Race Results2005 Bethel CDP Gold Race| 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. If you think there should be more said in a report, send in some comments. If you think a report is wrong, let me know. The reports will be updated at least weekly, if not more often. Pro 123 Race Report - A compact field lined up for today's main event. With a number of racers having already raced, many forfeited their start in the cold, wet conditions. This left the core group of racers - the racing would start right away with this sort of a group. And, from the gun, former overall winner Tim Unkert (MNF/Fastar) was attacking right away. However, current leader Mike McGinley (CVC) and a stable of teammates kept a close watch on him. Some other riders got into the fray and mixed things up. Chief among them were former Killington Cat 3 winner Ed Angeli (Benidorm), Chad Butts (Verge), and McGinley's chief lieutenant Ron Fantano (CVC). An extremely lean William Casey (CS Cavaillon) also mixed things up with his aggressive riding and "been racing in France" form. In the past Casey has powered breaks and placed in this race. These four, along with Unkert, broke clear of the field and started to drift away. Chris Pile (CRCA/Remax), one of a few racers able to break clear of the vigilant field, countered with McGinley and Stephen Badger (CRCA/Sakonnet). Pile drove hard to bring them to the break in one hard lap. Once together, Casey and Unkert took the most initiative in the break, trying to break clear so they could cash in on their rouleur (time trialing) strength. Despite an uncoordinated effort, the break eventually lapped the field. Officials had the break ride through the field so they could settle things on their own. At the bell, with all eight break riders together, Unkert once again took initiative, launching a sharp attack from the back of the group. McGinley had to respond, and Casey and Pile were also able to get on. Indecision or tired legs got the best of the rest and a fatal gap opened up. Pile launched the sprint, causing the aggresive Unkert to drop off. McGinley cracked open a gap to take the win, with Pile and Casey finishing in that order a few lengths back. Unkert was able to hold off the other break riders for fourth, with Badger and Fantano rapidly closing in fifth and sixth. Cat 3/4 Race Report - With a more significant field than last week, rain, and with some wind still blowing from the morning, the race promised to be a tough one. John Morales (Cafeteros), the closest challenger to overall leader Morgan Stebbins (MNF/Fastar), brought a gaggle of teammates to help control and to try and bring things down to a sprint. Stebbins was looking at teammates and friends for a chance to break away. Aki Sato (Carpe Diem Racing), like Morales, was looking for a field finish to try and improve his fifth overall. Stephen Gray (Bethel Cycle Sport) had a number of strong teammates and looked to up his game a notch as well. With more than a few riders willing to chase but not work, break attempts were doomed. The only racer stubborn enough to keep trying was a solo rider known for his long (and sometimes successful) breaks [name/team to follow]. He cleared the field a few times and would maintain a tenuous gap for several laps, only to be brought back after each effort. His last break, lasting until the 5 lap to go marker, helped form the end of the race as teams started showing their hands in their goals for the finish. Chief among them were Bethel Cycle and MNF/Fastar, who with allies were trying to make things a little easier for their respective leaders. At two to go Bethel committed and put a half dozen riders at the front and proceeded to string things out. At the bell, with the pack reforming, Ian Sinclair (Northeast Bicycles) launched a furious attack to which only Gray responded. They got a gap as a slightly panicked field strung out to get them. Morales, after a close call which almost took him down, had to get teammates to bring him back into the fight. Sato latched onto his wheel as Morales hit the front. Stebbins jumped hard as Gray and Sinclair came back but he cramped and had to sit up. Morales, leading out the sprint past the break members, started to slow towards the line allowing Sato to take the win. Morales took a strong second to take the overall lead. Both last-break members placed, with Gray incredible in third and Sinclair a very strong sixth. Only Monte Frank (Zephyr) and Chris Chapleau (Stage One Racing) would pass them before the line to take fourth and fifth respectively. M40+ Race Report - With relatively strong winds, spitting precipitation, biting dampness, and cold temperatures, the M40/W/Jr race lined up. All eyes were on Morgan Stebbins (MNF/Fastar) since he has been essentially undefeated in this race since he started racing it. In such an environment it can be difficult to try a move and it could be considered audacious to try and make a solo one. Today though, someone did just that. Nelson Macy (Bethel Cycle Sport) did an incredibly strong ride to solo in ahead of the field. With the support of his team, he managed to open a gap and maintain it. Stebbins, not too happy with the conditions and aware of his lead in the overall standings, had the luxury of being able to sit in for the sprint. Although a few teams pulled some aggressive moves on the closing laps, no one could beat Stebbins in the sprint, allowing him to take second. James Escobar (Honeywell) did a great ride to take third, with former National medalist Scott Bodin (MNF/Fastar) taking fourth. Jon Furminger (HVVC) took fifth, adding to his tally with his consistent placings. Todd Hamel (Push) took the last point available in sixth. These results really tighten up the race behind Stebbins with four racers jumping into the fray. Womens Race Report - The women stayed together till the M40+ sprint signaled the start of their independent laps, albeit with the Juniors. Once again, Verizon Wireless's Anne-Marie Miller took a strong sprint from the front. This time though Caitlin McVarish (Northeast Bicycles) took a close second. Robyn Passander (Capital Velo) took third, with Nancy Ford (Spin Ho's) fourth, Dale Malkames (USI) fifth, and Cheryl Wolf (Bethel Cycles) sixth. Junior Race Report - The compact Junior field sprinted it out with Cuevas/ACT riders sweeping the top 3. Ryan Barlow took the victory, Alex Cropley second, and Kyle Foley third. Pascual Caputi (Cafeteros) nailed fourth and Alister Ratcliff (Zephyr) fifth. Cat 4 Race Report - [none yet] Cat 5 Race Report - The first Cat 5 race lined up under dark, ominous clouds which threatened to dump torrents of water at any second. The gusty winds were powerful enough to lift the strongly tied-down tents. In these tough conditions the first race took off. Strongly represented in the field were Tokeneke Road Club and the ever present Bethel Cycles racers. Several times small breaks would get away, but with the powerful winds, legs wilted quickly. But, as is the case in Cat 5's, there are those extremely fit racers that can make the hard moves stick. Today was Nat Rockett's (Unattached) turn to make such a move. He launched a two man break, they successfully fended off a three man chase, and then he dropped his break companion to take a convincing win. Behind, Tokeneke took second and fourth with Doug Schwartz winning the field sprint and Brian Borgia two places behind him. Splitting them was Bethel Cycle's Andrew Hackel. Taking fifth was Jon Messersmith (Sleepy Hollow) followed by Guy Zerega (Unattached) in sixth. The second race was held under the same conditions with a ferocious attack from the gun by Doug McKeon (Unattached). Although he was brought back, it took a good amount of effort to reel him in. With about 25 minutes to go Daniel Smith (Unattached) took off to try and do the big solo. Sadly, with half a lap to go, the field swept him up on the run in to the finish. A strong effort that will probably work on another day. In the end the field finished together with Jay Dailey (Northeast Bicycles) taking a very good win. Derek Dudek (Trailblazers-CCCC), one of the many strong Trailblazers/CCCC racers, took second. USI, intent on riding a strong and aggressive race, took third, fourth, and sixth with their racers Pedro Sanchez, John-Paul Kaminski, and Sung Pak. Splitting them was Joseph Regan (Unattached) with his fifth place.
About Carpe Diem | ||