UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team claims three out of four stages
FAYATTEVILLE, Ark. – Ruth Winder dominated the Joe Martin Stage Race (2.2) this past weekend in Arkansas, nabbing three out of the four stages, the general classification and the sprint classification for UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling. Her teammate, Janelle Cole, scooped up the best young rider jersey.
“We had a really good week at Joe Martin with three wins in four days, along with a second place,” Winder said. “I think we are meshing really well as a team and I look forward to the rest of the season.”
Team Director Rachel Heal said she was pleased with the team’s performance this early on.
“After a strong start in Australia, it’s great to get the US season started with a win,” Heal said. “The team is working well together and we’ll be looking to carry the momentum forward into the upcoming races.”
The winning momentum came early in the race, with Winder powering to a win after a short 4.8-kilometer individual time trial through Devil’s Den State Park. Katie Hall and Tayler Wiles finished in the top ten in fifth and sixth place, respectively.
With three UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling riders sitting in the top ten after the first stage and Team Tibco trailing by just .4 of a second, the team went into the next day knowing they’d have a battle ahead. After 95km of racing from Cedarville to Fayetteville, the finale came down to a sprint where Winder took her second win of the race and extended her overall lead.
“The girls took great care of me,” Winder said. “Hagens Berman threw down a few great attacks, but the team pulled back each one well. Coming into the finish line there were a few teams with lead out trains, but we stayed patient and in good position before the last corner when Katie Hall hit it. I put my head down and held it to the line.”
The penultimate stage saw UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling once more represented on the podium. This time it was Lauren Hall who made her mark on the race. Hall sprinted to second place after 72 km of active racing.
“I was just trying to stay in good position for the finish, and once we caught Ruth after her attack I decided that the best thing we could do was try and get a result. I was in a good position and was able to hold it off for second,” Hall said.
With one more stage left and the pink leaders jersey still on Winder’s back, Heal said the team’s plan was to race the 50-minute criterium aggressively.
“We had another great display of teamwork on the final stage,” Heal said. “We were attacking and represented in any attacks, but the strong wind made a breakaway very difficult so the finish was contested by a reduced bunch.”
Winder proved once again that she was the strongest and took a convincing victory, sealing her overall win and the sprint jersey.
The next race for the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling women’s team is the Sunny King Omnium in Anniston, Alabama on April 7th.
Photography: Ethan Glading
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