Benicia Time Trial Tests the Best

Cycling is one of the most deceiving sports to outsiders, if not the most honest to its participants. At any given time, riders are peaking or resting, going into a midseason break or emerging from one, as was the case for both the Women and Men's Pro/1/2 Category champions at the Taleo Racing Team's annual Time Trial in Benicia.

On a windy and cold day where disc wheels were few and far between, Scott Zwizanski of Mill Valley set the best time of 25:21.0, but was not exactly elated with his ride. "I am pleased with my effort, but not with the numbers. My power output was lower than normal. I am coming off a vacation, so I guess that's to be expected. But it was good to be able to race a TT after a two-week break to kind of kick-start the engines again." Zwizanski's next major target will be TT Nationals, held September 18 in South Carolina, where he will be looking to improve on his third place finish of 2009.

Having just won the NCNCA Masters' District Championship Road Race the day before, Giana Roberge set the best time of 29:19.0 at Benicia. After a long and accomplished cycling career, not only does Roberge still race, and win, she also coaches many successful cyclists throughout the Bay Area, including Olivia Dillon of San Francisco, who is the current National Champion of Ireland in both the Time Trial and Road Race.

The Time Trial also provided an excellent platform for Mill Valley natives Robert Anderson of Team Specialized Racing Masters, who won the Masters Men Ages 55-99, with a time of 27:10.0, and Davis Bently, racing for Whole Athlete, who won the Men Category 3 with a time of 26:31.0.

One rider who was sure to have given Roberge a run for her money was missing from the event. Mill Valley resident Alison Starnes, who rides with the professional squad Tibco-To The Top, as well as with the US National Team, suffered a double pelvis fracture in a horrific crash at the Cascade Classic in Bend, Ore., last month. I have raced with Starnes, and cannot assure you that she will be back with a vengeance as soon as the docs give her the green light. Riders like Starnes and Giro Donne winner are what I call the goose-bump riders – those that are, quite simply, exciting. We are entering a golden age of women's cycling in the US – get on board now.

Speaking of Starnes, let's pay tribute to her husband, Zach. When I was racing with Alison, Zach went to many of her races in support. So I was elated to hear that he recently got a big win at the BBC Criterium in Albany, racing with the Dolce Vita boys in the Category 4 race. Alison's career is on the fast track, and it speaks hugely to Zach's talent on the bike that he can work full time, cheer her on full time, and win races.

Mill Valley also has a strong cycling presence on the junior circuit, and most of the boys ride for the Above Category Racing Team. These kids are respectful, disciplined and have a sheer love for the sport. It shows every time they race.  At Mountain Bike Nationals in July, team member Eliel Anttila placed third in the Category 2 Cross-Country race, Ages 15-18.  In the Category 1 Cross-Country, Ages 15-16, Spence Peterson placed tenth and Jack Keane was twentieth. This race was held on the same course as the Pro Men's race and Jack had this to say: "The highlight of this course had to be the climb at the start - a brutally steep fire road that singed the lungs and strung out the field. Doing that climb 4 times in around 1 hour and 45 minutes made this race one of the hardest I have ever done. But with such a strong 15-16 year old field, I can't wait to give it another shot next year."

Keep an eye on these boys, as well as all of our local competitors, and expect more great results this season.