Women's teams and startlist for Tour of California

Amgen Breakaway from Heart Disease™ Women’s Race Empowered with SRAM

That long title is the official name for the women's race at the Tour of California. Just as Amgen supports the Breakaway from Cancer walk at stages of the tour for those affected by cancer and has attached their name in fighting cancer with the men's race, the company also develops pharmaceuticals for heart disease. Amgen works to alleviate the impact of the leading causes of death to both men and women. And so sponsoring a women's race in the name of fighting heart disease and improving health in the general population makes perfect sense.

SRAM is also a title sponsor of the women's race, which is not just kind but good business. The numbers of women in cycling and amateur racing is growing. The likelihood of a women walking into a bike shop to buy a bike is high, SRAM wants the consumer to know their name. Sponsorship is a balance of doing good in the community and wanting to get your product in front of the community. Through the involvement of both Amgen and SRAM, perhaps more young girls will be exposed riding a bike and a healthy lifestyle.

The highest level of women athletes in the sport of professional cycling are gathering today in Lake Tahoe to begin their four day bike race. It's a big deal and a large number of fans are expected. The women will race 197.8-miles during four-stages in South Lake Tahoe, Folsom (team time trial), Santa Rosa and Sacramento.

Coryn Rivera (USA) of United Healthcare Womens team signs an autograph for a young fan. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer Photography®

STARTLISTS

For a 1 page printable startlist with numbers, please go to TourChaser.com: Women's Race Details ATOC.

For a team startlist for the women's team time trial in Folsom, please go to TourChaser.com: Women's Race Details ATOC

WOMEN'S PRO TEAMS

Let's look at who will be competing. 18 teams will compete with 8 riders each, 144 pro women cyclists will take the start line

Women’s teams - 18 teams

BePink (Italy) 
Boels-Dolmans (Netherlands)
Canyon – SRAM Racing (Germany)
Colavita – Bianchi (USA)
Cylance (USA)
Drops (Great Britain)
Hagens Berman – Supermint (USA)
Hitec Products (Norway)
Podium Ambition (Great Britain)
Rabo – Liv (Netherlands)
Rally (USA)
Tibco – SVB (USA)
Twenty16 – Ridebiker (USA)
UnitedHealthcare (USA)
USA Cycling (USA)
Visit Dallas DNA (USA)
Weber Shimano Ladies Power (Argentina)
Wiggle High5 (Great Britain)

Top contenders for the classification jerseys and stagewins in the women's race:

General Classification (Overall Contenders)
Emma Johansson (SWE) – Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling (WHT)
Megan Guarnier (USA) – Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team (DLT)
Lisa Brennauer (GER) – Canyon/SRAM Racing (LPR)
Lucinda Brand (NED) – Rabo-Liv Women Cycling Team (RBW)
Kirsten Wild (AUS) – Hitec Products (HPU)
Chantal Blaak (NED) – Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team (DLT)
Alena Amialiusik (BLR) – Canyon/SRAM Racing (LPR)
Lauren Stephens (USA) – Team TIBCO-SVB (TIB)
Marianne Vos (NED) – Rabo-Liv Women Cycling Team (RBW)
Emily Collins (NZL) – Team TIBCO-SVB (TIB)

​Sprinters
Barbara Guarischi (ITA) – Canyon/SRAM Racing (LPR)
Lauren Tamayo (USA) – UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (UHC)
Megan Guarnier (USA) – Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team (DLT)
Kirsten Wild (AUS) – Hitec Products (HPU)

Climbers
Mara Abbott (USA) – Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling (WHT)
Lauren Stephens (USA) – Team TIBCO-SVB (TIB)
Lex Albrecht (CAN) – BePink (BPK)
Emily Collins (NZL) – Team TIBCO-SVB (TIB)
Chantal Blaak (NED) – Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team (DLT)
Alena Amialiusik (BLR) – Canyon/SRAM Racing (LPR)

