EPILOGUE: 2007 JAZZ APPLE CYCLING NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

After two months on the road in Canada and the U.S., the JAZZ™ Apple Cycling team split in separate directions to pursue their respective passions.

After a short break, New Zealand National Team riders Alison Shanks and Rushlee Buchanan headed to Europe where they would continue training and competing with New Zealand’s best female cyclists, including former JAZZ™ Apple riders Michelle Hyland, Rosara Joseph and Carissa Wilkes.

Co-directors Susy Pride and her husband, Chris Drake, returned to New Zealand where they are both finishing law degrees at the University of Auckland. Malindi MacLean also returned home to enter her second year in pre-law and psychology at the University of Auckland.

“We've been on the road for a long time but it's been great," said 18-year-old MacLean, who achieved three podium finishes through the North American tour. "BC Superweek has been fantastic. It's wonderful to see the support you get here from the volunteers and the fans, to see all these people turn out … and to see those big crowds in Gastown, despite the weather ... It's pretty special. I hope we'll be back again next year."

Sarah Murdoch also returned to her home base in Auckland where she is a theatre nurse at the Auckland hospital. Sarah also formulates spin (RPM) routines for the global marketing arm of Les Mills Gyms, teaching several classes with the gym there.

I just wanted to say that your cycling team was great at Canadian Superweek in Vancouver [B.C.]. They raced with class and were exceptionally competitive in every event. They were excellent ambassadors for the sport and your company. I hope they will continue to race in our events.

– Dan Proulx, Canadian Cycling Coach

TOUR de DELTA: July 20-22
STAGE 1: MACLEAN AND SHANKS CLAIM HILL CLIMB PODIUM HONORS
– Team report by Co-director Susy Pride

JAZZ™ Apple's Malindi MacLean and Alison Shanks launched stunning performances to win and place third consecutively in the brutish Hill Climb in Stage 1 of the Tour de Delta July 20.

Challenged with yet another soggy evening with extremely slippery pavement, MacLean faced the vertically inclined Leah Goldstein in a face-off, straight up the 750m (820 yard) wall. As the fastest seeded riders, the pair raced in a side-by-side time-trial with MacLean smoking out of the starting gate, leaving Goldstein swirling in her wake. MacLean blazed up the hill, winning by a convincing ten-second margin, while fellow JAZZ™ Apple teammate Shanks charged in for third place—less than a second behind Giant team member, Leigh Goldem.

"I’ve only been road-racing for six months, so it feels great to win, especially because now I can use my real name," laughed the 18-year-old former Junior World track sprinter. "Malindi is what I've been called all my life, but my teammates said I would have to be called ‘Malindills’ until I won a race. It gave me a little extra motivation."

Rushlee Buchanan headed to the line with fresh legs, but her chances were dashed when she broke a pedal but a nano-second before the start. Buchanan would be allowed to start Stage 2 the next day, alongside teammate Sarah Murdoch who would put in a solid performance.

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STAGE 2: BUCHANAN TAKES FIRST IN DELTA CRIT.
– As reported by CyclingNews.com

It took the most experienced bike handlers to deal with the elements as the increasingly heavy rain slowly turned Stage 2 of the Tour de Delta into the 'Tour de Misery.'

The women's field came off the line in Tsawwassen riding cautiously until the weather and slick streets thinned out the field. The first serious break of the night occurred with 11 laps to go. JAZZ™ Apple’s Rushlee Buchanan, Tour de White Rock criterium champion, led a three-rider breakaway.

"I was really nervous out there tonight because I crashed three times in the rain in Gastown," said Buchanan. "It was a little bit edgy, but I figured if I could stay in the top 10 I'd be alright because they're all safe, smart riders."

In the final five laps the breakaway had doubled to six, with the rest of the survivors only 10 seconds back. With two laps remaining the breakaway had been reeled in and the tightest race in Tour de Delta history would come down to the final sprint. The slippery conditions forced everyone to cautiously jockey for position around the final turn.

