The final race for my 2009 American season was the Binghamton criterium. I have done this race the past 2 years and it is always tough. This year it was a USA crit series and NRC race.
There were a few break aways but nothing really stuck for extended periods. It was a coarse that was easy to sit on but difficult to get off the front. in the last 10 laps Hayden tried to ride across to a small group off the front and almost made it but the bunch was on a mission to pull back the break, so Hayden was pulled back in. with four laps to go it was high tempo and difficult to move up. about half a lap to go it settled enough for me to move up a bit but not enough. i crossed the line in 14th with Hayden right behind me in 17th.
Looking forward to heading home back to NZ tomorrow.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Glencoe Grand Prix, Chicago
The race was a 1 km 4 corner circuit down newly paved residential streets, the most difficult part of the course was the very sharp turn onto the finishing straight.
The weather was terrible initially with races being held up due to lightning strikes before we started. The race had 10x $100 primes and a pretty good purse for the finish. I felt strong from the beginning and managed to pick up the first two primes in a row, from there the race was full of attacks. Hayden made a great solo attack, opening a promising gap for an extended period in the middle of the race causing the field to chase hard.
I went after another prime 7 laps from the finish, the primes were coming lap after lap so i ended up off the front for about 4 laps solo, i was caught by a break of four riders with 3 laps to go, as we closed in on the final lap so did the bunch on us. We got caught with 2 corners to go, i was still at the front and the bunch was in tatters after shutting the gap so quickly. A rider jumped early going into the last corner i jumped right onto his wheel out of the final corner for the perfect leadout. It was all on for 200m to the line, i managed to get ahead before the line taking the win. Hayden had an awesome sprint, taking second coming from far back going into that last corner.
I am stoked with the result, its great to be sprinting better. Finally i have a result after working so hard for the last 3weeks it is very satisfying.
Flying back to Kutztown tuesday.
The weather was terrible initially with races being held up due to lightning strikes before we started. The race had 10x $100 primes and a pretty good purse for the finish. I felt strong from the beginning and managed to pick up the first two primes in a row, from there the race was full of attacks. Hayden made a great solo attack, opening a promising gap for an extended period in the middle of the race causing the field to chase hard.
I went after another prime 7 laps from the finish, the primes were coming lap after lap so i ended up off the front for about 4 laps solo, i was caught by a break of four riders with 3 laps to go, as we closed in on the final lap so did the bunch on us. We got caught with 2 corners to go, i was still at the front and the bunch was in tatters after shutting the gap so quickly. A rider jumped early going into the last corner i jumped right onto his wheel out of the final corner for the perfect leadout. It was all on for 200m to the line, i managed to get ahead before the line taking the win. Hayden had an awesome sprint, taking second coming from far back going into that last corner.
I am stoked with the result, its great to be sprinting better. Finally i have a result after working so hard for the last 3weeks it is very satisfying.
Flying back to Kutztown tuesday.
Meijer Classic Grand Rapids MI
Here is the write up from the subway website, its got it pretty covered.
I didnt feel my best for the day but still not a bad result.
The SUBWAY® – Avanti Team raced the Meijer Classic in Grand Rapids MI. Allen, England and Godfrey coming to the end of there Mid West racing program were keen to pick up the pace after a meager showing at the Elk Grove Tour the previous weekend.
The Criterium event was held under testing conditions with clement weather lifting just in time for the main event but leaving much of the course wet for the whole race. Adding to the testing event was two sections of brick in the one kilometre circuit.
Other top US teams at the event were Bissell, Kelly Benefits and Kenda Surprise Cycling Team.
Godfrey having a call up at the start of the race covered a lot of the early moves with aggressive racing by the field taking advantage of the wet conditions. Eventually after several promising moves SUBWAY® – Avanti was represented in two riders managed to slip the field from Kenda Surprise and Bissell.
Unfortunately SUBWAY® – Avanti missed this move but England managed to make a promising group of five that threatened to ride the two leaders down. Unfortunately for England some of his breakaway colleagues didn’t want to work and the main field caught them 15 laps from the finish.
Going into 10 laps to go the break of two had 1st and 2nd in the bag leaving SUBWAY® – Avanti racing for 3rd. After a disorganized last couple of laps Godfrey managed to win the field sprint for 3rd with England a close 5th.
This leaves one race to go in the Mid West for the SUBWAY® – Avanti Team. The Team is yet to find the top spot on the podium but with two podiums and several promising results with only three riders the team is quite happy with its first US campaign.
I didnt feel my best for the day but still not a bad result.
The SUBWAY® – Avanti Team raced the Meijer Classic in Grand Rapids MI. Allen, England and Godfrey coming to the end of there Mid West racing program were keen to pick up the pace after a meager showing at the Elk Grove Tour the previous weekend.
The Criterium event was held under testing conditions with clement weather lifting just in time for the main event but leaving much of the course wet for the whole race. Adding to the testing event was two sections of brick in the one kilometre circuit.
Other top US teams at the event were Bissell, Kelly Benefits and Kenda Surprise Cycling Team.
Godfrey having a call up at the start of the race covered a lot of the early moves with aggressive racing by the field taking advantage of the wet conditions. Eventually after several promising moves SUBWAY® – Avanti was represented in two riders managed to slip the field from Kenda Surprise and Bissell.
Unfortunately SUBWAY® – Avanti missed this move but England managed to make a promising group of five that threatened to ride the two leaders down. Unfortunately for England some of his breakaway colleagues didn’t want to work and the main field caught them 15 laps from the finish.
Going into 10 laps to go the break of two had 1st and 2nd in the bag leaving SUBWAY® – Avanti racing for 3rd. After a disorganized last couple of laps Godfrey managed to win the field sprint for 3rd with England a close 5th.
This leaves one race to go in the Mid West for the SUBWAY® – Avanti Team. The Team is yet to find the top spot on the podium but with two podiums and several promising results with only three riders the team is quite happy with its first US campaign.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
elk grove stage #3
110km crit: i made the first break of the crit and won the first prime, we ended up staying out there for about 15km. The coarse was 1.2mile with a hairpin turn after the start finish. i felt pretty good but never got close enough to the front towards the finish. the coarse was tough to pass on especially when you have teams on the front driving it.
hayden ended up 15th.
hayden ended up 15th.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
elk grove stage #2
todays stage 150km road race 10 laps of a circuit with 27 each lap. it was a very interesting race. i managed to ride across to a 3 man break at one point and got there in time for the prime, ended getting pipped on the line for it though, pretty gutted about that. i was top placed subway rider at 31st not such a great result. hopefully there will be an improvement tomorrow.
tomorrows race: 110km crit
tomorrows race: 110km crit
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