News & results from the cycling world

First-ever conference empowers women's cycling
By Sue George in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Retired elite women Alison Dunlap and Sarah Uhl at the first-ever conference empowers women's cycling
Photo ©: Sue George
The first-ever Women's Cycling Leadership Conference hosted by USA Cycling at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, wrapped up yesterday evening. The conference aimed to empower and educate experienced and novice female leaders within the community of women's cycling.

32 attendees, including current and past racers, coaches, mentors and those involved in managing and promoting women's cycling from all over the United States convened to share ideas on women's cycling from the grass roots through the elite levels.

"We did it in part because of the research I've been doing," said Kristen Dieffenbach assistant professor of athlete coaching education at the West Virginia University. She co-hosted the conference with USA Cycling Coaching Education Manager Sam Callan.

"There's a discrepancy between the number of women participating and the number of women in leadership positions. It's not that the men aren't doing a good job. It's just our sport and we should be at the front of it."

The issue of leadership by women for women is not limited to cycling. Dieffenbach pointed to a study of the [US] National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), in which 90 percent of the coaches of its women's sports were women in 1970. By 2006, only 43% of the coaches of women's sports were women. Plenty of reasons have been cited for the changes, but no one really knows for sure what is causing the trend.

"At the [USA Cycling] summit in 2006, I saw a need," said Dieffenbach about how this conference came about. "We're strong people – we women involved in cycling leadership, but we're isolated. We want to increase the connection. This [conference] was a good fit given how women socialize."

Over the course of two days, presenters covered topics like sports nutrition, eating disorders, the female athlete triad, successes and failures within women-oriented grassroots and elite racing programmes, how to survive coaching, and training considerations for pregnant women and moms.

Retired former World Champion and two-time Olympian Alison Dunlap headed up an elite athlete panel that also included the recently retired Sarah Uhl, a former junior world track sprint champion and multi-time elite national track champion and Lindsey Bishop, an up and coming mountain bike racer who won the expert women's US National Championship last summer. The experienced athletes answered questions from attendees and shared their personal experiences on both ends of the spectrum of being coached and mentored.

After the conference, which Dieffenbach called a success, she said, "We need to do more. There is a lot of energy."

"This work [at the conference] isn't [Olympic] medal-winning based, but we can support USAC by what we do at the grassroots level. We need people to invest in grassroots and we need to empower them to do it and to show them that it matters." Attendees left the conference with new ideas about what to take back to their local communities to promote the growth of women's cycling."

According to Dieffenbach, just 12 percent of the current USAC membership is female, and the national governing body has never had more than 16 percent female participation. Given the motivation and energy of the women attending the conference, the potential for engaging more women in the world of cycling only looks brighter.

TOP 3 WCC TEAMS 2007

5757 Paramount
5349 Karl Strauss/SDBC
5311 South Bay Wheelman

Left to Right: Winner of SLO Criterium W 3/4 race Dianna Del Fante, Heather Rose 3rd at SLO Criterium, Kelli Jones WCC Cat 3 Series Winner, Kelley Laxamana. Congratulations to Team Paramount for an excellent season!

FINAL STANDINGS FOR MASTER WOMEN'S SERIES 2007

679 Moira Gandy Velo Sport
560 Cindy Morgan Dewalt*
560 Adrienne Brian Karl Strauss/SDBC*
501 Patricia Baker Lightening Velo
476 Laura Perdew Kalyra Bella Nova
400 Trish Kimper Karl Strauss/SDBC
385 Jill Gass Kalyra Bella Nova
383 Ellen Turkel Cyclo Vets
380 Linda Miller Amgen Giant
375 Sonia Ross Kalyra Bella Nova

Left to Right: Laura Perdew, Jill Gass, Moira Gandy Masters Series Winner, Adrienne Brian 55+ Master Women State Road Champion, Patricia Baker

