HPC powered by Altarum at Fitchburg

HPC presented by Altarum fielded a 5 woman team at Fitchburg this past week - as most of the NRC teams fielded their core riders for the 4 day stage race.  Core team members included veteran Jenette Williams, Lorena Candrian (recent Reston GP winner) and Lesley Golenor and were accompanied by world class mountain biker Sue Haywood and Kiwi Genevieve Whitson. 

(l-r) Lesley Golenor, Susan Haywood, Jenette Williams, Lorena Candrian and Genevieve Whitson

Lorena Candrian (HPC powered by Altarum), with help from her team-mate, mountain bike Olympian Sue Haywood, challenged Kelly Benjamin for the green sprint competition. Benjamin emerged the overall leader accumulating full points on each sprint lap.  "They were good sprints and I have to give credit to the girl for going after them and not giving up," said Benjamin pleased with her nearest competitor's performance.  "Her team did a good job of trying to support her. I won the first sprint so they had to keep working for them. Her team-mates never bailed on her and they gave her a good chance at the points every time."

Lesley Golenor was tagged to save her legs for the finishing sprints on stages 3 and 4 -  placing 6th in the field sprint (8th overall) on Stage 3 and repeating her top ten sprinting performance for another 8th on the final stage 4.  Overall HPC had a great Fitchburg race and the experience of racing w/ Sue Haywood was invaluable. In the Women's 3/4 race, Anna Kelso - racing solo but teaming up with other MABRA women - placed a solid 9th in the final stage.

HPC presented by Altarum at Iron Hill and Grandview

Jen Rasmusson, Kristy Scheffenacker and Michele Bote were up at the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium fighting a tough field - where Jen placed 7th and Kristy 16th - riding against some top teams from Juice Plus, Tibco, Webcor and Aarons.  Jen had honed her sprint after having contested the GrandView criterium series where she helped drive a three rider break (along w/ Priority Health and Revolution) that stayed away for the finish....with Jen placing 3rd and the next day contested the field sprint for a 5th against the same riders from BMW, Priority Health and Colavita.

HPC/List at 2008 USAC Masters Nationals - Louisville, KY

HPC/List repeated its Bronze Medal ride in the Tandem Mixed 90+ TT - as Jeff Anderson and Kay Tsui beat out all of last years returning teams and was out of the silver by 24 secs.  The gold medal team hailing out of the NY/NJ area - and being sponsored by DKNY - were 'stunning' according to Kay Tsui - both in speed and looks - guess one can both look good and feel good.  Three days later Jeff and Kay lined up for the Tandem Mixed 90+ RR and were on their way to silver with 2 laps to go when adverse weather conditions turned the already technical RR course more so and unfortunately crashed out....yes they crashed a tandem.   YIKES!!   Scraps and bruises as usual but mostly disappointed.  It was quite an experience to toe the line with 14 of the fastest tandem teams in the country and then hammer off on the first lap like a 25 mile crit vs an up and down, twisty 50 mile road race. 

Kay Tsui on her own fought a tough fight w/ multi National Champion Betty Tyrell and cruised in solo for the Silver 55-59 road race medal after having broken away with Betty from a field of 5 women - all multi national and world champions - Kay then toed the line 2 days after the tandem crash and took the bronze in the field sprint in the same category Criterium.

Mimi Newcastle gives her perspective in the Women's 45-49 criterium (as well as road race and TT) at her blog.   In the criterium she fought back to the main field and pulled off a 2nd in the field sprint for a 5th overall and 4th podium placing for HPC/List.   Mimi Newcastle and Rhonda Abernathy both placed one spot off the podium in their respective ITT's on a blustery but nicely rolling 38k course.

