Nature Valley Grand Prix
MinnesotaStage 5: Stillwater Criterium
June 18, 2006
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Click image for photo galleryArmstrong holds onto leader's jersey, Ulmer takes final stage
By Steve KayFor the second year, the winner of the women's prologue in Great River Energy's Nature Valley Grand Prix went into Sunday's fifth stage holding the yellow jersey.
And, for the second year, that rider came away with the jersey.
TEAm Lipton's Kristin Armstrong maintained her lead to finish as the overall 2006 Nature Valley Grand Prix Champion, holding onto the yellow jersey for the duration of the five-day event.
Unlike Saturday's race, though, when she took victory away from Jazz Apple's Sarah Ulmer, Armstrong only finished fourth. Instead, Ulmer took the well-earned win on the 1.2-mile criterium course that included the famed Chilkoot Hill, a 50-meter climb pitching at 18 percent.
While nearly 100 racers began the day's race, a group of three riders – Armstrong, Ulmer, and Team Biovail's Anne Samplonius – broke out in front after the second lap. They would remain out in front by as much as 20 seconds from the chase group, headed by Webcor-Platinum Builder's Christine Thorburn, until the final lap.
Chilkoot Hill proved to be challenge even for the most experienced of riders.
"I felt like my heart was going to come out of my chest," Armstrong said of the push up the hill.
With huge crowds on the hill yelling at the riders, Armstrong said she found assistance with her drive for the finish.
"The crowds today were awesome, especially at the finish. It really helped give me that extra push up the hill," Armstrong said of the crowds.
The hill turned out to be the final hurdle in what was a grueling couple of days.
"I'm going to go home and put my feet up for a few days," an exhausted but thrilled Armstrong said after today's final stage.
Biovail's Alex Wrubleski and TEAm Lipton's Kori Seehofer came in second and third, respectively. Overall, Seehofer also finished second followed in third by defending Nature Valley champion Thorburn.
A gracious Armstrong was not only very impressive in her first Nature Valley Grand Prix, she was impressed by the event.
"This whole event was very well run. The volunteers did an amazing job this whole week, including the volunteer director [David LaPorte]," she said.
The other major story of the 5-day Nature Valley Grand Prix was the emergence of the relatively unknown Palo Alto Bicycle Works/TIBCO rider Brooke Miller. Miller captured Thursday's road race in Cannon Falls and had a strong showing today in Stillwater. She was awarded the Freewheel Bike Sprint Jersey for her efforts.
Miller, who until last week was known only to diehard cycling enthusiasts, will now be a force on women's racing scene. Her coach and legendary cyclist Linda Jackson sees big things in Miller's future.
"Brooke has a shot at making it to the 2008 Olympics. If not 2008, then certainly by 2012," Jackson said when asked about Miller's chances for the next Olympic games.
Team Biovail Pro Cycling's Alex Wrubleski held on to the BMC Best Young Rider Jersey.
The Great River Energy Nature Valley Grand Prix is the first event in the Women's Prestige Cycling Series. It continues next month with the Tour De Toona and concludes in September with the Bermuda Grand Prix. Armstrong will wear the yellow jersey when the Women's Prestige Series continues in Altoona.
Until then, Armstrong will take a few well-deserved days off, and then begin her preparation for the US Nationals.
