Battenkill
Joe k, Bruce M, And Antonio made the trip up to Cambridge NY for Battenkill, the largest one day classic in the USA. Weather was absolutely pristine, 50° sunny and no wind. Joe lined up for the master's 30+ race and Antonio & Bruce were in the ever popular Cat 4 field. Joe's race started slow with a 4 man break going at the gun and no one eager to chase. Speeds in the peloton crept up to race pace just after the first climb but the four-some's 1min gap would hold steady for the first hour or so. Joe was hanging strong mid pack and putting in solid efforts as needed. Mid way through the race the break would be reeled in and on some of the climbs the field would split in two, Joe found himself in the 2nd group twice but each time the two main fields would eventually come together. After this happened again on another climb Joe bolted to the front of the group to make sure if the fields split again he would be in the lead group. Sure enough another steep gravel climb and a major spilt happened. Joe hung tough but found himself drifting toward the back of the leading group and lost contact. Once over the climb Joe had experienced a cyclist worst nightmare….the BONK! He went into survival mode and rode solo in no mans land for the next 8 miles. Eventually a group of 8 came by and he hung with them for a few miles but just had no gas in the tank and cramps were setting in big time.
Joe crossed the line 16min's back of the leaders in 68th place. He suffered like a dog but still managed to beat more than half the field.
Bruce and Antonio started out strong but Bruce got caught behind a small pile up about 10 miles into the race, Antonio was ahead and missed that one. Bruce caught up to Antonio at about mile 30, both were suffering the effects of a brutally hard course and decided to ride together to the finish. Not a very good finish but, they did finish. And with 40 to 50 DNF's, finishing this race is a major accomplishment.
Joe crossed the line 16min's back of the leaders in 68th place. He suffered like a dog but still managed to beat more than half the field.
Bruce and Antonio started out strong but Bruce got caught behind a small pile up about 10 miles into the race, Antonio was ahead and missed that one. Bruce caught up to Antonio at about mile 30, both were suffering the effects of a brutally hard course and decided to ride together to the finish. Not a very good finish but, they did finish. And with 40 to 50 DNF's, finishing this race is a major accomplishment.
Lux et Velocitas
Cat 3,4
Dillon, Maison, Larry, Peter K and Matt Sack (!!!) lined up for this always super fast end of the day crit. It was a short 20 laps, and Dillon was active in most of them. With just a handful of laps to go, the always dangerous Kyle Foley attacked and took 2 riders with him. With 3 to go the break was still out there. Dillon put in a last ditch effort to give Larry a chance to bridge. Larry made it halfway across the gap and then stalled. Dillon put in a out-of-gas sprint and rolled in 20ish. Everyone else was right behind.
Cat 1,2,3
Hunter P and Cosmo hit up this one. Hunter was supposed to race Battenkill, but his free entry ticket evaporated. Cosmo raced the 3,4 race earlier in Bethel but was feeling pretty good. Within 2 laps the break was going clear. Hunter had a good opportunity to bridge but made the mistake of sitting up, expecting it to come back together. It didn't and the break ended up lapping the field again. Until that happened, Cosmo put in some hard chase efforts and Hunter did what he could to rally a chase. There were a couple of guys who seemed willing to help and the series leader was also riding possessed as he missed the break as well. But it was for naught as the break steam-rolled away. With about 12 laps to go, Cosmo broke a shift cable, ending his race. Hunter sat in and tried to save up something for the sprint, where he got 13th on the day. A lot of work for a little payoff. Unfortunately, that's how the whole Bethel Series seemed to go. It's all experience in the bank though and a long season awaits.
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