Evelyn Stevens (HTC-Columbia) wins US national time trial title
- By Brian Holcombe
- Published Jun. 24, 2010
- Updated Aug. 10, 2010 at 7:07 PM UTC
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Elite Women's winner Evelyn Stevens lost this event by just two seconds last year. -
Coryn Rivera won her 26th stars-and-stripes jersey Thursday.
Evelyn Stevens (HTC-Columbia) won the elite women’s time trial championships in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, pipping early leader Amber Neben.
(Related: Men’s TT)
Neben early, Stevens late
Neben (Webcor Builders) spent a full month away from the bike in late April/May, after suffering a pulled muscle in the Tour of Flanders. The former world TT champion started ninth in the Women’s Elite race and set the early fast time.
“I’ve been fighting to come back and I mean, I don’t know where I’m at, but I felt like I had a good ride for where I am right now,” said Neben. “I went hard on the way out, because for me, I’m not going to roll that downhill really fast. I mean, I was running a 53-11 and I wasn’t even spun out.”
It hurt.”
Rider after rider came through the downhill finish at Summit High School and none could best Neben’s mark. Vera Bradley Foundation’s 2008 national champion Alison Powers lay over her handlebars grasping for breath in the finish corral, disappointed that she could manage only fourth at the time.
The last rider to start, 27-year-old Stevens finally broke through. The HTC neo-pro crossed the line, her tank as empty as her Camelback stomach bladder, with no idea of her time.
Stevens, who passed more than five riders, exploded when team staff informed her, nearly five minutes after she finished, that she had won her first national title.
“It was hard. I just tried to stay steady, get into a rhythm,” said Stevens. “I was well equipped to give it my all out there today. It was a very big focus; I’ve tried to prepare as best as possible.”
Quick results:
Elite women:
- 1. Evelyn Stevens HTC-Columbia in 47:38.7
- 2. Amber Neben Webcor Builders in 48:17.3
- 3. Mara Abbott Peanut Butter & Co.-Twenty12 in 49:05.5
- 4. Alison Starnes Team Tibco-To The Top in 49:08.8
- 5. Alison Powers Vera Bradley Foundation in 49:53.2
Junior women 17-18
- 1. Coryn Rivera Peanut Butter & Co.-Twenty12 in 39:24.4
- 2. Jessica Prinner Abd Cycle Club/abd C in 39:42.9
- 3. Kendall Ryan Vrc/now-Ms Society in 40:07.9
- 4. Ruth Winder Peanut Butter & Co.-Twenty12 in 41:16.1
- 5. Kaitlin Antonneau Team Kenda in 41:24.8
FILED UNDER: News / Race Report / Road TAGS: Evelyn Stevens / USA Cycling elite national road championships
Brian Holcombe
Brian Holcombe is the managing editor of Velo Magazine. Holcombe joined VeloNews in 2009 following years spent introducing students to whitewater kayaking and working in avalanche control, among other more risky ventures. His graduate work in communications at the University of Denver focuses on innovation and digital media management. Holcombe is a CSU Ram fan and proud parent and has been accused of attacking too much on the VN lunch ride. Follow him on Twitter @FCBrian.