Sanofi-aventis Omnium, Roan Groan Road Race, Time Trial, Crit

Blue Plumb bike race weekend

Photo: Dave Boyd

So I was nervous about the road race and wanted to get in the early move and make it a hard day, mission accomplished. I am not good at short time trials, but I made a go at it, and somehow finished in 6th place. Did the masters crit and it was a nice preview. Pro crit, team hit it hard winning primes, and then an opportunity presented itself on the final lap and I took it to the line. The weekend was full of great team riding, tough competition

Sanofi-aventis Omnium Weekend video overview Johnson City Press

Sanofi-aventis Omnium Roan Groan preview Johnson City Press

Roan Groan Road Race write up Johnson City Press

Pictures by Bart Nave
My Roan Groan road race finish on top of Roan Mt.

Crit win Johnson City, TN

Crit Pictures by Dave Boyd Johnson City Press

Blue Plum Crit youtube video

Reid's blog of the weekend

Dirty Dawg MTB Race Report

Dirty Dawg Mountain Bike Race Mountain Lake, Virginia
April 1 2007

After missing registration it into the Tour of Walkersville race because I was in Belize I decided to stay in Blacksburg and train. When I realized it was going to rain all weekend and my power tap was still getting a rim put on it I started to think about what kind of training I could do to make it fun and then I realized that their was the Dirty Dawg mountain bike race in town.

To convince myself to attempt the mountain bike race I talked to local mountain biking blogger, friend and workmate Ashwin about the course. He assured me it wasn’t to rocky and I shouldn’t have a problem with my lack of technical riding skills. My girlfriend Missy was not so pleased and told me I was going to hurt myself bad and waste all the training I have been doing for this up coming season.

As the Rabbit crested the top of Mountain Lake I was committed to participating even though I was having regrets. The weather on top of the mountain was foggy but not as rainy as it had been back in Blacksburg. The course started in front of the Mountain Lake lodge and went up a fire road and then looped back to the Mountain Lake lodge where the finish would be. I took it easy off the starting line and then was forced to use my road skills to squeeze through none existent gaps in-between riders that were blocking my way. I caught my Friend from west Virginia University Geff Moy and told him I was going to follow him through the technical sections because I have not Mt bike skills and need to follow some on more experienced to make it through the rocky sections. Geff and I swapped spot for the first half the race until I realized we were doing mostly smooth trail for the first half a lap and then I took off with my road power. The course reentered the woods and down the mountain we went. It was steep and rocky at parts and I got out of the way of the faster riders. Geff passed me and told me to float and 100 meters later he got a flat. I finished the lap by catching some riders with better technical skills then me because of the long up hill.. I then gave it the gas for the smooth sections at the beginning of the lap but was forced to creep down the decent since I was all alone at this point. Two riders I had passed at the beginning of the lap shot passed and I didn’t see them till I finished.

I was pleased with my mountain bike race since I didn’t crash or hurt myself. I rode very strong on all the Open Sections. Another road rider Jon Hamblen attended the race but I didn’t recognize him until after ward mostly because he took the hole shot and kept on going to win the race by 5 min.

Jefferson Cup Repport By John

Jefferson Cup, Charlottesville, VA
March 25, 2007

The most competitive thing about the 2007 Jeff Cup was the online registration period. It seemed the negative racing was the strategy for all the large teams in the race. The race started out fast, but after the first trip up the hill Rite Aid hit the front and started slowing things down. Joe and I were aggressive for the first third of the race trying to keep the race speed up. I was able to drive a few groups away Rite Aid always slipped some dead weight in the group, and the surges from the peleton would bring my group. During lap three I pulled the eyelets through the rim of my power tap wheel. I did not notice till after the race. I went from feeling great and racing fast to feeling great and not having the longer power surges I had earlier in the race. The race got really lame after a large group slipped off the front with three Rite Aid and riders from just about every other big team. The large break just dangled 20 seconds off the front for the final two laps. The only team chasing was the Seigler team. Joe and I chatted about the finish, since there were just two of us we would have to play it smart. We counted on the break coming back and waited for the finish. I was working out a deal with some friends from Blacksburg, VA to help out Joe and I in the sprint when people just started falling down around us and my friends were taken out of the race. For the finish Joe positioned himself with the sprinters. The false flat heading into the sprint slows down any lead out train but no worry this year Rite Aid was just blocking from curb to curb to save their hope of taking the win from the break that was quickly coming back. With 250 meters to go the front of the race slowed dramatically as Rite Aid sat up to attempt to crash the rest of the race. Joe got caught up in this mess and I had to start pushing people out of the way so I could take it off road and pop around the slowing riders. I sprinted with 200 meters and was gaining quickly but I couldn’t squeeze between two wobbling riders and shut down the sprint with 50 meters left. I was pleased that I finished 9th place after pulling the eyelets through the rim and attempting a sprint. Joe came in 17th and expressed that the Jeff cup was the most dangerous race he had ever participated in. I believe with one more Alliance rider attending the race we could have affected the out come of the finishing sprint and come up with a stronger result.