"I knew I couldn't let Leah [Goldstein] create a gap, so I stayed on her wheel heading into that last corner," said 19 year-old Buchanan. "I wasn't too worried about anyone else and I knew if I stayed with Leah I'd be able to sprint away from her."

Buchanan emerged at the head of the pack and lived up to her boast, sprinting away with her second BC Superweek title. She raised her arms in victory crossing the finish line, while Calgary's Jenny Trew won a furious fight for second place, out-sprinting her Team Giant teammate Lisa Howard.

"I've never considered myself a great sprinter," revealed Buchanan, "But we've been here [in North America] for two months racing crit after crit, so you do get faster. I also get pumped up by crowds like this. It's awesome here with all these people turning out on a [rainy] night like this.”

It was the second straight win in Delta, B.C. for the JAZZ™ Apple Cycling team. Malindi MacLean was not far behind, finishing sixth overall in the criterium stage.

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STAGE 3: BUCHANAN POWERS ALONG RAIN-SLICKED STREETS TO PLACE THIRD IN DELTA ROAD RACE
– As reported by CyclingNews.com

A waterlogged weekend in the Tour de Delta ended with a rare and brief guest appearance by the Sun, but the brightest yellow sight all weekend proved to be the Symmetrics jerseys.

The women's 85-km, 11-lap road race turned into a re-run of the Tour de White Rock road race July 22. Symmetrics' veteran Leah Goldstein broke away early and turned it into a one-woman time trial, wearing out the younger riders who tried to stay with her. Her tactics produced her first ever win in White Rock and almost succeeded again in Delta, B.C. July 22.

When Goldstein powered it into overdrive and left the peleton behind, two riders went with her: Rushlee Buchanan and Leah Guloien. Buchanan was the first to fade when the two Leahs used their superior climbing skills to crack Buchanan and leave her behind with three laps to go. Guloien then pushed slightly ahead of Goldstein to take a single second victory.

Buchanan powered on bravely for a third place finish, one minute back from the leaders, with teammate Malindi MacLean finishing at the front of the peleton in eighth position.

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MacLEAN CLAIMS SILVER AT GIRO di BURNABY IN PHOTO FINISH

There was no time to tarry before the Giro di Burnaby the day following the Gastown event (July 19), as the JAZZ™ Apple Cycling team patched scuffs and bruises and reared for their next challenge around the streets of the usually quiet Vancouver suburb of Burnaby.

The riders faced more pleasing conditions with dry streets, yet the strong zephyrs buffeted the course and became a major component in the race's proceedings.

The ‘Giant’ team, racing with nine riders, immediately went on the attack, and Sarah Murdoch rode a gutsy race to be in on the major moves. Buchanan was finding her legs after her spills the day before and zipped off the front in some dangerous moves, but was heavily marked by Shelley Old's, the strong Expresscopy team and the Symmetrics squad.

It was the New Zealand National Champion, Alison Shanks, who darted off the front, and despite being heavily marked split the field with her strength around 20 laps of the 1.85km (1.15 mile) circuit.

With 1.5 laps remaining, the JAZZ™ Apples assembled at the front and executed a brilliant lead-out that strung the field out over the last 2.5km (1.6 miles). Shanks effectively detonated the field, and only a diminished group was left to contest the line honors.

With 200m (219 yards) remaining, MacLean slipped out of Buchanan's slipstream. Gaining an initially clear jump, the youngster burst forward on her Genius toward the line with only Grain and Old's in lunging view.

In another photo finish, it was Shelley Olds of Proman/Paradigm who just nipped MacLean by the tip of a tire. Nonetheless, the podium was yet another successful venture for the JAZZ™ Apples who would be gunning for more at the Tour de Delta beginning the very next day, July 20-22.

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RAIN CHALLENGES THE FIELD
AT TOUR de GASTOWN
– Team report by Co-director Susy Pride

JAZZ™ Apple's Malindi MacLean battled menacing conditions over the past two nights yet prevailed with two scintillating sprints that left the crowds holding their breaths, and yet another podium finish for the young, rising team.

