Women's Cycling Team - Race Reports

For current race reports, please visit the team's blog.

Bob Beal Masters Weekend Stage Race - Charlestown, Rhode Island - September 18-19, 2004

Lisa Maxwell braved the torrential downpour brought by the remnants of Hurricane Ivan to take part in the women's 30+ road race, time trial and criterium at this popular event. Despite the heavy rain and wind, CCB was very active in the road race, with the attentive Maxwell able to cover or bridge to most of the moves. At the final corner, she found herself in the front and jumped early for her FOURTH victory of the season. The time trial was held the same afternoon on a 3-mile flat course. Maxwell's 4th place finish put her in 2nd on GC. Sunday's criterium proved to be difficult, as it was held on the notoriously windy Ninigret course, and Maxwell found herself outnumbered. She valiantly followed as many moves as she could and ultimately sprinted in for 5th, with a final podium GC of 3rd! An impressive final performance in a long road season!

Wayne Elliot Memorial Criterium - Haverhill, Massachusetts - September 12, 2004

Lisa Maxwell and Michele Smith joined a strong field for 18 laps of this 1.1-mile criterium course in Ward Hill Industrial Park, home of long-time team sponsor Mavic USA. The pace was brisk, with Karen Nash of CCB maintaining ongoing pressure at the front of the field. Maxwell won a mystery prime, which was later identified as "the women's underwear prime." It turned out to be a cycling undershirt, but the race announcer seemed quite excited about it! Maxwell and Smith covered several potentially threatening moves, and the field ultimately stayed together. The pair moved to the front midway through the final lap, with Smith starting the lead-out early on the climb leading into the final two turns. Maxwell jumped out of the final turn and stayed away on the long, uphill, windy homestretch to take her THIRD win of the season. Smith sprinted in for 10th.

Green Mountain Stage Race - Vermont - September 3-6, 2004

This was the 4th annual running of the Green Mountain Stage Race, an increasingly popular event that evolved from a 2-day race weekend into a full-blown stage race following the demise of the Killington Stage Race. Marianne Stover competed at GMSR for the first time this year and joined a field of 52 women that was stacked with talent. Riders from pro teams Quark and RONA, along with top amateur teams Velo Bella, Verizon and CRCA/Aquafina were all contenders for top finishes in this event's four stages: an 8-mile prologue up the back of Appalachian Gap, a 52-mile "rolling" circuit race, the 65-mile Mad River Road Race (featuring ascents of both Middlebury and Appalachian Gap), and the 25-mile Burlington Criterium (held on a technical 1k downtown course). Stover rode brilliantly with a 26th place in the prologue, 4th in the circuit race (where she also placed in an intermediate sprint), 17th place in the Mad River Road Race (again snagging points in an intermediate sprint), and 10th in the downtown crit. After four days of spectacular climbing and sprinting, Stover finished 13th overall.

Chris Hinds Memorial Criterium - Lincoln, Rhode Island - August 29, 2004

Lisa Maxwell and Michele Smith were prepared for a rough day at this criterium, which was held in 90-degree temperatures, 90%+ humidity, and a "headwind" that seemed to come from every possible direction! Smith and Maxwell lined up with riders from Verizon, Dansko and other local teams to complete 20 laps on a 1.4 mile course in North Central Industrial Park. The riders were psyched to see the wide roads, a fast downhill, and a big-ring hill leading into a turn toward the 500-meter straightaway to the start-finish. Maxwell and Smith took turns covering threatening moves, with Maxwell dominating the primes, coming off of Smith's wheel to take three of four available that day. On the final lap, with the field still largely intact, Smith moved to the front on the final hill and began a lead-out that split the field. Maxwell stayed safely tucked in behind her and jumped hard with 200 meters to go, flying in for her second victory of the season. Smith finished 9th and graciously accepted compliments from rival teams on IF/SMRT Inc.'s great teamwork.

The women of Independent Fabrication/SMRT Inc. Cycling are pleased to announce that they won the inaugural Serotta New England Elite Women's Series! The Saco Bay Race weekend marked the conclusion of the 15-race series, in which 71 racers from 30 teams competed. With consistent attendance and three individual wins, Independent Fabrication/SMRT Inc. led the team competition from the first race to the last, and will be rewarded with a case of wine and a team dinner. Individually, the women trained and raced through new home purchases, childcare challenges, demanding jobs, serious crashes, injuries, and illness to finish as follows: Maxwell - 4th, Stover - 5th, Smith - 8th, Peck - 9th, Bahnson - 14th, and Davis - 18th.

SMCC Road Race - Scarborough, Maine - August 22, 2004

Katrina Davis, Lisa Maxwell, Michele Smith and Marianne Stover enjoyed a gorgeous sunny day of racing on 3 laps of a multi-cornered 13.65-mile rolling loop in the wilds of mid-southern Maine. The word "rolling" is a bit of a stretch here, as this circuit includes the infamous "Mitchell Wall," a short but painfully steep section. The team was in firm control of the race, with Davis, Maxwell and Stover taking turns setting tempo on the front and launching serial attacks. With the final meters approaching, the field was largely intact despite the three painful ascents of the Mitchell Wall. In the final kilometer, Davis got on the front to string out the field. Smith followed her move with a scorching attack, forcing the top contenders to abandon their leadouts and chase her down. Smith and her worn-out pursuers were passed within 200 meters to go by Stover and Maxwell, who rocketed in for a spectacular 1-2 finish! Davis rode in for 14th, with Smith in 16th.