Joe Martin Stage Race

Fifty miles into the first stage of the professional cycling event Joe Martin Stage race, that tours the surrounding area of Fayetteville Arkansas, I crashed when a rider was unable to control his bike over some rough rail road tracks and causes a major pile up of about 20 riders. I was the first rider to hit the crashed rider and some how landed on my feet but my bike was not so lucky and all the crashers seemed to have landed on it. The pressure form the crashing riders broke my bikes fork and I was in a situation where I was questioning whether I would continue the race.

Luckily, Jose from Sram Neutral support pulled up with his spare bikes. I asked him if I could borrow one since my bike was in a bad way. He quickly got a bike down for me and asked one of his support staff to change my pedals while he attended to the other riders involved in the crash. I was quickly on my way and pushed myself hard over the next 50 miles in an attempt to not be eliminated by the time cut. This was my first ride with the new Sram Force road group. I quickly got used to the rear derailleur shifter and really found the double tap design to be very fast and responsive. The front derailleur shifter caused me a bit more trouble and I found myself stuck in the big ring going into climbs. After complaining to other racers, they got me to relax and helped me realize that I was getting to excited going into the hills and was over shifting causing the double tap to release the front derailleur and the reengage it all in the same shift.

Jose allowed me to use the Sram neutral bike for the rest of the stage race. I found the bike and the Sram road group very satisfactory. I would return the bike to Jose after every stage and he would clean the bike and have it ready for me at the beginning of each stage. After the stage race was over, I missed the professional level treatment Jose had afforded me.

At the Tri-Peaks, stage race in Russellville Arkansas the next week I went to thank Jose for helping me the previous week. My team had mailed me a new fork and I was able to replace it with the verbal instructions Jose had given me. I had not been able to true my wheels so about one hour before the start of the first stage of the Tri-Peaks stage race Jose once again saved me and brought my wheels back in true and they have been solid ever since.

Thank you Sram and Jose for supporting road cycling and events like Joe Martin, Tri-Peaks.

Snow Valley Grand Prix

Bethesda, MD, June 12, 2005 – Snow Valley Grand Prix of Bethesda, part of the highly contested Mid-Atlantic Bicycle Racing Association (MABRA) season long Best All Around Rider (BAR) series. The Snow Valley Professional Cycling team Presented by Seal-On was represented by all of its professional members and also members of the under 23 team and club members. The field was the top riders from the Mid-Atlantic region with a few of the top amateurs from the surrounding regions.

The race was controlled by Snow Valley Professional Cycling Presented by Seal-On with their constant attacks. About midway through the race a ten-man group had formed with Ryan Oelkers and Kyle Wamsley representing Snow Valley. Unfortunately Ryan’s tire blew out in the 120-degree turn and his mishap brought him and Kyle to the ground. After a free lap they reintegrated into the race and with 23 laps to go Kyle followed John DeLong on a counter attack to a four-man move containing Brad Viera. Kyle, John and a US Armed Forces team member were able to quickly gain a large lead and with eight laps remaining they lapped the field. Kyle and John were escorted to the front of the field by their teammates and were able to finish first and second respectively. Brad Viera rode off the front of the group to finish fourth and Russ Langley held off the sprinting field for a sixth place finish.

Iorn Hilll Twilitght Criterium

West Chester, PA, June 11, 2005 – Iron Hill Twilight Criterium, a new race for the 2005 season. The .9 mile four corner course blasted down the classy main strip of West Chester and the start finish was located in front of the race sponsoring Iron Hill Brew Pub and Restaurant. The Snow Valley Professional Cycling Presented by Seal-On team was represented by Jon Wirsing, Russ Langley, Ryan DeWald, John DeLong, Mike Beers, Ben Lindsey, Cam Holland, Ryan Oelkers, Christoph Herby, and Brad Viera. Their job was to battle Navigators, Colavita/Sutter Home, and Joe Papp’s America’s Cycling Team for the win.

