Van Houweling sets TT pace, takes women’s lead

Jun 4, 2010 by editor

HOOD RIVER — Metromint’s Molly Van Houweling set the fastest time trial mark for the women’s race, covering the course in 51:47.4, 40 seconds faster than second-placed Robin Secrist. Total Restoration’s Laura Brown finished third. Van Houweling takes over the yellow jersey for tomorrow’s Wy’East Road Race, with Secrist in second, the same 40 seconds back, and last year’s Wy’East stage winner Sue Butler (River City Bicycle’s) in third, 1:18 down.

Although Van Houweling may be fast on the bike, her greatest skills are in the classroom, where she specializes in intellectual property, law and technology, property, and constitutional law at the University of California Berkley Law School. But the laws of gravity will be her biggest worry tomorrow as the women’s third stage features a 71-mile march from Billy Bob Snow Park on the flanks of Mt. Hood to the Tygh Valley and back to Mt. Hood for the finish at Meadows Ski Resort.

Butler won the stage last year with a late solo move that caught race leader Edwige Pitel and three-time champion Lea Goldstein off guard. After escaping somewhat unnoticed, Butler pressed the issue and held off the closing chasers for the win. Butler, a pro mountain biker who raced with the former Moonavie/Cannondale squad, is a little less low-profile on the road this year. She placed second overall at Oregon’s Cherry Blossom Cycling Classic in April to Secrist, who has won the Cherry Blossom race for two straight years.

RESULTS
Stage 3 TT 18.5 miles
Friday, June 4
Women
1. Molly Van Houweling (Metromint) 51:47.4
2. Robin Secrist +:40
3. Laura Brown (River City Bicycles) +1:22
GC
1. Holly Van Houweling (Metro Mint)
2. Robin Secrist
3. Sue Butler (River City Bicycles)