Saco Bay Criterium - Saco, Maine - August 21, 2004

Katrina Davis, Lisa Maxwell and Marianne Stover raced on this downtown, 3/4-mile course, still slick from a torrential downpour earlier that morning. The trio took command from the gun, with Davis driving the pace for the opening laps. Davis and Stover (who just upgraded to Category 1) took turns attacking and counter-attacking, allowing no rest for the competition. Besides wearing down the field, Davis and Stover's strategy proved quite successful for snagging primes: by race end Maxwell and Stover had won ALL the primes up for grabs that day! Stover blasted in for 4th place overall, and 1st place and the gold medal in the Maine State Criterium Championship. Maxwell was close behind in 6th overall, also winning the silver medal. Davis scooted in for 10th. All three were psyched with the grippy but fast performance of the team's Hutchinson Fusion Comp tires on this slick, technical course. The team also got additional air time and a nice bonus when Stover's name was pulled in a drawing of all the prime winners for some extra cash.

Fall River Criterium - Fall River, Massachusetts - August 15, 2004

With remnants of Hurricane Charley blowing through southeastern Massachusetts, Lisa Maxwell and Michele Smith fearlessly headed in that direction and found a completely dry course at the Fall River Industrial Park. The race promoters were psyched to be hosting race #13 in the Serotta Elite Women's series, while Smith and Maxwell were even more pumped to defend the team's titanium grip on the series lead. Maxwell jumped into an early, dangerous move with riders from Gearworks, Colavita-Bolla and Bicycle Alley. The break stayed away, with Maxwell not quite making the selection on a prime lap and suffering alone with Hurricane Charley's winds for 7 miles before rejoining the remnants of the shattered field. Smith noticed an untimely flat after the free lap rule had expired, but miraculously managed (with the help of her trusty Hutchinsons) to tow Maxwell's group through their final lap at tempo. Maxwell jumped hard on the small but punishing finishing climb and took second in the field sprint and 5th overall. Smith sprinted in for 10th.

Silver City Flyer - Taunton, Massachusetts - August 14, 2004

This flat, 25-mile criterium in Myles Standish Industrial Park held added promise on this day, as it was to crown the Massachusetts Criterium Champion. Lisa Maxwell and Michele Smith joined an open women's field with a plan to get Massachusetts resident Smith on the podium. Maxwell and Gearworks riders attacked relentlessly in an effort to break up the field, but the combination of the flat 1.8-mile course and a stiff headwind on the backstretch rendered the field un-snappable. The final sprint started early, with Maxwell sufficiently recovered from her earlier efforts to rocket in for 2nd place. Smith, right on her wheel, zoomed in for 4th overall and claimed the silver medal in the Massachusetts State Criterium Championship.

North Atlantic Regional Time Trial Championship - Colebrook, Connecticut - August 8, 2004

Katrina Davis and Michele Smith dug out their aero gear, including their Smith Frontlines, for an assault on the regional 40k time trial championship, held on a rolling out-and-back course in northwestern Connecticut. Davis set a blazing pace from the start and passed several riders on her way to claiming her title as North Atlantic Time Trial Champion with a time of 1:01:47. A competitor was heard to remark later with surprise, "I thought I passed Katrina!" when in fact she had passed Smith -- a rare instance of "teamwork" in an individual time trial. Smith motored in for 6th place.

Tour of the Hilltowns - Windsor, Massachusetts - August 7, 2004

Brenda Bahnson, Katrina Davis and Heather Peck met at the scenic Notchview Reservation to prepare for one of the last remaining point-to-point road races and the contest for Massachusetts Road Race Champion. Fortunately, only Bahnson is from Massachusetts, so there was no arm-wrestling contest needed to decide who the team would work for. The team assembled with about 40 others to spend the next three hours bisecting and scaling some of the high country in northwestern Massachusetts. As is usually the tradition, this race features only playful attacks in the first 25 miles, which is largely rolling or downhill. The real race begins, and did this year, at the base of East Hawley Road ("the wall") -- a 1500' ascent in less than 3 miles. Dansko's climbing specialist Kerry Litka led the charge with CRCA/Aquafina's Kristen Lasasso and Katherine Lambden in tow. Peck jumped on that accelerating move, with Bahnson and Davis maintaining steady progress and picking off riders who jumped too early. By the top of the climb, the leaders were out of sight, but with at least one Massachusetts resident up the road, Bahnson and Davis were determined to chase. They were gradually joined by four others, and the six maintained a fast-moving paceline over the next 10+ miles, thanks in part to the ready sustenance of Clif Shots. Finally, the catch was in sight, and Davis and Bahnson rejoined Peck in a group of six, with five up the road. The new arrivals motivated the chase in this tiring group and a high-speed paceline quickly formed. Unfortunately, with only 15 miles to go (and an additional 1,000' to climb), an uncommunicative marshal caused the riders in front to unexpectedly slow down, and caught the rider in front of Bahnson off guard, causing her to slam on her brakes. With no time to escape, Bahnson hit that rider's rear wheel and flew over the bars at 30+ mph to meet the pavement with her chin, teeth and Adam's Apple. Davis ordered Peck to keep going and turned around to stay with Bahnson, who knew she'd be breaking out the Brave Soldier as soon as she could! Peck stormed ahead in this chasing group, launching a blistering attack in the final miles of the 1,000' climb and the race. She rocketed in for 8th in the field sprint and 14th overall.

