Hutchinson finishes her season with trips to the podium.

September 16, 2009

Los Altos, CA – Jerika Hutchinson of Team TIBCO finished her 2009 season with several strong results in Northern California the past two weeks. She started off with a strong 2^nd place at the Winters Road Race in a solo effort behind former U.S. National Road Champion Kathryn Curi Mattis (Webcor)

She attacked out of a small chase group on a slight rise with 5 km to go and time trialed to the line for 2^nd. Staying in time trial mode the following weekend, Hutchinson won the elite division at the Esparto Time Trial by nearly two minutes on the second place rider.

Hutchinson continued her good run in time trials this past weekend, winning the opening time trial stage of the three-race Folsom Cyclebration on Friday. She won the 10-mile TT by two seconds in 102-degree heat.

The weather changed considerably for Saturday’s criterium, with cooler temperatures brought on by unusual September rain showers. The light rain was just enough to mix with the oil built up on the road to make the course slick, and Hutchinson went down early in the race. “The course was short and fast, and in turn two, I had both my wheels slide out from underneath me,” she said. However, after a quick check by the race doctor and a free lap, she was back in the race and able to finish off 5^th in the sprint.

On the final day’s circuit race, she rode strong on the technical course and placed well enough to hold onto 2^nd place overall for the three-race omnium. “Everybody in the pack raced aggressively and the speed was amazingly fast,” she said.

The strong results put the finishing touches on a great season for the 19-year-old that included 2^nd place at the U23 National Time Trial Championship.