Housatonic Hills.

Joe Kubisek takes GOLD in the Category 3 Connecticut Road Racing Championships!

The day started off with warm temps and clear hazy skies. Representing for CCR today were Joe K, Larry M, Chris B, and Rob E in the cat 3/4 race. Joe P was flying solo in the Cat 4 race. Bruce and Miguel were together in the Masters 45+.

The 3/4 race...started with 80+ riders. The race started off quickly after the neutral start up constitution hill. The pack was pretty calm and stayed together for most of the first lap. Larry M was sitting comfortable in the top 10 riders for most of the race and Joe K was not to far back from that. Chris B and Rob were waiting to pounce but playing it safe toward the back of the main pack. There was a 2 or 3 man break that took off shortly before the KOM hill and the peloton was comfortable with letting them go for a bit to duke it out on the climb. The group came back together after the KOM which did take it's toll with some riders already getting popped off the back. What was left of the peloton made it safely through the feed zone. A minor crash took out 3-4 riders on one of the smaller hills but thankfully none of the CDR boys were involved. The 3 man break took off and got a gap of about 1min at the most. The peloton was chasing half heartedly but brought it back to about 10 seconds on the final assent of the KOM hill which was lead by a hard tempo from Joe K and Larry M. Rob E's day ended prematurely when he double flatted. CCR was still three men strong but despite some strong chasing from the Kissena boys and some others the gap to the break was not coming back quick enough. The speed was fast on the final decent heading toward the final few kilometers, not sure if it's right but Joe K clocked 54mph on his Garmin 305. As we passed the final 1k to go marker a flying Larry M passed everyone on the inside, Joe K grabbed his wheel and his herculean effort launched Joe into the finishing corner in 1st position where he was somehow able to sprint all the way to the line despite cramping in both legs to take the pack sprint for 4th place overall and 1st for CT! Chris B took 20th and Larry M 23rd. The 3 man break stuck and won the day but still an amazing finish for Joe and the team.