Fort Collins, CO. (August 22, 2015) – It was an exciting windy ride and finish for Tayler Wiles of DNA Cycling p/b K4, who won Stage 2 at the inaugural Women’s USA Pro Challenge Saturday in the 58-mile stage from Loveland to Fort Collins.
Wiles jumped from the group of four riders and outsprinted Lauren Komanski and Kristin Armstrong, both of Team Twenty16 presented by Sho-Air and Mara Abbott of the Amy D Foundation to win the race in front of tens of thousands packing the downtown finish.
“I knew I was going to have to play it pretty smart since there were two Twenty16 rider,” said Wiles. “Lauren Komanski had gone again with 500 meters to go, so I stuck on her wheel. Then I went with about 400 meters to go, which was pretty early. It was a long straight drag and I knew if I could get a jump and get a little on the downhill I could hold it.”
Armstrong, the two-time Olympic Gold Medalist for the individual time trial, retained the Smashburger leader’s jersey for the second day in a row. It was the first time since her return to professional cycling took that she has lead a stage race.
“The break-away happened at the top and there were four of us,” said Armstrong. “Komanski, Tayler and Abby were fearlessly trying to catch us on the decent and there were switchbacks and Abby went in a little too hot and hit the guard rail.”
Tayler Wiles win in Fort Collins
Wiles crossing the finish line
Armstrong added, “Tomorrow’s circuit is technical. Anything can happen. It’s nice to have a buffer. It was a hard day, but I couldn’t have done it without my team.”
For the jerseys, Kristin Armstrong (USA) of Twenty16-Sho-Air remains in the Smashburger Race Leader Jersey. While Tayler Wiles (USA) of DNA Cycling p/b K4 got her fingers on the Lexus Sprint Points Jersey. Mara Abbott (USA) of Amy D. Foundation gets to take home the Sierra Nevada Queen of the Mountains Jersey. The Colorado.com Best Young Rider Jersey goes to Abigail Mickey (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional and the Strava Most Courageous Rider Jersey goes to Coryn Rivera (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Professional.
Stage 3, the women will find themselves in a 1.5 mile one hour technical circuit around the cycling mecca city of Golden, Colorado.
STAGE 2 PODIUM WINNERS
1. Tayler Wiles
2. Lauren Komanski
3. Kristin Armstrong
4. Allie Dragoo
5. Allie Dragoo
GC Standings
1. Kristin Armstrong
2. Tayler Wiles
3. Lauren Komanski
4. Abigail Mickey
5. Breanne Nalder
Tayler surprised and happy at receiving her custom bike
Top three women: Lauren Komansi, Tayler Wiles and Kristen Armstrong
Kristen Armstrong retains the yellow jersey
STAGE 3 TOMORROW:
Sunday, Aug. 23 – Golden Criterium
Start Time: 10:30 a.m. MT
Estimated Finish Time: 11:30 a.m. MT
The women have tested their time trial legs and their climbing legs, now it’s time to test their elbows in some shoulder to shoulder technical circuit racing served up Colorado style in Golden.
This final stage is no mere promenade or flat four corner coronation for the current leader. With hills, technical corners, and plenty of time bonuses up for grabs on this tight 1.5 mile circuit, the overall winner will have to prove their worthiness for one more day. If they survive this circuit they will truly be a worthy winner of the first-ever Women’s USA Pro Challenge and will have proved their skill in all disciplines of the sport.
