WED Night Crits Return & Masters Weekend Pre-Reg extended though tonight!

We've just received clearance from the good folks at Pella Windows for another night of training criteriums so we hope to see you all out there! The Cat 5 & warm-up race starts at 6:15. The 1/2/3 vs. 4/5 pursuit will start around 6:35. Sue Witt has whipped up a batch of brownie cupcake primes for this round too!

We had a few technical glitches with our online registration so we've extended the pre-registration deadline for this weekend's Masters Races until tonight at midnight- again that's three days of racing & $5000 in prize money for just $65! Double up on races for just $17 each! Full details at www.ABDcycling.com

Pair of Seconds. Will Nowak's C-U report

Will throws his bike to the line in a bid for the win in Urbana.

Republished from www.verizoncyclingteam.com

Tour de Champaign

This race started off quick, but we Verizon guys were chilling mostly in the pack just letting everyone chase each other down. I bridged to one threatening move that had all the big teams (Panther, RGF, Texas Roadhouse, Nuvo) but we came back. Soon thereafter, Chris Uberti (a familiar name in these race reports by now) attacked and I followed. We were quickly by my teammate Ryan Freund and riders from Geargrinder and Roadhouse. This move had all the right teams represented in it and after a short period of miscommunication we started working well together. There were some fast finishers in our group, especially after Jeremy Grimm of RGF bridged solo, but I had to be confident that Ryan and I would be strong enough to attack the group and get away.

Our gap grew and grew and I attacked for the crowd prime with 8 to go. I was quickly brought back but Ryan immediately threw down a counter-attack as the group sat up and he was gone. The three remaining riders tried to organize a chase and I did my best to disrupt it. After some strong attacks by Chris and John Grant (Roadhouse), Ryan still had his gap, and I knew he had it locked up. Uberti had been working hard and in the finish came around him for second. Mike Sherer won a blazing field sprint for 5th and it felt great to go 1-2-5 with the Verizon masters and our sponsors watching.

Urbana Grand Prix

This was an absolutely brutal day. 95 degree heat, a half-mile course and a 180º turn with 250 meters to go led to massive attrition in every field of the day, and ours was no different. Although 75 riders started on Saturday only 53 toed the line on Sunday. In our pre-race meeting we likened this race to a flat Snake Alley in that the race would only be at the front with gobs coming off the back, and I worked to stay in the top 10 pretty much the entire race. The pace and the heat took its toll, and in the end the 'peloton' was worn down to only 11 riders, of which we had three as Freund and Sherer both made it into the group. The pace and the weather were excruciatingly hot, and my attacks didn't really go anywhere. It become apparent that this race was going to end in a sprint (or as much of a sprint as you can have .5 mile course with 4 turns and a 180). In the last few laps I took to the front to ensure that no one snuck away from Sherer, but in the end I wasn't able to hook up with Mike for the sprint and had to go for the win myself. I made it through the final corner in 3rd or 4th wheel, but failed to come around everyone, with John Eisiner (RGF) beating me with a bike throw at the line. Third place Kirk Albers was only inches behind us.

Despite not doubling up on wins it was a great weekend of racing for Verizon u25 pb ABD and Mark Swartzendruber put on a pair of fantastic races. A huge thanks to him for a good weekend, and to all of our sponsors for their support.


Will

Wednesday Night Crit & Registration Deal for Memorial Day Masters' Races!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT TRAINING CRIT: THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

Tomorrow night (May 19) is our last scheduled Wednesday Night training criterium, but if we have enough of a turnout then we'll happily work with the good folks at Pella Windows to continue the races through the summer (except of course for the nights that the good folks at Spanglish are holding their Soldier Field races).

The weather is supposed to be gorgeous so come on out and turn a few pedals in anger! Tomorrow night we'll be running the beginner's "warm-up" race, the 1/2/3/4 pursuit/scratch race and a points race--perfect for practicing those leadouts!

6TH ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND MASTERS' RACES!
The biggest bargain in grassroots racing!

The ABD Memorial Day Weekend Masters' Races return for their sixth season with THREE days of racing and $5,000 in overall prizes for Men & Women over 30. Pre-register by SUNDAY AT MIDNIGHT for all three days and pay just $65- that's $21.66 per race with a boatload of prize money!

The races will be held in Wood Dale, Illinois and include criteriums on Saturday & Sunday and the return of the popular circuit race course for Monday.

Head on over to www.ABDcycling.com for full details on the Wednesday Night Training Crit and the 6th Annual Memorial Day Weekend Masters' Races.

Prinner Photos from Spain

Jessi Prinner wrapped up her successful European campaign with a 2nd place in the road race stage of the Costa Brava Tour. At one point her and two other USA riders had a 6 minute gap on the field! Here's a few pics of her with her teammates and USA Cycling posted a great photo of the entire team. We're looking forward to Prinner's full report.

Prinner wins TT in Spain!

Huge news from across the pond- on Saturday Jessi Prinner won the Time Trial stage of the Costa Brava Tour that she's racing at in Spain! You can see a YouTube video of some of the action and the podium at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DghSeIaCMMg