Saturday, July 31, 2004

 

Rose City Criterium – Category 3 Team Race Report

 

The last day of July arrived with Team Bikesport/Lifetime Fitness/AAVC lining up for a late evening race at the Rose City Criterium in downtown Jackson, Michigan.  Aficionados of criterium racing love this course for it’s fast, slightly downhill backstretch, 8 turns and fast paced racing.  With the Category 3 race starting at 6pm, racers were spared the high heat and humidity of earlier in the day. 

 

On the starting line for the Category 3 team were: Jordan Stohl, Vince Roberge, James Whitesides, Travis Stebbins, John Rigdon, Randy Hermann, Joe Lekovish, Jeff Elam, and Mark Caswell.  Other teams well represented were Saturn of Toldeo/Shell with 6 riders and West Michigan Coast Riders with a team of 6 also. 

 

From the start the race was extremely aggressive.  With the tight turns and fast pace the pack was immediately strung out into a single file.  Riders at the back were immediately feeling the pain of getting whiplashed through every turn.  At the front attacks were constant with Jordan Stohl, James Whitesides, Vince Roberge and Randy Hermann immediately mixing it up at the front.  Each lap saw various riders attack, get countered, and attack again.  Nothing stuck until Jordan Stohl dragged 2 other riders clear with Joe Lekovish bridging up half a lap later.  This move only gained 5 seconds on the pack and was starting to be re-absorbed as the pack moved in right before a prime sprint.  In a great display of teamwork, Jordan and Joe moved another rider to the front with two turns to go, through the last turn Jordan moved to the right and blocked the lead rider from catching Joes wheel as he sprinted for the prime right before being caught by the chasing pack. 

 

Within two laps of the prime a promising break of 5-6 developed with Vince Roberge representing Team Bikesport/Lifetime Fitness/AAVC.  Notably absent were riders from Saturn of Toledo/Shell.  With the boys from Toledo determined to bring back the break, Team Bikesport/Lifetime Fitness/AAVC riders sat in and disrupted the chase as much as possible without actually grabbing jerseys and such.  Notable at the front was Jordan Stohl who sat 3rd wheel for about 5 laps as Jason Mishka and Jeff Crawford of Saturn of Toldeo/Shell buried themselves to bring back the break.  Riding in the breakaway, Vince Roberge was able to bag the second prime of the race for a TBLFAAVC sweep of the race primes (one small victory).  Impressively Saturn of Toledo/Shell eventually closed down the breakaway with 15 minutes left in the race. 

 

However, within a lap of the this breakaway being caught James Whitesides put in an impressive attack, taking Brian Kozeliski of the Wolverines with him.  Tucker Olander of Team Rio Grande put in a good effort to chase down James and Brian but came up short after two laps. 

 

With the break immediately getting about a 20 second lead the remaining Team Bikesport/Lifetime Fitness/AAVC riders, Joe Lekovish, Jordan Stohl, Vince Roberge, Randy Hermann and Jeff Elam formed a blockade at the front of the pack, slowing the pace considerably.  James hammered along in the break doing the lions share of the work.  Without any help to force the break, the pack slowly gained on James with the riders from Saturn of Toledo/Shell and West Michigan Coast Riders making brief attacks around the TBLFAAVC wedge. 

 

As James and Brian were caught the pace slowed down and with 4 laps remaining Adam Sczech of Saturn of Toldeo/Shell rode off the front to a 10 second gap.  With the pack playing poker and the competing trains of TBLFAAVC and West Michigan Coast Riders bluffing each other, Adam increased his gap to 12 seconds.  With one lap to go Joe Lekovish of TBLFAAVC put his head down and hammered away in a vain attempt to close the gap, knowing that the TBLFAAVC train would be following close behind.  With half a lap to go Randy Hermann pulled through with Jeff Elam, Vince Roberge and Jordan Stohl following close behind.  Randy pulled the pack through the final turn and delivered Jeff Elam at the front with 150 meters to go, unable to catch the impressive Adam Sczech of Saturn of Toledo/Shell, who soloed in for the win.  In a drag race to the line Joe Moch pipped Jeff Elam for second place with Vince Roberge rounding out the top 10 in 9th place. 

 

In what was an extremely fast and aggressive race, the TBLFAAVC team rode very well together.  As is the case in bike racing, a moments inattention cost the race, yet the team was still able to execute a good lead out and deliver Jeff Elam to a high finish. 

 

A BIG thanks to everyone supporting us who lined the race course.  Wives, parents, kids and team mates.  I kept hearing “Go Bikesport” every lap. 

 

NOTE, editorial to follow:  Personally, this is my first year racing as a Cat 3 and with a team.  This is a different world from racing as a Cat 4.  I’m still amazed at how complex bike racing can be.  To win takes luck and determination and a lot of concentration.  Sometimes the difference between making the winning break and being pack fill is a matter of inches (like when you’re at your limit trying to follow an attack), all played out at 30+mph.  For me, especially encouraging were Mark Lovejoy and Dave Koesel shouting out advice during the race and reinforcing teamwork and technique.  Thanks guys and thank you everyone else for the support. 

 

Next up will be the Ada Criterium, which is this years Michigan State Criterium Championship.  This race should contain two of the best Cat 3 riders in the state, Norm Zellers of Team By Grace and Dave Baar of Ada Bike Team, who were absent at Rose City, off racing the Tour de Toona in Altoona, Pennsylvania.  The Ada Bike Team will most likely be especially aggressive, racing at their home race, in front of their friends, family and most importantly SPONSORS.

 

Rest up all and we’ll see you on Saturday, 6:15pm in Ada. 

 

Also don’t forget, the Cycling Saddleman Hines Park Time Trial on Sunday.  YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER for this event.  Deadline is MIDNIGHT, Thursday, AUGUST 5th.  Check out www.lmb.org/saddle/ for more info.

 

PS – How about a Cat 2 race report???!!!

 

PPS – How about a Tour de Toona race report???!!!