The 2013 Top Banana Competition is nearing the halfway point, and two riders have emerged as the heavy favorites.
There’s still an awful lot of racing left, but with the stretch of road races now in the books, the races left on the Programme are dwindling. The pavement races are over and it’s all down to the dirt for the rest of the season. We’ve had ten races so far, and with eight left stretching from July 14 to December 10, the grind of the season is starting wear on the riders.
Hagerty is now sitting first and second in the Women’s division, and with a sizable lead over third place. Bridgit Widrig was able to nab third place at the Cherry-Roubaix Road Race Sunday, giving her 17 points on the day. Lauri was fifth, with 15 points, bringing her up to 60 for the season. Bridgit is four points back, and she is a full twenty points clear of Einstein Racing’s Zoe Reeves in third. Reeves’ crash Saturday at the Criterium knocked her out of Sunday’s road race, and she’ll likely rue the missed chance at a points haul come November. She made the smart move of putting her health ahead of a $1.72 bunch of bananas.
Sarah Demerly made a big move up into the top ten, now sitting in a fifth place tie with Chelsea Strate. Melissa Ryba is sitting in fourth place, giving Hagerty three in the top five. Dori Lieb’s win Sunday vaulted her all the way to a tie for seventh with Alicia Trevino, Kayla Starr, Jane Van Hoff and just one point ahead of Amy Stauffer.
The next race on the Programme is a late addition. The Boyne Marathon will be added in lieu of the full X100, giving endurance mountain bikers a shot at the glory. The race takes place July 14. The X100 will score the 50 mile gravel road race only.
Lauri Brockmiller 60
Bridgit Widrig 56
Zoe Reeves 36
Melissa Ryba 34
Chelsea Strate 31
Sarah Demerly 31
Amanda Schaap 28
Dori Lieb 20
Alicia Trevino 20
Kayla Starr 20
Jane Van Hof 20
Amy Stauffer 19
Marie Dersham 16
Kati Krikke 16
Erin Disterheft 15
Mackenzie Woordring 15
Kim Chapman 14
Samantha Brode 13
Janet Edwards 12
Danielle Mullis 11
Angela Bowers 10
Wendy Zamzow 10
Stephanie Swan 10
JoAnn Cranson 10
Victoria Steen 9
Michael Mihelich 8
Elizabeth Hiser 8
Kathy Kirk 7
Katie Mann 7
Molly Wolf 7
Keri Sederberg 6
Sarah Fredrickson 6
Janelle Cole 5
Melissa Colflesh 5
Kristen Arnold 5
Mindy Fernando 4
Merry Van Der Lind 3
Gabriella Sterne 3
Maddi Miller 3
Rachel Decker 3
Angie O’Brien 2
Kathy Roche-Wallace 2
Christina Peek 2
Gail Ranville 1
Elizabeth So 1
Michelle Ryan 1