New York City Cycling Championships - New York, New York - August 1, 2004

This was the second running of this NRC event and the second stop on the women's Pro Cycling Tour. Marianne Stover, Heather Peck, Lisa Maxwell, Katrina Davis and Brenda Bahnson headed for the canyons of the Lower East Side of Manhattan to compete in this hour-long criterium, held on a 1.2 mile 8-corner course in the heart of NYC's financial district. The terrain was particularly challenging, with deep dish manhole covers, abruptly narrowing sidestreets and an invigorating stretch of cobblestones. The team joined full squads of 70 riders from T-Mobile, Colavita-Bolla, Genesis-Scuba, Victory Brewing-Amoroso's and Velo Bella, along with lone reps from RONA and Quark. Quark's Sarah Uhl returned as defending champion, having won the first NYC Championship in 2002 while riding for the IF team. This course is described as "technical" in dry, well-lit conditions. On race day, the IF/SMRT Inc team faced torrential rain and greatly reduced visibility, with skyscrapers eclipsing most of the available light. The racers got right to work with the usual NRC crit pace -- brutal from the gun! Only two laps into the race, the first of many crashes took place and decisively split the field. Maxwell, Davis and Bahnson were behind this crash, with Maxwell and Davis able to bridge back up to the field. Meanwhile, Peck and Stover hammered away, with the field regrouping briefly before a series of other crashes, free laps and inches of rain found the race divided into distinctly separate groups. Davis and Stover were in the first, and Maxwell and Peck were in a chasing second group. With three laps to go, T-Mobile's Mari Holden attacked and stayed away for the solo win. Stover powered in for a spectacular 8th place finish with Davis close behind in 18th, while Maxwell and Peck surfed in for 35th and 44th respectively. All bikes and bodies were sodden but intact, Mavic wheels remarkably true, and the team members very pleased with the closing numbers on Wall Street.

Concord Criterium - Concord, New Hampshire - July 31, 2004

In search of a good tune-up for the New York City Cycling Championships (to be held the next day), Lisa Maxwell and Marianne Stover headed to the 23rd annual running of this popular criterium. This six-corner, 1-mile course encircles a lush neighborhood park and features a curvy chicane, power climb and long slightly downhill gallop to the start/finish line. New Hampshire star Zoe Owers of NHCC broke away on the second lap and rode solo for much of the race. Maxwell wasn't there to sit in, and drove the pace relentlessly to catch Owers. Meanwhile, Stover watched for the right moment and managed a perfect jump that brought her to the front of the race with Owers. Maxwell patrolled the field and covered all subsequent attacks until a Gearworks rider was able to escape her clutches and join Stover and Owers at the front. Stover's break of three stayed away, and she blasted in for 2nd. Maxwell, remarkably, still had the legs for 5th in the field sprint and 8th overall. Look out NYC!

Yarmouth Clam Festival Bike Race - Yarmouth, Maine - July 18, 2004

Lisa Maxwell, Michele Smith and Marianne Stover were totally psyched to return to this popular and challenging circuit race where the fans and prizes always seem to be crazy good! This 3.3 mile circuit is right next door to Stover and Maxwell's hometowns and features railroad tracks, tricky corners and a leg-busting climb just before a fast finish with primes on every lap. Between the prizes and Maxwell and Stover's local fan clubs, there was no lack of adrenaline or noise! The competition was tough, with Colavita-Bolla, Gearworks, and the IF/SMRT Inc. trio all pushing the pace and launching serial attacks. Maxwell, Smith and Stover hammered away and snatched numerous primes -- Stover winning two and the whole crew grabbing spots in multi-place primes (and air time!). Colavita-Bolla pro Brooke O'Connor powered away alone on the final climb, and Smith jumped hard to give chase, with Stover on her wheel and Maxwell third in line. The hard-charging pack exploded with Stover rocketing in for 3rd, Maxwell for 4th and Smith hanging on for 8th after a brilliant lead out. At the end of the day, the team had scored nine prize-winning places -- thanks to the generosity of the local sponsors, the enthusiastic fans, and last but not least, three fast pairs of legs!

Unionvale Road Race - Unionvale, New York - July 18, 2004

With the sprinters rocking the house at the Yarmouth Clamfest, Heather Peck and Brenda Bahnson headed to one of their favorite races in the hills of the Hudson Valley. They joined a field of 40 competitors for this 56-mile race -- four laps on an undulating 14-mile circuit with three significant climbs, with the finish perched atop a separate 2-mile climb with grades reaching 15%. Competitors included Kristen LaSasso in CRCA/Aquafina attire (but with a spring/early summer campaign of racing in Europe for Basis-Aude) accompanied by a full contingent of strong teammates, along with riders from Verizon, NHCC, Mystic Velo, etc. The field was decisively selected on the first lap after the second significant climb, where CRCA/Aquafina set a stiff tempo at the front. As LaSasso began to crest the climb, Bahnson moved to the front to push the pace a bit harder and to check the competition for any audible exertion! Peck showed her dominance on the next steep climb, and for the next three laps the group made rapid progress -- powered by hard tempo, attacks and 50 mph descents! By the end of lap three, Bahnson excused herself from the front group with legs that "felt like band-aids," while Peck powered on with 18 others for the final lap and the torturous finishing climb. LaSasso escaped with three others when she attacked over the top of one of the stiffer climbs, and even with an organized chase by Peck and the remaining field, stayed away to claim the victory. As always, Peck showed her signature climbing prowess and rode in for 4th from her group and 8th overall.

The Main Event Criterium - Poughkeepsie, New York - July 17, 2004

Michele Smith joined a star-studded field in downtown Poughkeepsie for this technical 25-mile criterium. Among her competitors were Genesis Scuba's Laura Van Gilder, track espoir national champion Ashley Kimmet and riders from the Argentinean National Team. Needless to say, the pace was brutal from the start, with Smith maintaining contact with a mostly single-file, strung-out "pack." Timing was everything, as Smith got caught behind a crash before the pace let up. She and others quickly formed a chase group for the remaining three laps -- with Smith launching herself for first in her field sprint and 21st overall.

As of July 11, the Independent Fabrication/SMRT Inc. women's team maintains its titanium grip on first place in the team standings of the Serotta Cat. 1/2 Women's Series!

