Samplonius takes final stage in Aspen
Armstrong seals overall win
Anne Samplonius (Now-Novartis for MS) won the finale criterium at the Aspen Women's Pro Race. She outpaced a late-race breakaway that included Kristin Armstrong (Peanut Butter & Co Twenty12) in second. Lauren Hall (Colavita-Forno D'Asolo) won the bunch sprint for third place. Armstrong's teammate Kristin McGrath, who was also the breakaway, hung on for fourth place.
"It was awesome to get a win here because the crowds were great and hats off to Jessica Phillips for putting this race on," Samplonius said. "It was fantastic for women's racing and I hope next year it becomes bigger and better with more numbers on the line. It was a fantastic race."
Armstrong won the overall title at the inaugural three-day omnium event. She took over the leader's jersey following her stage two circuit race victory in Snowmass and maintain her lead through the final criterium in Aspen.
The final stage of the Aspen Women's Pro Race offered a technical 11-corner criterium that included a hill each lap. The race was held in downtown Aspen and finished prior to the Pro men's USA Pro Cycling Challenge on the same finish line.
Armstrong started the stage in the leader's jersey with a six-point lead ahead of runner up Janel Holcomb (Colavita-Forno D'Asolo) who was tied for points with stage one winner McGrath.
"Colavita was being aggressive," said Amanda Miller (HTC-Highroad). "It was an aggressive crit and the altitude was killing everybody and it was a tough course. The hill didn't look hard but it was. There were lots of attacks and a big split in the group with about 15 girls for a while."
"Our team didn't have such a good race yesterday because the altitude got to us and so we were trying to go for a stage win today," she said. "We were being aggressive and having fun. We were here to race our bikes, have fun, did lots of attacking."
During the closing laps, Colavita-Forno D'Asolo launched several attacks that were quickly followed by Armstrong and either Samplonius or her teammate and US National Road Champion Robin Farina.
"It was just me and Robin and we were out-numbered," Samplonius said. "The altitude was good for me because I live in Boulder but Robin struggled with it. We were conservative and picked our moments to go. We waited until the end because this course wears on you, uphill and finishing stretch was tough."
Armstrong attacked with two laps to go and Samplonius and McGrath bridged across. McGrath did much of the work to drive the breakaway. Samplonius sprinted around the pair of teammates through the final technical corners to take the stage win ahead of Armstrong.
Hall launched herself out of the field and passed McGrath at the line for third place. Colavita-Forno D'Asolo was pleased with its performance this week after placing one rider on the podium each day.
"With the crowds here today we wanted to put on a big show and make it a great race," said DS Rachel Heal. "All four were attacking right from the start of the race. Stuff would go for a short amount of time and get brought back. It was a tough race out here with the altitude and it being a small but strong bunch. We got three podiums in three days so we are happy with the race."
Kristin Sanders (Colavita-Forno D'Asolo) placed sixth ahead of Amanda Miller and Emilia Fahlin (HTC-Highroad), Erica Allar (Ride Clean p/b Patentit.com), Robin Farina (Now-Novartis for MS) and Tiffany Pezzulo (Primal-MapMyRide).
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Anne Samplonius (Now Cycling/NOW and Novartis for MS) | 0:59:06 |
2 | Kristin Armstrong Savola (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12) | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Lauren Hall (Colavita / Forno D'Asolo) | 0:00:03 |
4 | Kristin Mcgrath (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12) | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Kristin Sanders (Colavita / Forno D'Asolo) | 0:00:06 |
6 | Emilia Fahlin (HTC Columbia Women's Team) | 0:00:08 |
7 | Amanda Miller (HTC Columbia Women's Team) | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Erica Allar (Ride Clean p/b patentit.com) | 0:00:09 |
9 | Robin Farina (Now Cycling/NOW and Novartis for MS) | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Tiffany Pezzulo (Team Primal Racing/Primal/MapMyRide Womens Racing) | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Janel Holcomb (Colavita / Forno D'Asolo) | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Liza Rachetto (Team Primal Racing/Primal/MapMyRide Womens Racing) | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Jeannie Longo (Vitall) | 0:00:10 |
14 | Alison Powers (TIBCO to The Top) | 0:00:11 |
15 | Ally Stacher (HTC Columbia Women's Team) | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Amy Dombroski (Crank Brothers Race Club) | 0:00:12 |
17 | Kasey Clark (Team Primal Racing/Primal/MapMyRide Womens Racing) | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Andrea Dvorak (Colavita / Forno D'Asolo) | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Katie Colclough (HTC Columbia Women's Team) | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Jessica Phillips (AJAX Tavern Cycling Team) | 0:00:13 |
21 | Cari Higgins (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12) | 0:00:29 |
22 | Olivia Dillon (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12) | 0:00:39 |
23 | Julie Emmerman (Team Primal Racing/Primal/Treads) | 0:15:40 |
24 | Devon Gorry (Now Cycling/NOW and Novartis for MS) | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Anne Gonzales (ESC Basalt Bike and Ski) | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Kathryne Carr (Bell Lap Coaching) | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Gwen Inglis (Team Primal Racing/Primal/MapMyRide Womens Racing) | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Colleen Hayduk (Pure Energy Cycling-ProAirHFA) | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Anna Barensfeld (Team Primal Racing/Primal/MapMyRide Womens Racing) | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Anne Donley (Unattached) | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Abigail Mickey (AJAX Tavern Cycling Team) | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Amity Elliot (Team Kenda presented by Geargrinder) | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Catherine Johnson (Unattached) | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Kathryn Judson (International Christian Cycling Club-Hammer Nutrition) | 0:15:41 |
DNF | Alison Starnes (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12) | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alisha Welsh (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12) | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Kris Walker (Bell Lap Coaching) | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Kelly Crowley (Metromint Cycling) | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Nicole Duke (Natural Grocers) | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Addy Albershardt (Now Cycling/NOW and Novartis for MS) | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
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