362 Julie kaplan Cyclo Vets
358 Michelle La Pierre Kalyra Bella Nova
355 Sharon Scofield Team RPM
350 Narda Roushdi BBC
348 Susan Wilkins Karl Strauss/SDBC
345 Karen Boyd Cyclo Vets
340 Sue Skarin Bicycle John's
335 Lisa Tonello Kalyra Bella Nova
320 Teresa Steele
317 Sherri Norton Paramount
302 Kelley Laxamana Paramount
238 Hillary Crowley Paramount
195 Cheryl roth Helen's/Orbea
195 Ruth Clemence Simple Green
185 Liza Rogers Karl Strauss/SDBC
175 Sandra Kolb Bicycle John's
175 Charlayne Hoover Patent it!
170 Kathleen Marquette Swami's
160 Lori Whynot Karl Strauss/SDBC
150 Cathy Keeley Team Velosport
150 Dorothy Wong Figueroa Farms-Redline
146 Neva Day South Bay Wheelmen
141 Irene Thomas Johnson Bicycle John's
140 Brooke Saxon-Smith Bicycle John's
132 Amy Russo Velosport
131 Jill Jones Karl Strauss/SDBC
100 Linda Schnepf Team Simple Green
100 Deborah Durand Helen's/Orbea
100 Bonnie Breeze Helen's/Orbea
95 Katharine Lundby Karl Strauss/SDBC
95 Lenita Anthony Swami's
95 Connie Mistretta
95 Sue Bowers Cyclo Vets
95 Dianna Del Fante Paramount
95 Donna Bertiger PAA/Bicycle John's
95 Dolly Ginter Team Simple Green
90 Julia Cross South Bay Wheelman
90 Pamela Schuster Helen's/Orbea
90 Laura Hines SC Velo
90 Gabriella Gonzalez-Ferrat Bicycle John's
85 Lea Adams Helen's/Orbea
80 Maike Sander Kalyra/Bella Nova Womens Team
80 Yvonne Rodriguez
79 Monika King South Bay Wheelmen
77 Irene Thomas-Johnson Bicycle John's
75 Lisa Whetsler
75 Colleen Knutson Team Pro Cyclery
75 Caitlin Martin Surf City
75 Angela Dybdahl Block
75 Shelley Imhoff Velo Allegro
72 Sarah Butler Dewalt
72 Sarah Barron SC Velo
72 Leslie Whitmore South Bay Wheelman
70 Pegge Cohen Helen's/Orbea
70 Simone Morissette Paramount
70 Laura Lindgren Velo Allegro
70 Belinda Eschenwald
70 Trudi Schindler NOW MS Society
68 Louise Keoghan NOW MS Society
68 Carol Ruckle Team Possabilities
68 Krista Panero CA Pools Racing
68 Jennifer Wilson South Bay Wheelman
66 Maike Sander Kalyra Bella Nova
64 Lenita Anthony Swami's
64 Margaret Duganski A3CRG
64 Lenita Anthony Swami's
64 Rae Miller CA Pools Racing
62 Malinda Maile NU Vision Cyclery
62 Nicette Quintero Team Helen's
62 Diane Rouse Bicycle John's
60 Carine Bester Bicycle John's
60 Anna Reinstein Bicycle John's
58 Suzy Degazon
58 Michelle WEbster Velosport Racing
58 Robin Brown Cliff Bar/Labor/Steak Knives
56 Carol Lynn Neal CA Pools Racing
15 Gina Barbosa GS Adam's Avenue
15 Debbie Betts Helen's/Orbea
15 Julie Guthrie South Bay Wheelman
15 Bernadette Brake Paramount
15 Mary Saguini Lightening Velo
15 Sue McDonald Femme Fatales
15 Sara Thomas Amgen Cycling Club
15 Debra Buchanan-Plaisance Bicycle John's
15 Annette Padilla UC Cyclery
15 Ana Odette Castaneda Kahala La Grange
15 Tara Unverzagt South Bay Wheelmen
15 Donna Johnson Flores Team Velosport
15 Nancy Seidler Team Velospo

*Tie broken by number of highest placings due to equal attendance in events.

1553 Monika King Cat 3
1169 Janel Holcomb Cat 2
1086 Debbie Betts Cat 3
780 Fiona Peterson Cat 3
760 Cameron Byerley Cat 3
706 Megan Bailey Cat 3
675 Louise Keoghan Cat 3
640 Hattie Wetherington Cat 3
633 Julia LaFranchise Cat 2
623 Julie Gunthrie SBW Cat 3
564 Karryn Bowen Cat 3
525 Charlayne Barger Hoover Cat 2
493 Ginger Hsieh Cat 3 to Cat 2
445 Beatrice Rodriguez Cat 3
443 Adriana Chavez Cat 3
395 Ruth Clemence Cat 2
317 Mimi Sheehan Cat 3
281 Hillary Crowley Cat 2
168 Michelle Ignash Cat 3
100 Melanie Dennis Cat 3

Congrats to all you ladies moving up the ranks of cycling!