Clayton Tokeneke Classic Road Race - East Hartland, Connecticut - July 11, 2004

Heather Peck, Brenda Bahnson and Michele Smith gathered with a field of 45 women to compete in this 44-mile hilly road race in northwest Connecticut. The course is famous for its non-stop climbing and descending, and the women's field set off for two 22-mile laps around the Barkhamsted Reservoir. With strong riders from CRCA/Aquafina, Verizon, NHCC and a sprinkling of other regional powerhouses, the race promised a hard day at the office. Among the CRCA riders was Kristen LaSasso, who spent her early season in Europe racing for Basis-Aude. LaSasso took charge on the very first climb and never let up until she finished the race in first place, attacking her competitors all the way through. LaSasso's first attack split the field in two, with Peck making the first group and Bahnson the second. By the end of the first lap, Peck was on her own with one other rider, while Bahnson, with a teammate up the road, abstained from leading the charge in the second group. Smith persevered as many behind these two groups faltered and cut their races short. Peck rode in for 9th, Bahnson 16th and Smith 31st.

The Downtown Northampton Criterium for Equal Access - Northampton, Massachusetts - July 4, 2004

While her teammates were trying to tailgate the pros at Fitchburg, Michele Smith joined a field of 30-40 women at this Independence Day criterium in charming downtown Northampton (aka "Noho"). Attacks from the Argentina National Team, NCC/BikeReg.com and Gearworks kept the pace quite high, shedding much of the "Open Women's" field. Smith followed many of the moves, but nothing stayed away on this 1k course. Smith did her best to muscle her way to the front on the narrow backstretch, but was forced to sprint from the back of the pack, blasting in for 10th place!

Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Stage Race - Fitchburg, Massachusetts - July 2-5, 2004

This was the 45th annual running of this National Racing Calendar event that saw approximately 1,000 professional and amateur racers migrate to north central Massachusetts for four days of competition through the hilly streets and countryside of Fitchburg and surrounding towns. Brenda Bahnson, Lisa Maxwell, Heather Peck and Marianne Stover joined a stacked roster of 95 women with full teams from Genesis-Scuba, RONA, Basis, Colavita-Bolla, Velo Bella, Victory Brewing, Sportsbook.com and TDS-Schwalbe, along with solo representatives Sarah Uhl (formerly of IF) for Quark and Lynn Gaggioli of T-Mobile. Armed with new Frontlines from Smith Sport, the team joined the fray for a 7-mile prologue TT; a 40-mile, 13-lap circuit race with 100'+ climbing per lap; a 69-mile road race which featured approximately 950' of climbing for each of the six 11-mile laps, with a finishing climb of 1000' up Mt. Wachusett; and a tough downtown crit. With champions such as Sue Palmer-Komar, Katrina Grove, Tina Mayolo-Pic, Laura Van Gilder and Lynn Gaggioli setting the pace, the racing was fast, furious and positively leg-breaking! Of the 95 starters, 73 survived all four days. Final GC: Stover in 42nd and Bahnson in 63rd.

Seacoast Criterium - Exeter, New Hampshire - June 29, 2004

Once again, Michele Smith, in search of the perfect sprint, fought commuter traffic and made her way north to Exeter for this weeknight, twilight criterium. The pace was hard from the gun, with a generous prize list and lots of primes up for the taking. Teams from NHCC, Gearworks and Dansko had riders in attendance and the attacks were perpetual, in spite of the huge potholes and parked cars along the course. The field, which was often single-file throughout the race, regrouped to jockey among the potholes for the final sprint. Smith had spied a good line and began her sprint on the outside, and with an NHCC rider was forced to stop and dodge a parked mini-van 100m from the finish when the pack shifted to the left. Despite the complete loss of momentum, Smith rocketed in for 11th place. Chris Zigmont of Mavic (and loyal team sponsor!) was on hand to provide color commentary for the race, including mention of the IF/SMRT Inc. women's "sexy new team kit". Smith was happy to have the opportunity to thank him for the team's superb Ksyrium SSC SL wheels which, quite notably, were still smooth and true -- potholes or no potholes!

VeryFine Grand Prix - Littleton, Massachusetts - June 27, 2004

Michele Smith raced six laps on this 7-mile course, featuring a 2.5 mile climb (300 vertical feet) and a fast, winding and BUMPY descent through the start-finish line. The field was about 25 strong and featured this season's standouts -- Mackenzie Dickey (Bike Alley) and Zoe Owers (NHCC). With QOM points up for grabs on laps two through six, the pace was stiff on the climb, with Owers, riders from Gearworks and former IF rider and climbing specialist Aimee Vasse (Sportsbook.com) stringing out the pack over the top. Smith made the selection through the punishing pace and with 1k to go gambled on following Dickey's early jump for the finish. As Smith spun out in her 53-12, the pack caught back on through the bumpy, downhill finish. Smith sprinted in for 13th place.

Wendy's International Cycling Classic - Columbus, Ohio - June 25-27, 2004

Lisa Maxwell and Marianne Stover hopped on a plane and made their way to Ohio to compete in the three events that comprise the well-known Wendy's cycling series: the Worthington Criterium, the Grove City Cycling Championship, and the Grandview Cycling Classic. Maxwell and Stover had obviously made a good impression on the promoter in past years, as he set them up with host housing and the use of a free van rental from race sponsor Thrifty. Although Wendy's is no longer on the NRC calendar, it attracts an NRC-quality field, with pro teams Victory Brewing and Colavita-Bolla in attendance, along with several powerhouse teams from the Midwest. Dodging crashes all the way, Maxwell finished 18th on the first day and 23rd on her second day of racing. Stover finished in 20th on the second day and 13th on the 3rd and final day of racing. These two rocketships sure love to sprint!