Stage Wins
Emma Johansson (SWE) – Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling (WHT)
Marianne Vos (NED) – Rabo-Liv Women Cycling Team (RBW)
Linda Villumsen (NZL) – UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (UHC)
Lisa Brennauer (GER) – Canyon/SRAM Racing (LPR)
Tayler Wiles (USA) – USA Cycling (USA)
Lauren Stephens (USA) – Team TIBCO-SVB  (TIB)
Barbara Guarischi (ITA) – Canyon/SRAM Racing (LPR)
Lex Albrecht (CAN) – BePink  (BPK)
Chloe Dygert (USA) – Twenty16 – RideBiker (T16)

The women's jersey's at the tour:

Women's team jersey 2016 Amgen Tour of Califorrnia.

WOMEN'S LIST OF RIDERS - TOUR OF CALIFORNIA 2016

Canyon-SRAM
Lisa Brennauer (Ger)
Alena Amialiusik (Blr)
Hannah Barnes (GBr)
Tiffany Cromwell (Aus)
Barbara Guarischi (Ita)
Alexis Ryan (USA)
Elena Cecchini (Ita)
Mieke Kroeger (Ger)

Wiggle High5
Emma Johansson (Swe)
Mara Abbott (USA)
Audrey Cordon (Fra)
Danielle King (GBr)
Amy Pieters (Ned)
Mayuko Hagiwara (Jpn)
Anna Christian (GBr)
Amy Roberts (GBr)


UnitedHealthcare Women
Annie Ewart (Can)
Katie Hall (USA)
Coryn Rivera (USA)
Iris Slappendel (Ned)
Lauren Tamayo (USA)
Linda Melanie Villumsen (NZl)
Abigail Mickey (USA)
Diana Peñuela Martinez (Col)

US National Team
Madeleine Boutet (USA)
Kelly Catlin (USA)
Aliya Traficante (USA)
Jennifer Valente (USA)
Tayler Wiles (USA)
Ruth Winder (USA)
Sarah Hammer (USA)
Ashlyn Woods (USA)

Weber Shimano Ladies Power
Maria Fadiga (Arg)
Luciene Ferreira da Silva (Bra)
Jessenia Meneses (Col)
Rocio Parrado Guarnizo (Col)
Caterin Elisabeth Previley (Arg)

Podium Ambition Pro Cycling p/b Club La Santa
Elizabeth-Jane Harris (GBr)
Sara Headley (USA)
Sharon Laws (GBr)
Nicole Moerig (Aus)
Claire Rose (GBr)
Sarah Storey (GBr)

Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
Emily Collins (NZl)
Lauren Hall (USA)
Kathrin Hammes (Ger)
Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl)
Lauren Stephens (USA)
Brianna Walle (USA)
Lauren Komanski (USA)
Kendall Ryan (USA)

Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team
Marianne Vos (Ned)
Thalita De Jong (Ned)
Lucinda Brand (Ned)
Shara Gillow (Aus)
Jeanne Korevaar (Ned)
Anouska Koster (Ned)
Moniek Tenniglo (Ned)

Hitec Products
Kirsten Wild (Ned)
Charlotte Becker (Ger)
Tatiana Guderzo (Ita)
Janicke Gunvaldsen (Nor)
Cecilie Gotaas Johnsen (Nor)
Lauren Kitchen (Aus)

Twenty16 - Ridebiker
Kristin Armstrong (USA)
Holly Breck (USA)
Allie Dragoo (USA)
Chloe Dygert (USA)
Alison Jackson (Can)
Leah Thomas (USA)
Jennifer Tetrick (USA)

Hagens Berman / Supermint Pro Cycling Team
Megan Alderete (USA)
Lindsay Bayer (USA)
Scotti Lechuga (USA)
Allison Elizabeth Linnell (USA)
Liza Rachetto (USA)
Eri Yonamine (Jpn)
Ivy Audrain (USA)
Jessica Uebelhart (Swi)

Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling
Mandy Heintz (USA)
Nina Marie Laughlin (USA)
Mia Manganello (USA)
Amanda Miller (USA)
Beth Ann Orton (USA)
Anna Sanders (USA)
Breanne Nalder (USA)
Sara Tussey (USA)

