Golden locals host women pro cyclists for USA Pro Challenge

Ten-year-old Abby Greiner rode her bicycle alongside pro cyclist Joanne Kiesanowski to the starting line of the Golden leg of the women’s Pro Challenge race.

Deb Poskie prepared a salmon dinner for 16 racers and families.

Kathy Godson sipped coffee in her pajamas with Kristin Armstrong, the overall winner of the Women’s USA Pro Challenge.

Those are some of the indelible memories created for Golden residents who hosted some of the women racers in their homes for two nights before the Aug. 23 race day in Golden.

“I’m so happy we could share Golden with these racers,” said Abby’s mom, Jackie Greiner. “They are terrific role models and are helping to educate the next generation of cyclists.”

The racers –; who in their others lives are veterinarians, lawyers, businesswomen, mothers and college students –; appreciated the hometown hospitality.

“Host families are a wonderful way to share our race experience,” said Kiesanowski’s teammate Krista Doebel-Hickok of Team TIBCO-SVBA. “They get an inside look and offer us a sense of home and support that is much appreciated.”

The little things made the experience special, said Kiesanowski, who placed third in the Golden criterium race.

“They already knew a lot of things about us riders when we arrived because they looked up our rider profiles on our team website, ” Patricia Schwager, also of Team TIBCO-SVB, said. “They become fans of our team …”

Besides getting to know the town better through locals’ perspectives, cyclist Aliz e Brien of Team TIBCO-SVB said homestays also cut costs for the racers, which ultimately helps with the growth of women’s cycling.

Since this was the inaugural year of the women’s race in the USA Pro Challenge, host families were unsure what to expect or how to prepare –;aside from having WiFi and plenty of coffee.

Godson, who hosted some of team Twenty16, had just moved to a new home and her doorbell wasn’t working the day the racers arrived.

“I just thought, `Here is this Olympian standing at my door and my doorbell doesn’t work!’ ” she said.

The Goldenites said they wouldn’t hesitate to host again.

“It was interesting to listen to them,” Poskie said. “These women are educated, and they’re stepping out of their careers to do this once-in-a-lifetime thing. They have an appreciation of being able to do what they love.”

Said Greiner: “We told them they’re always welcome.”

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