Housatonic Hills Road Race - Southbury, Connecticut - June 20, 2004

Michele Smith, Marianne Stover, Heather Peck, Lisa Maxwell and Brenda Bahnson were part of a field of 52 in southwestern Connecticut at this challenging road race, which also selects the Connecticut State Road Champion. The IF/SMRT Inc. squad was up against some strong competition via teams from Verizon, CRCA/Aquafina, Bicycle Alley and Gearworks for this race that featured two laps of a 27-mile loop (with 1500 feet of climbing per lap), and a finish line perched atop a separate 1.8-mile climb (500 feet). In other words: 3500 feet of climbing. The field progressed rapidly but intact until the steep climbing began around mile 7. The group essentially divided at that point to a front group of around 20 riders -- including Bahnson, Peck and Stover. Maxwell was forced to withdraw with a severe hamstring spasm, and Smith worked steadily in a chasing group. Bahnson was 3rd at the QOM sprint, but generally tried to behave and save her legs for the final climb. Stover showed great tactical savvy as she attacked five or six times in the miles approaching the final climb, hoping to force the other teams to burn some matches before arriving at the bottom of this towering ascent. With one final explosion, Stover attacked at the bottom of the climb, shattering the field into fragmented groups of 2-4 riders. Peck rode with the leaders, who watched the eventual first place finisher from Durango ride away, and duked it out for 4th overall and the Connecticut State Road Championship. Bahnson, coming from behind, picked off fading riders one at a time and took 10th overall by outsprinting a sprinter! Stover, her work done, rode in for 21st. Smith showed great perseverance and finished in 34th.

Cox Charities Cycling Classic - Providence, Rhode Island - June 13, 2004

Brenda Bahnson, Lisa Maxwell, Heather Peck and Michele Smith joined 45 women at the Cox Charities Cycling Classic, one of the toughest crits in New England. The 1-mile, six-corner course starts and finishes at the foot of the Rhode Island State House, passes the Providence Place mall and circles Waterplace Park while offering a steep, off-camber downhill, a cobblestone-covered sixth corner and a deceptively gentle-looking rise toward the start-finish line. The pace was fast from the start with Bahnson attacking from the gun, hoping to string out and force a selection in the "women's open" field. Peck and Bahnson rode aggressively throughout the race, launching numerous attacks and keeping a high tempo at the front, helping to keep the pace high and the pack together for ace sprinter Maxwell. With primes coming one after the other, CCB, Bike Alley, Gearworks, NHCC and the Argentina National Team also kept the race exciting. With 1-1/2 laps to go, Smith came to the front to try to cover any last-minute escapees. Going into the downhill, she was bumped hard and pushed into Maxwell, who somehow avoided crashing but lost the optimal position for the sprint. Maxwell wound it up from about 20 riders back and blasted in for an unbelievable 7th place. Bahnson finished in 19th, Peck in 20th and Smith in 28th. Nathan, a painter at IF, was on hand to watch the race and show off the extra cool paint job on his IF.

Wachovia Liberty Classic - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - June 6, 2004

This year was the 11th running of the Wachovia Liberty Classic and the first stop on the women's pro cycling tour schedule. The star-studded, international field broke a record this year with 28 teams and 184 riders -- with goals ranging from the overall win, to collecting UCI points and potentially an Olympic berth, or even just to finish! This 57.6-mile race is held in concert with the men's U.S. Pro Championships and is famous for spectators numbering 500,000+, an elaborate start/finish parade venue complete with a huge television screen, and the legendary Manayunk Wall. This 0.5-mile stretch of the course holds perhaps the highest concentration of the race's most enthusiastic spectators who cheer/scream and ring bells at a deafening pitch to encourage riders' progress up the 18% grade.

Brenda Bahnson, Heather Peck, Marianne Stover and guest rider Amanda Lawrence joined the throng for four laps on the 14.4-mile circuit that included QOM points each time up the Manayunk Wall and Lemon Hill and sprint points each time through the start-finish line. Independent Fabrication's President Matt Bracken was on hand in his other job driving for Mavic neutral support. Needless to say, there was no lack of action, speed or adrenaline as the team held the wheels of international pros through the winding, cobbled streets of Manayunk, avoided crashes and sped around the stately fountain in Logan Circle. And with Frankie Andreu providing race commentary, the experience was complete. Peck and Lawrence finished just over 3 minutes off seven-time champion Petra Rossner, with Stover and Bahnson a modest 11 minutes behind.

New England States Criterium Championships - Charlestown, Rhode Island - June 6, 2004

With most of the team in Philly, Michele Smith headed to a suffer-fest closer to home. The seaside course at Ninigret Park can best be described as New England's version of an outdoor wind tunnel: flat, straight and featuring a raging headwind. The small women's 1/2/3 field was combined with the men's 1/2/3 field. Within a few laps, the group had shattered. The 120 lb. Smith braved the wind alone, at one point watching her PowerTap read 15mph and 200+ watts simultaneously as she pushed back at the unrelenting gusts. The steady effort paid off with Smith sprinting in for second place and the silver medal in the New England Criterium Championships.

Tour of Somerville - Somerville, New Jersey - May 31, 2004

Memorial Day saw Lisa Maxwell and Marianne Stover wrapping up their three-day tour of mid-Atlantic region NRC crits by mixing it up with a field of 80 at the oldest bike race in America: The Tour of Somerville. Maxwell and Stover both managed good start positions despite the feral dash for the line after the better-known rock stars were called up. The two team mates were particularly glad to be near the front for obvious reasons, and due to the sky opening up with rain just as the race got under way. It proved to be critically important to stay near the front in these slippery conditions, and Maxwell and Stover held their spots while narrowly escaping a couple of crashes. Attempts to get away were quickly covered by field sprinters' teams. On the final lap, an unlikely Wells Fargo rider attacked on the back stretch and soloed in for the win, with former IF rider Sarah Uhl (Quark) taking the field sprint for 2nd. Stover blasted in for 13th and Maxwell took 34th.