HPC's RHONDA ABERNATHY AND JEFF BRANDON CLAIM VIRGINIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

On Sunday July 22, members of the HPC team took on the Virginia State Time Trial Championship in Stoney Creek. The conditions were reported as a head wind on the way out and a tail wind on the way back. Rhonda Abernathy raced to the Women's Category 4 championship, finishing with a time 3 minutes faster than the second place racer. Jeff finished the course a minute faster than his nearest competitor for the championship.

HPC MEN TAKE ON THE WORKING MAN'S CLASSIC IN RICHMOND

Stage One was successful for the team with Wayland Hundley taking the victory in the Men's 4/5 field and Jeff Brandon placing 3rd in the Men's 1/2/3.

"Managed 8th place today (Stage Two), which is an accomplishment considering the circumstances.  The race dynamic has developed where the tier 2 teams (Kazane, Carytown, VBV, and in most cases Natures Path) are not chasing Harley, Time or Richmond Pro and relying on HPC (me and Scott) and few other individuals to bring these breaks back.  When HPC is represented break with the other majors (Time, Harley, Richmond Pro) the other teams chase frantically.  Today was attack after attack, which were neutralized up until about 5 laps to go, when Mike Stoop and I think Keck went off the front.  Richmond Pro who at least 6 guys in this race attacked and bridged up........of coarse none of the larger tier 2 teams chased, period, and  I was not about to (once again) bring everyone with me up to the break so I tried to sit in (as much as you can with a zillion people on your wheel).  The rest is history.  More Tomorrow........does anyone know where I can buy some wheel sucker repellant?  It would come in handy." Jeff B

HPC WOMENS TEAM RETURNS FROM MINNESOTA

The Nature Valley Grand Prix draws some of the finest talent in racing every year and this year was no different as Kristen Armstrong, Tina Pic and Laura Van Gelder, to name but a few of the top pros in the competition. It is always a demanding 6-stage/5-day event and this year it was especially so as heavy weather forced the officials to shorten the first stage and eventually decide that the stage would not count. 134 women started the road race the next day - originally meant to be Stage 2 but now Stage 1. Lesley Golenor had a good day on the bike, finishing 22nd on the day, with teammate Kate Flore farther back in the same group. The rest of the team made it through the tough road race as well. Next up was the two-stage day which included an uphill time trial and a crit. Lesley, Kate, Jen and Lorena continued to race well and hold their own as the field dwindled. By the time they reached the final stage - the Stillwell Crit, recognized as the toughest criterium course in the United States - only 82 women were still competing and nearly half of the amateurs (Category 2) women were out of the competition.
The end results for our women were outstanding:
Top Amateur Rider (Cat 2) Competition:
Lesley Golenor - 16th; Lorena Candrian - 20th; Kate Flore - 21st; Jen Rasmusson - 27th

HPC's LORENA CANDRIAN PLACES 15th AT LIBERTY CLASSIC

The HPC Women's National Team lined up with some of the world's best professional women racers in Philadelphia on Sunday, June 8 to contest the Liberty Classic, the final race in the Triple Crown of Cycling. The team acquitted itself well, raced hard and produced an outstanding result with Lorena Candrian placing ahead of many of the big names of women's pro cycling.

THE COMMERCE BANK TRIPLE CROWN OF CYCLING STARTS JUNE 3

HPC Cycling Team members Lorena Candria, Kate Flore, Lesley Golenor, Jen Rasmusson and Jenette Williams started for the team today in the first of this three race series in Pennsylvania. June 3 is the Lehigh Valley Classic and June 5 is the Reading Classic. The crowning event on Sunday, June 8 is the Liberty Cup featuring four times up the grueling Manayunk Wall.

HPC WOMEN COME ON TO FORM AGAINST TOP PROS OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Saturday May 24: Kelly Cup in Baltimore had a Women's Pro/1/2/3 field of over 75 racers, including members of the Colavita/Sutter Home, Team Type 1, Team TIBCO, Verducci Breakaway pro squads. Ten HPC women came to the line and raced hard, often driving the pace at the front of the field. In the end, the team claimed 3 of the top 15 places.

