News & Results

 

Colavita and espnW Recognized by US State Department for 
Global Sports Mentoring Program
Colavita/espnW Riders Contest National Championships in US and Canada

On June 21, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the launch of the US Department of State and espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program. Colavita is proud to serve as a partner in this global initiative to empower women and girls through sports. As Secretary Clinton describes in this video, the program provides an opportunity for top American women in sport-related fields to mentor emerging women sports leaders from around the world. Colavita is honored to contribute its experience supporting girls and women in sports.

Colavita and espnW's support for women athletes was on full display at the US National Road Championships and Canadian Road Championships. Mary Zider and Jamie Dinkins Bookwalter represented the Colavita/espnW Pro Cycling Team at the US National Championships in Georgia. For Jamie, a former mountain biker, Nationals offered the opportunity to demonstrate the prowess that she has developed in her first year of road racing at the pro level. In the National Time Trial championship, a specialty event where she has not had much experience, Jamie's time put her in 21st place - highly respectable in a field where the championship title went to Amber Neben, the former World Champion in the time trial, who beat her fellow Olympic team member Evelyn Stevens by one second.

Mary and Jamie were positioned well throughout the 50km US National Criterium Championship race, responding to surges in speed and attacks but also safely avoiding mishaps and crashes. Each lap trimmed the field in numbers and a bunch sprint was evident by the final five laps. The teams with full squads kept the pace high as they tried to establish lead-outs for their sprinters. Despite a crash on the final corner, Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Exergy) and Lauren Hall (TIBCO) battled down the straightaway for the line. Cliff-Ryan was awarded the close sprint, Hall second place, and Carmen Small (Optum) took third. Both Colavita/espnW riders came in the top 20: Jamie in 12th and Mary in 19th.

The 80-mile course for the women's US National Road Race Championship is known for its rolling terrain: riders are either climbing or descending, with few flat sections or time to rest. With 4km to go, Jamie threw in an attack that gained 20 seconds on the field and looked like it might get some traction with riders in the field temporarily looking at each other to see who would chase it. Jamie was absorbed with 3km to go as competing teams set up trains for their chosen riders. Mary crossed the line in 20th and Jamie mustered her remaining strength to sprint in for 23rd.

 
 

At the Canadian National Championships, Colavita/espnW riders Jasmin Glaesser and Moriah MacGregor turned in outstanding rides in the time trial. Jasmin finished fourth overall and won the U23 Championship title. Moriah finished 10th. Jasmin also took fourth in the women's Canadian National Road Race Championship. Moriah and Joanie Caron finished in the top 30.

Racing resumes for the Colavia/espnW Pro Cycling Team on July 17 with the BMC Cascade Classic Stage Race in Bend, OR.