As of June 20, the Independent Fabrication/SMRT Inc. women's team continues to hold first place in the Serotta New England Elite Women's Series! Individual standings: Maxwell-4th, Bahnson-5th, Stover-6th, Peck-8th and Smith-13th.

CSC Invitational - Arlington, Virginia - May 30, 2004

The CSC invitational (formerly known as the Clarendon Cup) was the second event during Maxwell's and Stover's NRC crit weekend in the mid-Atlantic region. The pace was leg-burning from the gun on this five-corner, .6-mile course in the Clarendon section of Arlington, Virginia. This technical course was perfect for a breakaway, and one got away after seven laps, with all major pro teams represented. A hard chase ensued, with various sprinters trying to bridge, but it became clear that the break was gone. Primes for the field kept the pace high, but eventually the break started to catch the back of the field. Some of the breakaways wanted to mix in to get lead-outs from teammates, and some wanted to stay back and duke it out within the group. Ultimately, the groups mixed, with Victory Brewing's Gina Grain taking the opportunity to attack and annihilate the field. The pack was single-file for the last mile with Grain taking the win. Stover held on for 22nd place, with Maxwel! l in 44th.

Hartford Downtown Criterium - Hartford, Connecticut - May 30, 2004

Michele Smith, Heather Peck and Brenda Bahnson decided to stay a little closer to home and compete in this four-corner crit held on the grounds of a city park near the state capitol. The pack was relatively small but concentrated, with aggressive riders who were anxious to make the race competitive. Peck animated the race with several attacks, at one point staying away solo for two laps and snapping up a prime. Bahnson also put in her share of attacks, stringing out the field. The pack came back together over and over again through the headwind on the long finishing straight. Peck and Bahnson set up Smith for the final sprint, but unfortunately Smith got boxed in the final meters. Peck still managed a great finish in 6th, with Bahnson in 16th and Smith in 18th.

Bike Jam - Baltimore, Maryland - May 29, 2004

Lisa Maxwell and Marianne Stover headed south for their first National Racing Calendar (NRC) event of the year at Patterson Park in Baltimore. The course was a low-tech, rather round circuit, with one figure-eight chicane. The pace was steady, but not too hellish, as several teams seemed intent on having a bunch sprint. Colavita-Bolla had the largest team and took the most primes; TDS-Schwalbe and Genesis Scuba were also quite active. Colavita used its numbers to set up New Zealand national champion Joanne Kiesanowski for the win. Maxwell positioned herself perfectly for 20th in the chaotic sprint, with Stover taking 35th.

Housatonic Valley Classic Criterium - Danbury, Connecticut - May 23, 2004

Marianne Stover, Michele Smith, Heather Peck, Lisa Maxwell and Brenda Bahnson lined up with a star-studded field for 18 laps of this 1.5 mile circuit in downtown Danbury, run in conjunction with the multi-day men's Housatonic Valley Classic event. The course featured a long steady uphill and a short downhill leading into a sharp turn directly into a steady headwind down the long finishing straight. Competitors included champion sprinters Laura Van Guilder (Genesis-Scuba), former IF rider Sarah Uhl (Quark), Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing) and several other track-trained sprinters. Two pros, RONA's Kathryn Curi (formerly of IF) and Victory Brewing's Franges, were off in the winning breakaway soon after the race started. Several riders attempted chase, but Curi's and Franges' team mates quickly shut them down, with no one able to stick a getaway. With one lap to go, the riders were driving hard in single file when they were completely surprised by a car driving straight at ! them just before the hill. In the ensuing chaos, an attack went up the hill. Stover and Peck sprinted from a near stop to get to the front group, with Peck pulling hard to deliver Stover into a good position for the sprint. Stover managed a superb 10th in the field sprint for 12th overall. Peck held on for 21st.

Lake Sunapee Road Race - Sunapee, New Hampshire - May 22, 2004

A courageous field of 18 women started the Lake Sunapee Road Race in cold, driving rain that had racers digging for winter booties and racing in rain jackets. Marianne Stover faced RONA's Anna Milkowski and Colavita Bolla's Brooke O'Connor (both full-time pros) along with a local field to complete two 23-mile hilly laps around scenic Lake Sunapee. The pace was necessarily brisk, as racers wanted to avoid hypothermia. Attacks by Milkowski and O'Connor had whittled the front group to six by the beginning of lap two -- Stover among them. This lead group worked together on the second lap, with all six contesting the wide, uphill finish in a side-by-side drag race. Milkowski took the sprint, with Stover blasting in for 3rd.

Turtle Pond Circuit Race - Concord, New Hampshire - May 16, 2004

Sunday dawned damp and chilly after a night of fierce thunderstorms, and offered the returning Independent Fabrication/SMRT Inc. team a welcome break from the previous day's kiln-like conditions. Brenda Bahnson, Lisa Maxwell, Michele Smith and Marianne Stover raced 4.5 laps on this new 11.4-mile rolling circuit in east Concord, finishing on a .8 mile climb that offered QOM points throughout the race. Despite attacks from the Independent Fabrication/SMRT Inc., Bicycle Alley, Gearworks and home field New Hampshire Cycling Club teams, including mad dashes for QOM points on the climb, the field was intact approaching the finishing climb. The final sprint up the climb strung the field out, with Stover maintaining a strong position to finish 3rd, with Bahnson in 9th, Maxwell in 13th and Smith in 14th.

