Team TIBCO/To the Top bolsters 2010 Roster with UCI registration.

Pescadero, California - With its new status as a UCI-registered women’s cycling team, Team TIBCO/To the Top has added several top-performing international riders as well as a number of younger, up-and-coming riders, to an experienced returning core that includes 2009 U.S. National Road Champion Meredith Miller and 2008 Road and Criterium National Champion Brooke Miller. The team will look to build on its 2009 NRC Championship season, making its first foray into Europe in the spring.

“We set out in 2009 to become the top team in North America and we achieved that goal,” said the team’s founder and Managing Director, Linda Jackson. “For this year, our goals are even higher. We’ll be making our first trip to Europe, always with an eye toward the 2012 London Olympics. We want to build this team into a consistently strong international player this year and next, and develop as many Olympians as possible for 2012.

“We have a lot of proven talent on the roster, and I’m very excited about our younger, developing riders,” she continued. “Team TIBCO/To the Top will be going to all our races in the U.S. and Europe to win. Ruth Corset’s win at Australian Road Nationals was made possible by the selfless work of her teammate Emma Mackie. It’s this kind of teamwork that we plan on using to propel us to the top again in 2010.”

The addition of Corset and Mackie bring significant international experience to the team. Though she’s only been racing for four years, Corset has excelled in the sport, receiving the honor of being named Australian Female Cyclist of the Year in 2009. She earned that honor with a stage win at the Route de France, two top five finishes at UCI World Cup races, Montreal and Plouay, and 2nd Overall at the Tour International Feminin en Limousin. She was also 12th at the World Championships, despite suffering several mechanicals. And now she’s started off the 2010 season by winning the Australian national road championship.

“She showed her grit by continually clawing her way back to the front group at Worlds last year and fighting through the heat, cramping and nausea at the national championships last weekend,” said Team TIBCO directeur sportif Jeff Corbett. “She’s a fantastic climber and she’s been working on her time trialing as well. We really want her going well for our European tour.”

Corset’s compatriot Emma Mackie has spent the past four seasons racing the top European races. Despite only being 25, Corbett notes that “she has great race sense from her years racing in Europe. She’s an opportunistic type of rider who can sprint well out of breaks. She’ll also provide another strong engine for our sprint lead-outs.”

New U.S riders are led by veteran Kristen LaSasso, a strong climber and a rider who will take on a lead role for many of the North American stage races. “Kristen is a smart rider who knows how to position herself well in races,” Corbett said. “She had a really good 2009 despite riding with little support.”

LaSasso often rode in support of sprinter Laura Van Gilder last year. However, she showed her strength in hard races by taking third in the U.S. National Road Race Championship. “She was always there in the crits,” Corbett said. “This year we want her focused on stage races.”

Though just shy of her 24th birthday, Rebecca Much has been racing in the pro ranks since 2005. She showed her potential in 2004 when she finished 2nd in the World Junior Time Trial Championship. She’s won a pair of U23 national time trial championships, as well as a U23 cyclocross national championship.

“Rebecca is a strong all-around rider with good potential as a GC rider,” Corbett said. “She’s been more of a domestique on the teams she’s ridden for recently, but she has the potential to deliver good results.”

She’ll be joined by another rising all-around talent, 23-year-old Amanda Miller. Miller is another strong climber, but also very good at criteriums. “She’s continually gaining a tactical sense for racing,” Corbett said. “She understands the game of chess on bikes and is showing the characteristics of a well-rounded rider.”

Team TIBCO also adds two young, up-and-coming sprinters for 2010, Megan Guarnier, 24, and Samantha Schneider, the youngest team member at just 19.

“Megan got some good experience racing with the national team in Europe in 2009,” Corbett said. “She’s hard-nosed and fights for good position for the sprints. Sam is also a really smart rider despite being so young. She also has a way of finding good position in the bunch. Both riders will be looking to develop under Brooke this year, and when Brooke is in Europe, Sam will be getting her chances in the sprints.”

Devon Haskell rounds out the list of new riders for 2010, which will be her first pro season. Though she’s only been racing a few years, Haskell found early success in the college ranks, winning the national championship in 2008.

“She brings another big engine to the team,” Corbett said. “She gained a lot of experience with the national team in 2009, and every year she gets stronger physically and technically. She’s another rider in the mold of Meredith Miller.”

