Nature Valley Grand Prix
MinnesotaStage 1: Saint Paul Riverfront Time Trial
June 14, 2006
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Click image for photo galleryArmstrong edges Thornburn in opening TT at Nature Valley Grand Prix by Steve Kaye
TEAm Lipton's Kristin Armstrong continued dominating the time trial discipline by taking the first stage of the Great River Energy Bicycle Festival's Nature Valley Grand Prix.The current U.S. National Women's Time Trial Champion finished the Saint Paul Riverfront Time Trial in 9 minutes, 25 seconds, six seconds ahead of the defending Nature Valley Grand Prix champion Christine Thorburn, who finished in second at 9:31.
"The field is really deep this year. We have riders coming from places as far away as Australia and New Zealand," Webcor/Platinum Builder's Thorburn said before the time trial.
Armstrong seemed to sense the importance of the day's event. "I think it is important to go out and put up a strong time today. There are several tough stages ahead," she said prior to taking the starting ramp.
Armstrong added that the short 4.5-mile stage made posting a good time even more important. This is her first time at the Minnesota five-day stage race, but other TEAm Lipton riders told her the race is won with time bonuses.
Thorburn, who wore the leader's jersey for five straight days last year, is all too aware of that.
"I actually finished four seconds faster this year than last," Thorburn said after the race. Even though she was disappointed with the second place finish, Thorburn found something to smile about. "My teammates are happy, it means they don't have to protect the yellow jersey."
Thorburn was very excited for several of her Webcor/Platinum teammates who posted solid times, including Erinne Willock, who finished just outside of the podium with a 9:49. It was enough to capture the white BMC Best Young Rider Jersey, though.
In third place was Alison Powers of Rio Grand/Sports Garage at 9:45.
Stage winner Armstrong also was quick to praise her teammates. "There is no room for error out there, so I give a lot of credit to my teammates who went out before me. They offered tips on how the wind was blowing and in an event like this, every second matters."
Armstrong now will don the yellow leader jersey as the Nature Valley Grand Prix heads to the Cannon Falls road race for the second stage. The Nature Valley Grand Prix, the first of three races in the Women's Prestige Cycling Series, runs through Sunday.
NAME TEAM Kristin Armstrong TEAm Lipton Christine Thorburn Webcor-Platinum Women's Cycling Team Alison Powers Rio Grande/Sports Garage Rachel Heal Victory Brewing Team Kori Seehafer TEAm Lipton Erinne Willock Webcor-Platinum Women's Cycling Team Katie Mactier Argon 18/Champion Systems Sue Palmer-Komar Colavita/ Cooking Light Cycling Team Tina Pic Colavita/ Cooking Light Cycling Team Charm Breon Cheerwine Jessica Phillips Argon 18/Champion System Felicia Gomez Webcor-Platinum Women's Cycling Team Kristin Sanders Cheerwine Katharine Carroll Victory Brewing Team Katheryn Curi Webcor-Platinum Women's Cycling Team Iona Wynter Colavita/ Cooking Light Cycling Team Meshy Holt Colavita/ Cooking Light Cycling Team Alex Wrubleski Team Biovail Pro Cycling Betina Hold Webcor-Platinum Women's Cycling Team Laura Vangilder TEAm Lipton Kele Murdin Velo Bella-Kona Amanda Shaw Team Biovail Pro Cycling Anne Samplonius Team Biovail Pro Cycling Lauren Franges Victory Brewing Team Leigh Hobson Victory Brewing Team Marisa Asplund Colorado Premier Training - Colnago Heather Labance Advil-ChapStick Cycling Team Candice Blickem Aaron's Pro Women's Cycling Brooke Ourada Colorado