Boels Dolmans Cycling Team
Megan Guarnier (USA)
Chantal Blaak (Ned)
Karol-Ann Canuel (Can)
Nikki Harris (GBr)
Romy Kasper (Ger)
Evelyn Stevens (USA)

Cylance Pro Cycling
Alison Tetrick (USA)
Kristabel Doebel-Hickok (USA)
Sheyla Gutierrez Ruiz (Spa)
Rossella Ratto (Ita)
Valentina Scandolara (Ita)
Doris Schweizer (Swi)
Erica Zaveta (USA)

Bepink
Lex Albrecht (Can)
Amber Neben (USA)
Francesca Pattaro (Ita)
Lenore Pipes (Gum)
Ilaria Sanguineti (Ita)
Silvia Valsecchi (Ita)

Rally Cycling Women
Heather Fischer (USA)
Jasmin Glaesser (Can)
Kirsti Lay (Can)
Sara Poidevin (Can)
Hannah Ross (USA)
Emma White (USA)
Katherine Maine (Can)
Catherine Ouellette (Can)

Colavita/Bianchi
Whitney Allison (USA)
Jessica Cutler (USA)
Katie Donovan (USA)
Lauretta Hanson (Aus)
Gretchen Stumhofer (USA)
Kimberley Wells (Aus)
Emma Grant (GBr)
Elizabeth Hernandez (USA)

Drops Cycling Team
Sophie Coleman (GBr)
Rebeca Durrell (GBr)
Jennifer George (GBr)
Laura Massey (GBr)
Hannah Payton (GBr)
Lucy Shaw (GBr)
Alice Barnes (GBr)
Rebecca Womersley (GBr)

About Breakaway from Heart Disease (as described by race organizers)

Amgen’s new Breakaway from Heart Disease initiative encourages Americans to take action to make heart health a priority. The campaign encourages people to use road bikes and stationary bikes to get active and heart healthy. At the race, female athletes will wear Breakaway from Heart Disease “I Heart” race numbers recognizing someone they love. For more information about the campaign and how to get involved, visit breakawayfromheartdisease.com.

Women line up to race. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer Photography®

How to watch the women's race at Tour of California:

Women's race TV coverage Amgen Breakaway from Heart Disease™ Women’s Race Empowered with SRAM - available only on the Tour Tracker app:

WOMEN's RACE COVERAGE

• Thursday 5/19/16 Stage 1 Amgen Breakaway From Heart Disease Women's Race Empowered by SRAM Highlight 9:00 p.m. PDT On Tour Tracker app only
• Friday 5/20/16 Stage 2 Amgen Breakaway From Heart Disease Women's Race Empowered by SRAM Highlight 9:00 p.m. PDT On Tour Tracker app only
• Saturday 5/21/16 Stage 3 Amgen Breakaway From Heart Disease Women's Race Empowered by SRAM Highlight 9:00 p.m. PDT On Tour Tracker app only
• Sunday 5/22/16 Stage 4 Amgen Breakaway From Heart Disease Women's Race Empowered by SRAM Highlight 9:00 p.m. PDT On Tour Tracker app only

WOMEN's RECAP SHOWS

• Thursday 5/26/16 AmgenBreakaway From Heart Disease Women's Race Empowered by SRAM Recap Show 10:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. PDT on NBCSN 

How to watch the Amgen Tour of California live online:

Follow the Amgen Tour of California Men's Race and the Amgen Breakaway from Heart Disease Women's Race live on Microsoft Tour Tracker, the app that gives you in depth access and analysis of America's Greatest Race via the web or your mobile device. Whether you are out on the road, waiting at the finish line, or watching at home, you can keep track of the race Download the app. You can watch Microsoft TourTracker on the web.