Sunday May 25 - RFK/City Bikes Criterium held on the grand prix race course at the stadium, HPC sent nine women to the line for the Pro/1/2 race, facing off against many of the previous day's competitors as well as some new arrivals from the Cheerwine squad. The day belonged to HPC as Lorena Candrian sprinted across the line first, with teammates Jenette Williams and Lesley Golenor not far behind taking 8th and 9th respectively.

WOMEN'S CYCLING TEAM ADDS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO THEIR ROSTER

WASHINGTON, DC – The HPC “Powered by Altarum” National Women's Cycling Team now has five powerful new members – Members of Congress, that is. Senator Olympia Snowe (ME); Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI); Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR); Rep. John Dingell (MI); and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) were all “adopted” by the team as honorary co-captains during a recent team visit to Capitol Hill.

The HPC “Powered by Altarum” Team toured Congressional offices May 15 in support of National Women's Health Week and National Bike-to-Work Week. The team designated the two Senators and three Members of Congress as honorary co-captains and presented them with team jerseys to thank them for their support of cycling and women's issues.

While no bikes were allowed through security, that did not stop the team from serving as powerful advocates. At each office the women shared their personal perspective on the importance of cycling and physical fitness and answered questions on competitive racing. Team member and Altarum Institute employee Kate Flore also took part in a staff forum on active living sponsored by Rep. Blumenauer and the Congressional Bike Caucus.

“It was such a rare opportunity to meet with these Member's,” said team coach Susan Hefler. “I am glad the team was able to tell these lawmakers in person how important cycling can be for women and a healthy lifestyle.”

The HPC “Powered by Altarum” Team's title sponsor, Altarum Institute, has offices in Maine, Michigan, and the District of Columbia. Rep. Blumenauer was honored due to his status as Chairman of the Congressional Bike Caucus and for his leadership on cycling issues.

Altarum Institute (www.altarum.org) is a nonprofit health systems research institute that helps government clients research and apply health systems solutions to improve our nation's health. Altarum employs more than 235 individuals and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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For photos and additional information about the HPC “Powered by Altarum” National Women's Cycling Team visit to Congress, please contact Jonathan Orr at 703-575-1215 or jonathan.orr@altarum.org .

COMMERCE BANK ANNOUNCES TRIPLE CROWN TEAMS

Organizers of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling have announced the 20 professional women's teams that will contest a three-race battle in southeastern Pennsylvania in early June. At stake is a $34,000 prize purse that includes $5000 for the overall series winner.

Battling for the big payday will be a talented field of six-rider squads that includes three of Europe's top teams, plus the cream of the crop from the American racing scene. As usual the marquee event of the series will be June 8's Liberty Classic, which is celebrating its 15th running on the historic streets of downtown Philadelphia.

The overwhelming favorite to capture Liberty gold will be defending champion and two-time winner Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road). The German sprinting sensation is on fine form once again, already taking an impressive third at the season opening World Cup in Geelong, Australia. Teutenberg will be backed by the powerful Team High Road squad, sister outfit to the dominant men's team and No. 1 in the most recent World Cup rankings.

"Ina will definitely be our plan A," confirmed Kristy Scrymgeour, High Road's communications manager. "Our main concern is making sure no one gets away on the last trip up Lemon Hill. If we can keep the race together Ina will be hard to beat in a sprint."

High Road also boasts American stars Mara Abbott and Kim Anderson. A year ago, the 22-year-old Abbott was the revelation of pro peloton, winning a stage of the Redlands Classic, the national road race championship, and scoring a silver at the Montreal World Cup. All that happened while she was still devoting time to swimming and college. This year, the young American is fully focused on cycling, with her eyes trained on the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

The biggest threat to High Road will be Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung, and its own fast finisher, Deutschland native Regina Schleicher. Schleicher was world champion on the road in 2005 and won the Liberty Classic a year later. Nürnberger was second in the most recent World Cup standings.

