Hello Gang,
I will start off by saying a sincere thanks to Mike Olsen for putting on a
great local race here in Vegas this weekend. Many of you were invovled on
different levels so to all the volunteers and sponsors, great job!! I hope
the event is bigger and better for next year but we had great weather and
epic racing. When we have a local race it is really difficult for me to
cram in everyone's results and performances so I am sure I am going to miss
a few of you and some results as the finals were not posted so feel free to
add in anything that I miss. I am only going to comment on the highlights
for reasons of content.
SNSR
35+
In the 35+ race team Paul Tracy was very motivated to bring home a win in
what we consider our home race. The players were myself, Jay (Arcitic
Squirrel), Kenny Sweet Legs Bingham, The Boss Louie, Jonathan (RS), and
Brandon (the serial killer).
TT
The course was a 3.6 mile gradual uphilll TT with a nice kick at the end
and a downhill finish. Louie set the fastest time of the day for the W and
the race lead. Bob Mcall set a good time to put himself in the top 10 as
well as Chicken from Cal Pools was sitting in 7th. The top ten was a whos
who from cali including Leibert, Corona, and Demarchi. We were gong to
have our work cut out for us to keep our lead.
RR
The Road Race was a 80 mile loop with about 6k feet in climbing and lots
of rollers. The plan was to preserve Louie's lead by attempting to keep
the field together and make sure he made any major moves off the front with
some support. Poor Gagne flatted on the climb out of Caulville early and
was effectively out of the race. The attacks started early with Cynergy,
Amgen, and Sho-Air throwing everything they had at us. Bingham was solid
early covering early moves with help from Jay and Brandon. We kept
Jonathan in reserve to cover later moves as he is the better climber. We
were all together after MT Doom and on the turn around hell broke loose.
Leibert and DeMarchi when to the front and the break of the day was up the
road. Jonathan and Louie made the group including De Marchi and Corona
from Amgen, Hector and Ferretti from Sho-Air and some others I do not
recognize. The rest of the day the field was in various chase groups
trying to make a bridge. Lance, Jay and several others did make the front
group only to get dropped again on the last climb. Jonathan turned himself
inside out to cover attacks and keep Louie safe in the gruop. DeMarchi won
the sprint with Louie coming in third at the same time to preserve is lead.
Crit
The course was awesome with a lot of corners and nice and fast. Again we
were preserving a lead so we had to keep it together. Just like the day
before the attacks were numerous with various PT guys covering to keep it
together. Brandon rode solid all day even though he was under the weather.
Lance was really active for Cal Pools on the front to set things up for
Chicken and Mike Williams and maybe assist his friend DeMarchi a little.
Luna and Ryan from Penta were really active and tried some attacks for
preems. Bob the Bus was very solid all day and ended up leading the charge
on the last lap. Jay was solidly placed on DeMarchi's wheel and took a
nice sprint from the last corner to take the W in the crit. De Marchi was
second and Mike Williams from Cal Pools was third to round out the podium.
Louie came in at the same time to keep his overall lead and win his second
stage race of the year.
In the 40+ race Mark Schaefer set the early mark for third and was only
bested by ketterer and Sullivan for 1st and second from Amgen. The rest of
the race was about Mark riding hard with help from Stan and Bruce to
preserve his lead and attempt to steal time back form Ketterer. Ketterer
proved to be the strongest of the weekend and broke away with Sullivan in
the last part of the road race to steal more time. In the crit Ketterer
was able to get away in the second half and the guys killed themselves to
try and bring him back but he proved to be really on. He took the overall
and Mark ended up in fourth. A solid result considering Mark only gets to
ride outside when he comes down here to race right now.
As far as other performances in the Cat 3 Matt Shackley took the overall
with a solid performance in both the Road race and TT. In the road race he
had some solid help form Bitter who I believe took second overall. Jeff
Edwards had a solid weekend and took the W in the Cat 3 crit with a very
close sprint and bike throw at the line.
The Pro 1-2 race had some heavy hitters with tow guys, Grabinger and Ben
Day showing up from Fly V Australia. There was also good representation
from Liquid Fitness and Kahala out of Socal. Little Hurt and Jeremy from
Allegiant raced as well as Koo Koo Kam. I do not know there placings in
the overall or road race but all of them had a solid crit. Kam took the W
in the crit with a dare devil move after the last corner and a blistering
sprint. Jeremy and Andy were close behind but I do not have their placings
In the woman's races Michele King ended up 2nd overall in the Cat 3-4 woman
and I believe Stephanie Bisonette ended up 2nd overall in the 1-2 race. I
know all the Colavita girls had a solid race and they are really looking
like a solid team lately.
