While some Women's teams bypassed the event to protest the retraction of an expanded format, Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO), the winner of the Inaugural Women’s Criterium, recently indicated that the single event still has a very large role in profiling Women's Cycling.
“People don’t know enough about Women’s Cycling, and the Amgen Tour of California provides a great opportunity to help spread the word; it’s really exciting to be able to win fans over. We always try to make sure we have a good venue for our races and that we get a lot of good coverage. Last year, the Amgen Tour of California was one of the biggest races of the season in terms of media coverage, which is huge for us. We have confidence that one day we’ll get a full stage race. I want to thank AEG for the opportunity and for the exposure.”Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, likewise echoed Miller's sentiments early this week.
“The Women’s Criterium allows Women’s Professional Cycling to able to benefit from the platform we have here. We need to continue to showcase Women’s Professional Cycling; we need to give sponsors the opportunity to watch and appreciate the competition and athleticism in both the men’s and women’s race. We’d love continue to grow this race.”The field will feature some of the world’s top professional women cyclists, including Miller, the 2008 U.S. National Criterium and Road Race Champion, in Santa Rosa on Sunday, February 15th. Once again, the second-annual race will open the NRC season for the women, and will be held in conjunction with Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California.
Set as a category Pro 1/2 race, the Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium will begin at 1 p.m., just hours before the men’s finish in downtown Santa Rosa. More than $15,000 in prizes will be contested by the field.
“The Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium is emerging as one of the top women’s cycling events in America and carries international athletic importance. The field of National Champions, World Cup winners and Olympians will be competing to become the leader of the 2009 National Race Calendar, as well as for the overall prizes,” said Laura Charameda, race director, Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium. “With huge crowds expected to be in Santa Rosa to see both the men’s Amgen Tour of California and the Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium, the event promises to be exciting for both racers and cycling fans."
The 2009 Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium roster includes representation from top American women’s cycling teams including, Team Columbia-Highroad, Webcor Builders, Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light, and Team TIBCO.
Expected to compete in the second-annual event are the following riders:
Team Columbia-Highroad
Ina Teutenberg (GER) – Winner of the 2008 Triple Crown and Liberty Classic, Teutenberg placed third overall in the 2007 World Cup. She also took the overall win, in addition to stage wins, in the 2008 Giro d’Italia, Geelong Tour and Tour of New Zealand.
Mara Abbott (USA) – 2007 U.S. National Championship in the road race competition.
Kim Anderson (USA) – A World Championship team member in 2003, Anderson took first place overall in the 2008 San Dimas Stage Race. She also took second place in the 2008 Sweden World Cup.
Emilia Fahlin (SWE) – The current Swedish National Champion, Fahlin finished on the podium at last year's Inaugural Women's Criterium
Alex Wrubleski (CAN) – The current Canadian National Road Champion and a 2008 Olympian.
Webcor Builders
Katheryn Curi-Mattis (USA) – Held the title of the 2005 National Champion in the road race competition. She also took first place overall in the 2008 Geelong World Cup.
Gina Grain (CAN) – A former Canadian National Champion and 2008 Canadian Olympian, Grain earned a silver medal in the 2006 Track World Championships. She also medalled in the Pan American Championship in the road and track competitions.
Erinne Willock (CAN) – Webcor Builders - A member of the Canadian Olympic team in 2008.
Team TIBCO
Brooke Miller (USA) – - Defending champion of the Inaugural event. Miller is also the 2008 U.S. National Criterium and Road Race Champion.
Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light
Tina Pic (USA) – A five-time U.S. Criterium Champion who will be participating in the race for the first time this year.
At the current time, complete roster have not yet been released. Teams/Riders will be added to the list as they are made available.
Team TIBCO
Amber Rais, Kat Carroll, Alison Rosenthal, Alison Starnes, Meredith Miller, Jerika Hutchinson, Stacy Sims
Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light
Erica Allar, Heather Logan, Kelly Benjamin, Nichole Wangsgard, Shontell Gauthier, Stacy Marple
Value Act Capital
Sharon Allpress, Nicole Evans, Robin Farina, Kristin McGrath, Martina Patella, Chrissy Ruiter, Kristin Sanders, Emily Zell
Vanderkitten
Jen Wilson, Melissa Sanborn, Melodie Metzger, Leigh Hopkins, Mary Maroon, Jen Greenberg, Jen Reither
PROMAN
Cari Higgins, Megan Guarnier, Rachel Lloyd, Helene Drumm, Hanna Alves Hyde
Photo: Leonard Basobas
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