In the Tour de Gastown event July 18 in the heart of Vancouver's historic Gastown district, the team was fraught with misadventure. Cursed with the "worst conditions" (event organiser, Jonothon Wornell) in the history of the event, crash after crash evolved over 30 laps of the 1.3km (0.8 mile) technical criterium course. Sliding out three times on the slick bricks, the on-form Rushlee Buchanan had to retire but only with minor injuries.

Alison Shanks braved the tough conditions, forging a path for teammate Malindi MacLean, but the duo could not make a decisive break from the field.

Despite MacLean’s having to close gaps and accelerate past spills and mishaps during the entire shifty affair, the 18-year-old managed to ride herself into excellent position and deliver a dramatic nail-biting sprint to the finish line, which forced the judges and race officials into long, careful deliberation as to who finished third in the end.

Finally, MacLean was crowned fourth place, in an ever-so-close finish behind the on-form Shelley Olds (Proman/Paradigm), and ahead of the fast-finishing Canadian Commonwealth Games road race competitor, Gina Grain (Expresscopy.com).

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JAZZ APPLES ‘ROCK’ BC’s TOUR de WHITE ROCK
– Team report by Co-director Susy Pride

The JAZZ™ Apple Cycling team headed north of the U.S. border July 11 to lay siege on B.C. Superweek – the richest cycling event in the century old history of Canadian road racing. Superweek kicked off with the Tour de White Rock July 13 – 15.

STAGE 1: MACLEAN ROCKETS
UP THE HILL CLIMB

The first stage of the B.C. tour served a brutal hill climb straight up a 700m (.43 miles) wall, averaging 16% grade. JAZZ™ Apple's Malindi MacLean proved herself up to the challenge, as she wheeled out her best climbing legs to finish fourth.

MacLean, best known for her lightening quick gallop, demonstrated her versatility by progressing through the first time trial round, which seeded the fastest to slowest times over the climb, into the final five riders. These five went to a mass-start showdown over the vein-bursting wall, with MacLean wrestling it out as one of the fastest climbers of the day. She put forth a brave effort, and finished fourth in her first ever attempt at such an event, and is now informally crowned, 'Tenzing' on the team, after the famous Sherpa mountaineer who was among the first to summit Mt. Everest. Sarah Murdoch was the team’s next-strongest performer, finishing in 10th position overall.

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STAGE 2: BUCHANAN RIPS UP CRITERIUM COURSE

After the morning hill-climb on July 14, the JAZZ™ Apple Cycling team emerged, guns blazing, for stage two, a 30km (19 mile) circuit race, 30 laps around a 1km (.62 miles) course. Rushlee Buchanan burned rubber to the finish line in a stunning solo victory.

The 19-year-old capitalized on a flurry of early attacks, which included a brilliantly timed counter-attack by Alison Shanks to solo away from the field 15km (9.3 miles) from the finish. Despite suffering a bad cold, Shanks' seven-lap effort off the front in a small group allowed Buchanan to cock her pistol for a devastating attack. Meanwhile, teammates Malindi MacLean and Sarah Murdoch defensively quashed any threatening moves, which effectively discouraged any would-be threats to Buchanan's lead.

As Buchanan crossed the finish line, she raised her arms in victory, also collecting a handy stash of cash primes for her efforts. MacLean finished just out of the medals in fifth position.

The team then rested-up for the last stage – a road race against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and the sharp inclines of the White Rock surrounds.

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STAGE 3: BUCHANAN WINS SILVER IN ROAD RACE

Following Saturday's stage win in the Tour de White Rock, Rushlee Buchanan’s star continued to shine. She finished a strong second in the hilly final 82km (51 mile) road race July 15.

Snaking it's way past the leisurely cafe's and restaurants of White Rock's seaside locale, the road course abruptly crushed any visions of relaxation with a mountain sprint in the first 5km (3 miles), followed by one every 10km (6.2 miles) over the entire affair. The initial mountain sprint was only one of the inclines to be negotiated, as abrupt incline after incline quickly torched the field until it was shredded into thin ribbons.