All of this information may also be viewed on the Tour Chaser Womens Race TOC page: www.tourchaser.com/womens-race-toc

10 UCI WorldTour Teams to compete in California

Amgen Tour of California - teams announced today

Fantastic news out of California today, the Amgen Tour of California stage race appears stronger than ever in its 11th year, as a very impressive line up of teams was announced to compete in California this May. Here is my strong tip for the day - wherever you are in mid-May, make sure it is in California. You will see some of the greatest pro riders up close with unprecedented access (and as always - great California weather).

Let's get straight to naming names: 2015 winner Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and runner-up Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quick-Step) will return in 2016. Great Britian’s Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), who won four stages last year is a huge crowd favorite and will take on Norwegian Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), who will be bring his strong sprinting ability to what might be the best sprint field to ever gather.

2012 Tour de France champion and 2014 Amgen Tour of California winner Bradley Wiggins will be back with his continental cycling team (Wiggins). Australian brothers Lachlan and Angus Morton will be back with their colorful Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis cycling team. American Peter Stetina (Trek-Segafredo) is looking forward to competing in front of hometown fans in Northern California. While Australian Rohan Dennis (BMC), a strong contender for the time trial in Folsom, could also be on a step of the final overall podium in Sacramento. Crowd favorite American Taylor Phinney (BMC) will be back in 2016.

Sprinting begins on Stage 1 in San Diego, Sunday, May 15th! Make your tourist plans now.

Great atmosphere at the race. Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Amgen Tour of California May 15-22, 2016

Now organized by AEG and ASO, the Amgen Tour of California stage race keeps getting better. I am especially excited about the teams of Dimension Data (formerly Mtn-Qhukbeka), Giant-Alpecin, Etixx-Quick-Step, Sky, and LottoNL returning to the race again this year. I am also excited to see first time teams Direct Énergie and Katusha.

I look forward to hearing the exact rider roster announcements (startlist) in May. For certain, we will have the opportunity to watch pro riders we would otherwise have to plan a 2.5 week vacation, spend thousands of dollars and travel to Europe to see compete. The 2016 schedule should make it easy for fans to see a grouping of two or more stages by picking your area: San Diego County, Pasadena/Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks/Santa Barbara, Monterey/Santa Rosa, Tahoe/Folsom/Sacramento.

I totally agree with Peter Sagan who said, "The Amgen Tour of California is one of my favorite races of the season."

Julian Alaphilippe arrives in Mt Baldy in 2015.  Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Take the time to visit the team websites and check out their sponsors and the kind of gear they use. Team sponsors, great race organization and the ongoing title sponsorship by Amgen make this race a continuing success.

Official Tour of California yellow jersey 2016

Men’s teams - 18 teams
Each team will bring a roster of 8 riders each.

UCI WorldTour
BMC Racing Team (USA) - BMC bikes
Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (USA) - Cannondale bikes
Dimension Data (South Africa) - Cervélo bikes
Etixx – Quick-Step (Belgium) - Specialized bikes
Giant – Alpecin (Germany) - Giant bikes
Katusha (Russia) - Canyon bikes
LottoNL – Jumbo (Netherlands) - Bianche bikes
Sky (Great Britain) - Pinarello bikes
Tinkoff (Russia) - Specialized bikes
Trek – Segafredo (USA) - Trek bikes

UCI Professional Continental
Direct Énergie (France) - BH bikes
Novo Nordisk (USA) - Colnago bikes
UnitedHealthcare (USA) - Wilier bikes

UCI Continental
Axeon Hagens Berman (USA) - Specialized bikes
Holowesko – Citadel Racing Team (USA) - felt bikes
Jelly Belly – Maxxis (USA) - Argon bikes
Rally Cycling (USA) - Diamond Back bikes
Wiggins (Great Britain) - Pinarello bikes (Wikipedia)

Peter Sagan with Evelyn Stevens at the post time trial press conference in 2015.  Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Rally and United Healthcare will be bringing both a men's and women's team.  Their team buses and mechanic's trailers should be teaming with activity.

Women's team jersey 2016 Amgen Tour of California.

