When we started the 2009 season, our goal was simple: win the USA Cycling NRC team competition.Considering our humble origins just a few years ago (#26 overall in 2006), this might have seemed a bit lofty. But with a strong, cohesive roster, the addition of Jeff Corbett as Director, and the help of both corporate and industry sponsors, we knew we were capable of achieving it. By the end of the season, we were ranked as the number one team in the U.S., and we were recently named VeloNews’ women’s team of the year.
It started with Lauren Tamayo’s 2nd place in a cold and wet Amgen Tour of California in February, and ended with Brooke Miller sweeping the four-race Tour of Missouri Series in early September.
In between, Jo Kiesanowski won a stage and the overall in front of thousands of sponsors at the Sea Otter Classic, then helped Brooke Miller steamroll the Southeast, winning four times in six races over nine days. Tamayo fnished 3rd overall against top international competition at Le Grand Tour du Montreal, and Kiesanowski took 2nd place at the Liberty Classic.
Team overall titles at the Nature Valley Grand Prix in June and the Cascade Classic in July also sealed the Women’s Prestige Cycling Classic team title. To cap everything off, Meredith Miller won an epic U.S. National Road Championship at the end of July.
Team TIBCO certainly had a stellar 2009, earning 42 wins with another 54 trips to the podium. The goals will be even higher for 2010, including the team’s frst foray to Europe for a six-week spring racing block that will include four World Cups. The European trip begins the second year of our four year plan to prepare our athletes for the 2012 Olympics. Competing internationally will provide our athletes with the experience and race savvy to win against the best in the world.
In addition to an expanded racing calendar, the team will be reaching out to children in schools across the country, encouraging and motivating them to reach for the top. The team will begin with appearances at schools in the Bay area in February, and visit with schools across the country as the season unfolds. Our athletes will hopefully be an inspiration to these children, encouraging and motivating them to follow their passions and achieve their goals.
As always, we thank all of our sponsors for their support, and our riders for their ability and winning attitude. None of this is possible without consistent and selfess teamwork. We expect more great things in 2010.
