Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Lifeforce) put the hurt on a world-class field of pro women Saturday, winning the 40km Yokohl Ranch Exeter Time Trial, with over four minutes separating her from second place Aussie, Alex Rhodes (Team High Road), and third place Canadian, Felicia Gomez (Aaron’s). Canadian national time trial champion Anne Samplonius (Cheerwine) came in fourth, followed by US National Team member, Katharine Carroll (Aaron’s).

With her sights set on Beijing, Armstrong is leaving Monday to race in Europe with her Swiss-based team, and didn’t decide to come to the Sequoia Classic opener until just a few days ago.

“I just kinda decided that it’s gonna be a really good hard effort,” she said prior to the race. “I couldn’t believe it … to have 67 women out here in America, it’s pretty phenomenal for a time trial. You don’t even get that at national championships.”

And she wasn’t disappointed. “You have hills, you have longer, steeper, shorter, curvy roads,” she said at the finish. “It was a great time trial. There’s not a lot of opportunity to time trial this distance in America, or in the world, and that’s one of the reasons I came out here.”

World-class competition on a tough course

Her competition agreed and also appreciated the depth of talent in the field. Gomez, who is aiming for Beijing, too, hoping to make the Canadian Olympic team, felt the day was good testing ground.

The 2008 Exeter Time Trial podium. Left to right: Felicia Gomez, Kristen Armstrong, Alex Rhodes.

Photo: Kathie Reid

“It was hard. It’s a really hard course … It’s like world class competition here,” she said, “and to get beat by the world champion, and a really strong European rider, but to kinda be the top in North America, I’m pretty happy.”

The course, which includes Rocky Hill, a 5km climb at the beginning, suited Gomez.

“A lot of times, time trials are really short,” she said, “so it’s not gonna fit a 50-kilo person when you’ve got a 10-minute totally flat time trial. So 40k, lots of climbing, and it’s more about fitness. I wanted to do well here because it’s my kind of TT course. Give it to me when it’s long and it’s hard, not flat and short and windy.”

And the weather held out for most of the racers. With a tailwind on the way out, and a headwind coming home, the temperatures held in the low- to mid-50s, and rain showers that caught some of the riders at the turn-around were quick and light.

While Samplonius was pleased with making the podium, she didn’t feel she was on her game today. “This was my first race of the season,” she said. “This was a bit of a shock to the system. I just got on my TT bike, like, two hours before the start, trying to get my position set up, so that didn’t really help either … that said, the best people won. The best people finished ahead of me.”

While most of the competitors praised the depth of the field present, Samplonius was disappointed that some teams were absent. “I think there’s a couple teams missing that normally should be here, like Colavita and Webcor. It’s a little disappointing … considering that this is a women’s NRC event, and they’re really trying to promote the women. I think we should step up to the plate also and support the race.”

While they had intended on sending at least three riders, due to injuries, Webcor sent just one, newcomer Janel Holcomb. Christine Thorburn (Webcor) had planned on competing, but decided less than a week before that she should sit the race out, due to three broken ribs sustained in the Tour of the Geelong. In an e-mail last week, she wrote, “I think I should not race Sequoia, although I wanted to support the race given they are being so supportive of women.”

Sunday the Sequoia Cycling Classic will conclude with the 40-mile Visalia Criterium in nearby downtown Visalia.

Race Notes
Kristy Gough (Third Pillar) was listed as DNS, and should have taken the line at 1:30:30. She was killed, along with another Bay Area rider, Matt Peterson (Roaring Mouse Cycles), in a tragic accident last Sunday. The race staff kept her on the start list and announcer Dave Towle announced her at the line for a moment of silence while a friend held her number.

While the men’s race was not NRC, a number of powerful domestic teams were represented, including Bissell, Kelly Benefits Strategies, California Giant Berry Farms, Rock Racing, SuccessfulLiving.com, and Rock Racing. Had Armstrong competed in their field, she would have placed 26th, as she beat the time of more than half the men’s field. Bissell's Ben Jacques-Maynes won, followed by Health Net's Rory Sutherland and Kelly's Jonathan Mumford.