JAZZ™ Apple's Malindi MacLean dashed from the group on the first ‘Queen of the Mountain’ sprint to nab the $100 cash prime before Sarah Murdoch lead Buchanan into the second climb, which initiated the day's crucial breakaway.

Team Symmetric’s star Leah Goldstein, a former world kickboxing champion and cycling Olympian, turned the screws on the climb to splinter the peleton. The pace never relented, and only five riders, including Buchanan, could dose the power required to stay with Goldstein’s impressive display.

Eventually, Goldstein broke the group, and only Buchanan and Team Express Copy's Erinne Willock could salvage a chase. Though fighting bravely, they could not eclipse the time gap. Buchanan then vested her final dose of energy in an almighty attack on the last climb. Willock could not respond. Time trialing to the finish, the 19-year-old Buchanan secured yet another impressive podium finish, this time for silver. Teammate MacLean was not far behind, finishing seventh overall. Shanks, Murdoch and Pryde crossed the line together just five minutes later.

The JAZZ™ Apple team enjoyed two days respite before Vancouver's historic and hugely popular, Tour de Gastown race the evening of July 18 in the heart of downtown Vancouver, B.C.

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JAZZ APPLES RECOVER FROM MORNING SLOG AT COUGAR MOUNTAIN TO BRING HOME THE GOLD IN SAN RAFAEL
– Team report by Co-director Susy Pride

July 7 saw the JAZZ™ Apple Cycling team doing double duty with a morning race in stage one of the Cougar Mountain Classic in Sonoma, Calif. followed by the Carerra de San Rafael that same evening.

After a tough slog along the windswept Cougar Mountain course, Malindi MacLean was rewarded with a fourth place finish. MacLean made a huge effort for positioning but just missed the podium, unfortunately. San Rafael native Anna Lang placed first. The team later regrouped for more racing at San Rafael.

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The team’s patience paid off, as after a flawless race from the entire JAZZ™ Apple squad, Rushlee Buchanan delivered a beautiful victory in the Carerra de San Rafael.

With a stacked field of 70 riders, including nine from the strong PROMAN/Paradigm team, the JAZZ™ Apple contingent of four took control with Alison Shanks flooring the massive crowd and commentators with an incredible show of strength. After the initial attacks that were covered by Buchanan and MacLean, Shanks bolted from the group and stayed away for more than half the race, and was finally reeled in with just nine laps remaining.

Shanks commented, "I smashed my records of power output tonight and hit a new personal best." (And that was after racing that morning!)

MacLean, who is in incredible sprinting form, also rode an excellent race—maintaining attentive composure at the head of the group while waiting for Buchanan's lead out to the line. Meanwhile, despite suffering a cold over the previous week, Buchanan rode impressively to patrol the front for the entire hour-long event.

Then, within the last three laps, the JAZZ™ Apples assembled near the front. At two to go, MacLean glued herself to Buchanan's wheel for the lead-out. The 19-year-old Buchanan drove MacLean toward the finish, stringing the field out into the final turn.

But a near disaster struck. A rider tried to dive under MacLean in the final swing for home, forcing her into the barriers. MacLean shouted to Buchanan, "Go!", and Buchanan surged ahead and delivered a beautiful victory ahead of the swarming field. MacLean (somehow) managed to stay upright and crossed the line in 15th place.

After Buchanan fended off the throngs of admiring fans, the team managed a quick dinner, toasting to a brilliant race.

The JAZZ™ Apple Cycling team competed again July 8 in stage two of the Cougar Mountain Classic before heading back to its home base with their host family, the Linders, in Monterey, California for a few days of training.