In the Cat 4 race Team CES took the oveall win and had a really strong
presence in the race. Prez showed off that climbing form to take the TT
win and defend his overall with a lot of teamwork from his guys.
I know a lot more of you raced and i am sorry I can not get everyone in.
TNW starts next Tuesday at the Lakes. Start around 5:30 until the sun sets
later. Thursday nights on the East Side. By the way, if you like Italian
food the Carmine's Little Italy by the Thursday night course would love it
if you stopped by after the Thursday night ride for some food and beer. I
may make it a weekly tradition if you want to join me. Louie's cousin owns
the place and they are really friendly to cyclists. The waitresses are not
bad looking either.
Random Thoughts:
I am sooo impressed that the level of Vegas racers has risen that much. In
almost every category there was a Vegas local getting some kind of placing
and there was some good competition that showed up.
How awesome was Koo Koo Kam's sprint. He pulled a serious move to get out
of a pinch and take a sprint lane.. He came from several bike lengths back
in full sprint. NICE
Jonathan was crazy strong defending Louies lead this weekend. Brandon came
up strong in the crit and Kenny was solid all weekend.
Squak Box pulled off a head to head sprint to take his W in the crit. Nice
bike throw.
Louie is 2 for 2. He was in a serious dog fight this weekend with attacks
coming from all sides. Damn that Cuban can race.
Did you hear that sonic boom in the 35+ crit. Oh sorry that was Jay
clicking down in his sprint gear. Nice W Jay and great sprint.
Ryan J gets another Iron Man award for finishing a damn hard RR so he could
race the next day. Keep it up Big Ryan
Cal Pools faltered a little in the RR to lose some GC spots but came back
strong in the Crit with Williams taking third.
Lance road the best RR I have ever seen him ride. He dropped me at one
point and actually made it back to the lead group at the second turn. I
know he was killing himself to be there so props are in order for that
ride.
Matt Shackley is on the move up the ranks. That boy has some potential.
Ben Day ( a freind of the PT team and a pro member of the Fly V Austraila
Team)is starting a coaching business. I will pass on the website and info
as I get it. I can not think of a better source for info considering he
has won the Australian National TT Championships.
Jim Robbins
I will start off by saying a sincere thanks to Mike Olsen for putting on a
great local race here in Vegas this weekend. Many of you were invovled on
different levels so to all the volunteers and sponsors, great job!! I hope
the event is bigger and better for next year but we had great weather and
epic racing. When we have a local race it is really difficult for me to
cram in everyone's results and performances so I am sure I am going to miss
a few of you and some results as the finals were not posted so feel free to
add in anything that I miss. I am only going to comment on the highlights
for reasons of content.
SNSR
35+
In the 35+ race team Paul Tracy was very motivated to bring home a win in
what we consider our home race. The players were myself, Jay (Arcitic
Squirrel), Kenny Sweet Legs Bingham, The Boss Louie, Jonathan (RS), and
Brandon (the serial killer).
TT
The course was a 3.6 mile gradual uphilll TT with a nice kick at the end
and a downhill finish. Louie set the fastest time of the day for the W and
the race lead. Bob Mcall set a good time to put himself in the top 10 as
well as Chicken from Cal Pools was sitting in 7th. The top ten was a whos
who from cali including Leibert, Corona, and Demarchi. We were gong to
have our work cut out for us to keep our lead.
RR
The Road Race was a 80 mile loop with about 6k feet in climbing and lots
of rollers. The plan was to preserve Louie's lead by attempting to keep
the field together and make sure he made any major moves off the front with
some support. Poor Gagne flatted on the climb out of Caulville early and
was effectively out of the race. The attacks started early with Cynergy,
Amgen, and Sho-Air throwing everything they had at us. Bingham was solid
early covering early moves with help from Jay and Brandon. We kept
Jonathan in reserve to cover later moves as he is the better climber. We
were all together after MT Doom and on the turn around hell broke loose.
Leibert and DeMarchi when to the front and the break of the day was up the
road. Jonathan and Louie made the group including De Marchi and Corona
from Amgen, Hector and Ferretti from Sho-Air and some others I do not
recognize. The rest of the day the field was in various chase groups
trying to make a bridge. Lance, Jay and several others did make the front
group only to get dropped again on the last climb. Jonathan turned himself
inside out to cover attacks and keep Louie safe in the gruop. DeMarchi won
the sprint with Louie coming in third at the same time to preserve is lead.
