Grandview Grand Prix Saturday, Big Results Posted

This Saturday is the Grandview Grand Prix, held in Great Grandview Heights just outside of Lancaster city. The very scenic, winding crit course is a one mile loop burning through the quiet, shaded neighborhood, and is great for spectators. At least six of our eight riders will be present, and we are hoping for a good race. Full race information, including directions, can be found here on BikeReg.

In other news, the Comeback Criterium was held in New Holland last week, where Jonathan took 6th in the 3/4 race. In the 4/5 race, Jordan Binkley took 4th, Manny finished 10th, and Noah 25th. Binkley maintains a commanding lead in the Senior Mens Category 4 PA Bar Competition, with Kerry Werner maintaining third, and Manny Caliz coming in at 15th. 

Last week, Kerry traveled to Mt. Snow, Vermont, for the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships. Kerry took an incredible 5th in the Junior Expert Men category! More can be found on USA Cycling, VeloNews, AND CyclingNews.com. 

Sponsors, don’t forget about our team ride and picnic on Sunday evening. If you haven’t yet responded, please do so asap. Bring your team kit for photos beforehand, too. Thanks!

The Lowdown on Victory: Giro del Cielo

Written by Doug Kauffman.

Manny and I left Friday afternoon for the hills of northern New Jersey for the Giro del Cielo, a two day, three event stage race. The time trial came first Saturday morning in the form of a 4.6 mile hill climb, that wasn’t extremely steep, but steep enough to keep the sprinters towards the back. I finished 4th and Manny rolled in at 11th. The crit was Saturday afternoon on a pancake flat .5 mile rectangle. We would do 30 laps. Manny and I were both hanging out towards the front to try and avoid what seemed like an inevitable crash.

The crash came with 6 laps to go when the leader at the time in the crit pedaled out in a corner, flying head over heals directly in front of me. Without really having time to hit the breaks, I swerved and narrowly missed his sliding bike. I looked back and saw my chance. Many in the pack had nearly stopped to avoid the crash and some were even unclipping. I put my head down and went for it opening up a gap almost immediately. One other rider followed. The race was then neutralized for a lap, although no one really slowed down, and with 4 to go, I found myself in a 2 man break with nearly a half lap lead over the field. I worked with the other rider while Manny did everything he could to disrupt and organized chase. With one lap to go I knew the field was closing fast and that it would be close at the line. I looked back out of the last corner and saw one man bridging the gap and riding hard, so I put my head down and gave it everything I had. He caught the rider that had been in the break with me, but I managed to hold him off a the line! As a result, I took the lead in the GC standings!

Manny and I talked strategy in the hotel Saturday night and knew that we faced a tough race on Sunday. We would have no friends, and the second place guy had 3 or 4 teamates at his disposal. We knew the race was more about riding smart than winning. All I needed to do was keep the overall riders in check throughout and finish with or in front of them and the overall would be mine. A breakaway with any GC rider could not happen. In order to keep track of everything Manny and I wrote down the numbers of the top 6 guys on our wrists, a trick that proved priceless throughout the race. A breakaway went early, but with no one that matter, so we sat in. Another break went, this time it had a number on our wrist, so Manny chased. This happened several times in the first 3 laps and every time Manny tracked them down with me inches from his wheel.

After 3 laps Manny had done more than I could have ever expected out of him and he drifted back in the field slightly. The second place rider saw his chance and attacked getting a small gap. I knew I had to go, so I stood out of the saddle and chased him down with the entire field riding my wheel. When the last lap came, a 4 man break was still up the road, but we didn’t care because no GC threat riders had caught the train. Manny went to the front out of the final corner and as I followed his wheel I got boxed out and shuffled back slightly. Finally a gap opened up about 200 meters from the line and I sprinted. At the line I finished 7th, but the number was meaningless. Only the 3rd place GC rider had beat me by one position in the road race, meaning I had secured the overall win.

Teamwork and sacrifice at it’s best. Obviously the prize money was split exactly in half.  It ended up going towards the hotel.

PA Bar Update- Cat 4 Mens

In case there was any question…

Team Update: July 6, 2008

It is time for a very overdue update. A lot has been going on over the past few weeks, and it is getting hard to keep up with many riders at many events in and out of Pennsylvania. Here it goes…

On June 15 at Cargas Criterium, Jonathan, Amos and Jordan Binkley took part in the 3/4 race. It was quite hot out again this year, and Binkley took the top finish for us at 9th. In the 4/5 Race, Manny, Jordo, Noah and Binkley took part in what was quite an eventful race for our team. With just a few laps to go, Noah took off the front of the field in a solo effort to break away. After a lap out front, Noah was caught and Manny immediately counter attacked. On the hill at the start finish line, Binkley bridged across and the two had a bit of a lead, but were pulled back in on the final lap. Jordan again had the top finish with 5th.

On June 21, at the Dan Spencer Memorial Road Race in Bloomsburg, PA, Manny took 4th in the 4/5 race while Jordan Binkley took 2nd and Noah taking 15th in the incredibly hilly road race. 

On June 29, Manny took 4th at Union Vale Road Race in Union Vale, NY. 

On June 21-22, Jonathan competed in the Tour of Washington County, MD. In his own words, “That race absolutely rocked! A two day, three stage race similar to Christiana features a hilly road race on Saturday, a rolling TT on Sunday morning, and then a fast crit on Sunday afternoon. A good strong field including our buddy Ben King, and I was actually able to place 2nd in the road race and then 11th in the crit, so a 9th place overall. A very good weekend for me.”

On June 28, at the 2008 Brownstown Road Race, Doug flatted out two miles into the race, but Kerry finished for a solid 9th place.

Yesterday, July 5, at the 4th Annual Iron Hill Twilight Criterium, Jonathan, Amos, and Doug competed in the 3/4 race. First of all, if you have never been to this race, it is a sight to behold. Team Iron Hill and their sponsor, Iron Hill Brewery, do an absolutely incredible job of putting on a world class event. The course is beautiful, lined with literally thousands of energetic spectators and outdoor restaurants, cafes, trees and pleasant street lights in West Chester, PA. Word is that there were 140 volunteers to help run the event, and that probably is the case. Second, the 100+ field was fast, and all three riders finished with the final group. Race results and additional information can be found here, along with photos from the 2008 Iron Hill Twilight Criterium. 

Kerry Werner, who recently traveled to Italy as part of the Junior U.S. National Mountain Bike Team for competiton in worlds, was featured on VeloNews. The link can be found here. 

Also, we’re planning to have a sponsor/team meet and greet, then ride on Sunday evening (July 27, tentatively) for some recovery riding and good conversation; details to follow via email. Race photos from Cargas Criterium and Iron Hill Criterium coming soon.