News – Hannah Barnes Racing California

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Hannah Barnes and the UnitedHealthcare cycling team ready to take on the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Race

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News – Hannah Barnes Racing California

The 2015 Amgen Tour of California Women’s Race is set to begin in South Lake Tahoe on May 8th. Following a podium and a victory in the 2014 edition (Coryn Rivera, 2nd, Circuit Race; Alison Powers, 1st, Time Trial), The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team is looking for success in the three-day UCI 1.1 stage race, followed by the Amgen Tour of California Invitational Time Trial on May 15th.

The expansion of the women’s event to four days of racing in 2015 shows the momentum behind women’s cycling in North America. The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team is proud to have been at the forefront of growing the stage for women to race on. The Amgen Tour of California will host one of the most competitive women’s fields ever seen in the United States, and the Blue Train aims to be at the front of the peloton on each stage.

Rachel Heal will be managing the women’s team during the 4-day event, “It’s fantastic that a race like the Amgen Tour of California is stepping up and growing their women’s race. Each year the women’s race has grown, and to have a 3-day UCI race in addition to the invitational time trial shows the respect with which the women’s sport is being treated.”

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The first-ever Amgen Tour of California women’s UCI stage race will begin at the beautiful Heavenly Mountain Resort, perched high above South Lake Tahoe. The scenic 74-mile road race will make a loop around the lake, and also take in 28 miles of pavement in Nevada – the first time the Tour of California will leave the borders of its home state. The challenging course is a fitting introduction to the new women’s tour, and comes in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of the men’s event. The day will end with the brutal climb up the 15 percent grades of Keller Street back to Heavenly. This opening stage will produce a worthy winner from the international field.

Stage 2 is a 49.7-mile circuit race starting and finishing at Heavenly Mountain Resort. The 3rd stage will be a two-mile circuit race around the California State Capitol building in downtown Sacramento. This stage will be the perfect opportunity for the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team to rally around the Blue Train. With time bonuses on the line, the third stage will be a thrilling decider to the inaugural race.

The 2014 Amgen Tour of California Women’s Invitation Time Trial was a huge success for the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, with a resounding victory by Alison Powers. After consecutive second places in previous years, Powers began a streak of wins with the victory in Folsom, California. With a new generation of riders, Linda Villumsen and Laura Brown, The Blue Train hopes to emulate the success of the now-retired Powers.

Fri May 8 Stage 1 Women’s Race – South Lake Tahoe
Sat May 9 Stage 2 Women’s Race – South Lake Tahoe
Sun May 10 Stage 3 Women’s Race – Sacramento
Fri May 15 Individual Time Trial Women’s Race – Big Bear Lake

Heal is excited by the team’s chances in California: “For us this race has been a big focus, the team is riding well and we’re excited to race against the top international field that has been put together for the race.”

3-Day UCI 1.1 Stage Race roster:
Hannah Barnes
Laura Brown
Rushlee Buchanan
Katie Hall
Alexis Ryan
Linda Villumsen

Women’s Invitational Time Trial roster:
Laura Brown
Linda Villumsen
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