New Hampshire International Speedway Criterium - Loudon, New Hampshire - May 15, 2004

Just one week after shivering on the start line at Sterling, Mass., Brenda Bahnson, Lisa Maxwell, Michele Smith and Marianne Stover faced the exceptionally high temperatures (97 degrees) at this raceway criterium with sheer determination and lack of acclimation. The 1-mile course featured a power climb, one brief straightaway through the start-finish line, a windy, sweeping descent and not even a hint of shade in sight. Heat exhaustion was a widespread phenomenon, as several team members and competitors developed goose bumps and dizziness within the first few laps of the fast-paced race. The winning break developed just a few laps in, and Maxwell pursued it doggedly, managing to make contact just before the finish. Maxwell roared across the line with an impressive 4th place, while Smith and Bahnson finished with the pack in 13th and 14th place, respectively.

As of May 16th, the Independent Fabrication/SMRT Inc. women's team holds first place in the Serotta New England Elite Women's Series! Individual standings: Maxwell-3rd, Stover-4th, Bahnson-6th, Peck-12th and Smith-12th (tie).

Bear Mountain Spring Classic - Harriman State Park, New York - May 9, 2004

This epic early-season road race is held on a beautiful and hilly 14-mile loop in the heart of this vast and unspoiled wilderness, just north of Manhattan. The course has been touted as home to numerous district and national championships and is "considered one of the best all-around road courses in the country." Brenda Bahnson, Lisa Maxwell and Marianne Stover migrated south from Saturday's race in Sterling to join a field of 70 Pro/1,2,3 women to compete a 4-lap, 56-mile course. This course is infamous for a 1-mile screaming downhill with a 180-degree, off-camber turn at the bottom, with climbing demanded immediately after. Stover and Bahnson took turns patrolling the front of the field and marking pros from Rona and La Grange who were most likely to attack and escape. They alternately set tempo or kept the brisk pace set by Rona and La Grange, or catapulted out of the front of the field if either attacked. Meanwhile, Maxwell showed tremendous form in her clim! bing prowess by staying in the increasingly selective front group. By the fourth and final lap, the leading group on the road contained all three IF/SMRT Inc. riders, who hoped to set up Maxwell and Stover for the final, downhill sprint. Bahnson brought Maxwell up the side to the front of the field just in time, as La Grange's Catherine Powers jumped with 1k to go. Maxwell and Stover managed to connect along with Rona's Anna Milkowski and a few other powerhouses. Stover blasted in for 2nd and Maxwell for 4th. Bahnson was 21st.

Lime Rock Circuit Race - Lakeville, Connecticut - May 9, 2004

While her teammates were exploring the wilds of Harriman State Park, Michele Smith braved a downpour and a motor oil-covered course at Lime Rock Park in northwestern Connecticut. This course, ordinarily the domain of race cars, featured a steep climb and downhill and numerous S-turns. The small group of women competitors were combined with the men's Master 45+ field, and Smith showed remarkable bravery and bike-handling by grabbing a 3rd place among the women.

Sterling Classic Road Race - Sterling, Massachusetts - May 8, 2004

This was the 10th year for another early-season classic, held in and around the scenic (and accommodating) town of Sterling in north central Massachusetts. Marianne Stover, Michele Smith, Heather Peck, Lisa Maxwell and Brenda Bahnson joined a field of 45 Pro/1,2,3 women to complete five laps of an 8-mile loop which featured a steep uphill (again with the finish perched atop), followed by a longer more gradual climb, rollers, a few (fun!) sweeping descents and a back section along Route 12 back to the start-finish. This section consistently offers a brisk headwind. Race highlights included Stover covering strong attacks up the steep climb, with Bahnson moving to the front and pushing the pace up the second longer climb on each lap, gradually whittling down the field. On the final lap, Maxwell moved to the front along the highway section, ramping up the pace and setting up the squad for the last approach to the steep climb that would select the best finishers. While Stover ! was in good position in the last kilometer, an overly aggressive competitor pushed her into the curb. After a good scrape to her pedal and her balance, Stover remained unwavering. Maxwell stayed at her side to prevent any blocking and allowed Stover to jump onto a group of eight that surged off the front with 1k to go. Peck and Bahnson were close behind and Maxwell, her work done, worked steadily up the final ascent of the steep now-finishing climb. Final results: Stover in 7th, Peck in 12th, Bahnson in 16th, Maxwell in 26th. Smith finished in a chasing group in 38th.

Rock and Road Classic Road Race - Raymond, New Hampshire - May 2, 2004

Michele Smith appeared solo at this new race in southern New Hampshire. Just 15 minutes after the start, Smith found herself in what was to become the winning break with a combination of 2 Gearworks/SpinArts riders, one Dansko/Wheelworks rider and New Hampshire's Zoe Owers (who had just taken the lead in the regional Cat. 1-2 women's Serotta series). Smith dug deep to stay with them during the first 10-mile lap, but rejoined the pack after the second round of hills on the second lap. On the final lap, Smith managed to break away with a pair of Gearworks/SpinArts riders and had a perfect opportunity to try her hand at final-meter tactics. One of the riders attacked with 1k to go, forming a sizable gap. Smith bided her time, then bridged up with 500 meters to go, taking the rider by surprise as she rocketed by in the final meters to take the sprint for 5th place.