Swiss-based Cervelo-Lifeforce are the newcomers to the Liberty Classic, but that doesn't mean they're coming only for the experience. Led by 2006 world time trial champion Kristin Armstrong, Cervelo-Lifeforce has the best chance of derailing another German blitzkrieg.

Since 1996, only two non-Germans have won this prestigious women's event, the last coming in 2003 when Canadian Lyne Bessette snuck away during the final climb of Lemon Hill and held her advantage all the way to the finish. Armstrong, a non-sprinter who was second in this year's Tour of Flanders, will need a similar scenario to unfold if she's to become the first American to win the Liberty Classic.

Webcor Builders could also make some noise during the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling. The California-based team started 2008 with a bang when team rider Katheryn Mattis scored a breakthrough win at the Geelong World Cup in late February. That victory celebration was muted a week later when Mattis broke her collarbone after crashing at the Tour of New Zealand. Nonetheless, Webcor's international aspirations remain. The 2007 National Racing Calendar team champion spent much of its spring campaign in Europe, helping team leader - and rheumatology doctor - Christine Thorburn pursue a spot on the U.S. Olympic Games team.

Women's teams for Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling: Team High Road - Women (GER), Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team (SUI), Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung (GER), Webcor Builders Cycling Team (USA), Aaron's Women's Professional Cycling Team (USA), BMW-Bianchi (USA), C3-Sollay.com (USA), Cheerwine Cycling (USA), Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light (USA), HPC Powered by Altarum (USA), Hub Racing (USA), Jazz Apple Cycling Team (NZL), Juice Plus+ Women's Cycling Team (USA), PROMAN Racing (USA), Team Advil/Chapstick (USA), Team Kenda Tire (USA), Team Tibco (USA), ValueAct Capital Cycling Team (USA) and Vanderkitten Racing (USA).

MAY 3 BRINGS 4 PODIUM FINISHES FOR HPC

Poolesville Road Race - This Montgomery County, Maryland race is known for its gravel section. This year the conditions were dry and the gravel fairly well packed, which made for better than usual riding, but the tricky entrance into the section took its usual toll on the riders. Kate Flore won the field sprint to take 2nd in the women's 1/2/3 field, followed by Lesley Golenor in 8th, Kristy Scheffenacker in 9th, Chris Kelley in 11th and Lorena Candrian in 12th. The 3/4 women's race saw Tania Steinschneider place 6th and Anna Kelso finish 11th. In the Men's 4/5 race, Manny Samaniego placed 3rd. And Jeff Anderson placed 12th in the Men's 40+ field.
Meanwhile at the Wintergreen resort in Virginia, other HPC team members were testing their legs in the annual Wintergreen Hill Climb. Kay Tsui won the women's 40+ field and was the 5th fastest woman to take on the climb. Jeff Brandon placed 3rd in the men's 1/2/3 field and Wayland Hundley tied for 8th in the Men's 4.

MAY 4 MICHAUX MAXIMUS MTB SUCCESS

Kenny Shapiro took the 25 mile Michaux Maximus in Gettysburg Pennsylvania, turning in the 9th fastest time among all 110 competitors, a time that put him in 3rd place among the Veteran class.

APRIL 26 & 27 - HPC RACES WELL IN PENNSYLVANIA

Tour de Ephrata - This 3-stage, 2-day event includes a road race, a time trial up "Pain Mountain" and a downtown criterium. HPC's Jeff Brandon raced the Men's 1/2/3 field and placed 10th in the Road Race, 21st in the Time Trial and 7th in the Criterium with an end result of 12th place in the General Classification. In the Women's Open, Kate Flore finished 7th in the Road Race, 3rd in the Time Trial and 14th in the Crit finishing 6th in the GC, and Tania Steinschneider, racing her first stage race, finished 29th in the GC.
In Carlisle, Mimi Newcastle put her new time trial bike to the first test of the season in a 40km contest and came away with 2nd place among the women competitors.