Cat 3 Women’s Individual Final Standings 2007

Left to Right: Dianna Del Fante,Heather Rose,Kelli Jones,Karen Meske,Monika King

1433 *Kelli Jones Paramount CAT 2
1240 Heather Rose Paramount
1142 Anna Gerber Dewalt
1038 Beatrice Dormoy UC Cyclery
969 *Karen Meske Karl Strauss/SDBC CAT 2
689 Ryanne Spady Stahl/SC Velo
663 *Dianna Delfante Paramount CAT 2
633 *Julia LaFranchise CyclingScience.org CAT 2
593 Alicia Boland Paramount(Team Change)
591 Monika King SouthBay Wheelmen
548 Abigail Lufkin Helen’s/Orbea
525 Rae Miller CA Pools
525 *Charlayne Barger Hoover CAT 2
523 Ashley Medin Cycling Science.org
521 Anna Reinstein Bicycle John’s Serious Cycling
499 Krista Panero CA Pools
488 *Ginger Hsieh SBW CAT 2
486 Karryn Bowen UC Cyclery
436 Megan Bailey Karl Strauss/SDBC
421 Maike Sander Kalyra Bella Nova
418 Moira Gandy Velo Sport
417 Hattie Wetherington Dewalt
411 Simone Morissette Paramount (Team Change)
403 Erika Graves Claremont College
398 Angela Wimberly Wheels on Wheels
395 *Ruth Clemence Simple Green CAT 2
394 Kendall Ryan Major Motion
385 Louise Keoghan NOW-MS Society
360 Brittney Van Vleet Bicycle John’s Serious Cycling
338 Lisa Tokuoka Simple Green
332 Jill Pyrko Kahala LaGrange
281 *Hilary Crowley Paramount CAT 2
275 Sandra Villareal Martin’s Pro Cycling
265 Stephanie Bissonnette Nu Vision Cyclery
241 Ryan Hostetter Velo Bella
235 Elaine Park Helens/Orbea
229 Staci Griffs Stahl/SC Velo
210 Kristin Hilger Rocky Mountain Izze
206 Lynette Rock SBW
200 Fiona Peterson Team Simple Green
194 Laurie Simonson Metromint Cycling
177 Susan Thompson SBW
175 Beatriz Rodriguez SC Velo
168 Cindy Morgan Dewalt
160 Keely Brooks Money first coronoado Mcghies
140 Lauren Liscinski
138 Adriana Chavez SC Velo
128 Denise Clark Kaylra Bella Nova
102 Whynot, Lori Karl Strauss/SDBC
100 Melaine Peterson South Bay Wheelmen
100 *Janel Holcomb CAT 2
95 Michelle La Pierre Kalyra/Bella Nova Women's Cycling
95 Seigle, Amanda Davis Bike Club
90 Bree Pettit Cal Cycling
87 Cindy Sepucha Karl Strauss/SDBC
85 Shelby Reynolds Sugar Cycles Specialized women's racing
85 Amy Russo Team Velosport
85 Sabine Dukes Velo Bella
80 Michelle Webster Velosport Racing
79 Debbie Betts Helen's/Orbea
79 Mimi Sheean Kahala LaGrange
77 Adrienne Brian Karl Strauss/SDBC
75 Jenna Kowalski
72 Julie Guthrie South Bay Wheelmen
72 Cameron Byerley Team CES Racing
68 Michelle Ignash
68 Nancy Seidler Team velosport
66 Peggy Cohen Helens/Orbea
64 Carol Ruckle Team Possabilities
60 Virginia Solomon Metromint Cycling
58 Erin Reed
56 Kendra Higgins TBS Racing
56 Gudiswitz, Sheila Artemis
56 Jenna Shoemaker
30 Tanya Flores Stahl/SC Velo
30 Maia Orabi Wolverine Sports Club
15 Laudenbach, Jeannie Helens/Orbea
15 Kimberly White Velo Bella
15 Shannon Elito CyclingScience.org
15 Susie Avchen Bicycle John's
15 Jessica Moss

