For the Savannah Georgia Cup Stage Race, the Pacesetter Cycling Team was showed up in force. Charles, Chad, Darren (fresh off his upgrade), Tyler, Ben, and I (Reid) made the drive down to the coast for the Team Time Trial, Crit, and Circuit Race.

We had high hopes for the TTT as everyone was outfitted on TT rigs and seemed to have good sets of legs. The course consisted of a rolling, out-and-back style course that was about 15 miles long. There was a bit of wind for our 8:41 roll-out, but we quickly dropped into formation and started turning the screws. Everyone communicated really well, and we were making up time on the Loco's team just ahead. Although we never caught them, we crossed the finish line in 3rd Place, just 7 seconds behind the 2nd Pl. team. We were all super happy with the 29.5 MPH average that we had just managed to sustain.

For the criterium that afternoon, the plan was to be present at the front, and if nothing rolled away, to set me up for the sprint. Everyone rode great! We had 2 guys in nearly every move and things were looking promising. About 20 minutes into the race, I bridged across to a break and we quickly started working together. The break jumped to 30 seconds within just 2 laps - Emile Abraham (Priority Health), Tony Scott and Steve Carroll (Memorial Health), Seth Hansley (Loco's), a Hincapie rider and myself were working well together. We stayed away for the bulk of the race and I was able to take one of the Most Aggressive Rider Time Bonus Primes. I could see the Pacesetter boys sitting at the front making the other teams do the work, but pretty soon the Jittery Joe's riders and Kent Bostick (multi-time national champion, world champion and olympian) started pulling us back. When we were pulled back, Thad Dulin and Brian Bibens rolled off the front in the final laps, and so the field was sprinting for 2nd. Going into the last turn of the last lap, an inexperienced rider wrecked me out, and just like that, my race was over. Everyone else finished safely in the pack to get the same time. Our GC hopes weren't dead yet.

The Circuit Race was on a 3 KM abandoned race track. With the previous day's results, our main goal was to solidify my lead in the Pacesetter Steel MAR jersey competition. There was a break up the road for the first prime, but Chad was there to take me to the front for the 2nd sprint. Chad did an awesome lead out and I was able to take 2nd in that MAR Time Bonus sprint... I waited just a split-second too long and let Tiago jump ahead of me. 2 laps later, Chad and I hooked up again; Darren and Tyler were also there to drive up the pace for this sprint. Blistering down the Start/Finish straight at over 30 MPH, I was easily able to win this MAR Time Bonus. With the MAR Jersey now locked up, we were looking to the finish. I was a little on edge from my crash the day before, and lost Chad's wheel in the sprint. Nonetheless, I was able to sneak in for 9th Pl., and all the other Pacesetter boys finished strong right behind. It was great to have everyone finish so strong... signs of good things to come. Ben, Charles, Chad, Darren, Tyler and myself are all riding great!

We finished the weekend with me in the 7th Overall, Charles in 9th and Chad in 10th! AND my teammates and I now had the Pacesetter Steel Most Aggressive Rider Jersey!!! Great job guys...

See you in Dahlonega, Reid

(-ED, unfortunately, for the time being, the Dahlonega race has been postponed. Tune in for more)

Christian Leask
9:05 AM  |  0 comments

We started at 8pm, a near twilight event. Tres and Andrew lined up at the start and took off like a couple bats outta hell. Andrew was determined to split up the group and make it as painful as possible. After the first lap, Andrew headed to the front and dropped the hammer for two good, strong 30 mph laps, with full intent of softening some legs up.

The back straight was very windy and Andrew thought a solo break would be very difficult to hold for any longer than 3 or 4 laps. For awhile he sat in at about 5th wheel and watched the action, noticing during the course of the race that several breaks tried to form but all failed to make it any longer than a lap.

We had made early plans with Nick (an AVX rider) to start a break on the backside at 2 laps to go. And a go of it, we made; however, we were marked riders and no one was letting us go anywhere that easily. With only one lap remaining, and just before turn 2, Andrew made his way to third wheel, hoping to set himself up for a proper shot at the finish. Shortly after turn 2 a racer passed him on the left and he dove on to his wheel, a perfect vehicle to carry Andrew to turn 3. Just before turn 4, Andrew managed to slide by him to get on first wheel, with about 300 yards of spring to go. Good for 2nd at the line.

Great work Andrew!

Christian Leask
9:47 AM  |  0 comments

Christian Leask
12:48 PM  |  0 comments