Drama free in Delray Beach

Delray Beach Twilight Crit podium Jackie Crowell, Erica Allar,  Joanie Caron

Primal Pro Women headed to Delray Beach, FL for stop #2 on the USA Crits calendar this past weekend. Mele Mel, Prof, Petite Soeur and Mrs. T (Melina, Nicky, Joanie and Tiff) rounded out the roster for the adrenaline filled 40 lap event held in happening downtown Delray.

The start list included new powerful domestic elite teams such as Team Colavita and sprint veterans Laura Vangilder and Tina Pic. Primal Pro Women studied the start list and calculated who to watch and what to do in the final laps. Riding their ultra light BH bikes, Primal was in all of the early moves and active at the front. Without warning, Jackie Crowell, who rides for Exergy, slipped away from the field. She gained no more then 25 seconds and at one point she only had a ten second gap.

The pack could not catch her. In the last laps a few crashes made things slightly hairball but the Prof was able to stay at the head of the class to lay down a leadout to get Joanie Caron 2nd in the field sprint behind Erica Allar. With her 2nd podium la Petite Soeur sits 2nd in the USA Crits and NCC overalls.

Post-race we connected with supermechanic Curtis and his wife Michelle for a podium/staying upright beer before joining our uber host Guy and his riding buddy Robert and their friends for some additional celebratory libations.

Primal Pro Women also held their second cycling clinic designed for beginner, intermediate, and advanced cyclists in Delray. Recently approved by USA cycling, all attendees earned upgrade points for attending clinic. Attendees cheered on  Primal Pro Women the night before as Joanie took third.  At the clinic the following day the team was honored to have the chance to give back to attendees before, during, and after their amateur race.We had a great turnout and imparted as many pearls as possible! Attendees spend four hours with Primal women learning everything they need to know to succeed in cycling.

Joanie testing out her sick new bike fit

Local Delray'ans attempting to warm up on a human trainer alongside Joanie

Friday ride with host Guy (friend Robert not pictured)

Many thanks to Amy Good of Velocity Training Institute for pulling together a stellar group of gals. We loved getting to know these women and hearing their great questions! Already looking forward to next year!

Prof imparts some pearls

Joanie and Prof at the start of the cat 4 women's race

Clinic attendees!

Primal Pro Women's next race will be the Redlands Cycling Classic held April 4th - 7th. Their next USA Crit Series race will be in Charlotte, NC, April 13th. They will also be hosting cycling clinics at these races as they emphasize their commitment to developing future cyclists.

Petite Soeur, Prof, Mrs. T/Grande Soeur and Mele Mel

Collegiate Pro Ride Opportunity with Primal Pro Women

Dedicated to their mission of developing future cyclists, Primal Pro Women p/b BH are formally announcing pro ride opportunities to the Division 1 and Division 2 womens' criterium champions. The winner or highest placed non-professional rider will receive an opportunity to race with the Primal Pro Women at Tulsa. We look forward to personally watching the USA national collegiate criterium and honoring the champions with this opportunity.

Race #1 Old Pueblo Grand Prix

First race of the season, first one with the team, new teammates, different focus (criteriums and NCC series)... A lot to expect for the first weekend. After weeks and month of preparation, here we go, the show must go on! That being said, despite all the training and the preparation, there is always a new excitation coming to the first race of the season, especially when that one is the first of the National Race Calendar and when you are in a leader position in a new team that already lots of confidence in your abilities. But I was ready, and we were ready to break the ice and race hard!

Our race expectation was for our team be an important part of the race, and to race positively, not only to sit and wait for a bunch finish. We knew that the Optum team had enough good cards to play and that as the first race it would be an agressive one. Early on, attacks were launched, with the first one with one of our girls covering it, I jumped in the 2nd move, which did not go far. But then, the 3rd attack with a solo Optum rider got a quick gap, with teammates doing their job at the front. We tried to get as organized as possible but it was just a little too late. The race was still on and we kept the focus on the later game. I made my best to be at a position where I needed to be to to save energy and give it where it'll be time. In the last 5-6 laps, I could count on my teammates to get me on a good spot, which saved me energy for the late surges happening in the last 2 laps. With one to go, I was on 3rd or 4th wheel, which was fine, and in the last corner was 3rd wheel and then gave my best to the line, good for a 2nd of those crazy crit sprint finish, earning the 3rd spot on the podium.

Overall, this is a good start to the season! Thanks to my teammates who did an awesome job even before the race started, with doing the majority of work at the clinics and teaching groups in the morning.

Primal ProWomen pb/BH are holding clinics for women to teach them the basics of cycling, to give back to the community and fund its race with those activities. Being part of that team gives you wings, so that race is just the beginning. Thanks to Bobby the mechanic, Susan the host, and everyone helping us out. Congratulations to the Old Pueblo Grand Prix race for having put on such a wonderful event as well!

Next stop: Delray Beach Twilight, March 23rd! We'll be ready and hungry for more!

By Joanie Caron

Chilling After Tucson Cycling Clinic

Primal Pro Women are relaxing and gearing up for criterium. We want to thank all the local women for supporting our clinic this weekend. We enjoyed meeting you and teaching you the skills you need to succeed in the wonderful world of cycling. We had school teachers, lawyer, juniors still in high school, and successful business women. You are all so successful in life and have the potential to do anything you desire in cycling. :)

Watch Our First Race Live!

We can't wait to race our first race of the season in Tucson, AZ, this weekend (March 9th). This is the first USA Championship Series Crit Race and the first NCC race of the season. We will also be hosting our first cycling clinic. You can watch our race live by clicking here


As you watch us, please notice our fabulously designed custom Primalwear kits, speedy and ever so light BH Cristal Bikes (Blue and Pink), fast as lightning Enve wheels, stylish Catlike helments, grippy Lizard Skin bar tape and gloves, flashy and ever so comfortable black Sidi shoes, killer Smith Optic performance eyewear, chains freshly cleaned and lubed by Pro Gold Lubricants, Herballife 24 formula 1 drink mix, and bike fits by Retul. You will not notice but we will be ever so happy that we are sporting Enzo's Button hole where it counts.

See you online or in person:)

Primal Pro Women's Cat 3/4 Race Clinic in Athens and Roswell, Georgia, April 27th and 28th

I can't believe how much support we have received from local clubs in helping us create cycling clinics. Thanks Frazier Cycling and Trish Albert. This will be an awesome weekend.