Cat 4 Women’s Final Individual Standings 2007

Left to Right: Monika King Winner Combined Series, Cynthia Lou Winner Cat 4 Series, Debbie Betts 3rd Cat 4 Series

1090 Cynthia Lou Helen’s/Orbea
1069 *Janel Holcomb
1007 *Debbie Betts Helen’s/Orbea
978 Angela Dybdahl NOW MS Society (team change)
962 *Monika King SBW
688 *Cameron Byerley Team CES Racing
680 *Fiona Peterson Simple Green
619 Nicotte Quintero Helen’s/Orbea
581 Amanda Duarte Karl Strauss/SDBC
551 *Julie Guthrie SBW
541 Sue Skarin Bicycle John’s Serious Cycling
538 Ana Odete Castaneda Kahala LaGrange
507 Sarah Butler Dewalt
506 Tricia Fynewever Coates Cyclery
467 *Julia Cross SBW
456 Angela Bosco SC Velo (team change)
445 Shelley Imhoff Velo Allegro
440 Michelle King PaulTracy.com
430 Alison Maloof UC Cyclery
417 Gina Barbosa GS Adam's Ave
345 Caitlin Kenny Claremont
333 Tracy Northup Caltech
328 Claudia Espinoza UC Cyclery
324 Jill Jones Karl Strauss/SDBC
305 *Adriana Chavez Stahl/SC Velo
299 Kelley Laxamana Paramount
290 *Louise Keoghan NOW-MS Society
285 *Hattie Wetherington Dewalt
270 *Megan Bailey Karl Strauss/SDBC
270 *Karryn Bowen UC Cyclery
270 *Beatrice Rodriguez SC Velo (team change)
263 Doris Asombrado Cyclovets
256 Susie Willett Echelon Santa Barbara
252 Jen Amelburu PaulTracy.com
246 Maren Spillane Karl Strauss/SDBC
240 Julie Cutts Team Pro Cyclery
238 Mimi Sheehan Kahala LaGrange
229 Cassie Charlebois
222 Carole Nix Kahala LaGrange
215 Nicole Stetson Bicycle Johns
212 Robin Brown CBR
204 Dora Lendvai (team change)
200 Kimberly Turner Echelon Santa Barbara
200 Christina Cord
185 Leni Gonzales Team Tailwinds
180 Belinda Echeworld
170 Anne Wills Tri Athletix
170 Vikki Appel UCLA
165 Stella Tong
163 Kelcie King York (team change)Cycling Science.org
160 Alexis Ryan Major Motion
160 Diane Rouse Bicycle John’s Serious Cycling
150 Danielle Scaglione
150 Dianne Boldt
147 Colleen Groth Morris Trucking Velo
133 Nicki Loranger
131 Heather Nielson
130 Caroline Andrew
125 Maura Treaccar Team Dare
116 Leslie Whitehead Team CES Racing
100 Angelica Frayre Pura Galleta
100 Amanda Felder
100 *Ginger Hsieh, SBW
100 *Ignash, Michelle
100 *Melanie Dennis
95 Bailee Holt Stahl/SC Velo
90 Julie Nevitt San Jose Bike
90 Jennifer Weinbrecht
85 Sarah Hedger
85 Allison Dingler Karl Strauss/SDBC
85 Anne McLaughlin Team Simple Green
83 Tara Unverzagt South Bay Wheelman
80 Ashley Erickson Velo Bella
80 Yukie Nishinaga
79 Anna Gartner
75 Karyn Catalano ISN
75 Kim Turner Echelon SB
75 Nicole Stetson Bicycle John's
72 Alicia Mitchell UC - Santa Barbara Cycling
72 Julie Mathers
72 Julie Baird Metromint Cycling
72 Michelle Arballo
72 Sue McDonald Femme Fatales
70 Kristy Morrow
70 Emily Georgeson
70 Linda Stark Bicycle John's
70 Joy Duerksen
68 Franziska Williams
68 Huth, Roxann SC Velo
68 Susan Farber Echelon SB
68 Laura Kozlowski
68 Paula Ciardrelli Dewalt
68 Susan Given
66 Kathryn Donovan
66 Katrina Parsons
66 Gail Towsley
66 Baird, Julie Metromint Cycling
66 Hahn Nguyen Velocity66 Robin Usuld
64 Amanda Witko Cal Poly Cycling
64 Martha Alvarado MA Linda
64 Megan Cortez Bishops Peak
62 Susan Farber Echelon Santa Barbara
62 Tina Chapa
62 Liz Castillejo Femme Fatales
62 Caitlin Martin Surf City
62 Rebecca Formanek UC - Santa Barbara Cycling
60 Megan Cordes Rock Solid
60 Heather Ruhsam
60 Rachel Mikelson Velo Bella
60 Andrea Mobley
60 Lauren Jacobson Helen's/Orbea
58 Susan Glick Dewalt
58 Ginger Andersen Echelon SB
58 Maria Cleveland Sprint Mountain Cycling Club
58 Natalie Smith Cal Poly Cycling
56 Elena Haro
56 Laura Lafranchise
56 Fran Finney Femme Fatales
56 Amy Lyons
15 Tara McCormick Lightning Velo
15 Bobbie King Femme Fatales
15 Carol Newberry Bike Barn
15 Annette McCush Bike Barn
15 Kerri Ickenberger Bike Barn
15 Lisa Brinton
15 Mary Rush Indiana University
15 Jessica Freesen Indiana University
15 Victoria Dunlop Indiana University
15 Sandra Amaro
15 Anna Alvarez
15 Ginger Anderson Echelon Santa Barbara
15 Beth Kallok Triathletix
15 Jessica Layman Metronmint
15 Dara Richman Triathletix
15 Kylah Wyott

