Friday, October 8, 2010
Touchstone Women Elite Cycling Team Wins BAT/BAR Awards
The Touchstone Women Elite Team had an exceptional season this year in the Northern California Nevada Cycling Association (NCNCA), the most competitive region in the country. The team won best all-around team and best all around rider with riders placing first in at least 14 races and standing on the podium in 4 times as many races. The strong standing won the team the Elite Women’s 1/2 best all-round team award in Northern California. More specifically the team, with its strong sprinters, dominated the criteriums, the 50 to 1 hour races, winning or being in the top three in the Folsom Early Bird Criterium, the Folsom Cyclebration Criterium, and the Masters State Criterium Championship.
Mary Maroon, of the Women’s Touchstone team, earned the Best All Around Rider Title in Women’s Elite 1/2 division with wins in the Central Coast Circut Race, the Lodi Cycle Fest, and a half dozen criteriums. Maroon credited the dedication of her teammates and Carol Irving, who acts as the hands-on manager of the 16 member team. “Carol put in a Herculean effort,” said Maron. “Without Carol, Touchstone would have never seen a podium.” Markham Connolly, Touchstone’s Director of Operations, founded the team and acted as the sponsor/manager. Connoly said, “The team performed better than ever. Our focus this year was to do well in the NCNCA races. To win BAT (Best All-round Team) and BAR (Best All-round Rider) is a great accomplishment.”
Elis and Mary employed solid racing tactics to secure the team a number of wins.
All the riders on the Touchstone team progressed through the season with a number of them moving up the Cat. In Women's cycling, there are Category 1, 2, 3, and 4. Category 4 is the entry level of racing and Cat 1 is the highest. Levels are earned by placing well in previous races. Category 1 and 2 race together and compete in the National Level Races. Category 3 racers often race with Cat 1/2 at the local level. Touchstone started with five Category 3 racers and six Category 2 racers and five Category 1 racers. Within the season, 3 of our Category 3 racers upgraded and one of our Category 2 racers upgraded to Cat 1. In general, most riders train 12-15 hours a week with some training for over 20 + hours a week. The women did exceptionally well throughout the season and the number of Cat advancements is evidence to the hard training. As Maroon stated, “To be clear, we performed well right from the very beginning. We performed well because all the right pieces were in place to make us the best team in the district. We know we race in the most competitive district in the country and a BAT (best all around team) Title feels really good.”
The Menlo Park Grand Prix, one of the premiere women's race in the NCNCA, had five members of the Touchstone team riding in it.
Congratulations to the Touchstone Women’s Cycling team for their outstanding season and every one of their great successes along the way!
Mary Maroon, of the Women’s Touchstone team, earned the Best All Around Rider Title in Women’s Elite 1/2 division with wins in the Central Coast Circut Race, the Lodi Cycle Fest, and a half dozen criteriums. Maroon credited the dedication of her teammates and Carol Irving, who acts as the hands-on manager of the 16 member team. “Carol put in a Herculean effort,” said Maron. “Without Carol, Touchstone would have never seen a podium.” Markham Connolly, Touchstone’s Director of Operations, founded the team and acted as the sponsor/manager. Connoly said, “The team performed better than ever. Our focus this year was to do well in the NCNCA races. To win BAT (Best All-round Team) and BAR (Best All-round Rider) is a great accomplishment.”
Elis and Mary employed solid racing tactics to secure the team a number of wins.
All the riders on the Touchstone team progressed through the season with a number of them moving up the Cat. In Women's cycling, there are Category 1, 2, 3, and 4. Category 4 is the entry level of racing and Cat 1 is the highest. Levels are earned by placing well in previous races. Category 1 and 2 race together and compete in the National Level Races. Category 3 racers often race with Cat 1/2 at the local level. Touchstone started with five Category 3 racers and six Category 2 racers and five Category 1 racers. Within the season, 3 of our Category 3 racers upgraded and one of our Category 2 racers upgraded to Cat 1. In general, most riders train 12-15 hours a week with some training for over 20 + hours a week. The women did exceptionally well throughout the season and the number of Cat advancements is evidence to the hard training. As Maroon stated, “To be clear, we performed well right from the very beginning. We performed well because all the right pieces were in place to make us the best team in the district. We know we race in the most competitive district in the country and a BAT (best all around team) Title feels really good.”
The Menlo Park Grand Prix, one of the premiere women's race in the NCNCA, had five members of the Touchstone team riding in it.
Congratulations to the Touchstone Women’s Cycling team for their outstanding season and every one of their great successes along the way!
Labels: Carol Irving, Mary Maroon, Touchstone Cycling
¶ Friday, October 08, 2010
