The Power of Now

Downers Grove, IL - In the ultra competitive world of business software, TIBCO sets themselves apart by giving their customers “what they want, how they want it, when they want it.”

In many respects, Team TIBCO, the women’s professional cycling team sponsored by the California based software company provides their fans with the same sort of attentiveness, giving them victories, with some flair, at various times throughout the cycling season.

But perhaps more important than their sponsor’s “the power of now” philosophy is the descriptor that lies in front of their name, team.

From the inaugural Tour of California Women’s Criterium to the Commerce Bank Liberty Classic, Linda Jackson’s charges have exemplified teamwork and defined what it means to be a teammate. Their support for each other is visible during races, but what is even more amazing is their support for each other after races. If one finds their way onto the podium, the rest are usually within close proximity cheering for their teammate, or on a few occasions correcting an announcer's gaffe.

Franges Warms It Up
At the US National Criterium Championships on August 16th and 17th, the scene was no different as Team TIBCO won both races, Saturday’s Cat 1/2/3 and Sunday’s SRAM Elite Women’s National Criterium Championship, with teamwork.


On Saturday it was Sarah Caravella, er Lauren Franges [a bid number mix up had officials and announcers believing Caravella had won even as Franges ascended the podium] who would take the traditional warm-up race of the Criterium National Championship weekend.

Midway through the Cat 1/2/3 race a breakaway with Franges, Meredith Miller (Aaron’s Women’s Professional Cycling), Andrea Dvorak (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light) and Laura Bowles (Team Advil-Chapstick) developed.

With three of the four major teams involved in the break, the exception being Cheerwine, the peloton was content to let the race go up the road and save their legs for the next day. Leading through the final turn on the same course used for Sunday's National Criterium Championship, Franges would take out the sprint and never looked back.


Lauren would tell Cyclingnews afterward, "Typically this race is always a break – not everyone is motivated to race with the big day tomorrow."

Results
1 Lauren Franges (Team TIBCO)
2 Meredith Miller (Aaron's Pro Cycling)
3 Andrea Dvorak (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
4 Laura Bowles (Team Advil-ChapStick)

Miller Doubles Her Pleasure
An 11AM start for Sunday’s SRAM Elite Women’s National Criterium Championship should have mitigated the heat of a typical Midwestern summer’s day. But once the race started, the women inside the barricades quickly generated enough heat to raise the temperature.

The pace was blistering from the opening horn, and any breakaway attempts were never allowed to range too far off the front.

Again, it was Team TIBCO who claimed the top prize as Brooke Miller won the field sprint in front of Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway) and Jen McRae (Team Advil-Chapstick).


Miller was quick to thank her teammates who kept her out of trouble and help shepherd her to the line. Of note was the exceptional effort by the previous day’s winner, Lauren Franges who helped lead out Miller in the final sprint and Amber Rais who absolutely buried herself early on to make sure that no break got away without Team TIBCO’s presence.


Miller's victory helped her claim a stars and stripes double as she won the US National Road Race Championship in Southern California on August 9th.

Results
1 Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO)
2 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway Racing)
3 Jen Mc Rae (Advil Chapstick)
4 Katharine Carroll (Aaron's Women's Professional Cycling)
5 Lara Kroepsch (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team)

Photos: Leonard Basobas