June 12/14 11:03 am - Northstar Festival: Stage 1 women's results

Posted by Editoress on 06/12/14
 

Alison Powers (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team) posted the only sub-11 minute time in the women’s field to win Stage One, with Brianna Walle (Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies) and Tayler Wiles (Specialized-Lululemon) rounding out the podium at 14 and 21 seconds back respectively.

Powers, who currently holds all three U.S. National Champion titles in Time Trial, Road Race, and Criterium, was able to showcase her ability to hit and sustain high speeds on the flat, five-mile out-and-back course that ran alongside the Mississippi River.

“I do prefer shorter races,” said Powers. “Longer ones can be a little boring and it’s hard to stay patient.”

Second place finisher Walle enjoyed a better placing over last year, where a mechanical issue slowed her time.

“Last year i got third,” said Walle. “I had a mechanical and was stuck in my small ring after the turnaround, so I was spinning out on the course.

“This course brings back a lot of memories. This will be my third time racing here, and each time I feel it more. I know where to push the limits. This time trial suits my strengths – it’s short, punchy, fast.”

Walle won Best Amateur racer her first time through in 2012 as part of the Nature Valley Composite Team.

This year’s featured composite team is the Kakookie’s Collegiate All Stars Team. Member Kelly Catlin leads the North Star Best Amateur Jersey competition. Catlin just graduated from high school this year while also completing coursework at the University of Minnesota. She secured two top-10 placings at the UCI Junior Women’s World Championships in the Time Trial and Road Race.

“The course was surprisingly short, I’m not used to that distance,” said Catlin. “It was great to just go as hard as you can for the distance.

Courtesy organizers

Results from the first stage in St. Paul Minnesota