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Published: 02 May 2014 02 May 2014

 

Photos by Mitch Clinton

Carmen Small (DNA Cycling) wins sprint, guesting for the elite team.

SILVER CITY, NM (May 1, 2014) – With an unplanned early charge to the line, DNA Racing guest rider Carmen Small held off TIBCO duo Joanne Kiesanowski and Lauren Stephens to take top honors today in Fort. Bayard.

Small, who usually races with Specialized-lululemon, started her long sprint from 500 meters to the line after chasing UnitedHealthcare's Alison Powers, who was active the majority of the race.

 

"It was a little bit chaotic," said Small, who is the reigning Time Trial National Champion. "We came fast off the highway. I ended up chasing a bit because I was too far back. Then I found myself on the front with 500 meters to go which wasn't a good place to be. I sat up to get people to come by me, but then Alison attacked again. I just went, found myself on the front and just had to keep going."

Even though Small will wear her national champion jersey as she heads down the TT ramp tomorrow in Tyrone, she racked up enough sprint points today to take the PNM Sprinter's jersey.
Just as the race to the line was frantic, the start was no exception. Right from the gun, UnitedHealthcare set a scorching pace that popped riders off the back left and right almost immediately. When UHC wasn't driving, DNA Racing, Twenty16 and TIBCO kept the race aggressive with constant attempts to escape the Blue Train.

Despite the other teams' efforts, UnitedHeathcare controlled the race. However they failed to deliver one of their riders to the line for the stage win. At the end of the day, Mara Abbott (UHC) keeps her GC lead and Flavia Oliveira (FCS) remains in the QOM jersey. Twenty16's Abby Mickey holds on to her Best Young Rider lead.

Race leader Mara Abbott, whose parents are in Silver City for the first time, said this race will always be special to her because of the climbs.

"We've got the only mountain top finish, pretty much the best mountain top finish in America right now," Abbott said. "And that's something I think personally. Each race that you win is a different collection of teamwork and a different collection of people. It's really special every time."

Friday's's Dan Potts Memorial Tyrone individual time trial is 16.15 miles long with a total of 1,188 meters of climbing. The out and back course is wide open with plenty of places along the roadside to observe the racers as each one tackles the course alone. The start/finish area in Tyrone is a great place to get a close-up look at the riders and their equipment as they warm up. Racers will leave at 30-second intervals.

Wind played a factor as the field remained together. 

NRC Women Results

Top 3 on Stage 2

Carmen Small (DNA Cycling)
Joanne Kiesanowski (Tibco)
Lauren Stephens (Tibco)
Town of Silver City Leader's Jersey: Mara Abbott (UHC)

PNM Sprinter Leader Jersey: Carmen Small (DNA)

Freeport-McMoRayn King of the Mountain Jersey: Mara Abbott (UHC)

Southwest Bone & Joint Institute Best Young Rider: Abagail Mickey (TWENTY16)

Full Results:

http://www.tourofthegila.com/small-holds-charging-kiesanowski/