Rider Team Sarah Ulmer Jazz Apple Cycling Team Alex Wrubleski * Team Biovail Pro Cycling Kori Seehafer TEAm Lipton Kristin Armstrong TEAm Lipton Anne Samplonius Team Biovail Pro Cycling Christine Thorburn Webcor-Platinum Women's Cycling Team Laura Van Gilder TEAm Lipton Sue Palmer-Komar Colavita/ Cooking Light Cycling Team Mara Abbott * Rio Grande/Sports Garage Erinne Willock * Webcor-Platinum Women's Cycling Team Tina Pic Colavita/ Cooking Light Cycling Team Alison Powers Rio Grande/Sports Garage Kristin Sanders Cheerwine Rosara Joseph * Jazz Apple Cycling Team Betina Hold Webcor-Platinum Women's Cycling Team Lara Kroepsch TEAm Lipton Kristin Wentworth America's Dairyland Katharine Carroll * Victory Brewing Team Marisa Asplund Colorado Premier Training - Colnago Sarah Bambeger Cheerwine Teresa Moriarty Flanders/MBRC Karol-Ann Canuel * Equipe du Quebec Katie Mactier Argon 18/Champion System Emilie Roy * Equipe du Quebec Kate Sherwin Victory Brewing Team Victoria Vallstrom PABW Powered by TIBCO Melodie Metzger McGuire Cycling Team Michelle Hyland * Jazz Apple Cycling Team Amanda Shaw Team Biovail Pro Cycling Kathleen Billington * Connecticut Coast Cycling Taitt Sato McGuire Cycling Team Katheryn Curi Webcor-Platinum Women's Cycling Team Felicia Gomez Webcor-Platinum Women's Cycling Team Meredith Miller TEAm Lipton Iona Wynter Colavita/ Cooking Light Cycling Team Caitlyn Mccullough * Advil-ChapStick Cycling Team Liza Rachetto TEAm Lipton Katherine Lambden TEAm Lipton Megan Monroe Colorado Premier Training - Colnago Ann Hansgate * Flanders/MBRC Sharon Allpressü TRIA Nicky Wangsgard Colorado Premier Training - Colnago Brooke Miller PABW Powered by TIBCO Rebecca Larson * Aaron's Pro Women's Cycling Alison Testroete * Team Biovail Pro Cycling Leigh Hobson Victory Brewing Team Sima Trapp Colavita/ Cooking Light Cycling Team Tara Ross Victory Brewing Team Heather Labance Advil-ChapStick Cycling Team Michelle Beltran Cheerwine Candice Blickem Aaron's Pro Women's Cycling Catherine Walberg Team Kenda Tire Syrae Weikle Rio Grande/Sports Garage Julie Adams PABW Powered by TIBCO Charm Breon Cheerwine Kendra Keeley Rio Grande/Sports Garage Elizabeth Frye Cheerwine Amy Mackey * PABW Powered by TIBCO Jennifer Trew * Team Kenda Tire Tamyra Barnard Team Kenda Tire Rochelle Gilmore * Advil-ChapStick Cycling Team Molly Vetter-Smith Mesa Cycles Racing Team Joelle Numainville * Team Biovail Pro Cycling Catherine Powers Aaron's Pro Women's Cycling Flavia Oliveira * PABW Powered by TIBCO Julia Bradley Team R.A.C.E. Marie-Pier Bédard * Equipe du Quebec Riders dropping out Sara Tillotson Colavita/ Cooking Light Cycling Team Gina Grain Colavita/ Cooking Light Cycling Team Kirsten Robbins Victory Brewing Team Sarah Caravella TEAm Lipton Mackenzie Dickey * Aaron's Pro Women's Cycling Shannon Hutchison-Krupa Aaron's Pro Women's Cycling Stephanie Bourbeau Team Biovail Pro Cycling Martina Patella * McGuire Cycling Team Abby Cooper * Team Kenda Tire Jennifer Joynt Velo Bella-Kona Kele Murdin Velo Bella-Kona Jane Ziegler Velo Bella-Kona Pamela Hinton TRIA Moriah MacGregor TRIA Jenn Reither TRIA Carmen Small TRIA Brooke Ourada Colorado Premier Training - Colnago Lisa Sweeney * Colorado Premier Training - Colnago Natalie Klemko * America's Dairyland Emma Nelson Advil-ChapStick Cycling Team Joanie Caron * Equipe du Quebec Andrea Myers *# Team Blue Cycles/Uvex Brei Gudsell * Jazz Apple Cycling Team Paula Plant Birchwood/GIS Shana Sturla Flanders/MBRC Beth Allen Team Joy Rides/Austin Flyers
