Mercy Cycling Team – Elite Women

Brown went to Wisconsin for the second of a two week series for the womens pro/1/2/3 field at the International Cycling Classic, also known as “Superweek.” Arriving on the 18th to Schiltz Park and finding overcast skies and a power climb, she couldn’t have been happier. Brown attacked from the gun and arrived at the top of the hill with a gap and took off. Another rider joined her on lap 3 and critical breakaway power, Kristin Wentworth from Team Kenda, bridged up a few laps later. Together Wentworth and Brown ended up lapping the field with Wentworth giving the win to Brown.

Although Brown attacked and tried many breakaway attempts the rest of the week, only one other ended with a podium finish — the 8-corner Racine criterium for third.

Team News

Mercy Elite Women’s squad welcomes Heather Ladd! Heather recently moved to Little Rock from Birmingham and works as a health services researcher.  She has been racing mountain and road for a couple of seasons, but her favorite discipline is cyclocross.  Later this year, she will be participating in her first Singlespeed World Championships (MTB) in Durango.  Like Steve Tilford, Heather encounters many turtles on her local training rides and moves them to the side of the road.

Heather will be racing with the team in Springfield and at Tour of Kansas City in August.

Team News

Mercy Cycling Team’s Sydney Brown won the top amateur award at the 2009 Nature Valley Grand Prix as part of the Nature Valley Pro Ride team. Last year she finished 8th in this competition and a win was a goal achieved. Read her race report on her blog

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Team News

Team News

June 1 Brown settled in and hit a time trial pace she hoped would bring home the gold. She said a victory in this discipline was one of her 5 goals for the season and she was determined to do her utmost to make it happen. That was enough. Brown rode to her win with 6 seconds to spare.

The next day, she race the criterium and although she tried everything she knew, she ended up out-sprinted by one of her breakaway companions by the width of a tire and had to settle for 2nd.

Team News Race Reports, sydney brown, time trial

March 2009 Mt. Gaylor Training Camp at Deer Hollow Ranch. Jennifer, Lindsay and Michelle love training in Arkansas. We love the hills, the weather, the hot tub and we can’t wait to race up Mt. Gaylor for Joe Martin! This was Lindsay’s first ride after shoulder surgery…TOUGH girl.

Race Report: Michelle and Jennifer raced Hell’s Kitchen 40 mile RR with the master’s men. It was fast and we were trying to stay towards the front and avoid the yo-yos. The climb is about a mile and steep; a few women were able to keep pace with the lead group of men and the winner stayed away. We scooped Lise back up but she and another women kept a gap open at the top of the second climb and with two masters they stayed away. End of story. Women’s fields with more than ten racers should have their own race and follow vehicle.

Team News

Sydney, Jennifer and Michelle braved the rainy weather and completed the Hermann Stage Race as easy as 123. Hermann, Mo is a small German town with more than four wineries and it is home to multiple bike races. Sydney won the ten mile  TT on her new Specialized hot rod under 24 minutes! Michelle was third and Jennifer fifth. The crit course was unique with a hill splitting the middle of the vineyard. The back side had rough pavement and a fast downhill then four quick turns leading back up to the hill. On the first lap Jennifer jumped followed by Michelle, Sydney and Kelli. One the hill Syd took off; Kelli could not match the pace of Jennifer and Michelle so we thought we had it in the bag. Just past the start line with three to go Jennifer flatted. She has some skill handling her bike and it showed; she made it down the hill and around the four corners to the hill for a tire change. Unfortunately the leader had crossed the start line so Jennifer was in the “two to go, no free lap” zone. She chased down all but two racers to hang on to fifth. As this was a points race so each place counted for the overall. Slight set back but after some quick math we knew 123 was still possible. We had a strong plan going into the RR Sunday. Jennifer was to get first and take the QoM points. We had heard the course was hilly and that was an understatement. The left turn out of town led to a series of three hills. Jennifer drove those hills the day before and knew we could get away from the start.  We stuck to our plan and it worked! The pink ladies came away with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place was well as some much deserving Stone Hill wine!

Pictures from race director Jeff Yielding

Race Reports, Team News

St. Louis Tillis Park Criterium April 5, 2009

During our first Crit of the season the Mercy trio: Sydney, Jennifer and Michelle made their competitors work. From the gun Michelle jumped and had two chasers who brought Jennifer with them. Thinking this was a good situation, the Mercy women attacked and counter attacked as much
as possible. After lapping the field Sydney attacked with Team Rev hot on her heals. Trying to lure the Kenda rider in the final laps unsuccessfully the sprint was chaotic and ultimately lost. Taking second and third was bitter sweet. We are excited to try team tactics together again at the Hermann Stage race!

Team News

Jennifer Rhoades Cat 2 racer: This is Jennifer’s third year racing. She is a great motivator with an awesome MOTOR. During the day Jennifer is a speech pathologist.

Favorite-

food: Kashii bars
drink: Michelob Ultra
movie: cheesy chic flicks
race: Tour of KC
vacation spot: Arkansas

Profiles

Team Captain: Pam Hinton is a cat 2 racer with over five years experience. In 2008 she was 7th at Mater’s National in the Individual Time Trial (40- 44), placed 1st at the Joe Martin stage race in the master’s race and completed the narcissistic Leadville 100 Race to the Sky 13th in her class.

During the week…Pam is Dr. Hinton at the University of Missouri where she teaches nutritional science courses.

Favorite-

food- ice cream
drink- diet Mnt. Dew
movie/ book - East of Eden; Sophie Scroll
riding vacation- TX hill country
music- U2

Profiles