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JAZZ APPLES TRAIN AT HOME BASE IN MONTEREY
– Team report by JAZZ™ Apple rider Malindi MacLean

When not traversing the country for various races, the JAZZ™ Apple Cycling team returns to home base in Monterey, Calif. Our team training rides navigate the surrounding mountains and valleys, similar to John Steinbeck’s description in “Pastures of Heaven,” though no forbidden apples for us! The team van is readily at hand with cold water and plenty of JAZZ™ apples to keep us going through the hot, dry environs.

Our training sessions range from one-hour recovery rides to five hours of hard laboring at the hands of the California desert terrain. The combination of mountains, ocean coast and windy valleys offer the perfect arena for cycling training, and the incentive of freshly baked JAZZ™ apple muffins keeps us working hard for over 100 miles.

See the recipe below

Out on the road putting in the hard yards is a team enterprise. Mechanic Paul Larkin ensures the bikes are always running crisp, while manager Chris Drake and coach Susy Pryde oversee and coordinate the training sessions to have the athletes well recovered and fresh for the weekend’s racing. Next, we head to Sonoma for the Cougar Mountain Classic, and despite a disappointing lack of mountain lions, we are definitely ready to tackle the mountains—perhaps the more challenging of the two! Keep watching for more results, as the hard training pays off.

RUSHLEE'S JAZZ MUFFINS
Super easy and super tasty

Ingredients:
2 cups of all bran cereal
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
A few sprinkles of cinnamon and allspice
3 grated fresh ENZA JAZZ™ apples
2/3 can low-fat condensed milk
1 egg
½ cup warm water
2 Tablespoon honey

Directions:
Combine all the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another, then mix the two together, but do not over-mix. Pour batter into lined or greased muffin cups and bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

MACLEAN TAKES SECOND AT MANHATTAN BEACH
– Team report by Co-director Susy Pride

JAZZ™ Apple Cycling Team member, Malindi Maclean delivered the best result of her rookie road racing career with a stunning second place in the 45th edition of the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix July 1.

Not two blocks from the famed Baywatch set of the Manhattan Beach shores, the JAZZ™ Apple team went to work from the start, with Alison Shanks going solo on the rolling 2km circuit. Shanks earned points and valuable seconds lap-by-lap on the 7 percent incline, but was eventually reeled in by a driven Cheerwine team chase.

JAZZ™ Apple teammate Buchanan counter-attacked with timely perfection but was hotly pursued, and her attempt was eventually foiled. Meanwhile, Maclean had sprinter's duties and maintained flawless positioning, continually attentive within reach of the front of the race.

As the zephyrs from the Pacific Ocean gained force, the pack formed a long fishtailing train as Shanks launched yet another blow with five laps remaining. Once again, a dogged chase by the ever-present Cheerwine team captured Shanks and set up their lead out train with two laps remaining. With the deft tenacity of a sea anemone, Maclean battled and stuck to the front with the spirit of a true sprinter, and launched from the rear of the lead-out train to cross the line a thrilling close second to the ever-perennial, Laura Van Gilder of Cheerwine.

A delighted Maclean noted, "I had one of those days where it felt like I didn't have to put any pressure on the pedals, and I could move and accelerate effortlessly. When I knew the job was down to me to deliver in the sprint, the closing kilometers became a blur in the haggle and hunt for the line. I am definitely hungrier than ever for more."

The team treks North to the Cougar Mountain Classic in Sonoma, Calif. July 7-8.

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BUCHANAN DONS ‘MOST AGGRESSIVE RIDER’ JERSEY
AT NATURE VALLEY
– Race report by JAZZ™ Apple Rider Rushlee Buchanan

The six-stage Nature Valley Grand Prix launched June 20 with a high-speed Criterium through downtown St. Paul, Minn., which challenged the developing riders and schooled the JAZZ™ Apple team in valuable tactics. Results were mixed, as the following stages proved similarly demanding. Our riders tackled a 65-mile (110km) road race through Cannon Falls June 21, and an individual time trial soon followed by a second criterium – both raced June 22.