The first half the race was driven by Navigators, Aerospace Engineering, and Snow Valley Professional Cycling Presented by Seal-On. With about 27 laps remaining in the race the winning break formed and Christoph Herby and Russ Langley were the Snow Valley Presented by Seal-On representatives. The break lapped the main field with six laps remaining and the race officials committed a blunder by deciding to pull the main field after the leaders had already integrated. Christoph was able to power in with the leaders for a seventh place finish and Russ won a two-up sprint just behind the leaders for eighth place.

Wachovia Cycling Series

Lancaster, PA, May 31, 2005 – Wachovia cycling series first stop in downtown Lancaster. A brimming crowd gathered to watch 200 international cyclists battle it out over 13 laps of the rolling and twisty seven-mile course. It was Snow Valley Professional Cycling Presented by Seal-On’s first chance to compare their fitness to that of the top European and National teams. The team consisted of Josh Taylor, Peter Baker, Ryan DeWald, John DeLong, Russ Langley, and Ben Lindsey.

The race accelerated up to top race speed from the gun and an early three man break formed. Ryan DeWald tried a solo move through the start finish line to chase after the break. After a half a lap of exciting his local fan base he was reabsorbed into the peleton. With five laps remaining the race kicked into another gear and Peter Baker was able to show that he is strong enough to be in the right place at the right time as the 200 man peleton disintegrated under the pressure of the European teams. Peter was able to represent Snow Valley Presented by Seal-On with a respectable 60th place finish.

Turkey Hill Cycling Classic

Lancaster, PA April 8th 2005 - Along the Susquehanna river and up into the farming fields and pastures of Lancaster County Pennsylvania the Turkey Hill Cycling Classic drew out another strong performance form the Snow Valley Pro Cycling Team presented by Seal-On. The race was a 78 mile event over a 6-7 mile lap, which descended down to the shores of the Susquehanna only to climb to the finish. The Gamber wall a steep pitch on Gamber road was added for the last five laps of the race.

The race began at a peaceful pace controlled by the Snow Valley Pro Cycling Team presented by Seal-On. On Lap six and seven the race started to accelerate and then broke with a big push from Four Snow Valley riders attacking through the start finish area. They then continued to drive a group of about fifteen riders until they were clear of the field and then race tactics came into play. A group of four lead by Bobby lea of ---Mortgage jumped away form the fifteen man group on the Gamber wall. Snow Valley rider Ryan DeWald monitored the Lea groups’ performance. As the rest of the fifteen man group disassembled behind, Josh Taylor and John DeLong were able to join a group of six that kept close tabs on the lead group. John Wirsing was in a three man group just behind that group and Peter Baker was monitoring the lead pack.

On the last lap DeWald was tag teamed by Josh Beck and Lea who were able to finish one two.

Teams first rendezvous, and presentation to the Snow Valley Club

9:00AM Fitness Concepts Fairfax, VA
In a cramped weight room in the Fitness Concepts complex the team gathered to establish a common starting point for the 2005 season. First introductions. As members introduced themselves gaps were filled in my database about my fiercest competitors. I am very excited to be on a team that consists of most of my local rivalries, it can only mean that we will help each other improve instead of battling amongst each other to be the best rider from our region at the national events.
The second topic of the day was; what is Seal-ON? Of course every one already knows about the team original sponsor Snow Valley; a bottled water company that serves the Washington D.C. Baltimore area. Not many know what about the team’s newest sponsor Seal-On. Team Director Jamie Davis quickly broke Seal-On’s image down for the team. Seal-On is a product line of stop bleeding medical products to be sold over the counter. Seal-On is a company based out of Dublin Ireland and they are very excited about using a cycling team to help introduce their product to the United States Market.

10:30AM Get the Ride on
Heading out the W.O.&D. Bike path on an icy cold day. It was catching up time with the new team members. Normally I only get a few chances a year to catch up with some of these guys. I spent most of the ride talking to Josh Taylor and catching up to the details of what each other had been up to since the days when Josh’s training partner Jeff Rutter what my coach and we used to bang out some tough training rides together. In between our small talk I shouted out some directions since I grew up in Chantilly, VA I knew a way to get off the W.O.&D. bike trail and enjoy some of the steep hills that pepper the northern Virginia area. It was great to be out on the bike with a few members of the new team. Unfortunate the enjoyable out door riding had to come to an end as we headed back to test our VO2 and do some team bonding on a challenge course that team Manager/Captain Jon Wirsing put together the previous day.

