Merced, CA – Team TIBCO/To the Top’s six-rider squad used the MERCO race weekend as a good learning and practice experience against strong competition in Merced. Brooke Miller turned in a pair of 4th places, displaying some particularly strong, aggressive riding at the finish of Sunday’s road race.

“The weekend didn’t go as well as we hoped because we always go into races to win them,” said team Directeur Sportif Emma Rickards. “This was the first race together against top-notch national and even international competition and the team got much better as the weekend progressed.”

Not having race radios in the peloton this year will put an even greater emphasis on teamwork, she added. “We made a few mistakes during the crit on Saturday, but the riders worked together really well in Sunday’s road race,” she said. “This weekend was great because it gave us the chance to get a new group together and work out some of the kinks before the NRC season kicks off at Redlands later this month.”

Team TIBCO’s preparation will continue at the San Dimas Stage Race in two weekends, ahead of the Redlands Cycling Classic, which begins March 25.

Hutchinson OK after criterium crash

The large crash that brought the women’s criterium to a standstill Saturday sent Team TIBCO’s Jerika Hutchinson to the hospital to get checked out. Luckily she survived the crash with only bruises and a headache.

Team TIBCO II continues to post strong results

The Cat. 4 women of Team TIBCO II also showed that the weekend spent training with the pro team in Carpinteria was beneficial. Ann Kodani posted another 2nd place in the criterium on Saturday, while Vanessa Cairns took 4th.