Returning Team TIBCO riders include both Millers, as well as Kiwi standout Joanne Kiesanowski, who finished 3rd overall in the NRC individual points classification, Jerika Hutchinson, Alison Starnes and Ali Rosenthal. Emma Rickards returns in a rider/director role.

U.S. National Road Champion Meredith Miller will captain the team for 2010. Her experience, tactical knowledge and strong, opportunistic riding style will be a critical component to the team this season.

Brooke Miller returned to full health during the summer of 2009 after being slowed by a respiratory illness in the first part of the season. Once she was back, she was nearly unbeatable, closing last season with five straight wins, including a four-race sweep of the Tour of Missouri Women’s Series. She’ll be looking to establish her place as one of the world’s top sprinters in 2010.

Kiesanowski, perhaps the team’s most well-rounded rider, will not only bring her leadership skills, but also give the team a reliable weapon in nearly every race she enters.

Rising star Alison Starnes returns to Team TIBCO/To the Top for 2010. The 24-year-old Starnes continued her rapid development in 2009, her second year of bike racing. Along with taking several impressive solo wins in NorCal races, she began to shine on the national and international stages, finding the podium in several French Cup races with the national team, and finishing 2nd in the Cascade Classic Time Trial stage in July.

“Ali is flat out strong,” Corbett said. “She has a lot of potential and she’s really still learning how to race her bike. She’s shown good instincts already. This year, we want to get her more elite-level race days and teach her how to use her strength wisely.”

Jerika Hutchinson, rounds out the 2010 roster. The three-time U.S. junior national champion and bronze medalist in the 2007 world junior time trial championships, continued her development in 2009. Along with a number of podium appearances in local races, the 19-year-old earned a silver medal in the U23 time trial national championships.

Ryan Bontrager joins the staff as Head Mechanic, and veteran directeur sportif Chris Georgas will manage the team in Europe for the spring campaign that will include top-level UCI races and World Cups in Belgium and Holland, culminating with Tour de L'Aude in France. Georgas raced for several years in Canada, the U.S. and France before turning to coaching and directing. Over the past decade, Georgas has directed Canadian and New Zealand women’s national teams, and several UCI pro Women’s teams in over 20 World Cups and five Tours de L'Aude. He is also currently active in coaching and teaching road and track for the French Federation and USA Cycling.

“When Linda asked me to direct the team in Europe in 2010, I couldn't resist the opportunity to work with her and the impressive team she and her colleagues have put together,” Georgas said. “I’ve already directed seven of the team’s 14 riders at different times over the past few years and I know the others by reputation. There are no weak links.”

Ballarat, Victoria, Australia - New Team TIBCO rider Ruth Corset has won the Australian  National Road Race Championship. On a day that saw temperatures reach 34ºC (93ºF), Corset put in a well-timed counterattack of a move by new teammate Emma Mackie on the second to last lap to bridge up to the duo of Judith Arndt and Rachel Neylan.

The trio was joined by Bridie O’Donnell on the final lap. The four riders were together until the penultimate climb, when Corset again put in a blistering attack to leave the other three riders behind. Corset soloed the final 10 km, with O’Donnell in hot pursuit, but the 32-year-old mother of two daughters held on for a 0:20 victory and her first national road title in three attempts. In 2009, Corset took the silver medal at nationals; this year she was a pre-race favorite.

“It still hasn’t sunk in yet,” Corset said less than an hour after the race had ended and she had received her national champion’s jersey. “Emma and I had put together the plan for her to attack and me to counter, and it just worked out the way. Even though there was just the two of us, it turned out to be a good team race.”

The race started out aggressively, and on the second lap, former world champion Arndt powered off the front of the bunch and opened a gap of over two minutes on the bunch.

“When Judith attacked there wasn’t too much response from the bunch,” Corset said. But as the race progressed, the pace increased and a 13-rider chase group including Corset and Mackie formed in pursuit of Arndt. With just over three laps remaining, Neylan attacked the chase group and jumped across the gap to Arndt

“When Rachel went across there wasn’t a big reaction either,” Corset said. But as the final two laps approached, the time came for anyone who wanted a solid crack at the jersey to make a move.