Women’s teams - 18 teams

BePink (Italy) 
Boels-Dolmans (Netherlands)
Canyon – SRAM Racing (Germany)
Colavita – Bianchi (USA)
Cylance (USA)
Drops (Great Britain)
Hagens Berman – Supermint (USA)
Hitec Products (Norway)
Podium Ambition (Great Britain)
Rabo – Liv (Netherlands)
Rally (USA)
Tibco – SVB (USA)
Twenty16 – Ridebiker (USA)
UnitedHealthcare (USA)
USA Cycling (USA)
Visit Dallas DNA (USA)
Weber Shimano Ladies Power (Argentina)
Wiggle High5 (Great Britain)

Beautiful Santa Barbara, California. I took this photo last year at the race while waiting for the stage start in Santa Barbara. Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

2016 posts by Pedal Dancer®:

• PART I: Tourist ideas for stages 1 through 4 in southern California: Tour of California Host City activities: Stages1-4
• PART II: Tourist ideas for stages 4 through 8 in northern California: Tour of California Host City activities: Stages 4-8
• 10 UCI WorldTour Teams to compete in California 
• Stage Route and Maps Tour of California 2016
• How to watch the Tour of California Live in 2016 

For more information about the 2016 Amgen Tour of California, with race dates, stage maps and start and finish times, please visit the Pedal Dancer® guide page at: TOUR OF CALIFORNIA 2016. 

Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish before the final stage start in Westlake Village in 2014. Photo by Karen Rakestraw for Pedal Dancer®

Looking back at 2015 ATOC race coverage by Pedal Dancer®

More Pedal Dancer® race coverage 2016:

• The order of jerseys
• Taking photos at the race, and being Media 
• Top 22 tips to see the Amgen Tour of California
• How to watch the Tour of California Live in 2016
• Team jerseys and team bikes at the Tour of California
• Bikes, Equipment and Clothing at the Tour of California
• Classification jerseys for the 2016 Tour of California
• 10 UCI WorldTour Teams to compete in California
• Stage Route and Maps Tour of California 2016
• Profile Maps for the Tour of California 2016
• Tour of California Host City activities: Stages 1-4 PART I
• Tour of California Host City activities: Stages 4-8 PART II
• Tour of California Spectator Guide Page

Coming soon: Startlist and bib number Amgen Tour of California 2016;  National and World Championship jerseys at the Tour of California; and stories from the race.

USA Pro Challenge 2015 Women's Teams Announced

The women's teams and riders were announced today

Top women riders to race in Colorado in August include Kristin Armstrong, and two-time Giro Rosa winner, Boulder’s Mara Abbott. Also Andrea Dvorak, Allie Dragoo, Hannah Barnes, Katie Hall, Coryn Rivera, Abby Mickey, Jasmin Glaesser, Ali Tetrick, Jo Kiesanowski, Erica Zaveta and local Boulder resident Meredith Miller. 

The 12 teams competing in the Women’s USA Pro Challenge are the following:

•       TWENTY16 p/b Sho-Air

•       Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies

•       UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team

•       BMW p/b Happy Tooth Dental

•       Pepper Palace Pro Cycling p/b The Happy Tooth

•       Team TIBCO-SVB

•       Visit Dallas p/b Noise4Good

•       Colavita/Bianchi p/b Fine Cooking

•       DNA Cycling p/b K4

•       Colorado Women’s Cycling Project p/b Spark (composite team)

•       Fearless Femme p/b Haute Wheels Racing

•       Amy D. Foundation


To see the exact riders on each team, click on this link: really fast women racers

WOMEN'S RACE - stages

Stages and Host Cities for 2015 USA Pro Challenge in Colorado - WOMENS
Route maps may be seen here: USA Pro Challenge Guide Page, by Pedal Dancer®

• Stage 1: Friday, August 21 - Breckenridge (Individual Time Trial same day as men)
• Stage 2: Saturday, August 22 - Fort Collins
• Stage 3: Sunday, August 23 - Golden (finishes prior to the start of the men's race)

This is the first inaugural 3-day USA Cycling sanctioned invitation-only USA Pro Challenge women's stage race. The race will take place on the final weekend in the same cities as the men's race and will share parts of the men's course. The women's race will conclude prior to the men's finish, making an excellent opportunity for fans to see both the men and women race for equal prize money. Sean Petty will serve as the Race Director for the Women’s USA Pro Challenge. (full announcement)


Meet the women's teams!