APRIL 19 & 20 - COLLEGIATE VICTORY IN NORTH CAROLINA

HPC Cyclist Lesley Golenor continued her collegiate racing success at the Atlantic Conference Championship, winning the Women's A Road Race and finishing 2nd in the Women's A Criterium. Her top finishes aided Virginia Tech's win of the Conference.
Next stop: Collegiate National Championships May 9-11 in Fort Collins, Colorado

APRIL 5 & 6 RACE WEEKEND BRINGS 4 WINS FOR HPC!

April 5 - Lorena Candrian won the Women's 1/2/3 race at the Tour of Walkersville, with teammate Christine Kelley taking 2nd. Meanwhile, in Blacksburg, Virginia, Lesley Golenor won the Women's A race at the Virginia Tech Collegiate Road Race.

April 6 - Jenette Williams won the final sprint to claim victory in the Women's 1/2/3 field at the Tyson's Corner Circuit Race, with teammate Lorena Candrian taking 2nd place. Jeff Brandon sprinted to victory in the Men's 3/4 race.

HPC POWERED BY ALTARUM ANNOUNCES THE ADDITION OF CHRISTINE KELLEY TO ITS ROSTER.

HPC CYCLING TEAM ANNOUNCES 2008 WOMEN'S NATIONAL RACING TEAM
AND TITLE SPONSOR ALTARUM

L to R: Lorena Candrian, Jen Rasmusson, Lesley Golenor, Kristy Scheffenacker, Michele Bote, Susan Hefler, Kate Flore and Jenette Williams

Look for Team HPC Powered by Altarum on the NRC circuit in 2008

Reston, VA (February 1, 2008) - Following three successful years racing at the regional level, Hefler Performance Coaching (HPC) has expanded its team to compete in a full National racing calendar (NRC) for 2008. HPC is proud to introduce Altarum Institute as a new title sponsor for the NRC team. Formerly known as the HPC/LIST Women's Cycling Team, HPC has been successful at the regional level producing the Mid Atlantic Best All Around Rider for two of the past three seasons. “We are extremely grateful to Altarum for their belief in our team,” said Susan Hefler, Team Director. “Their support is making it possible for these very talented women to realize their full potential and race at the highest level of U.S. competition,” she added.

“We are really excited about the Altarum partnership with HPC and this group of extraordinary athletes,” said Linc Smith, Altarum's President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to rooting them on thru the season, of course. And we hope they will inspire others to become healthier and more physically active. On top of that, we have found in this team a group of like-minded systems thinkers. Bike racing is a great example of a system, with each player on the team interacting with others to achieve a defined result. As a group of health systems researchers, all of us at Altarum thought the affiliation was just a natural fit.”

Altarum Institute (www.altarum.org) is a nonprofit health systems research institute. Altarum helps its clients research and apply health systems solutions to improve our nation's health.

The 2008 National Racing Team includes: Jenette Williams, a fast finisher with numerous NRC podium placings; Kristy Scheffenacker, 3-time MABRA champion and former Colavita Bolla Professional Women's Cycling Team member; Susan Hefler, Team Director and former Navigator's and RONA Professional Women's team member; Michele Bote, a savvy stage racer with over 15 years of racing experience; Lorena Candrian, a climbing dynamo and top finisher in NRC events; Kate Flore, a sprinter and promising all-around rider; and Jennifer Rasmusson, a power house and developing track talent. HPC encompasses both a national (NRC) team and a regional developmental team.

In addition to this new partnership for 2008, LIST Innovative Solutions continues to be the title sponsor for the HPC Women's Regional Team, Men's Mountain Bike Team, and multisport athletes. LIST Innovative Solutions, a prime government contractor with 10+ years of Information Technology experience is based in Herndon, VA and owned by Katie Sleep. To learn more about LIST, visit their website at www.listinc.com .