Stage 5 saw the JAZZ™ Apple team ride through 87 miles (120km) of flat Minnesota countryside before confronting the last 12.5 miles (20km) on an extreme loop, circling the finishing town four times over a 22 percent uphill climb. While World Champion and race leader Kristin Armstrong of Team Lipton dominated the field, our own Rushlee Buchanan proved her metal to earn the ‘Most Aggressive Rider’ jersey.

Observing some uncertainty in the pack near the start, Buchanan seized the opportunity to launch herself off the front in a spectacular solo break.

“The roads were long and expansive, not the best roads for a breakaway to go,” said Buchanan. “Nevertheless I created an opportunity, throwing myself onto the opposite side of the road and passing riders who were dangling in front. For the next 40 miles I was the lone wolf off the front of the peloton, capturing valuable ‘Queen of the Mountains’ and sprinters points while riding my way through the dry surroundings of small towns and long, straight, dusty roads, extending my gap from the pack to 3 minutes.

“Knowing that Team Lipton would be keeping tabs on my expedition, and with my legs needing increasing encouragement to keep turning over, they drew closer and eventually reeled me in as we neared civilization and the final town. Armstrong and her team drove the peloton hard, engulfing me as we entered the punishing final circuit.”

Buchanan’s day ended at the back of the strung-out field, however, her 40-mile break was not unnoticed by Nature Valley officials, winning her the ‘Most Aggressive Rider’ jersey for Stage 5.

Stage 6 proved to be a race of attrition with temperatures hovering near 95 degrees F. This is the site of the Stillwater Criterium where JAZZ™ Apple’s Sarah Ulmer dominated in 2006. The circuit includes one hill and one ‘wall’ with the finish line perched on top of the infamous Chilkoot Hill (18 percent grade). Spent from a week of hard racing, the JAZZ™ Apple team exhausted the last of their reserves.

“Alison and I were pleased to see the number board hit zero!” 19-year-old Buchanan said.

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JAZZ APPLE TEAM MEETS MINNESOTA HOSPITALITY
– Team report by Co-director Susy Pride

After a week and a half of racing and training in the serene environs of Northern California, the JAZZ™ Apple Cycling Team shuttled across to central time zone to Minnesota for the international Nature Valley Grand Prix, a 5-day stage race. This race provides the team with an excellent opportunity to realize other responsibilities around just racing.

The team has settled in with the same host family from 2006, Sharon and Dave Garber. It is a privilege as well as a brilliant opportunity for the team to have a real taste of true Minnesota hospitality. Their passion for yachting spawned feverous conversation with the girls, especially with the topical Americas Cup finale fast approaching.

This afternoon we are on our way to the Canon Falls Library to assist and do a question and answer session for children receiving tutoring in reading. It is a great way to provide a form of appreciation for a whole community. The kids even indulged us in our passion by staging a bike race.

After the reading program this afternoon we will get suited up for a 65-mile road race that starts at 5:20 pm.

JAZZ APPLE TEAM FINISHES WELL AT NEVADA CITY CRITERIUM

The JAZZ™ Apple Cycling team traveled to Nevada City for a demanding criterium race through the narrow, winding streets and hilly terrain of the historic town. The 47th annual race fell on Father’s Day this year, June 17.

One lap of the course runs just over a mile and includes a climb of more than 120 feet. Going downhill, pro cyclists can reach speeds of more than 50 miles an hour. To picture the experience of riding the course, imagine running up 12 flights of stairs every three minutes, 18 times in a row.

Shelley Olds, of the PROMAN Women's Cycling Team, dropped the hammer on the rest of the field and motored away in an impressive win. Youngster Rushlee Buchanan of the JAZZ™ Apple team secured third place and made her mark on the Nevada City course while Malindi MacLean and Susy Pride finished in the middle of the pack.

