Miller Reports on Greenville, SC and Fogelsville, PA weekends

South Carolina weekend 3/10&11 was a huge success.

The races were sponsored by our clothing sponsor Rich Hinpcapie. It seems like every team in SC is riding Hincapie clothes and Bianchi bikes. I thought this would be good news for us. We would fit in and get some support from the other teams. I was wrong. Bill told us that all of the teams in that area heard we were coming and wanted to see what we were made of.

The roads were narrow and the moto officials were unforgiving about the yellow line rule which made tactics very negative.

In Saturday's 75 mile race we helped keep some of the breaks in check and marked some of the strong men. It was tough attacking and staying in position, nobody wanted to over extend themselves on the rolling 15 mile course. With just few laps to go a small group got away. It was not an attack, as much as a "roll off the front while my team mates sit up" type of move. With five miles to go, after the last big hill all of the other teams seemed content to allow the break to go. They only had 30-40 seconds. So Team Alliance Environmental went to the front. It started with John and Boyd ramping up the speed. Then Miller and Whitman joined in. Chris Ernst had flatted out. Bill Short was in tow waiting for the sprint. The chase was not an easy one. It was all head wind. With one mile to go the wind got the best of us and other teams started to swarm. Bill and Joe were able to stay near the front. The break was in sight and the field was closing fast. Boyd and Miller were slowed by a mid-field crash. John stayed in the field. With the field closing fast on the breakaway, there was only one right hand bend and a 200 meter downhill finish to go. Bill sprinted past the field leaders to take the field sprint for fourth and Joe was right in there for third in the field and sixth overall.

Narrowly missing the win

Sunday's 60 mile race was much more aggressive and steady. The pace and pressure were constant. Again the course was rolling and the yellow line rule was in effect, but the roads were much wider leaving room to pass, attack and chase. Throughout the race we had most moves covered. Joe Whitman made it into the eventual winning break. Again we had some tough decisions to make. Bill Short had an opportunity to win the series overall or we let Joe race for upgrade points. The decision was easy as long as Joe was in it for the win, we would race for him. The rest of the field was confused and waited for us to do something, but we were content.

Jittery Joe’s had a rider on the front chasing all by himself for three laps at one point with three laps to go he had closed the gap to 22 seconds. Team Alliance Environmental was prepared for the counters. It was a really cool sight. Chris, John, Mike, Boyd and Bill all sitting 4th thru 8th respectively waiting to pounce. But nobody would help Jittery Joe’s out, so the gap grew again out to 40 seconds with just one lap to go.

At three miles to go the gap was still 25-30 seconds, at point those of us in the field saw three guys get away and Joe was not in the move. We decided to take over. Boyd took a monstrous pull for about 1-1.5 miles, stretching the field into a long single file line into the headwind. Then Miller pulled thru from taking the field about halfway up the final rise to the 1K mark. Then John Delong pulled for the next 700 meters all out, guys popping left and right. Finally Chris pulled through taking from 300 to 150 meters at full speed, pulling off for Bill. All Bill had to do was take two pedal strokes and coast across the line for an easy field sprint.

Bill ended up 9th on the day. I know it wasn't the win but boy it felt good. Joe rode to a great 5th place finish (we never did catch his group, we came close)

The simple fact is wins do not come easy. Practice like this and good solid tactics will eventually payoff. I am very proud of what we have accomplished this spring. We have race hard, we are gelling as a team and we are learning the necessary tactics and thought processes that will pay huge dividend during the "Real" season.

This past Sunday March 18 I raced did the Fleetwood derby before the Allentown training criteriums. There were only eight of us. Myself and Mike Norton (Rite Aid pro) did most of the pulling. I then rode the training races. There I raced against Bill E, Stephan K and Ryan D. (all Rite Aid pros), Bill E and I lapped the "B race" field twice and then Stephan, Bill, Jackie Simes and I lapped the "A race" twice as well.

I also heard that Bill raced in TN. I was told he was 3rd. We need to confirm that.

"Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing." Vince Lombardi

"Champions are made from something they have deep inside them: A desire, a dream, a vision." Muhammad Ali

We are showing that desire, the wins will come!

Mike