Published June 10, 2011 09:25PM
Tiffany Pezzulo timed a long sprint perfectly to win the Blue Dome Criterium on the first night of the Tulsa Tough on Friday. Pezzulo (Primal-Mapmyride.com) came around Christina Smith (Now MS) in the final meters to top a four-up group sprint and take command of the three-day National Racing Calendar omnium.
The racing got especially chippy after a large crash with 25 laps to go in the 55-minute contest. Pezzulo and Smith escaped the peloton with Kori Seehafer and Kristen LaSasso (Mellow Mushroom). With top favorite Laura Van Gilder represented by LaSasso up front, the foursome rotated smoothly, blowing through mid-race primes en route to a maximum advantage of more than 25 seconds.
Seehafer punched out with three to go, but was quickly reeled back and the acceleration gave the group enough pace to stay away to the line. When Smith faltered late in the long, slight uphill sprint, Pezzulo came by for the win. Seehafer held on for third a few seconds back, the Smith between her and a charging field.
Stay tuned for more updates from the Tulsa Tough. All the pro races this weekend are being streamed live on VeloNews.com at VeloNews.competitor.com/live