7:00 PM Ellicott City MD Club Party
The Snow Valley Club party was located in a pub in the cozy town of Ellicott City MD. At the club party the new Pro team would be presented. It was inspirational event; sharing the beginning of the pro team with a club who has been strongly representing the Snow Valley name. Club president and pro team director Arch Mckown revealed that the Pro team was a dream that had been developing over the past couple seasons. To launch the pro team Jon Wirsing introduced each pro team rider and each rider would present one of the team’s sponsors. This introduced the club to both the Pro riders and the team’s sponsors. The best introduction and presentation was Kyle Wamsley who presented team sunglasses sponsor Rudy Project and used them to look in to the team’s bright future. The night ran long and the Pub staff had to ask for the event to end so their regular customers could get to their normal socializing.

West Virginia University Race Weekend

West Virginia University Race Weekend
April 3 & 4, 2004

Race Review by: John DeLong

Morgantown West Virginia, “Wild and Wonderful” may describe Virginia Tech’s Cycling Teams experience this past weekend. It started out as a beautiful spring weekend, with potential for some great racing in the beautiful hills of northern West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania. The Tech team travel to the race with about 15 riders prepared to take on the tough collegiate completion.

Day one Saturday 3rd WVU Road Race. The race was in the shape of a lollypop, where we would ride out the handle to the course to do laps. The thirteen-mile course consisted of two climbs. Climb number one was long and gradual steadily getting steeper before coming out to a false flat on the top. Climb number two was a shorter switchback climb that could really ramp the heart rate up quickly. After a hearty team breakfast at Bob Evans the team was fueled and ready to rip some legs off with the exception of Mark Hardman who suck away from the team to eat at McDonalds because he was not used to eating semi healthy food.

The First race of the day was the men’s C race and then the Woman’s B race both about 30 miles. As the C’s and B women rolled out to the course Mother Nature threw her hand into the race. A tree had fallen across the course about five minutes before they arrived at a sweeping turn. Only in WV could this happen, the race organizers took matters in their own hands and knocked on the local residents doors looking for chain saws. Before you knew it we had a pack of cyclists, four locals, two chain saws, and a pick up truck working on clearing the road. After about 30 minutes of clearing one lane of the road could be ridden in and the races finally started. The C’s did on lap of the course and The VT riders’ rode strong tearing apart the field with their aggressive racing style. Colin Beaber and Matt Janeway finished 2nd and 3rd only because they didn’t know where the finish line was.

The Men’s A race and the Men’s B with the Women’s A race riding with the B’s started at noon. The VT A team consisting of seven riders for the weekend unleashed their top secret plan of team time trial from the gun plan. This consisted of every member riding pace line as hard ass we could until the race blew apart and then we would see what was left and try to form another plan to maybe win the race. The plan went flawlessly until the top of the first climb. By the top of the first climb most people were on the rivet and any one who was not in shape was dropped or about to be. The plan broke down over the top of the climb when the stronger riders in the field rode away with out any VT riders. Luckily these fit riders were not ready to race so early in longer road race and about 5 of the VT riders were able to scramble back to the front. As soon as the group was starting to form back together VT started sending riders up the road again. Te goal was to make the race as hard as possible so the strongest may win. For the next four laps the VT team rode aggressively if they were not attacking or driving the pace every one was wondering when and where the pain train would start chugging again. The final came down to nine riders, the Tech riders were pretty shot from the aggressive racing, most everyone else was hurting from covering moves but the two racers looking the smoothest were from NC state and UVA, not only may they have been in the best form for the day but they had been abusing a couple other riders to chase down the VT attacks. Mark Hardman with the McDonalds fuel was the last hope for VT and tried an attack with three miles to go but his lack of experience, this being his first year racing got him disqualified when he crossed the center line of the road. The race finished with the two strongest sprinting for the win an every one else suffering up the final climb. I do believe I heard a rider admit that the race was the hardest effort he had every ridden on his bike. To me that was more gratifying than a win.

The men’s B Race and woman’s A races went well for VT also. Michele Lindsay drove in for a strong second place after hanging with the men’s B field for part of the race. The Men’s B race was also a strong battle with VT coming in with some strong results. The B race consisted of a long all day breakaway that was caught about one mile from the finish. The sprint came down to a sprint and Brian Baitis of VT was able to take third.

Day Two, WVU circuit race. The course was a four-mile loop with three short climbs on small narrow roads. It would have been a beautiful race but due do snow the race was canceled. I know I am looking forward to this course next year. Keep riding and ill see you at the races.