Some final Chicago highlights from the Tour of America’s Dairyland, which wrapped up Sunday in Waukesha:

• » Jannette Rho (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew) was a rock star all week. Though she never took the top step, she was no stranger to the podium in the women’s 3/4’s, taking 3rd four times and 2nd twice. Wisconsin’s Whitney Gaggioli (Amore & Vita) was too dominant to be challenged in the overall, winning eight of the 10 races, but Rho came home with 2nd overall, followed by Cathy Frampton (Project 5) in 3rd. These were large fields, too, including more than 40 at Thursday’s challenging Greenbush Road Race.
• » Verizon u25 fought hard to defend the overall position of Mike Sherer after he donned the P/1/2 yellow jersey at the Road America Road Race, but despite several top 10 finishes he lost his podium on the final day, finishing 5th overall. Don’t miss the great videos the team produced over the week.
• » Matt Samples (North Branch) won the 35+ 4/5’s race Wednesday in Sheboygan.
• » Jared Craft (Psimet) raced all week in the 4/5’s and came home with six top 10’s, including a 3rd Saturday on Downer Avenue, finishing 10th overall.
• » Brian Conant (Comma-Van Wagner) had a consistent week in the 35+ 1/2/3’s: 6th twice, 10th twice and 11th twice.

Full results.

Series reports
Nat Bricker (University of Florida; P/1/2): “Beer feeds and high fives make even the worst of races suddenly not so bad.”

Chicago Cuttin’ Crew (W-3/4): “Pretty f’n killer, J Rho.”

Matt Riezman (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): “I went rolling off the course and hit a cement post that fortunately had padding around it.”

Jared Rogers (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5): “The guns that were fired in this battle were no small ones and I think I held up pretty well.”

Hogan Sills (Verizon u25): “He had to fight against pro teams for 11 days, and he managed to hold off some super-strong riders below him until the final stage.”

Joe Tortorelli (Verizon Wireless; 3): “We had at least 3 minutes on the field at one point, and that’s when i stopped working. Sure I’ll take some flack for that but it’s bike racing.”

Waterloo reports
Jerel Lynn Waide (Project 5; W-3/4): “This is perfect. Cathy can go and get away.”

Greenbush reports
Brian Morrissey (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 35+ 1/2/3): “I remained up against the yellow, which was my undoing amidst the final argy-bargy of the last two miles.”

William Pankonin (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 3): “I just couldn’t ride around waiting for the end, and I could not end this race with fresh legs.”

Nathan Phelps (Big Ring Flyers; 35+ 4/5): “In hindsight I wonder if I couldn’t have gone harder during the bulk of the race and in the final sprint.”

Luke Seemann (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 35+ 1/2/3): “Better to have broken away and lost than to have never broken away at all.”

Jerel Lynn Waide (Project 5; W-3/4): “A challenging race course that allowed me to use all of my gears. Wish I had a few more.”

Andrew Zens (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): “This was racing bliss. Sure it’s great to win, but it’s also great to race.”

Fond du Lac reports
Cathy Frampton (Project 5; W-3/4): “While the visit to the podium was sweet, the cow jersey remains the real elusive treat.”

Brian Morrissey (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 35+ 1/2/3): “I was waiting for the jump, and when none came, I looked behind and saw a huge gap.”

Downer Avenue reports
Cathy Frampton (Project 5; W-3/4): “I not only had to stop pedaling, but also reverse the bike a bit so she didn’t hit my front wheel. Dang!”

Kim Gialdini (Flatlandia; W-3/4): “Never look back! Just go.”

Waukesha reports
Kim Gialdini (Flatlandia; W-3/4): “I was very close to bridging up. I was a little disappointed that I didn’t yell out the women behind me to take a pull and help too.”