Kissena Cycling Club

Photo of Rashad by Andy Shen

Report by J.P. Partland

This race was sure to be a barn-burner. Both Sakonnet and Empire lined up seven guys, both teams had their directeur sportifs in the fields, but Sakonnet might have had a motivational edge as the Sakonnet owners were in the house. Two Rite Aid pros, Bill Elliston and Bobby Lea were there. Foundation had several as well and Igor has been flying. And no shortage of fast guys with no team obligations. The race was an hour timed. With no wind, few would be afraid to attack.

We didn’t want a field sprint. Besides having trackie Lea to contend with, Sakonnet and Empire would both be doing leadouts and Mengoni’s Wilson Vasquez is on a tear.

Our best option was attacking. Wait for the race to settle into a rhythm, riding defensively for the first 15-20 minutes, then start making htings happen. The one thing is that we needed to have both a Sakonnet and Empire guy in the break in order for things to work. If one of the Rite-Aids could be there, all the better. The window for attacking would probably close at 5 to go.

In the first section of hte race, Rashad followed a few attacks, as did I. almost exactly at 20m, a hard move went and Rashad was in it. I got a tow up to it from Igor, and when I saw it slowing, attacked. Think I stayed away in a small group for a lap or two. Tried to keep things moving, as did Rashad.

Sakonnet and Empire were figuring in most of the moves. The odd thing was that Empire was going away, and in most cases then smothering the splits they were in. Only one of their riders seemed committed to getting away.

At about 35 minutes in, there was a good-looking break coalescing just off the front. Rufus put in a hard move to get up there without any wheelsuckers. It looked like one that could really stick. Came back in a lap.

I’m a little hazy on what happened next. I think I did the enegizer bunny thing and tried ot work breaks until about 3 to go when I was caught for hte last time. Wanted to recover and then look to help Rashad and Rufus in the sprint. Shortly thereafter, Empire put in a final move with two guys attacking and Jason Beerman bridging up to them (maybe this is what Empire had been waiting for much of hte race). Didn’t think they had much of a chance, but wished one of us was up there all the same.

Waited too long to get up. And when I started my windup, I was slowed because a non-racer was piddling up the finishing straight. Wouldn’t have had a chance anyways.

We weren’t getting anywhere. It seemed like Empire wasn’t committed to attacking the race. Odd as their sprinter probably couldn’t beat several guys there.

Sakonnet won, with a kid who I think is a first-year senior outsprinting Bobby Lea and Wilson Vasquez.

JP