Alison Powers takes a big bite out of Mara Abbott’s lead at SRAM Tour of the Gila
- By Steve Frothingham
- Published Apr. 30, 2010
- Updated May. 1, 2010 at 12:06 AM UTC
Alison Powers (Vera Bradley Foundation) closed two-thirds of her gap to race leader Mara Abbott (Peanut Butter & Co.-Twenty12) on Friday, winning the 16.15-mile Tyrone time trial by a minute in a half over second-placed Errine Willock (Webcor) and 2:14 ahead of Abbott.
The win vaulted Powers from sixth place, more than three minutes behind Abbott, to second at 1:08. Andrea Dvorak (Colavita-Baci) is now third at 3:05.
“I really wanted to win today. Of course the dream would be to win and take over the lead, but realistically, Mara was three minutes ahead of me. So to win and move within striking distance: that’s good!” Powers said.
Powers said the windy conditions may have favored her a bit over the diminutive Abbott.
“I was at home, hoping it would be windy today. The more windy it is, the more Mara is going to get blown around — not necessarily just Mara, but all the little people who beat me at Mogollon. Not that I like the wind, but I don’t mind the wind. Being a bigger person I have a little more confidence (in the wind).”
While the day’s results may have been sobering, Abbott still retains a significant lead going into the final two stages: the Silver City criterium Saturday and the mountainous Gila Monster road race Sunday. The crit rarely changes GC standings, and Abbott’s spectacular win on the mountain-top finish of stage 1 indicate she’ll have little trouble on the hills Sunday.
“I’ve had such an outstanding time riding with my teammates over the first three days,” Abbott said. “I’m excited about having them around and working to keep the jersey.”
Top Ten Stage
- 1. Alison Powers Team Vera Bradley Foundation in 0:39:18
- 2. Erinne Willock Webcor Builders in 0:40:51 at 0:01:33
- 3. Meredith Miller Team Tibco in 0:41:02 at 0:01:44
- 4. Robin Farina Team Vera Bradley Foundation in 0:41:14 at 0:01:56
- 5. Jessica Phillips Colavita/baci P/b Cooking Light in 0:41:23 at 0:02:05
- 6. Alison Starnes Team Tibco in 0:41:31 at 0:02:13
- 7. Mara Abbott Peanut Butter & Co.twenty12 in 0:41:32 at 0:02:14
- 8. Alexis Rhodes Team Vera Bradley Foundation in 0:41:58 at 0:02:40
- 9. Katheryn Mattis Webcor Builders in 0:42:04 at 0:02:46
- 10. Carla Swart Team Vera Bradley Foundation in 0:42:11 at 0:02:53
Top Ten GC
- 1. Mara Abbott Peanut Butter & Co.twenty12 in 8:01:48
- 2. Alison Powers Team Vera Bradley Foundation at 0:01:08
- 3. Erinne Willock Webcor Builders at 0:03:01
- 4. Andrea Dvorak Colavita/baci P/b Cooking Light at 0:03:05
- 5. Robin Farina Team Vera Bradley Foundation at 0:03:16
- 6. Meredith Miller Team Tibco at 0:03:18
- 7. Catherine Cheatley Colavita/baci P/b Cooking Light at 0:03:24
- 8. Katheryn Mattis Webcor Builders at 0:03:31
- 9. Carmen Small Colavita/baci P/b Cooking Light at 0:03:34
- 10. Carla Swart Team Vera Bradley Foundation at 0:05:05
FILED UNDER: News TAGS: SRAM Tour of the Gila
Steve Frothingham
VeloNews.com editor Steve Frothingham joined the gang in bike-crazy Boulder in early 2008. He is the former executive editor of the trade magazine Bicycle Retailer & Industry News. He also was a reporter and editor for The Associated Press, where he covered three presidential primaries in politics-crazy New Hampshire. His racing career began on a BMX track in 1980 and reached its zenith with several miserable road races as a category 2 in the early 90s. He subsequently retreated to cat. 3, where he has had a consistently mediocre (at best) record ever since, in road, mountain bike and cyclocross events. Follow him on Twitter at @steve_froth