted by a difficult 16 km climb that the women had to do once and the men twice.  As expected in the women’s race, the long climb took its toll and splintered the field, with Gillian riding into the lead break at the half way point.  Following closely behind were Jessica and Alison along with a string of other riders, not enjoying the 30+C heat waves.  As the climb carried on each of the girls found themselves in their own groups, and going into the final flat 15 km, it was Gillian’s leading trio with a 3 minute gap on Jessica’s chase group.  At just 3 km from the finish the two groups came back together and Jessica was able to lead out Gillian for an awesome 2nd place finish.    In the men’s race it was fireworks as soon as they hit the first climb with several groups forming and the TR men all in a large chase group.  As the race wore on and as the climb took its toll, the race splintered further with Tim rolling across the line alone in 16th as the top TR finisher.  The rest of the men followed soon after all in their own little groups after the climb and heat took its toll on the entire peleton. 

In the overall GC points, all 3 womens made the top 10. Alison was 6th, Gill 7th, and Jess 10th. On the Men's side Tim's Crit placing gave him enough points for 11th.

The team has a three week break before their biggest race of the year; the Mt Hood Stage Race in Hood River, Oregon.

Click here to view some photos from the weekend...