GC win at Chico Stage Race

A great team effort

Image: Dan Munson

GC and two stage wins at Chico Stage Race presented by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

The team dedicates the win in memory of Alison Jackson's friend and training partner

Nigel Thompson

Stage 1 - Thunderhill Raceway Circuit Race

1. Alison Jackson (CAN) TWENTY16 Ridebiker

2. Sofia Arreola (MEX) TWENTY16 Ridebiker

3. Mia Manganelo (USA) Visit Dallas DNA

4. Jamie Gilgen (CAN) Visit Dallas DNA

5. Mandy Heintz(CAN) Visit Dallas DNA

Stage 2 - Pasketana Road Race (90 miles)

1. Hanna Muegge (USA) LA Sweat

2. Scotti Lechuga (USA) Hagens Berman Supermint

3. Jamie Gilgen (CAN) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling

4. Heather Fischer (USA) Rally Cycling

5. Sofia Arreola (MEX) TWENTY16 Ridebiker

Stage 3 - Time Trial (10 miles)

1. Allie Dragoo (USA) TWENTY16 Ridebiker 22.19

2. Leah Thomas (USA) TWENTY16 Ridebiker 22.35

3. Alison Tetrick (USA) Cylance Pro Cycling 22.56

4. Jennifer Tetrick (USA) TWENTY16 Ridebiker 23.35

5. Beth Ann Orton (USA) Visit Dallas DNA 23.43

Stage 4 - Downtown Chico Criterium

1. Jamie Gilgen (CAN) Visit Dallas / DNA

2. Sofia Arreola (MEX) TWENTY16 Ridebiker

3. Heather Fischer (USA) Rally Cycling

4. Holly Breck (USA) TWENTY16 Ridebiker

5. Mandy Heintz (USA) TWENTy16 Ridebiker

1. Allie Dragoo (USA) TWENTY16 Ridebiker

2. Leah Thomas (USA) TWENTY16 Ridebiker

3. Alison Tetrick (USA) Cyclance Pro Cycling

4. Jamie Gilgen (CAN) Visit Dallas / DNA

5. Jennifer Tetrick (USA) TWENTY16 Ridebiker

Report by Allie Dragoo

Chico stage race is one of my favorite small training races. Four stages in three days is a time to show your dedication and discipline to racing bikes. Stage 1: a circuit race at Thunderhill Raceway which is a 3 mile loop that ebbs and flows with two little kickers, one on the front and one back side of the track. Attacks were made but nothing too serious and my teammates were on top of covering moves when necessary. The race came down to a bunch sprint and Alison Jackson took the WIN followed by Sofia Arreola in 2nd and Holly Breck in 6th.

Stage 2: A 90 mile road race, two laps, with a 4 mile of gravel section per lap. This road course is fun and if raced fast it can be brutal. Going through the dirt the first lap through I went to the front and set a pretty high temp in hopes to split the field in half and get down to racing. The field split and my teammates and I set a nice tempo rolling through at the front. There was a points bonus the first time through the finish. We got through the finish and knew that again through the dirt we had to make it very hard and the real racing would begin. Attack after attack but nothing really got away until the 'lull" where teammate Jen Tetrick and another racer got in a breakaway for the majority of second lap. Teammate, Leah Thomas, bridge to the break and all looked good but the field caught the break with 1k to go. The pace picked up as we approached the finish line, we had an unfortunate crash with our yellow jersey about 750 meters from the finish and things became hectic. Sofia still snuck in there for 5th and I finished 7th. We had lost the yellow but could only stayed positive because that's how racing goes - you cannot control mishaps but you can keep a good attitude and do everything you can the next day to be back in the lead.

Alison Jackson takes the win, Sofia Arreola 2nd

Image: Dan Munson

Stage 3: A 10 mile Time Trial with two turns. A basic but fun, flowing course. I think this course is a good length that suits all cyclist, not too long and definitely not too short. I just rode smooth and flowed with the road. I took the win here and teammate Leah Thomas finished 2nd. We got the yellow jersey back and had one stage left to finish off the weekend.

Stage 4: Crit. 55 minutes of short straightaways which makes the racing fast and fun. The race started right away with teams sending people off the front. Teammates Jess Cerra and Holly Breck covered the majority of the attacks and kept them under control. I covered a few attacks and the last one I covered sent me off in a breakaway with one other for 11 laps. The field caught us with one lap to go, Jess and Sofia were at the front which was most important for leading into the last turn. Sofia just missed the win but sprinted like a maniac next to someone who had another foot of height on her.

We took home the overall GC, 2nd GC, and Team GC. This weekend was fun and we learned a lot. The communication among the team was the best I have ever experienced and I am looking forward to a great season with my teammates. A shout out to Larissa Connors for her first team stage race! Thank you to Mari, Ralf, Tim, Gabby, Nicola, and Coach Dean. All of our sponsors, fans, family, friends, God, the city of Chico and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Dragoo powers her Felt DA to another TT victory

Image: Dan Munson

Report by Leah Thomas

I was eager to come back and race Chico - this time with Twenty16 Ridebiker. I had raced it the previous year on a local team and learned a lot watching TWENTY16's team cohesiveness. I was excited to be able to play a role this year in the teamwork that led to our one-two wins in the GC, circuit race, and time trial. Each stage was fast and fun, filled with great opportunities for us to execute race plans and team tactics, each rider playing to her strengths throughout the stages. With most contenders having about the same finishing time after the first two stages, the general classification was most likely going to come down to the time trial. Despite tired legs after the 90 mile road race the day before, both Allie and I rode well enough in the time trial to take the top two spots on the podium, and after an action-packed crit, maintained our one-two (respective) GC placing.

These finishes were not possible without solid teamwork and communication throughout the stages. I have never had the opportunity to work this cohesively as a team before, and it is amazing how much deeper you can dig into the pain cave or how much more you feel comfortable you feel in a race knowing your teammates have your back. And while on race day it is the eight of you going out to compete, none of this is possible without the greater team, from the mechanics and soigneurs to our sponsors who give us the best equipment, nutrition, and clothing. So while Chico was fabulous, it is just the beginning, and I am excited to see where the rest of the season will take TWENTY16 Ridebiker.

Beautiful scenery of northern California

Image: Dan Munson

Report by Alison Jackson

Stage one of the Chico Stage Race is a lot of fun to watch and to ride. The pelaton has a smooth flow around corners and up the little kickers in the circuit. Twenty16 did a lot of work in the race to keep things together and had a lot of fun! Each of us learned a bit more about racing and about each other. The last lap I was in position with my teammates around me which I needed in order to win the stage. We set up the sprint perfectly with Holly taking me through the last corner fast and furious and Sofia delivering me to the line with a first-and-second speed train finishing sprint. This win represents all the winning moves and decisions made in the race by my teammates. I dedicate this win to Nigel Thompson in celebration of killer sprints and a life well lived on and off the bike.

Jess Cerra

image: Dan Munson

To the memory of Nigel Thompson pictured here with Alison Jackson's 2015 sprinters jersey

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