Devo Wrap: Women's road season begins in Belgium

Photo of the American riders are from left to right: Heather Fischer, Lauren De Crescenzo, Janel Holcomb, Jacquelyn Crowell, Jade Wilcoxson, Kristin McGrath and Jamie Bookwalter. (Photo by Jack Seehafer)

The road portion of the USA Cycling National Development Program (NDP) began on Saturday in Ghent, Belgium. A group of six women overcame blustery wind and low temperatures to contest the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad-Vrouwen Elite, a 125-kilometer road race in Belgium.

WOMEN
Jade Wilcoxson (Talent, Ore./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies), only three weeks removed from contesting the 2013 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Louisville, Ky., led a group of Americans by finishing 17th at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad-Vrouwen Elite in Belgium on Saturday, Feb. 23.

In the final results, Megan Guarnier (Mountain View, Calif./Rabobank-Liv-Giant) and Shelley Olds (Gilroy, Calif./Team TIBCO-To the Top), who were riding for their trade teams, finished second and fifth, only three (Guarnier) and 12 seconds (Olds) behind the winner Tiffany Cromwell (AUS).

With 40 kilometers remaining in the race, a breakaway of 13 riders escaped the peloton, leaving Wilcoxson and Kristin McGrath (Boise, Idaho/Exergy Twenty16) in the second group of approximately 20 riders. Wilcoxson tucked herself behind McGrath, who led her out in the field sprint. McGrath placed 30th.

Jamie Bookwalter (Asheville, N.C./Colavita Racing, Inc.), Jacquelyn Crowell (Maitland, Fla./Exergy TWENTY16), Lauren De Crescenzo (Boulder, Colo./Team Kenda p/b RACC), Heather Fischer (Boulder, Colo./Exergy TWENTY16) and Janel Holcomb (San Diego, Calif./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) did not finish the race after getting caught behind a crash.

Check out a photo gallery from the race by women's endurance program manager Jack Seehafer.

COMING UP
The following group of women continue to compete in several one-day races in Belgium. On Wed., Feb. 27, the women will toe the line for Le Samyn des Dames before competing in the Omloop van het Hageland -Tielt-Winge on March 3:

Jamie Bookwalter (Asheville, N.C./Colavita Racing, Inc.)
Jacquelyn Crowell (Maitland, Fla./Exergy TWENTY16)
Lauren De Crescenzo (Boulder, Colo./Team Kenda p/b RACC)
Heather Fischer (Boulder, Colo./Exergy TWENTY16)
Janel Holcomb (San Diego, Calif./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)
Kristin McGrath (Boise, Idaho/Exergy TWENTY16)
Jade Wilcoxson (Talent, Ore./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)

USA Cycling's National Development Programs are supported by the USA Cycling Development Foundation. Support the future of American cycling with an online donation now.


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About USA Cycling’s National Development Programs
One of USA Cycling’s dual missions is to achieve sustained success in international cycling competition. To that end, USA Cycling maintains development programs for all disciplines of competitive cycling, including men’s and women’s U25 and junior road; mountain bike; track (endurance and sprint) and BMX development programs. These programs provide a structured pathway to the top tier of the sport through athlete development that begins with Junior racing series, Regional Development Camps and racing and moves through to international competition. For more about USA Cycling’s Athlete Development Programs, click here.

This Article Updated February 26, 2013 @ 10:35 PM For more information contact: