Tiffany Cromwell (Colavita/Sutter Home) dominated the women’s field of the Sea Otter Classic road race on Friday, winning by a wide margin after a successful solo breakout from a lively pack.
The 21-year-old, originally from Australia, and now racing out of Petaluma, paced a field that included including Team Tibco’s Joanne Kiesanowski, who finished second for the second day in a row after missing out on first place by less than a bike length in Thursday’s criterium.
The Colavita/Sutter Home team continued to own the middle spot of the Sea Otter Classic winners’ podium with Cromwell’s dominant win, adding to teammate Kelly Benjamin’s dramatic victory the day prior.
Catherine Cheatley added a third place finish to Colavita/Sutter Home’s haul – a remarkable feat considering that just three months prior she fractured her hip in a brutal velodrome accident.
The victorious team also placed riders in the fourth and fifth positions, giving Colavita/Sutter Home four of the top five spots in the 49-mile road race that wound through the hilly circuit of Fort Ord’s backcountry.
The spritely Cromwell took advantage of a gorgeously clear, warm California day, which was a change from blustery, rain-drenched Sea Otter Classics of recent vintage, to blaze ahead of the peleton on her own volition.
It was a bold breakaway that paid victorious dividends for the rising velo-star.
“Today was like a perfect day almost. I am really excited, a win is a win, and it’s always a good feeling,” said Cromwell.
With a dominant team of strong riders to support her efforts, Cromwell found the running easy on the way to a thirty-four second victory.