7/12/2008

Superweek Day 1: Meyers Takes 5th & Rob White Scores the Points Jersey

The ABD/GEARGRINDER squad started off on the right foot last night at the opening stage of the International Cycling Classic in Beverly, Illinois.

The team started off racing aggressively and just 20 laps in Rob White joined three other riders off the front, and shortly thereafter Ryan White buried himself to help get both he and John Meyers into the group as well. Eventually the group grew to 11 riders total, but the earlier effort took it’s toll on Ryan as he fell off the pace but managed to recover well enough to finish in the chase group. So that left John and Rob to duke it with Pros from Kelly Benefit Strategies and Rock Racing, and with 10 laps to go the leaders lapped the field.

At that point Josh Carter and Brett Stewart moved to the front of the field, where Carter rode a quick enough tempo to discourage any late breakaways. Meanwhile, up the road in a chase group that now numbered 15 riders, Ryan had been joined by an ABD “original”, Zach Watson, in town from Boulder to race the first week of the ICC with the team.

In the final lap, Carter was able to position his teammates near the front and John Meyers had enough kick left to take 5th place on the day and Rob had earned enough points to take the lead in the Sprints competition, which means he’ll start tomorrow’s stage in Blue Island wearing the red jersey.

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