Jiminy Peak Road Race - Lanesboro, Massachusetts - May 1, 2004

After an early morning team photo shoot, Brenda Bahnson, Lisa Maxwell, Heather Peck, Michele Smith and Marianne Stover joined a packed field of nearly 70 Pro/1,2,3 women for this early-season classic in western Massachusetts. The race was shortened by one lap this year, with the women's field to compete on two laps of an 18-mile rolling loop, famous for a 300 - 400 foot climb that also holds the ever-pursued finishing line. Genesis Scuba's Sue Palmer-Komar, fresh off a spectacular 4th place finish at Fleche-Wallone, animated the race with a blistering attack up the climb on lap 1. She was followed by several other pros, with Stover, Peck and Bahnson just missing the critical inches needed to connect with what would evolve as the leading group of three on the road. Despite efforts by various teams, including IF/SMRT Inc., to organize a chase, most of the field seemed intent on conserving their energy for the second and finishing ascension of the mountainous finish. Peck an! d Bahnson powered up the climb in the front group with Peck grabbing an impressive 9th place overall. Bahnson was 21st, Stover 26th and Maxwell 28th. Smith, in a chase group, rode in for 55th.

Palmer Library Road Race - Palmer, Massachusetts - April 25, 2004

With no women's Cat. 1/2 race offered, Brenda Bahnson, Lisa Maxwell and Marianne Stover opted for a little adventure and lined up with the 30+ men for this 60-mile road race held on a rolling, scenic 20-mile loop in and around Palmer, Massachusetts. This course is also notable for a long uphill that is part of the course and holds the finish line. Bahnson, Maxwell and Stover held their own with the guys -- riding at the front and matching the big-ring power needed to ascend the hills with the field, shedding riders en route. While ascending the hill to begin the third and final lap, an explosive attack strung out the field with Bahnson and Stover nearly latching on in time, and Maxwell close behind. Bahnson powered on determined to catch the field, but only managed to catch others who'd been blown off the back; she worked with them for a while, got dropped, and ended up passing them later while she shifted into time-trialing mode to finish in 36th. Stover and Maxwell join! ed forces behind and rode in for 39th and 40th, respectively.

Monson Road Race - Monson, Massachusetts - April 24, 2004

Brenda Bahnson, Lisa Maxwell and Marianne Stover joined a field of 30-40 Cat. 1,2,3 women for this 32-mile circuit/road race held on a rolling 8-mile loop in western Massachusetts and featuring a long hill that often decides the race and holds the much-pursued finish line. The competition was comprised of regional teams, but notable for several riders who have been racing collegiate and have quite a few more racing miles in their legs already. As the field rounded the corner onto the hill, Bahnson accelerated to the front and set a hard tempo up the first three-quarters of the climb. Meanwhile, a number of riders went down coming up the climb, and Bicycle Alley's Mackenzie Dickey used this as an opportunity to attack. Stover was able to jump on this train, while Bahnson struggled to respond to the unexpected acceleration from behind. Stover sped up the remaining ascent to latch onto the front group of ten, who became the leading group on the road. Bahnson dangled in no-ma! n's-land for a while before being joined by Maxwell and six other riders to form the second group on the road. Stover joined in a speedy paceline that would keep any chasers away with one attempt by two CRCA riders to deliver a one-two punch on lap three. Stover's group approached the finish intact and Dickey attacked quite early. Stover didn't expect it to stick and waited patiently for someone else to chase. Those who attempted weren't fast enough for Stover who sprinted around them and blazed up the hill for 2nd. Bahnson jumped early on the hill with only a CTS rider able to follow. Bahnson took second in the sprint and 11th overall. Maxwell rode in for 17th.

Adelphia Grand Prix - Plymouth, Massachusetts - April 18, 2004

Brenda Bahnson, Lisa Maxwell, Michele Smith and Marianne Stover gathered with a field of 35 competitors for this 25-mile circuit race, held on a 2.5-mile hilly loop in Myles Standish State Park. Most of the riders were pretty revved up, both to be riding in temperatures that allowed shorts only, and also for this being the premier event in the Serotta New England Elite Women's Series. The pace was brisk from the start with riders from both pro and local teams -- Basis, Colavita/Bolla, Dansko, NEBC/CycleLoft, Boston Road Club and Bicycle Alley -- attempting attacks and jockeying for position on the narrow, winding and poorly paved roads. Bahnson, Maxwell and Stover discovered that they had a perfect opportunity to execute some tactics reviewed pre-race: Bahnson to push the pace on the longest hill, Stover to attack at the top of the hill into a headwind and Maxwell to try to be patient and save her legs for the final sprint. Stover strung out the pack numerous times with h! er furious power into the wind, shedding a number of riders and fatiguing most others. On the last lap, Bahnson went to the front and set tempo, intimidating the pack with her uphill accelerations and pushed the pace up the final climb to ensure that no one would have the legs to attack. With the pace at full speed, Maxwell marked a strong frontrunner from Colavita/Bolla. Stover blazed past in the final straight, forcing the Colavita rider to jump first and take Maxwell with her. Maxwell launched herself past this track-trained sprinter to the front to take the win with a commanding lead. Bahnson stayed on the gas and sprinted in for 9th and Stover survived a spoke-popping tussle in the final meters to place 11th. Smith rode in for 21st. Maxwell's win will make her the first rider to wear the leader's jersey in this series. Look for her in yellow at the Jiminy Peak Road Race!

Tufts Criterium - Medford, Massachusetts- April 3, 2004

Lisa Maxwell, Michele Smith and Marianne Stover assembled with a strong group of early-season racers for this technical 1-kilometer course on the campus of Tufts University. The temperatures were chilly and the wind was brisk as the field navigated this tight, six-corner venue which featured a screaming downhill, barely paved uphill section, a chicane and cobblestones. Maxwell and Stover were right with Colavita/Bolla's Brooke O'Connor from the gun, and maintained a steadily difficult pace that shed much of the field and allowed little opportunity for O'Connor to escape. After a 500-meter, four-corner uphill pull on the last lap, Stover hung on for 2nd in the drag race finish, with Maxwell rounding out the podium in 3rd. Smith, a Tufts alumna, sprinted in for 10th. The race was only a few miles away from the IF home office and the team was super psyched to have their own cheering fan club from IF right on the course!