Race ResultsRace Held March 30, 2003| Pro 1/2/3 | Cat 3/4 | Masters | Women | Juniors | Cat 4 | Cat 5 |
| Pro 1/2/3 | Cat 3/4 | Masters | Women | Juniors Cat 4 | Cat 5 | These race reports are personal and hearsay observations by the writer. If you would like to send in race information, please do. The reports will be updated at least weekly, if not more often. Pro 123 Race Report - The Pro/1/2/3 race was graced with the unexpected visitor Lance Armstrong. Taking a break before resuming his spring campaign. He was apparently visiting local bike manufacturer (the C one) in not-so-secret negotiations on signing a new bike deal. Okay. Maybe not. Instead, the day turned out to be one of the worst ever days in Bethel history. Dismal weather, threats of snow and sleet, and the high expectations set by earlier weeks' great weather meant that one of the smallest fields lined up: a whopping 11 riders. With 4 paying places, it meant that one third of the field would place! However, this just meant that this was a true test of fitness and tactical savy - in essence, it was as if a break formed with an hour left to race and now the break was racing it out. A group formed after a flurry of attacks, with a gap formed when one rider, protecting his teammates lead, let a gap go. Suddenly, the field was split in two. Eventual winner Mike McGinley (Hartford Hospital) got into the group, with overall series contender Brian Wirtz (Bethel Cycle Sport), the ever vigilant and ever present Charles Whalen (Sleepy Hollow), a Quebec-based racer Marc-Wayne Addison (Espoirs de Laval), and CRCA's Chris Ryan. Working together to stay warm, in the sprint, they finished in that order, with McGinley a clear winner. Raphael Diaz (Liberty Cycle), suffering a mechanical early on, chased the whole race. He caught and passed a rider in the last mile to take the sixth place point. Cat 3/4 Race Report - The race started aggressively with Greg Bartick (Tokeneke Road Club) opening the race with a number of leg numbing attacks. He admitted to one break companion he was simply trying to stay warm in the cold, wet conditions, but his attacks set the tone of the race. His attacks set off a number of counters, and about 15 minutes into the race, a break went clear. Ted D'Onofrio (Benidorm/Createx) went clear, joined quickly by Tom Bronson (Bethel Cycle Sport), Chris Pile (Tokeneke Road Club), Alain Guimont (Espoirs de Laval), Brian Plouffe (PRCT), and Fernando Ferreira (Tarrytown). O'Onofrio's teammates controlled the field behind and the group gained time quickly. Eventually lapping the field, the break stayed together for the sprint. Guimont, a Canadian racer down here for training, decided to let the others contest the sprint: he led out the whole last lap, pulling off at the base of the hill. A furious sprint ensued, wtih D'Onofrio taking the win from Ferreira. Pile took third just in front of Bronson. Brian Plouffe (PRCT) led the field for the sixth spot. M40+ Race Report - A much smaller field lined up for the race this week, but the flavor of the race remained the same. Bethel Cycle Sport's Scott Bodin rode clear of the field, getting a good gap. Once established, he settled into a rhythm, waiting for his teammate to bridge to him. After several laps, Morgan Stebbins (Bethel Cycle Sport), sensing fatigue in the group, attacked at the top of the hill. Only Junior standout Matt Crane could go with him, and together the quickly bridged the gap, then, almost as quickly, set about lapping the field. Once in the field, Stebbins and Bodin attacked again, this time taking Rick Spear (Tokeneke Road Club) along for company. As Spear was a lap down, he had to complete one more lap to determine his finish, but he easily held off the field for third place. Brian Wolf (Bethel Cycle Sport) took the field sprint for fourth, with Honeywell's Jim Escobar taking fifth. Another Bethel rider, Tom Toal, capped a dominant team performance by taking sixth. Womens Race Report - Richard Sachs teammates Katrina Davis and Alicia Genest swapped roles with Davis taking the sprint with Genest's help. Penny Buchar (WebEvent.com) took a strong second, followed by Mary Ellen Callandrino (NJ Rock N Road/Signature Cycles). Christine Dunney (Sleepy Hollow) took fourth, followed by Genest. Louann Fernald (WebEvent.com) followed just behind for sixth. Junior Race Report - When Hot Tubes teammates Matt Crane and Bradley Viera showed up, another Junior mumbled "well won't win today". Sure enough, Crane countered a Masters40+ attack to escape the field. Teammate Viera eventually took second. Konrad Lebas (CCB/Volkswagen) took a strong third. Steven Bruen (Ridgefield Bank) finished fourth, with Colin Coates in fifth. Francis Martin (Espoir de Laval), suffering from mechanicals, rounded out the top six. Cat 4 Race Report - In the last dry race of the day, NJ Rock N Road/Signature Cycles lined up once again the team to beat. With everyone keeping an eye on them, the team had to deal with a more watchful group. However, in an unexpected move, NJ Rock N Road/Signature Cycles ace sprinter Humberto Cavalheiro took off in a break, joined by Jonathan Baxendale (Bethel Cycle Sport) and Anthony Restuccia (unattached). The three worked together to build a substantial lead, virtually lapping the field but finishing just behind them. Baxendale, showing some strong form, took the win from Cavalheiro. Restuccia took third. The field flew in led by Benjamin Coleman (NECSA). Kevin Haley (NJ Rock N Road/Signature Cycles) finished strongly again, and Miguel Pagan (Ridgefield Bank) took sixth in the race by taking the third spot in the field. Cat 5 Race Report - A much smaller group meant that there was only one Cat 5 race today. Keith Guinta had a plan: attack 20-odd minutes into the race and bury himself for a lap. As a former Ironman and sub 1:15 Mt Washington climber, he know how to do both. As the field approached some lapped riders, he rocketed up the hill and out of the field. In one lap, he gained an amazing 20 seconds. After some quibbling in the field died down, they set their minds to chase. But Guinta never let up and held a tenuous 30 second lead going into the finishing laps. Teams at the front included Don's Cycle, riding for John Loughrey, and the Cycle Center team. Guinta held on for the win. The field sprinted over the line led by Noberto Oliviera (Unattached). Andrew Hollopeter (Bethel Cycle Sport) took third, followed by Jim Swigart (Unattached), Steve Rescigno (Bethel Cycle Sport), and John Loughrey (Don's Cycle). If you have race reports, descriptions of crashes/near crashes/exciting incidents, team reports, please contact me. I will post everything that seems half truthful on the site.
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