Devo Wrap: Kinsella 6th at Le Samyn des Dames
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Brianna Walle, Lauren Komanski, Alexis Ryan, Korina Huizar and Maura Kinsella during team presentation at Le Samyn des Dames. (photo by Jack Seehafer)
Le Samyn des Dames
Maura Kinsella (Boulder, Colo./Team Optum p/b/ Kelly Benefit Strategies) placed sixth in a field sprint at the end of the 111-kilometer Le Samyn des Dames in Dour, Belgium. Alexis Ryan (Ventura, Calif./UnitedHealthcare) crossed the line 25 seconds behind Kinsella in 46th place, while Brianna Walle (Portland, Ore./Team Optum p/b/ Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Lauren Komanski (Winston-Salem, N.C./Twenty16 Pro Cycling) finished 67th and 72nd, respectively. Korina Huizar (Roseville, Calif./Vanderkitten) also contested the race.
A field of 152 riders started the race under good weather conditions and remained together until the first cobbled section at the 36-kilometer mark. The group was downsized each time through the cobbles and small breaks were started but nothing that gained a significant advantage.
On the last lap through the cobbles, roughly 40 riders remained in the front group, including Walle, Ryan and Kinsella. Komanski and Huizar were in groups farther back, having played their parts earlier in the race. The race culminated in a field sprint won by Emma Johansson (SWE), with Kinsella taking sixth.
Omloop van het Hageland Tielt-Winge
On March 9, the women contested the Omloop van het Hageland - Tielt-Winge, a 126-kilometer road race in Belgium. Once again, Maura Kinsella (Boulder, Colo./Team Optum p/b/ Kelly Benefit Strategies) was the top American, finishing in 15th place. The NDP team was without the services of Jade Wilcoxson (Talent, Ore./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies), who was recovering from an injury, and Korina Huizar (Roseville, Calif./Vanderkitten), who was rebounding from an illness.
A large crash at 52 kilometers split the field prior to the first cobbled climb. Alexis Ryan (Ventura, Calif./UnitedHealthcare) was the only U.S. rider to make the split of 17 riders, but lost contact with the group on the second climb of the day. No American riders were able to make it over to the front group that split a few different times but regrouped for the finish where Elizabeth Armitstead (GBR) took the victory. Kinsella was third in her group in a field sprint to place 15th overall. Ryan crossed the line in 43rd and Lauren Komanski (Winston-Salem, N.C./Twenty16 Pro Cycling) was 60th. Brianna Walle (Portland, Ore./Team Optum p/b/ Kelly Benefit Strategies) also contested the race for USA Cycling.
COMING UP
The following group of women will compete in three races in the Netherlands:
Korina Huizar (Roseville, Calif./Vanderkitten)
Maura Kinsella (Boulder, Colo./Team Optum p/b/ Kelly Benefit Strategies)
Lauren Komanski (Winston-Salem, N.C./Twenty16 Pro Cycling)
Alexis Ryan (Ventura, Calif./UnitedHealthcare)
Brianna Walle (Portland, Ore./Team Optum p/b/ Kelly Benefit Strategies)
Jade Wilcoxson (Talent, Ore./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)
On March 13, the riders will toe the line in the Drenthe 8 before contesting the Boels Rental Ronde van Drenthe, the first UCI Women’s Road World Cup of the season, on March 15 and Novilon Euregio Cup on March 16.
PHOTOS
The USA Cycling NDP team before the start of Le Samyn des Dames (l to r): Brianna Walle, Lauren Komanski, Alexis Ryan, Korina Huizar and Maura Kinsella. (Photo by Jack Seehafer)
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This Article Updated March 11, 2014 @ 09:38 PM For more information contact:
