Aren't you glad you did your leg
openers on Monday!
Summer came back with a vengeance and
gave us a hot n sticky ride last night. The usual 30-40 riders were
out and ready to go. Even so, everyone was all too happy to wait for
Rory D to change a flat in the parking lot. Once it going it got
going. Jordan L took hit it as soon as the flag dropped off route 10.
Hunter P jumped as well and those two quickly got up a gap. The chase
started for reals when Guido jumped up to join them, no doubt looking
to have as many shots on goal during his last couple of weeks left
Stateside :(
A slow corner soon after field
catch the 3 leaders and from there it was generally all together.
Heading down towards Mountain Road French Casey took off in a flash
and took Jordan L with him. Those 2 worked quickly and concisely to
stay on the throttle and get up a solid gap. Dillon P went all in with a bridge effort but the 2 leader were 100% committed to the break. GOOD ON EM for that! They were nearly out of sight as the field turned onto Mountain rd. Once the threat was
recognized as being serious and real deal, the field went to work to
bring it down. Strong pulls from Chris C, The Sernyak, A new guy in a
fake Rock Racing Kit, Hunter P, a new guy in the Mengoni kit, Mike
McG, Little T , Rob Dux and Burggie Baby got the gap to fall pretty
quickly. French Casey and Jordan L had 50 meters as they came up on
the light for 68\70, which was red. “Gruppo Compacto” as Rondo
says.
Hacker took action on Moss Farms,
and Burggie Baby and Jordan L were there as well. It would be the
Burg's final showing as he got hit with a flat soon after the chicane
and riser to Marion. Jordan L continued to ride hard up front for
kicks and giggles.
Once onto Mont Vernon, Mengoni was
up front with Guido and The Sernyak, looking to split up the group.
Hunter P came across the gap and brought everyone with him. From
there is stayed solid with no one really striking out. There was a
brief gap enjoyed by French Casey and Christian Duncan coming up to
the corner for Welch. But that was squelched as everyone dug in for
the run to the sprint.
Despite Hacker, Mike McG, Little T,
Hunter P, and a couple of others being up front, the pace slowed down
quite a bit. Little T eventually took it matters into his own hands,
sitting tempo up the hill, thru the corner and onward. Hutner P took
over and then Chris C, stringing things out just enough to give Mike
McG a good launch pad to get the sprint point.
On the backside, French Casey took his place at the front of the class room and started schooling everyone. He hit the afterburners and was off. The rest of the field came back
together on the initial descent but after the highway crossing, as the road went down again,
Chris C and The Sernyak took to the front and snuck off quickly and
effectively. They got up a gap that was assisted by some traffic for
the peleton at the end of West St by the gas station ( French Casey's
Corner). The 2 leaders drilled it for the rest of the way toward the
322 crossing. They managed to stay away despite some strong pacing by
Guido going underneath the highway, and then Mengoni afterward. As
the pack (now quite smaller due to the pace into the wind) barreled
up to the light, Chris C could be seen leading (tempting) The Senryak
thru the redlight. Safe crossing for the breakaway, pretty much out
of sight, means no foul..... But it was pretty darn close. That left 3 riders off the front to take the rest of the prizes on the night. Chris C and the Sernyak would stay in visual contact with French Casey but no one would catch him tonight. He takes all the marbles and impressively finishes the ride solo... The first of the season!
Behind, the pack was resigned to playing 2nd fiddle. Everyone would have to wait for a while at
the light going over 322, and then some more while as the pack broke up getting thru
the red light that would not change. Once everyone was back together
on the other side, the leaders were gone-sville. Nice job to them for
riding hard off the front.
Perhaps the short loop next week???
