Category 3 team news

NATURAL GROCERS RIDERS TAKE SALIDA OMNIUM

Vitamin Cottage Cycling Team — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:32:00 GMT

Natural Grocers riders Beth Fisk and Jonathon Baker won their respective titles in the Salida Omnium held over the July 31- August 2, 2009 weekend. The race was held in Salida, CO - elevation 7,100 ft. It consisted of an 8-mile out-and-back individual time trial, a demanding road race held on a 12-mile circuit that included 1,300 ft of climbing per lap, and finished with a technical figure-eight criterium in downtown Salida.

Fisk won the opening time trial 10 seconds ahead of second place finisher Ambre Levy (DFT p/b TREADS). Fisk’s teammate Maegan Daigler slotted in fifth 25 seconds back. Jonathon Baker took second in the men’s time trial aboard a new Blue Triad carbon time trial bike.

Fisk and Baker both finished third in the demanding road race stage. Baker benefitted from teammate Jon Tarkington getting in an early break with Seth Rubin (Subaru – Vista Auto). Tarkington and time trial extraordinaire Rubin took out a quick two minute lead on the field putting pressure on most of the other teams. The break eventually came back under the pressure of the race and Baker and a few other select riders moved forward to contest the win. In the end Darren Lill (Team Type 1) took the win ahead of Brad White (Ouch Maxxis) and Baker.

In the women’s criterium, Beth Fisk finished in eleventh with enough points for the overall Omnium title. Fisk’s high placing going into the stage provided an opportunity for her teammates to go for the breakaways and take points away from the other overall contenders. Maegan Daigler and Renee Eastman did a nice job of doing just that by taking 2nd and 5th respectively.

Similar tactics played out in the men’s race with Natural Grocers hoping to put numerous riders in the breaks to minimize the points available for Baker’s closest threats. The team came through putting three riders in two different breakaway groups ahead of a shattered main field. Despite a last corner crash, Baker retained enough points for the overall Omium title for a well deserved victory.

With the victory, Baker has virtually locked up the Tour of Colorado (see related velonews.com article). With an overall omnium victory, Natural Grocers rider Jason Anderson clinched the the men's category 3 Tour of Colorado.

August 19 update - Baker, McCarthy, Pinkerton and more

Vitamin Cottage Cycling Team — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:59:00 GMT

Baker wins Tour of Colorado, Gateway and Boulder Roubaix – Jon Baker continues to have a strong 2008 campaign. This past Saturday, Baker took out one of Colorado’s most prestigious races by winning a wet and muddy edition of Boulder Roubaix. The win was a sweet one due to the teamwork involved. Jon Tarkington went in a very early move with Alan Krughoff (Team Rio Grande) and put pressure on the field. When Tarkington was caught late in the race, Christian McCarthy took off on a solo move. Sheldon Taylor (Team Rio Grande) bridged up to McCarthy with only Baker in tow. Upon Taylor’s arrival at the McCarthy rear wheel, Baker launched a textbook attack and held it to the line for the win. McCarthy would finish third. Derek Strong continued a string of solid performances by finishing 6^th and Dirk Friel took 7^th. Tarkington hung on for 10^th.

Baker finished 5^th the following day at another Colorado Classic – the North Boulder Park Criterium. With that placing, Baker clinched the Tour of Colorado. In taking that title, Baker won a pair of climbing road races the prior weekend in Grand Junction, CO.

In women’s racing, Anne Lannan took 2^nd in the North Boulder Park Criterium with VC teammates Renee Eastman, Lisa Strong and Jenna Allen taking 6^th and 9^th and 10^th, respectively.

McCarthy racks up silvers – in other race news, VC strongman Christian McCarthy notched three-in-row second places in recent weekend races. In all three instances, McCarthy was second to some solid professional riders. McCarthy took second to Heath Blackgrove (Toyota United), Chris Baldwin (Toyota United) and Jason Donald (Garmin-Chipotle) at the Federal Center Circuit Race (Aug 2), Bannock Criterium (Aug 3) and Vic’s Prospect Criterium (Aug 9).

