Sarah Sturm rides to 4th place in Tierra Del Sol RR

Missy Erickson, Emma Millar, Sarah Sturm and Sabina Kraushaar of the FLC Women's Squad

With Winter in full force on the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the FLC Cycling team decided to attend a non-Collegiate road race near Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Tierra Del Sol was held South of Albuquerque starting and finishing in Belen, NM.  The Women would complete a 45 mile race over rolling terrain.  The Men would race a longer loop of 62 miles with one larger climbing section that would play a large role in the race outcome.  The spring winds in New Mexico made the race extremely difficult for all categories with steady 20 mph winds and 45 mph gusts.

The FLC Women went to work quickly working for Sarah Sturm.  Sarah has been steadily improving all season and the team decided to work for Sarah in hopes of obtaining a top 5 finish.  Her teammates chased down threatening attacks and kept Sarah protected from the wind all day.  With the help from here teammates Missy Erickson, Tina Dominic, Sabina Kraushaar, Emma Millar, and Nora ,Sarah rode to a strong 4th place.  The three riders that finished in front of Sarah were accomplished pro 1-2 racers .  A great team effort for the FLC Women and a step up for Sarah Sturm who will now be racing in the Collegiate A Womens Category.

DangeRuss Brown made the break in Tierra Del Sol Road Race.

The Men’s race was the first to go off at 9:00 and quickly it became apparent that the FLC Men were there to dominate. Being a non-Collegiate race it provided a rare opportinity for the Coach, Matt Shriver, to get some hands on coaching with the Men’s team and direct during the race.  It proved to be invaluable for Matt and the team to understand the tactics and strengths and weaknesses of each team member in a real race setting.

With the race starting into a cross wind the team went to work on the field right away guttering it and shattering the field.  FLC Men had five riders in the break of nine.  Coach Matt Shriver made the break with Russ (Dangeruss) Brown, Rotem Ishay, Alister Ratcliff,  and Yorgos Arambadjis. Quickly the break was riding away from the field.  Coach Shriver would soon get a front flat and come out of the break only to be helped back onto the main group by Ian Gordon.

The game plan was to keep attacking and stack the break.  At 25 miles into the race Coach Matt Shriver took Ian Gordon, and Yarden Gazit and  attacked on the lone climb in an attempt to get across to the break.  While going across they picked up another FLC rider, Alister Ratcliff who had been in the break but came out due to a flat tire.  DengeRuss and Rotem Ishay were still in the break and sitting on.

With 12 miles to go the four FLC riders bridged across to the breakway group and now contained 6 FLC riders.  They quickly went to work in the remaining 10 miles of the race.  Coach Shriver set up his team by attacking first and softening the break for his riders to continue with counter attacks.  After multiple attacks Alister Ratcliff of FLC rode away with Damian Clavert from New Mexico.  These two would take it to the line and Alister would com up just short in a sprint finishing 2nd on the day.  Yarden Gazit, finished 4th followed by Shriver in 5th.

With the FLC Cycling Home Race happening this weekend and the Nationals Champioinships only 3 weeks later, the team is really starting to come together.  The Sky Hawks are looking forward to turning some heads in Durango with impressive fire power and teamwork on their home race courese.  The Squawker Classic will kick off this coming Saturday, April 11th with the Bread Team Time Trial followed by the criterium that afternoon.  Sunday is will be the infamous Squawker Classic Road Race up the front hill and around campus. The front hill climb has an average grade of 8% and sections up to 13%.