ANNISTON, Ala. – The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling women’s team stormed into Alabama this past weekend with Lauren Hall and Ruth Winder claiming first place at Sunny King Crit and McClellan Road Race, respectively.
Team director Rachel Heal said the team continues to display fantastic teamwork, which was first shown at the Sunny King Criterium – a 60-minute race held on a 1.1 km circuit. Unfortunately the race was marred by crashes early on, the first taking out Kate Sherwin.
“She seemed okay, but we pulled her from the race because she hit her head,” Heal said. “we were aggressive as planned, but no one seemed interested in going with us, only chasing, so we had solo move after solo move.”
The most significant was a 10 lap break by Hall mid race, and a two rider break with Janelle Cole, brought back inside five laps to go.
“With Kate out and both Lauretta Hanson and Ruth Winder slightly under the weather, we didn’t have our normal firepower at the end of the race, but they pulled off a fantastic lead out and Lauren finished it off.”
Sunday’s road race was three laps of a 22-mile circuit with a 17 percent climb and a longer shallower highway climb. Hanson got in an early break of five riders, and Winder bridged across on the second lap. The final time up the climb, Winder went clear with a Cylance rider while Hanson stayed in a chase group of four that reshuffled to six when Diana Peñuela bridged across.
With a gap of over two minutes coming into the final few kilometers, Winder could focus on the sprint and took a comfortable victory. Peñuela led the chase group home for 3rd place.
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