Six Armed Forces Team athletes were in action this past weekend in races from Oregon and California to Maryland and Florida.

Beth Mason placed 5th in the Carl Dolan Circuit Race in Columbia Maryland. She raced as a guest for the National Capital Velo Club (NCVC) Team. With 60 women from all race categories starting together on the 12 lap, 2.1 mile course, peloton position and bike handling was important for keeping safe. Finding herself 5th wheel in the final lap, Beth was in perfect position for the finish. She was nearly taken out as someone clipped her back wheel resulting in a crash behind her. She escaped the carnage but it disrupted her finish sprint as she rolled in for 5th place.

Holly Borowski felt good to be back as she raced for the first time since being hit by a car on April 7th. Holly raced as a guest on the McGuire Cycling team in the Wente Vineyards Classic that consisted of a road race on Saturday and criterium on Sunday, both in Livermore CA. With about 50 women in each race, Holly's main goal was to get back some racing form after three weeks out of competition. She placed a respectable 26th and 15th while helping a teammate to a top-ten finish. In the criterium, she rode aggressively throughout the race and was first in the leadout train for McGuire in the closing laps. Holly is happy to be racing again "it’s just a matter of getting my race fitness back, which tends to come fairly quickly. There are plenty races to go this season!"

Rebecca Gross saw race action at the Conquer the Canyons Stage Race in Westlake Village CA. This three stage event featured a time trial, circuit race and road race. The first stage uphill, 4-mile time trial put Rebecca in 11th place. The circuit race was held on a flat course that kept the peloton together for the entire race finishing in a field sprint where Rebecca came in 12th. She finished out the road race in similar position for an overall 12th in General Classification.

Michael Gallagher raced for The Valley Athletic Club in the brutal Willamette Valley Classic in Eugene OR. Four stages - a time trial, circuit race and two road races - featured 12,500 feet of climbing in 200 miles of racing. With a lot of climbing and a stage-three crash, Michael's work as a domestique helped his team leader capture a top-ten general classification finish.

Shawn Olin finished in the field of the DeWalt Racing El Cajon Grand Prix in El Cajon, CA. Two groups got away from the main field in this 87km criterium. The first group of six contained eventual race winner Healthnet's Kyle Gritters, and Olin's DeWalt teammate (and Marine) Dave Howell was in the second group and finished ninth. Earlier in the week, Shawn did some speed work at the San Diego Velodrome placing second in the miss-n-out and fifth in the 10-mile scratch race.

Steve Mlujeak was in Florida for the week and while there placed fifth in the Brian Piccolo Park Criterium. Going away with a small group, they were able to lap the field of about 50 riders. His race season is just starting in Michigan so racing in Florida was a big test. Steve was very happy with this result and his preparation for the season "The leg speed is not there but I was surprised and delighted that I was able to ride away from a field of guys who have been racing for some time."

Andy Shaw broke his collar bone while on a 16 April training ride. Although his arm is in a sling for another three weeks, he's pedaling on the trainer now as the pain permits. We're looking forward to his comeback!

Next Weekend at the Races:
28-30 April:
Holly Borowski Madera Stage Race, Madera CA
George Ganoung La Vuelta de Bisbee Stage Race, Bisbee AZ
Rebecca Gross La Vuelta de Bisbee Stage Race, Bisbee AZ
29-30 April:
Beth Mason Tour of Ephrata, Farmersville PA
29 April:
Ian Holt Deer Trail Road Race, Deer Trail CO
Michael Gallagher Flaming Geyser Time Trial, Auburn WA
Steve Mlujeak Willow Run Time Trial, Ann Arbor MI
30 April:
Michael Gallagher Seward Park Road Race, Seattle WA