The sexiest ride of the year.... And the TWC goes to a "No Drop" policy !?
Everyone was out to enjoy the heat tonight... And there were plenty of guys to bring the heat. Probably close to 60 guys out for the ride.
Right from the getgo, after turning off 10, a helmetless rider in a Medics jersey took off. Quick to jump on his wheel was a few guys... Dillon P, Greg Ciocci, Todd H (?) and a couple others. After that Thomas B(speckled) on a Storck took over the pace aided by the 27 yalies that were out. Actually it was probably only 5... 6 if you count Alumni Luekens. That got the ride going pretty good as the field headed toward Mountain rd. The pace was enough to get a few small gaps going but traffic turning onto Mountain Rd slowed it all back together. Onto mountain rd where Luekens kept the pace up along with a Yalie, Todd H, Maison from CCR, and a couple of others. A gap formed under the pace making of Luekens and after the initial riser, the group didn’t slow… Hunter P led the field up behind and at the top Guido jumped across the gap. The group took advantage of some lackluster chasing and the gap went up to a solid handful of seconds. Going past Higgans and up the risers, a chase group went off the front led by Adam from yale. Things got messy behind him as gaps were opening up all over the place. As the peleton drove up the inclines there, Chris C sewed up a lot of holes with Hunter P in tow, giving him the chance to jump across and it was all together again… Toward the end of Mountain Rd. another gap formed but a couple of guys were up there to cover it… Rondo, Richard Sachs Chris and others.
Onto Moss Farms where again the Yalies were up front setting a good tempo into the wind. Thomas B and Hunter P were up there as well. Heading up to the Chicane, Tall John snuck off and drilled it. He got a good jump on the hill as the rest were sorting themselves out behind. Craig jumped on the hill along with a yalie, Hunter P and Todd H. The 4 caught John and the group started working together. The rest of the ride was a few seconds back, being led by Eric M and the rest of the Yale riders.
Just as everyone was getting into the industrial park it was all back together again. Things calmed down there a bit but once the turn onto West Johnson was made, guys were again stomping. As the ride started up toward Reinhardt, there were a few guys eager to separate themselves from the rest… Crazy Chris, Greg C, Julio L, Chris B, Todd H. The group had a couple of seconds as guys like Hunter P, Craig L, Guido etc. were sorting themselves out for the sprint. Craig looked to be ready to jump across at the base of the hill. Mike McG came up with proper speed and was able to charge thru the front pretty easy on his way to first thru the corner. Going hard from that corner was Chris b and Hunter P, who along, with Crazy Chris and tall John, had a small gap heading up Peck Ln. That fell apart as Mike McG was bringing the field up behind. The rest of the way to Route 10 and heading up past Cheshire Park was uneventful…
The stop and shop sprint was null due to a police car stopped on the side of the road…. And traffic was heavy moving thru town… Once past it all, there were plenty of guys willing to hit the headwind. Peter P, Kyle F, Eric M, Adam from yale, etc… Tall John tried again to sneak away from everyone with a few K to go, but that got chased properly and the pace was then going good. Heading into the finale… Or what is just turning out to be a test of who’s timing is the most fortunate, Mike and Ron drove it hard with Eric M right behind. Eric came over the top with about 400 meters to go to Shepard Ave. Hunter P was right behind and was able to pass Eric with 100 meters or so to go… Just as Guido was also closing fast… A good fast finish with out any sprinting…. The true definition of anticlimactic…
A good ride despite the pacing hiccups…