Premier Training - Colnago Meredith Miller TEAm Lipton Michelle Beltran Cheerwine Sara Tillotson Colavita/ Cooking Light Cycling Team Carmen Small TRIA Sarah Ulmer Jazz Apple Cycling Team Rebecca Larsen Aaron's Pro Women's Cycling Joelle Numainville Team Biovail Pro Cycling Mara Abbott Rio Grande/Sports Garage Lisa Sweeney Colorado Premier Training - Colnago Moriah Macgregor TRIA Karol-Ann Canuel Equipe du Quebec Joanie Caron Equipe du Quebec Sima Trapp Colavita/ Cooking Light Cycling Team Gina Grain Colavita/ Cooking Light Cycling Team Betsy Galenti America's Dairyland Jenn Reither TRIA Katherine Lambden TEAm Lipton Allison Beall TRIA Natalie Klemko America's Dairyland Teresa Moriarty Flanders/MBRC Megan Monroe Colorado Premier Training - Colnago Tamyra Barnard Team Kenda Tire Taitt Sato McGuire Cycling Team Alison Testroete Team Biovail Pro Cycling Martina Patella McGuire Cycling Team Emilie Roy Equipe du Quebec Liza Rachetto TEAm Lipton Kate Sherwin Victory Brewing Team Stephanie Bourbeau Team Biovail Pro Cycling Courtenay Brown McGuire Cycling Team Shannon Hutchison-Krupa Aaron's Pro Women's Cycling Trish Heisdorffer Rio Grande/Sports Garage Beth Allen Team Joy Rides/Austin Flyers Megan Hottman MRRC/Trek-VW Midwest Emma Nelson Advil-ChapStick Cycling Team Brooke Miller PABW Powered by TIBCO Melodie Metzger McGuire Cycling Team Julia Bradley Team R.A.C.E. Nicky Wangsgard Colorado Premier Training - Colnago Robin Farina Team Kenda Tire Kristin Wentworth America's Dairyland Rosara Joseph Jazz Apple Cycling Team Kathleen Billington Conneticut Coast Cycling Amy Mackey PABW Powered by TIBCO Jennifer Trew Team Kenda Tire Kirsten Robbins Victory Brewing Team Beth Fisk Rio Grande/Sports Garage Patricia Palmer America's Dairyland Jane Ziegler Velo Bella-Kona Pamela Hinton TRIA Ann Hansgate Flanders/MBRC Caitlyn Mccullough Advil-ChapStick Cycling Team Johanne Cyr Equipe du Quebec Catherine Powers Aaron's Pro Women's Cycling Sharon Allpress TRIA Kelly Benjamin Cheerwine Abby Cooper Team Kenda Tire Linda Sone Hollywood Racing/Silver Cycling Victoria Vallstrom PABW Powered by TIBCO Syrae Weikle Rio Grande/Sports Garage Michelle Hyland Jazz Apple Cycling Team Catherine Walberg Team Kenda Tire Molly Vetter-Smith Mesa Cycles Racing Team Julie Adams PABW Powered by TIBCO Sarah Bambeger Cheerwine Brei Gudsell Jazz Apple Cycling Team Flavia Oliveira PABW Powered by TIBCO Margot Herman Velo Bella-Kona Andrea Myers Team Blue Cycles/Uvex Eryn Hanna PABW Powered by TIBCO Marie-Pier Bédard Equipe du Quebec Jennifer Manefield Cheerwine Sarah Caravella TEAm Lipton Debbie Dust Team Kenda Tire Paula Plant Birchwood/GIS Anna Drakulich Advil-ChapStick Cycling Team Sheryl Golin Hollywood Racing/Silver Cycling Elizabeth Frye Cheerwine Betsy Cordes Giant/BHillsDomestiques Molly Muste Tri City Cyclists Lara Kroepsch TEAm Lipton Jennifer Joynt Velo Bella-Kona Reem Jishi Advil-ChapStick Cycling Team Kendra Keeley Rio Grande/Sports Garage Tara Ross Victory Brewing Team Mackenzie Dickey Aaron's Pro Women's Cycling Elisa Gagnon Advil-ChapStick Cycling Team Carissa Wilkes Jazz Apple Cycling Team Cathryn Watson Birchwood/GIS Krystal Lacy Team Blue Cycles/Uvex Stacy Marple PABW Powered by TIBCO Francine Haas Team Blue Cycles/Uvex Rochelle Gilmore Advil-ChapStick Cycling Team June Upshaw Team Kenda Tire Laura Danley Rio Grande/Sports Garage Shana Sturla Flanders/MBRC Katy Ligler Team Kenda Tire Emilie Duchow Team Blue Cycles/Uvex Lauren Koedyk Jazz Apple Cycling Team Alicia Seltz Team Blue Cycles/Uvex Laurel Sundberg Velo Bella Kona Jennifer Tilley Team Blue Cycles/Uvex Kristen Over Team Blue Cycles/Uvex Megan Elliot Argon 18/Champion System
