Race ResultsRace Held April 4, 2004| 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 - An epic day for an epic race. With 80% chance for showers and cold, grey conditions, the small field lined up for a battle to set the stage for the final race for the overall. Tim Unkert (Unattached) once again lined up against the likes of challenger Brian Wirtz (Bethel Cycle Sport) and his Bethel squad, the Fiordi Frutta team led by two breakaway specialists John Funk and Pat McNamara, GS Mengoni's lone representative Rosaverte Malte, and Rocinante with Todd Cassan. Unkert seemed to have an off day and remained solidly in the field. Wirtz was happy with that and kept close tabs on the overall leader. Paula McNamara (Verizon Wireless) tirelessly brought back attack after attack for the other McNamara, who sat at the back. A few times Unkert would try and get away, but each time Wirtz, Paula, and a few others would bring him back. Finally, with three to go, Funk took off. Considered a big threat in a solo break, Unkert and Wirtz both took up the chase with the two McNamaras just behind. As Funk came back, Pat launched a ferocious attack. With Paula and Funk covering all moves, he stayed away to solo in for a great win. The sprint in the field was something else as Malte, as expected, won by a clear margine. Wirtz was just behind, a length clear of Unkert. Cassan took fifth in a close finish. Cat 3/4 Race Report - The strangest race turned the race for overall into a wide open free for all. David Kim (Westwood Velo) held the lead by a single point over his teammate Morgan Stebbins and Aki Sato (Carpe Diem Racing). It was obvious that these three would keep tabs on each other. Westwood Velo had a few strong support riders ready to carry out whatever plan they had. The joker in the field was the large Northeast Bicycles team, with strong riders like former semi-pro Fernando Ferreira, sprinter Vincent Cintron, strongman Istvan Benyai, and rouleur Rick Spears. The small field and atrocious conditions made for a super aggressive race and the attacks went immediately. Stebbins and Kim alternated launching attack after attack and when they paused for a bit, Northeast would send their riders up the road. Finally, Kim made it across to Alan Tooraen (Tokeneke) with Benyai for company. With the three break riders just up the road, riders launched chase after chase to bridge up to them. Sato marked a cramping Stebbins with the result being the two neutralizing each other. In the meantime, most of the Northeast Bicycles riders got up to the break. Sato peeled off with just over five laps to go, followed shortly thereafter by Stebbins. Now Kim held the fate of the overall race. Northeast Bicycles set up Ferreira and launched him off after teammate Benyai came back from a short break. Joined by Donovan Gow (Unattached) they built a 10 second gap that they never relinquished. Kim chased desperately but with Northeast jerseys on his wheel, he sat up and waited for the sprint. Up front the savy Ferreiro took the win over Gow. Matthew Jamison (CogWild Cycling) won the sprint for third in his second race of the day, followed by Northeast teammates Istvan Benyei and Spears. Robert Woudenberg (CRCA) took the final points spot, shutting out Kim. Incredibly, Kim was unable to cash in on the efforts in his break. He stays in the lead, barely, with a one point margin over Stebbins and Sato. Ferreiro, with his win today, slots in at fourth overall with 12 points. M40+ Race Report - It seems that no matter what anyone tries to do, Morgan Stebbins (Westwood Velo) just wins this race. He and his team's opponent is the Bethel Cycle Sport team, with overall contender Stephen Gray, captain Scott Bodin, and Greg Pelican among the racers the team fields. Bethel wanted to isolate Stebbins and sent Bodin out on a long solo move to try and get Stebbins to work. His team eventually brought it back and as he came back, Pelican launched a strong attack. He, too, was caught and this set up Gray to launch his big move. Stebbins soloed across to Gray a few laps later. Bethel gambled and let Stebbins away with Gray, content to let them duke it out in the sprint. Stebbins, his legs not liking the cold and rainy conditions, couldn't pull through a lot but Gray felt confident that Stebbins wouldn't win the sprint. Unfortunately for Gray, Stebbins knew exactly what it took to win and finished in front of a disappointed Gray. Pelican won the sprint for third with Donald LaBonte (Julio Bicycles) in fourth. The depth of the Bethel team is apparent in the next five finishers as they are all from the team: Scott Bodin, Rich Foley, Brian Wolf, John Morgan, and Tom Toal. Tom Office took tenth for the Richard Sachs team. Womens Race Report - No Report yet Junior Race Report - No Report yet Cat 4 Race Report - No Report yet Cat 5 Race Report - About Carpe Diem | |||