The masters national track cycling championships were held during the week of August 17 in Colorado Springs, CO. Renee Eastman (Natural Grocers pb XP Companies) won the 2 kilometer individual pursuit and the 3k team pursuit. She was also third in the points race capping a solid week on the track. The individual pursuit was a bit of a surprise to Eastman as she hadn’t been training specifically for the highly technical event. In winning the individual pursuit, she set the fastest time for all the women in all age groups. Her time was 2:39:5, and she won by two tenths of a second.
The team pursuit is a three-woman event, three-kilometers in length. Eastman teamed up with Kate Gracheck (Team Kenda), who was second to Eastman in the individual pursuit, and Ingrid Alongi. Their winning time was 4:00:5 which set a national record.
Renee Eastman stands on the individual pursuit podium in her new Nat'l Champ jersey
Eastman atop the team pursuit podium
Renee Eastman (top right) - Masters National Pursuit Race
8.23.09 - For the second time in his racing career, Natural Grocers rider Jon Tarkington won the pro-1-2 Primal/Hart Criterium located in the suburban office park district south of Denver. Tarkington last won the race back in 2005. The 1.4-mile course features a stiff little climb and about 100 feet of elevation gain per lap. The repeated efforts required by the climb coupled with close to 100-degree temperatures made for a lethargic race. Breaks went away and slowly came back throughout the race. Eventually, the collective will of the field ran out of gas for the chase and Tarkington went away in a group that included teammate Joe Taddeucci. With two men in the break, Tarkington struck first with two laps to go. The move drew out Dan Porter (Rio Grande Racing) who also had teammate Logan Garey in the break. The race came down to a three-man sprint with Tarkington taking the win ahead of Porter and Eric Jones (unattached).
Tarkington pictured here with Janez Brakovic (Astana) and teammates Baker and Friel