2007 US Open Double Podium!

Team Advil-ChapStick Race Report
2007 US Open in Richmond, Virginia
April 7, 2007
2nd place Jen
3rd place Heather Labance

Team Advil-ChapStick Riders in Attendance:
Heather Labance
Kirsten Robbins
Laura Bowles
Jen McRae
Mara Miller
Natalie Klemko

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow – because it made the race more fun for us!
Team Advil-ChapStick jumped out of bed at 6 am and peaked out the window to see a winter wonderland. We arrived at the race hotel where racers were swirling in disbelief that we would start this race in the heavy snow and winds. Our director for the day, Tim Chien kept us calm and organized. He discussed team tactics the played out perfectly throughout the race.
John Eustice designed a course for us that was nine laps of a three-mile circuit, short but intense and very sweet, sweet because our teamwork landed us a double podium. Our new addition to the team Jen McRae placed second and Heather Labance placed third.
Laura Bowles jump started the race in a two-woman break away with Colavita/Sutter Home. The two worked hard to stay off the front sacrificing themselves to make TargetTraining and the other teams work hard to bridge and chase in frustration. Mara, Heather and Kirsten stayed close to the front to cover any bridge attempts while our sprinters Jen and Natalie stayed tucked away in the peloton waiting for their moment to spring to the finish line.
Laura’s break was reabsorbed after four laps and instead of waiting for a counter to follow, Kirsten countered herself. She wound up in a small break with Colavita/Sutter Home and TargetTraining. This break was also reabsorbed into the field.
Five laps to go and TargetTraining tried desperately to get off the front alone. Fortunately we had one of the two fastest sprinters in the field and were not about to let anything go now. Laure, Mara, Heather and Kirsten patrolled the front sucking back attacks to keep Jen and Natalie in good contention for a field sprint. On the final lap Laura and Kirsten ramped up the pace and lead the field to the bottom of the climb, 500 meters to the finish line. Heather drilled it up the climb with Colavita/Sutter Home, Andrea Dvorak and they gapped the field. As Heather and Andrea pedaled down the home stretch, the sprinters lined themselves up behind them and wound up their sprints. Team Advil-ChapStick’s, Jen McRae jumped first with 200 meters to go in an attempt to catch Colavita/Sutter Home’s, Tina Pic off guard. It looked like she would pull this off until at the last second, Tina nipped her at the line. Heather decided to give one last push to the finish and sprinted in for third.
Jen and Heather looked fantastic on the podium in all of our Champion System Gear and Rudy Project glasses. The Advil-ChapStick really stands out amongst the other colors in the peloton. Natalie and Laura sprinted in to the top ten finishing 6th and 10th. Not too shabby for our first east coast race. Maybe it should snow more often.
Thank you to all of our sponsors that make our
Team Advil-ChapStick possible


Wyeth http://www.wyeth.com/
Advil http://www.advil.com/
ChapStick http://www.chpstick.com/
TIME Sport http://www.timesport.fr/us/home.htm
Mavic Wheels http://www.mavic.com/
Champion Systems http://www.champ-sys.com/
Clif Bar http://www.clifbar.com/
Ritchey http://ww.ritcheylogic.com
Rudy Project http://www.rudyprojectusa.com/
Shebeest http://www.shebeest.com/
Women's Cycling Development Program http://www.uswcdp.org/index.php
Shimano http://www.shimano.com/
Timex http://www.timex.com/
Thule http://www.thulegroup.com/


For full results and photos go to:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/

Contact:Laura Charameda
Director, Team Advil-ChapStick
advilchapstick07@aol.com