Inaugural Report

OUCH Pro Cycling Inaugural Report

Welcome to the "official" blog of the newly created OUCH Sports Medical Center's International Professional Cycling Team. As many of you already know, OUCH Pro Cycling, as the team will be called, is the first U.C.I. women's only professional track cycling team. As a team we will strive to give periodic reports of how we are doing (results) and also communicate other important supporter/sponsor information (upcoming races, fundraisers, etc.). So let's begin!

This opening report will cover the 2006 US National Track Championships, our founding race as OUCH Pro Cycling. Day one of Nationals got off to a GREAT start as Sarah broke Rebecca Twigg's long standing 11 yr. 3000M National Record (and not by 1 or 2 tenths of a second I might add; let's try 3 and a 1/2 seconds). We were beyond ecstatic as her record breaking time was also 18 seconds faster than her nearest rival! As a coach I couldn't have been more proud and excited. And I'm happy to report this was only the beginning.

After a rest day we moved into day three and the women's points race. With OUCH Sports Medical Center director Dr. Brent Kay and OUCH patient, 2006 TDF winner Floyd Landis, in attendance, Sarah went on to not only lap the field by herself but also continued to win the last four sprints and nearly double the points tally of her nearest competitor. I think it is safe to say that Dr. Kay and Floyd were very impressed.

The forth and final day of the 2006 US National Track Championships saw Sarah lining up for the women's 10K scratch race, her last event. We were looking for the perfect 3 race sweep but this was a race where Sarah got beat at the line last year. This year proved to be different though. Even with a four rider breakaway off the front with six laps to go, Sarah not only managed to tow them in by herself, but she also managed to save enough power to hold off a hard changing field. Sarah showed once again why she has a #1 World Ranking as she won decisively and swept the National Championships in true style!

I cannot deliver how great of a way the National Championships were to start off the year. What even made the whole experience more meaningful was to have our top sponsors and supporters such as Dr. Kay and Sean Scott of Argentive in attendance. With the group of supporters and sponsors that we have put together, Sarah and I find ourselves better equipped to bring home World and Olympic Gold Medals than ever. The both of us are sending a big thank for your continued support and we looking forward to speaking with everyone on an individual basis very soon.