Sweet Summer Rain... Like Hong's Own Mercy
Good on everyone for getting out there despite the thread of rain. Sure enough, the sky opened up right at 5:59 in the parking lot. But just minutes later up the road over the Cheshire town line, the rain stopped. A few minutes later, it was back to dry roads for everyone.
Early on Lucas Curly Huesman and Aaron B, both fresh off of podium'ing nearly every Tuesday night crit at the 'Rent were pushing the pace up front. It stayed fast for the first 20 min, and there were a couple of new faces pushing off the front with strong flyers. Julio L, Tautkus, Alex D'Sousa, Rosey, and Jordan Lynn, were all up front as well. Heading towards the end of Mountain Road, Erin Rand and Hunter P had a jump off the front but the light was red.
Aaron B tired to push off the front on Moss Farms and had a couple of guys willing to work (Alan B, Tautkus, Jordan Lynn, Noah B, Alex D, and maybe one or two others but it wasn't enough to break clear. Once Hong jumped across the gap, everyone kicked into 6th gear and it was all together heading past the industrial park. Heading towards 322, Aaron B continued to lead up front, as well as Jordan L.
Once onto Mount Vernon, the pack reshuffled a bit but once back up to speed, the front was occupied once again by all those already mentioned. Estaban S, fresh off scoring some sprint points, put in a dig or two to bridge gaps to bring it all together before the set up for the sprint. Hunter P jumped and got a gap before the corner but that wasn't going very far. Jordan L, Dan Smith, Chris C and Aaron B were up front chasing but also trying to set up for the sprint. Once Hunter was caught, teammate Hongster rolled off solo and was allowed to get an initial gap that didn't look all that intimidating. Hong put in the real attack up to the corner and had enough to hold it all the way. Behind Steve B put in a solid attempt the bridge, but came up a bit short. Once everyone was onto West St, Aaron B took off at max speed, and only Hunter P was able to go with him. Those two created separation quickly and Hunter P was able to come around in the last meters to get second for the sprint.
Hong kept on the gas and got a green light near I84, whereas the pack got held up. Magnanimously (or perhaps it was a big-time show of confidence) Hong turned around and rejoined the pack as it got going again. Either way, Hong showed himself as the strongest one out there, as he would still go onto take the finale of the ride solo.
But to get there, everyone had to get thru the second sprint and the climb. Dan Smith attacked from 1k out, but was swallowed up on early slopes of the fast climb as Hong and Tautkus took off with an attack. Behind, Little T and Curly were able to get on and soon it was just Hong, T, and Curly flying thru the sprint alone in the break. Alan B was caught in no-mans land between them and the chase and just quite couldn't get across.
That's the way the ride would end for the peleton. Up the road, Hong attacked the break on Coleman Rd, shedding Little T. On the next grade, he would go again, getting clear of Curly to finish solo on the night.
Great ride everyone!