OVERALL STANDINGS AS OF 7/14/2007

460 Renee Zajac PAA/Bicycle John's
425 Julia Cross SBW
275 Tara Unverzagt SBW
255 Cathy Keeley Team Velosport (team change)
185 Megan Dean Swarm
185 Maren Spillane Karl Strauss/SDBC
170 Charlayne Barger Hoover Patent It/Ride Clean
170 Susie Avchen Bicycle John's
110 Martina Strum Bicycle John's
95 Diane Rouse BIcycle John's
*Contact Dorothy Wong to make arrangements for your prizes if you were not in attendance.

70 Courtny Gertler Davis Bike Club
65 Lauren Jacobson Helen's/Orbea
60 Lynette Rock SBW
50 Linda Miller Eddie B
50 Bonnie Bourque Karl Strauss
50 Kelli Jones Paramount
50 Amanda Duarte Karl Strauss
50 Ryan Kendall Major Motion
50 Coryn Rivera Major Motion
50 Caitlin Martin CBR
50 Shelby Allen Lightening Velo
50 Laura Mckenzie Webcor Platinum
50 Elizabeth Reap East Coast Velo
50 Sara Magtalena Polish Team
50 Renata Dabraska Polish Team
50 Colleen Cross Alliance Cycling Team
50 Neva Day SBW
50 Christen King SBW
50 Debbie Betts Helen's/Orbea
40 Pat Benson PAA/Bicycle John's
30 Anna Erickson UCSB
20 Alicia Boland Paramount
20 Lauren Liscinski
10 Tara Mccormick Lightening Velo
10 Karla Bland Black Diamond
10 Kara Vidaca Bicycle John's Serious Cycling
10 Becky Lang
10 Alison Maloof UC Cyclery

*See Race Reports for individual Race Results

Click on the link to go to the gallery
http://www.printroom.com/ViewGallery.asp?userid=laronat&gallery_id=696284

The teams showed up in force to conquer the Toughest Circuit Race on the SoCal Calendar: West LA!

Karen Meske, Team Karl Strauss/SDBC takes off from the first stocker street climb and never looked back!

Louise Keoghan, Team NOW-MS Society represents her sponsor pushing the pace of the field to close the gap on Karen.

Karen ends the day in first place, job well done!

Monika King, South Bay Wheelman takes the field sprint for 2nd place overall in the Cat 3/4 field! 1st Cat 4 woman across the finish line.

*Courtesy of LASportsPhoto.com -- (c)Larry Aronat

SAN LUIS REY MASTER WOMEN

BARRIO LOGAN CAT 4 WOMEN'S PODIUM

BARRIO LOGAN CAT 3 WOMEN'S PODIUM

ENCINO EVENT #1

CYCLOVETS OMNIUM CRITERIUM MASTER WOMEN

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