Pinkerton wins Nevada Masters State Championship – VC team manager and long time rider Bob Pinkerton recently took the Northern California/Northern Nevada State Criterium Championship in the 50+ Division at the Carson Valley Classic Criterium.

Kellagher, Barrowclough and Mapes – The Vitamin Cottage pb XP Companies team snagged a few recent victories of note. Bill Kellagher won the 45+ and James Mapes the Category 3 Boulder Roubaix race. Mathew Barrowclough won the Salida Criterium.

V.C 06!

Vitamin Cottage Cycling Team — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 08:57:00 GMT

Vitamin Cottage Cycling Team Announces 2006 Riders, Sponsors, and Plans

The Vitamin Cottage Cycling Team, the 2005 NRC’s #1 ranked amateur team and the American Cycling Associations Best-All-Around Team, has announced its 2006 rider and sponsor lineup.

The Men’s Elite Team will consist of returning riders Alan McCormack, Chad Taylor, Christian McCarthy, Chuck Coyle, Dirk Friel, Joe Taddeucci, Joey Pinkerton, Jon Tarkington, Michael Schilling, Sean Bragstad, and Rob Holland.

New to the team for 2006 will be the 2004 and 2005 Colorado Best-All-Around Rider, Jonathan Baker. In addition to Baker, Scott Tietsel and Peter Horn will be joining the squad. Tietsel and Horn are both promising Espoirs that will be spending significant time at the Cycling Center in Belgium.

The Women’s Elite Team will consist of Rene Eastman, Beth Fisk, Ann Lannan, Sharon Allpress, and Carmen Small.

Three-time national track champion and world’s bronze medalist Victor Williams is returning to defend his titles on the track.

In 2006, The Vitamin Cottage Cycling Team will continue its focus on being the top Elite Amateur Team in the Colorado Region and Nation. Vitamin Cottage will look to continue its numerous wins in the Master’s and Category 3 and 4 fields.

Keep up with the team at www.vitamincottagecycling.com.

The team is pleased to announce its 2006 sponsors:

Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers continues its dedication to cycling and healthy living as the team’s title sponsor. Vitamin Cottage is a multi-store chain with over 700 employees in Colorado and New Mexico, and www.vitamincottage.com brings high quality products at every day affordable prices to people everywhere.

Industry Partners:

Easton – Forks, Wheels, Bars, Stems, and Seatposts

Eddy Merckx – Frames

Giordana – Clothing

Gommitalia – Tires and Tubes

Rudy Project – Glasses and Helmets

Clif Bar – Energy bars, drinks, and gels

Campagnolo- Components

Speedplay - Pedals

TrainingPeaks.com - Training Software for endurance athletes

Vecchio’s Bicicletteria – bicycle shop specializing in service and repair

Supporting Partners

NOW Foods – Manufacturer of vitamins, minerals, and supplements

The Boulder Center for Sports Medicine

For more information about the team, contact Bob at vitamincottagecyclingteam@yahoo.com.

Eastman wins / Friel second at Federal Center

Vitamin Cottage Cycling Team — Sat, 13 Aug 2005 04:34:00 GMT

Aug 6 - Renee Eastman is back in town and she's up to her old tricks. On a difficult winding circuit through the Federal Center in Lakewood, Eastman returned to Colorado with a victory for her Vitamin Cottage women's team.

In the men's race, at the end of an aggressive day of racing by his Vitamin Cottage team, it was Dirk Friel slipping away from the field with Zak Grabowski of TIAA-CREF with 3 laps to go. Grabowski took the win with Friel close behind for second. VC riders Joe Pinkerton and Alan McCormack took 5th and 10th. Michael Schilling rode an aggressive race in support of his team covering numerous break away attempts.

Lance Loehding, a first year road racer, showed he is getting the hang of it by placing 5th for VC in the category 4 race.