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KEISANOWSKI SISTERS FORTIFY THE JAZZ APPLES
IN PHILADELPHIA
– Team report by Mechanic Paul Larkin

When the JAZZ™ Apple Cycling team raced at the Commerce Bank Liberty Classic on June 10, they were joined by two additional pro cyclists from their New Zealand homeland. Joanne and her sister Michelle Keisanowski raced alongside their New Zealand National Teammates and fortified the squad for the 56-mile (90km) race, which required them to scale the mammoth Manayunk Wall (17% grade) a total of four times. The racers lined up to start at 9:00 a.m. under cool, overcast skies.

The race began fast, and despite huge efforts from Webcor to launch a rider on the third of four laps, the end would again come down to a bunch sprint. Lauren Webb suffered after moving to the front of the race early, while an improving Malindi MacLean rode strongly again, in a sign of good things to come. Rushlee Buchanan worked tirelessly with Michelle Keisanowski to maintain a good position in a ferocious bunch, providing reassuring jerseys should Joanne need them.

The final lap was again kept fast by the sprinters’ teams, ensuring no late breaks escaped. Despite this, Jo charged through the bunch to finish fourth, passing riders strongly over the final yards. Rushlee came in 19th, another indication of her strength, with Michelle on the same time, within the bunch.

Perhaps the most significant evidence of the team’s success thus far can be seen in the huge level of support we enjoy here in the U.S. Teams, riders and spectators can be heard calling “JAZZ™ Apple!” at every race, while the product is perhaps the most popular of any sponsor in the bunch when the teams are off their bikes.

So, it’s with a focused team of athletes gaining form and cohesion that we look forward to Nevada City and the Nature Valley Stage Race, a grueling six stages over five days – but not before several days of quality training just outside San Francisco.

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JAZZ APPLE CYCLISTS SHOW PROMISE AT READING CLASSIC
– Team report by Mechanic Paul Larkin

The JAZZ™ Apple Cycling team went head-to-head with some of the world’s best cyclists when they raced through the second stage of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling on June 7.

The women’s course was 15 times around 1.7-mile loop featuring a brutal false flat finishing straight, and providing little time if any for recovery. After spending some time in Kutztown, near the Lehigh Velodrome, the girls had ridden the DVT out of their legs in rolling farmland populated by Amish horse carts and Mennonite settlements, close to Reading and Lancaster.

On an aggressive course with such a high-quality field, positioning was going to be crucial, and from the starting gun Rushlee Buchanan moved up. Malindi MacLean put her track elbows to good use with Lauren Webb sitting a little further back. The day’s suicide break came courtesy of New Zealander Robin Farina, who will be known to some after racing the Wellington World Cup in 2006. With the bait out it wasn’t long before the bunch reeled Farina in, and a select bunch rolled off the front with the JAZZ™ Apples’ Buchanan in the mix, riding a tactically excellent wheel in the break.

But, the major teams Cheerwine, T-Mobile and others dictated that the day would be decided in a field sprint, keeping the pace in the closing laps high, and recovery nil. The pace went up; the bunch strung out, and Buchanan rode to the front, showing promising strength, and tactical instinct – her strong 12th place finish amidst trade team sprint trains landed her in the money.

After coffees at our home base in Kutztown even the staff got a chance to ride through the pristine Pennsylvania summertime countryside.

See video
View official results

JAZZ™ APPLES DEBUT AT LANCASTER CLASSIC

The 2007 JAZZ™ Apple Cycling Team made its North American debut June 3 at the Lancaster Classic – the first leg of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling.

After some training rides through the Pennsylvania countryside, our ladies joined other world-class athletes in the pro women’s 25-mile flat, four-corner criterium through the historic city of Lancaster. The course is described as ‘deceptively tricky,’ as it cuts through town with many sudden, short hills and tight turns.

Our own Rushlee Buchanan put in a solid performance and finished 17th in the end, also as the top finishing New Zealand competitor. Ina-yoko Teutenberg of T-mobile Pro Cycling and Laura Van Gilder of Cheerwine finished first and second, respectively.

An expo was also held in the main staging area throughout the day where fresh samples of ENZA JAZZ™ apples were passed out to the crowd of hungry spectators.

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