Crit
The course was awesome with a lot of corners and nice and fast. Again we
were preserving a lead so we had to keep it together. Just like the day
before the attacks were numerous with various PT guys covering to keep it
together. Brandon rode solid all day even though he was under the weather.
Lance was really active for Cal Pools on the front to set things up for
Chicken and Mike Williams and maybe assist his friend DeMarchi a little.
Luna and Ryan from Penta were really active and tried some attacks for
preems. Bob the Bus was very solid all day and ended up leading the charge
on the last lap. Jay was solidly placed on DeMarchi's wheel and took a
nice sprint from the last corner to take the W in the crit. De Marchi was
second and Mike Williams from Cal Pools was third to round out the podium.
Louie came in at the same time to keep his overall lead and win his second
stage race of the year.
In the 40+ race Mark Schaefer set the early mark for third and was only
bested by ketterer and Sullivan for 1st and second from Amgen. The rest of
the race was about Mark riding hard with help from Stan and Bruce to
preserve his lead and attempt to steal time back form Ketterer. Ketterer
proved to be the strongest of the weekend and broke away with Sullivan in
the last part of the road race to steal more time. In the crit Ketterer
was able to get away in the second half and the guys killed themselves to
try and bring him back but he proved to be really on. He took the overall
and Mark ended up in fourth. A solid result considering Mark only gets to
ride outside when he comes down here to race right now.
As far as other performances in the Cat 3 Matt Shackley took the overall
with a solid performance in both the Road race and TT. In the road race he
had some solid help form Bitter who I believe took second overall. Jeff
Edwards had a solid weekend and took the W in the Cat 3 crit with a very
close sprint and bike throw at the line.
The Pro 1-2 race had some heavy hitters with tow guys, Grabinger and Ben
Day showing up from Fly V Australia. There was also good representation
from Liquid Fitness and Kahala out of Socal. Little Hurt and Jeremy from
Allegiant raced as well as Koo Koo Kam. I do not know there placings in
the overall or road race but all of them had a solid crit. Kam took the W
in the crit with a dare devil move after the last corner and a blistering
sprint. Jeremy and Andy were close behind but I do not have their placings
In the woman's races Michele King ended up 2nd overall in the Cat 3-4 woman
and I believe Stephanie Bisonette ended up 2nd overall in the 1-2 race. I
know all the Colavita girls had a solid race and they are really looking
like a solid team lately.
In the Cat 4 race Team CES took the oveall win and had a really strong
presence in the race. Prez showed off that climbing form to take the TT
win and defend his overall with a lot of teamwork from his guys.
I know a lot more of you raced and i am sorry I can not get everyone in.
TNW starts next Tuesday at the Lakes. Start around 5:30 until the sun sets
later. Thursday nights on the East Side. By the way, if you like Italian
food the Carmine's Little Italy by the Thursday night course would love it
if you stopped by after the Thursday night ride for some food and beer. I
may make it a weekly tradition if you want to join me. Louie's cousin owns
the place and they are really friendly to cyclists. The waitresses are not
bad looking either.
Random Thoughts:
I am sooo impressed that the level of Vegas racers has risen that much. In
almost every category there was a Vegas local getting some kind of placing
and there was some good competition that showed up.
How awesome was Koo Koo Kam's sprint. He pulled a serious move to get out
of a pinch and take a sprint lane.. He came from several bike lengths back
in full sprint. NICE
Jonathan was crazy strong defending Louies lead this weekend. Brandon came
up strong in the crit and Kenny was solid all weekend.
Squak Box pulled off a head to head sprint to take his W in the crit. Nice
bike throw.
Louie is 2 for 2. He was in a serious dog fight this weekend with attacks
coming from all sides. Damn that Cuban can race.
Did you hear that sonic boom in the 35+ crit. Oh sorry that was Jay
clicking down in his sprint gear. Nice W Jay and great sprint.
Ryan J gets another Iron Man award for finishing a damn hard RR so he could
race the next day. Keep it up Big Ryan
Cal Pools faltered a little in the RR to lose some GC spots but came back
strong in the Crit with Williams taking third.
Lance road the best RR I have ever seen him ride. He dropped me at one
point and actually made it back to the lead group at the second turn. I
know he was killing himself to be there so props are in order for that
ride.
Matt Shackley is on the move up the ranks. That boy has some potential.
Ben Day ( a freind of the PT team and a pro member of the Fly V Austraila
Team)is starting a coaching business. I will pass on the website and info
as I get it. I can not think of a better source for info considering he
has won the Australian National TT Championships.
Jim Robbins