“Emma put in a great attack that put me in perfect position to counter and bridge up to Judith and Rachel,” Corset said. “I was really struggling the last few laps with the heat. But on the last lap, I just put my head down and went for it.”

She didn’t let off the gas until she had cross the finish line alone, a national champion.

New Team TIBCO rider Ruth Corset kicks off the 2010 season by winning the Australian National Road Championship!

Corset wins Australian National Road title.

Ballarat, Victoria, Australia - New Team TIBCO/To the Top rider Ruth Corset has won the Australian National Road Race Championship. On a day that saw temperatures reach 34ºC (93ºF), Corset put in a well-timed counterattack of a move by new Team TIBCO teammate Emma Mackie on the second to last lap to bridge up to the duo of Judith Arndt and Rachel Neylon.

The trio was joined by Bridie O’Donnell on the final lap. The four riders were together until the penultimate climb, when Corset again put in a blistering attack to leave the other three riders behind. Corset soloed the final 10 km, with O’Donnell in hot pursuit, but the 32-year-old Corset held on for a 0:20 victory and her first national road title in three attempts. In 2009 she took the silver medal at nationals, and this year was a pre-race favorite.

“It still hasn’t sunk in yet,” Corset said less than an hour after the race had ended and she had received her national champion’s jersey. “Emma and I had put together the plan for her to attack and me to counter, and it just worked out the way. Even though there was just the two of us, it turned out to be a good team race.”

Look for a full report in the near future.

Join Team TIBCO for Breast Cancer Awareness ride and team gear sale Saturday.

Los Altos, CA - This Saturday, Team TIBCO will join the folks from Bicycle Outfitter, as well as hundreds of participants for the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Ride.

Following rides of either 10 or 25 miles that start and finish at Bicycle Outfitter in Los Altos, attendees can take advantage of great savings at the weekend sales event, featuring high-quality Team TIBCO clothing and equipment. Get kitted out in stylish 2009 Team TIBCO apparel by Squadra, and get unbeatable deals on used team equipment and accessories to help upgrade your ride and your gear. Ride fast so you can get to the Team TIBCO booth for all the best deals before they’re gone!

It’s a great opportunity to contribute to Breast Cancer Awareness and show your support for Team TIBCO, North America’s top women’s professional cycling team.

Event Details:
Date: Saturday, October 10
Time: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Bicycle Outfitter, 963 Fremont Ave., Los Altos, CA

Register at: https://event-manager.compete-at.com/Manager/event/home.do?eid=1494

Hutchinson finishes her season with trips to the podium.

Team TIBCO seals NRC overall team title.

Los Altos, California - One of the main goals of the TIBCO Women’s Pro Cycling Team for 2009 was to be the top team in North America. After Sunday’s Atlanta Women’s 10K Classic, the final race of the NRC series, it’s official.

Team TIBCO has won the overall team classification of the USA Cycling NRC series.

“This was one of our biggest goals for this year,” said Team TIBCO founder and manager Linda Jackson. “Team TIBCO has consistently been the strongest team this season, winning the overall team classification of three of the biggest stage races in the U.S., and racking up numerous wins and podiums in NRC competition. We’re proud to have earned the NRC team title. To reach this level from such modest beginnings in 2006 is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved in the team, both on and off the bike.”

Team TIBCO won the overall by a comfortable 427-point margin over Team Type 1, with four of the team’s riders placing in the top 13 of the individual standings, including Joanne Kiesanowski in 3rd, Brooke Miller in 8th and Katharine Carroll in 9th.

“We’ve been able to take advantage of our team’s depth all season,” Jackson said. “Jo and Kat were consistently strong all season long. Brooke was slowed a bit early in the year by respiratory issues, but the rest of the team was more than capable of stepping up and stepping in. Then when Brooke got back up to speed, she really turned it on the last couple months.”

That included wins in two NRC races in North Carolina in August, the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational and Hanes Park Classic, as well as at the Chris Thater Memorial.

The NRC team championship adds to the overall title of the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series, which Team TIBCO clinched after the Cascade Classic in July. The icing on the cake came at the end of July when Meredith Miller won the U.S. National Road Race Championship.

“With both Millers and Kiesanowski coming back next year, we know we’ll have a solid, experienced core to build on our success this year,” Jackson said.