4:30 pm - Women's Team Presentation for the USA Pro Challenge at Blue River Plaza, Thursday in Breckenridge

 

The growing force of womens cycling

What do I think of women's bike racing?

It seems I ask this question of myself every other week; the answer, I find, is often different.

One thing is for certain - womens cycling is again growing and I better adjust to changing times. With brutal honesty I admit I was fearful of the change and uncertain of how I would cover the newly added women's stage races to the Tour of California and the USA Pro Challenge. Was it social pressure to suddenly know everything there was to know about womens cycling or was it recognition of my own ignorance about the sport of womens cycling.

I followed the generation who created the womens movement, I was schooled through Title 9, I have witnessed the unequal status of women's sport for decades. And yet I have never been on the forefront of making the change happen. I honestly have never been into all women's sports, only a select few. I enjoy watching women tennis, swimming, skiing, track and field; all exciting sports in their own right. But womens hockey, baseball, or soccer? No.

I reasoned that just because I like men's football, basketball, golf and cycling, that was no reason why I must also follow women's football, basketball, golf or cycling. In my mind they were separate sports and one did not piggy back upon the other. I had no obligation to a professional sport simply because women did it, or simply because I was a woman.

Now that researchers have been trying to lay to rest the myth that sex sells sport, most fans admit they mostly look for ability on the field from top athletes (except for those nude women's kits that got far too much press in 2014). This revelation means we can focus on the excitement of pure athleticism and good competition. Perhaps the reason I have never really been into women's cycling is simply because I have not been exposed to the highest level.

My point is - maybe it is time that I give some attention to learn about professional women's cycling. Maybe I will enjoy the sport. I don't get that excited watching a local amateur race, but expose me to the best men in the world racing a WorldTour race and I get plenty thrilled. I know all the teams and the riders, I have my favorites and I know the history. I unabashedly celebrate the outcomes of individual effort in sport as if the athletes were my best friends.

It took me years to learn about professional men's cycling.

Maybe if I start learning now about women's cycling, I can catch up to the point where I can truly appreciate the athletes and their performance. This is exactly the opportunity we are being given by way of the Amgen Tour of California and the USA Pro Cycling Challenge having added multiple day women's races to their 2015 calendars.

Even if we are not fans of womens cycling today - we might be tomorrow, or better yet - next year. Our daughters, nieces and neighbors might be the next great stars of the sport. We grow our interest, we grow our support, and the athletes benefit now. It takes a willingness to say yes, I am going to watch and encourage more women's bike races.

For now if these races have to piggy-back onto the men's races, so be it. Soon they will stand on their own and maybe one day we will hear that a mens race has been added to a womens stage race. The best form of equality is when the athlete becomes known as a professional bike racer of outstanding ability, without gender attached.

I better step up and be part of this change, I know I have a lot to learn. Womens bike racing is in no way new and the sport has waxed and waned over the years. Growth has not been a constant upward curve, races have been eliminated, diminished, reborn again. But I hope the movement now gathering steam sticks and womens cycling continues to earn respect, admiration and sponsorship.

The Amgen Tour of California included a womens criterium as early as 2008, adding a time trial in 2011. Finally 2015 will see a three-day stage race, followed by a separate ITT for the women five days later. The men's and women's races will overlap, spreading viewership, I worry. More info: amgentourofcalifornia.com/competition/womens-races.

The USA Pro Challenge had previously featured a womens circuit race run in conjunction with the pro race on the streets of Aspen, but in 2015 race organizers will present an official USA Pro Challenge womens stage race. Full details have yet to be released for the 2015 mens or womens parcours in Colorado.

