Green Mountain Cyclocross Day 1

Posted on September 18, 2010 by anndambruoso

Development Team

LadiesFirst kicked off the VERGE series racing today at Catamount Family park in Williston, VT. Lining up under clear sunny skies in new Champion system kits, our Cat3/4 women lead off the day with a strong showing. Anna Milton, Nancy Labbe-Giguere, and Rebecca Wolski found their way around the course early in the morning. The preride revealed lots of climbing, fast grass straightaways, and a few bmx style whoop-de-doos. Unfortunately, Rebecca learned the woes of mechanical trouble in only her second cross race. Her rear derailleur wound up in her rear wheel and the team rushed over to the local bike shop to pick up a replacement. Quick work from neutral support Mark got the derailleur installed just in time for the race. 33 women lined up at the start and they were off! Continue reading →

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Gloucester Fisherman’s Tri Race Report

Posted on September 18, 2010 by ctamilio

Race Report by Anna Milton

Sometimes I find myself a startlingly last minute planner, as I did riding up to Gloucester to pick up my race packet for tri occurring the following day. As it turns out, I had just registered the night before and somehow, a plan had formed and Crystal was nice enough to provide me with a place to stay the night.

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A Date with Quad Cross

Posted on September 18, 2010 by ctamilio

By Crystal Anthony

Anticipating a race is kind of like anticipating a date.  Sometimes, you just know it’s going to be a good one, even though you don’t know what the exact outcome will be. You’re a little shaky in the morning, a little wired, maybe giddy.  Feeling nervous as you focus everything on the upcoming event is a great sign because you know you want it, and you’re ready to go for it.   Where you’re going to place, or how fast you’re going to go, those things end up taking care of themselves.

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Crystal Anthony Sets Overall Women’s Charlie Baker TT Course Record

Posted on September 12, 2010 by abarensfeld

Our very own pro triathlete Crystal Anthony raised the women’s bar at the NEBC-hosted Charlie Baker time trial on September 8th, clocking an aero course record of 22:29.200, smashing Karen Smyer’s mark of 22:42.600, which had stood for over  two years. Crystal’s average speed was 26.02mph over the 9.75 mile course, bettering

Gloucester Triathlon; Courtesy Seaside Tri

Smyer’s average speed of 26.76mph. Crystal had previously set the second-fastest women’s aero course time in August and anyone who knows her and her competitiveness knew that it would only be a matter of time until she set the outright record! Congrats, Crystal!

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CX Season Openers Recap

Posted on August 30, 2010 by abarensfeld

By Anna Barensfeld

Cyclocross season is officially underway and LadiesFirst Racing has been happy to finally put rubber to the road. Three races of the Tobacco Valley CX Series kicked off the season in Central MA, with Blunt Park, Monson, and Palmer CX taking place over the past two weeks. LadiesFirst elite and developmental teams have represented well, and people are noticing the team, asking about us what we’re all about! We are here to support the progression of women in the sport, and raise the level of competition in women’s CX racing in New England!

Blunt Park Cyclocross – 8-22-10

Rainy and a bit muddy, this course is technical and is a great reminder of ‘cross skills after a summer training and racing on the road. Chicane, up and down, woods, logs, barriers, this course has it all. Big props to Devon Fitzgerald on completing her first CX race ever!

Andrea Smith 1st

Ann D’Ambruoso 2nd

Anna Barensfeld 3rd

Christina Tamilio 4th

Allison Snooks 7th

Devon Fitzgerald 16th

Monson Cyclocross – 8-28-10

Temps were hot hot hot and the course was bone dry and fast. Plenty of pavement, some very steep run/ride ups and some rocky downhills made for an eventful day. Anna flatted in the front and Ann double-flatted (taking her out of the race), while Christina had a strong race to pull in 3rd and Devon saw how much ‘cross can vary from course to course!

Christina Tamilio 3rd

Anna Barensfeld 5th

Devon Fitzgerald 15th

Ann D’Ambruoso DNF

Palmer Jungle Cross – 8-29-10

The dry, hot weather kept it up but the Tobacco Valley CX Series crew mixed it up with a much more technical course at Palmer. Fast, rooty woods, triple barriers, and swoopy corners made for a super fun course. Christina continued her impressive season start with a 2nd place, while Anna fell back into 3rd and Allison Snooks salvaged a top ten finish after being forced off-course on the first lap by a pileup crash in front of her. Congrats to Melissa Downes on giving her first CX race a go!

Christina Tamilio 2nd

Anna Barensfeld 3rd

Allison Snooks 9th

Melissa Downes DNF

Thanks to the race organizers for two weekends of phenomenal grassroots racing, and Mark for the super neutral support!

Photos below: Palmer Cyclocross, credit to Rob Bauer doublehop.blogspot.com

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Blunt Park Race Report

Posted on August 25, 2010 by ctamilio

By Christina Tamilio

Allison, Andrea, Anna, Ann, Christina and Devon represented Ladies First at the first cross race of the 2010 season; Blunt Park. As always, the folks running the show for the Tobacco Valley Cyclocross Series (previously the Accelerated Cure Project) put on a fantastic, grass-roots race. The course was technical and included a few necessary dismounts. Also, I always appreciate the absence of a run-up! Lucky for us, it rained over night and continued to shower throughout the day. This made for a slick, muddy course and a perfect start to the New England cross season!

Right from the start, Ladies First dominated the race. Andrea, Ann, Anna and Christina finished 1st through 4th respectively while Allison was close behind in 7th place. Devon rocked her first cyclocross race ever, placing 16th!

Overall, a great start to the cross season for Ladies First!

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