There aren’t many American women who can say they have won World Cup races, but Katheryn (Curi) Mattis can add her name to the prestigious list of World Cup winners after bringing home a spectacular win in Geelong, Australia to take round one of the World Cup series this past weekend. Katheryn is a much deserving winner - she is super talented, over the top passionate about the sport, and an incredibly selfless rider and teammate. Next Katheryn will take the World Cup leader’s jersey to Trofeo Binda, the 2nd round of the World Cup series in Italy. Well done Katheryn!!

From Aaron's

Not every race day is going to be a good race day - luck has to be on your side too, and unfortunately for us it was not on our side during the Tour of California Women’s Crit. All seemed to be going just fine during the first half of the high speed race - tons of spectators had lined the streets ringing their cowbells with obnoxious excitement, the racers were navigating the hundreds of inconveniently placed bots dots with relative ease, and we were all warmed up despite the chill in the air - until we heard that Anna was in the pits needing a front wheel change. A bit dazed and confused, Anna was seen running through the expo area (above photo) desperately trying to find the closest pit. A bike change was in order since the explosion of her front wheel caused damage to the brake bolt. A frantic lap later Anna returned to the peloton as we came flying through the start/finish line and comfortably got herself back into the race. Then misfortunate struck again - her brakes were rubbing. Anna rolled into the pit to fix the problem, but was told that there were no more “free” laps and therefore was not allowed back into the race. Damn. There was a bit of confusion among the 3 of us left while we tried to figure out whether Anna was back in the race or not, but eventually all attention turned to Erica who became our main priority for a top finish. Despite everyone’s best efforts in the final laps, the finish came and went without any of us making it onto the podium. At the end of the day, we have to remind ourselves that bike racing is bike racing and we aren’t going to win them all. You win some, you lose some but you learn something from every one. Now, we’ll take what we learned this weekend with us into our next race to keep building the team’s strengths.

From Aaron's

So, yep, chalk up another win for Aaron’s in ‘08 (Anna and Kristin have both logged a “V” for the season already). Back in CA, this time sunny CA, we (Anna, Erica, Kristin, and I) raced a warm-up crit in Santa Rosa to prepare for the big crit to come tomorrow - the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium. A good team lead-out delivered Erica to the final straight in perfect position and a “thank you very much” sprint left a lot of day light behind her for the win. Although today’s result can’t be chalked up as the biggest win of the year, a win is still a win and every win helps boost the confidence and morale of the team. You can bet there will be plenty more big things to come from this team.

-Meredith

It snowed…again. Dammit, when is this going to stop? Someone, stop the madness!! Well, at least the temperatures should be warm enough in the next few days to melt what we just got but still….

Tax season - I hate it. Race season - I am all about it!

Yep, I have been slack again about writing. There’s just not that much to say these days - it’s just the typical riding in heavy cross winds, fighting not to get blown off the road. Or expecting to ride in 50 degree weather when it turns out to feel like 30. It seems that we can’t have a warm day and a calm day on the SAME day. It’s either one or the other but never both. Man, what I wouldn’t give for a warm, calm day!!

In a few days I’ll be flying out to CA for the first NRC race of the year - the inaugural Tour of California Women’s Criterium. The race will be held in conjunction with the men’s stage 1 finish, using portions of the men’s finishing circuits in Santa Rosa. Being the first big race of the season, you can bet there will be plenty of women in attendance eager to show their fitness and finesse. I can guarantee it will be a fast, intense race as everyone will want to prove to the fans and organizers that women’s racing also deserves such a prestigious race as the Tour of California.

Stay tuned for more on the action in CA.