The Giro-Rosa in Italy is the most prestigious women's stage race. We have only four opportunities in America to see the best of the best in womens racing. If you live in Utah, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Arkansas - you are the lucky ones. I won't make it to any of these races in 2015, but I will make a point of watching online, if possible (How to follow women's road cycle races live).

It is clear that change is in the air worldwide for womens bike racing. “We’re going to have a much stronger world cup calendar and international calendar,” UCI president Brian Cookson recently told CyclingNews. Listen to Cookson address women's minimum wage and calendar and developments on this CyclingNews video: UCI President Brian Cookson on the progress of women’s international cycling. Cookson states "women's events don't always need to be secondary or subsidiary to men's events, they can stand on their own and be really successful." 

Having women's cycling stand on it's own is my hope and vision for the future. When we achieve a mixture of men and women leadership and sponsorship throughout both men's and women's bike racing, the result benefits everyone and signals an appreciation of the truly able athlete. That is when we know we have equality.

I believe building a solid following might have more to do with the quality of the business and operation then in the quantity on the calendar.  

Womens top level pro races in the USA for 2015 - Full Calendar Women 2015

• 23-26 April 2015: Joe Martin Stage Race
• 29 Arp-3 May 2015: Silver City Tour of the Gila powered by SRAM
• 31 May 2015: Winston Salem Cycling Classic
• 7 June 2015: Parx Casino Philly Classic

Total UCI Womens Races over the year (signs of adjustment):

• 2006 - 57
• 2011 - 70
• 2013 - 65
• 2014 - 76
• 2015 - 78

Learn more:

• What happened in 2014: Women's cycling: races and riders to watch in 2014 By BBC Sport
• A good read on the current state of womens cycling: Women’s Cycling Association: A Vision for Change By Peter Easton, ROAD Magazine
• A good news source to learn about women's cycling: podiumcafe.com/womens-cycling
• Follow the Unofficial Unsanctioned Womens UCI Cycling Blog at prowomenscycling.com
• Read the personal accounts of women pros at Chloe Hosking's list of women cyclists who blog
• Womens race results and news: women.cyclingfever.com
• Get to know names like Marianne Vos, Lizzie Armitstead, Emma Johansson, Ellen van Dijk, Pauline Ferrand-Prevo, Emma Pooley, Rossella Ratto, Kirsten Wild, Lucy Garner, Hannah Barnes, and Amy Pieters. And I am informed "not to forget Leah Kirchmann (OPM) triple Canadian Champ Rd, TT & Crit. Also 3rd in this year's Women's TDF!"
• For a history lesson that women's cycling has been around for a long time and received far too little attention, read about British cyclist Bertyl Burton - one of the best female athletes of all time.

Update 11/14/14: Exclusive Q&A: Nicole Cooke By CyclingNews An honest interview about the current state of women's cycling.

I am a published photographer

5280 [The Denver Magazine] September issue

On page 55, deep in the recesses of the September issue of 5280 magazine, a magazine that celebrates the Colorado lifestyle, you will find my tiny photo of cyclocross racing.

My photo in 5280 Magazine in all its large glory.

They say photography is not about the camera. Although I believe the camera set-up and chosen lens make a big difference in delivering what the photographer is trying to convey.

They say photography is about the photographer. I agree that you can ask twenty photographers to go shoot a sporting event and all will come back with wildly differing results.

I say photography has to do with the camera, the photographer, but mostly the subject matter. Good photography also has a lot to do with being hyper alert to your environment in capturing the moment and telling a story that draws the viewer into the frame to study the detail, encouraging the eye to wander.

My great joy at having my photo included in this month's edition of 5280 magazine, within the article titled Playing Dirty, by Jayme Moye about the sport of cyclocross, would not have been possible if the brave strong women cyclocross racers in the photo did not race Cyclocross National Championships in Boulder, Colorado, last January.

In giving credit where credit is due, featured in this photo are star subjects:  Emily Phillips (MA), Jessica Bernstein (CO), Cristienne Beam (CO), Alyssa Severn (MO), Kelly Chang (CA).

Thank you - you are featured in 5280 this month!

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