Full Moon Vista Genesee Vally Park Crit - Race Report

From Eric G ... race report from last Friday eve. 

 

As usual is was a very well run and organized event hosted by Full Moon Vista that is part of their Grand Prix of Cycling weekend. The race was a combined P/1/2/3 field with separate scoring for the CAT 3's.  The park had smooth roads with a few tight turns and Mother Nature offered us perfect summer conditions for an evening race.  The strong field set a fast pace that shed riders of the back one by one seemingly every lap.  The average speed of 28 mph was driven by a battle between Mt. Borah/Minerva Design and MVP Healthcare. Numerous breaks were attempted off the front but the fast pace and strong field made the breaks seemingly impossible.  Finally, MVP Healthcare rider Andy L was able to time a move that quickly got a sizeable gap on the remaining field of 20 riders.  Most of the field, myself included, didn't even know Andy had escaped off the front.  With a rider off the front the rest of the MVP boys were content to sit in and get ready for the field sprint while Mt Borah/Minerva Design and the rest of the field drove the pace to try to bring back Andy.  The final lap saw Embrocation Cycling Journal rider Cory B drive to the front at a pace that put the field at it's limit.  The final corner was your typical last corner crit madness with the most aggressive riders gaining the prime positions for the final sprint.  Unfortunately for me I did not get one of the prime positions and had to move through the field in my final sprint to the line to salvage 8th place for the Pro1/2, but more importantly I won 1st place for the Cat 3's.  MVP rider Andy L held off the field for the win while his MVP teammate Ryan N won the field sprint for 2nd place.  It was a great event that ended with a nice result for Team Ommegang-Syracuse Bicycle.

 

Congrats to Eric & nice to see him hold his own against some of the big dogs.

Killington: 27 + 4 + 9 = 7

Ommegangster Dan the Plan rolled up to Vermont for the Killington Stage Race over this past Memorial Day weekend.  Seems Dan has an affinity for these stage races as well as an affinity to typically do quite well.

So how does 27 + 4 + 9 = 7?  Take a crit and finish on the same time as the main group; pop in a bit of a TT the next day with a 4th out of 50+; and finsih it off with a strong road race for 9th and you get a GC spot of 7th out of more than 40.  Pretty awesome weekend -- Congrats Dan.

Race 4 Hope

Memorial weekend found a few Ommegangsters headed to Borodino just a bit south of Skaneatles for the Race 4 Hope.  This has become a favourite of the CNY race gang as a shorter but reasonably challenging race for a great cause. 

At the start Aaron J, Jim R and Drummroll lined up in the Ommegang colors in a light sprinkle.  The neutral start was a little more mellow this yr (vs. the 25+ mph last yr) and the race more or less eased into the flow.  The first hill shed a good number of folks and then the rollers saw a few attacks try with little success.  It was about this point the sun came out and it turned into awesome weather.  Sunshine aside, the eventual "big" climb of the day came into view and the selection began.  Aaron J looked strong with the front pack while Drummroll was sandwiched between the leaders and a few chasers that included Jim R.  Once over the hill, it was pretty much downhill all the way to the finish.  Drummroll got picked up by a few chasers that included Jim R and a couple others just a couple miles from the finish. 

Shortly after Aaron J finished 5th overall, the sprint was on in the chase group with Jim R getting 9th and Drummroll 10th.  When age group awards were handed out, all 3 Ommegangsters walked away with a top 3 or better.

All in all a really great event.  Put it on your calendar for next year if you are in town for the weekend.

Results are here:

http://www.skanraces.com/race4hope/race4hope_results.html

A Weekend in Syracuse - Best Ever?

Perhaps the best "results" weekend ever for Team Ommegang - Syracuse Bicycle.

A good number of the Ommegangsters participated in the Tour de Syracuse (TdS) while a few with an apparent affinity to being covered in mud participated in the Highland Hex (H6).  Lots of interesting war stories and individual race recaps from the weekend as  The TdS included a crit, a TT and a road race while the H6 was "simply" 6 hours of MTBing.

When the weekend was over, the team had accumulated something like 9 podium spots, 4 wins, lots of great placings in some big/tough fields and especially cool was the extraordinary representation. 

Special props to Eric G, David B, and Tim O for their wins in their respective divisions and a big thanks to all the 'gangsters that got out there to represent.

Congrats in order to some of the Ommegangster friends as well for some great results this weekend.

TdS results here:  http://www.tourdesyracuse.com/
H6 results here (when posted).

Ramblin Men

A batch of Ommegangsters headed to the outback of Prattsburgh for the Ramble Around Prattsburgh last weekend.  This race has been growing in popularity since inception several years ago and has been described as a shorter yet rougher version of the Black-Fly.  Some of the boys go with a MTB set-up, other with the CX rig.
When the dust settled ... actually there probably was no dust as it was rainy, cold and by some accounts, pretty miserable .... so when the race was completed, we saw some Team Ommegang - Syracuse Bicycle podium action.  King Karl on the top step in his division and Jason H taking third in his.  A good showing by the other guys (including "K" and Joe Mag) with some tough breaks for Cory P who was probably rolling to a top 10 if not for 3 (yes three) flats.
Congrats on the podium guys and nice representation all around.

Full results here:  http://ramblearoundprattsburgh.blogspot.com/p/results-2011_16.html

 .. and some video here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfhRCK9Jbis&feature=youtu.be

Bristol -- NYS RR Champs

 

A handful of Ommegangsters headed out just south of the Rochetser area for a little NYS Road Race Champs action.  About a half dozen made the trip with pretty good representation across the various categories.  Unfortunately we were shut out of any podium action but a couple came pretty close with a few top 10's. 

Props again to 'gangster friend Randy H for his win in the Cat 4 group.  (The good news for the Cat 4 guys is that if Randy keeps placing like he has, he will be a Cat 3 soon if not already).

Bristol -- NYS RR Champs results here:

http://www.yellowjacketracing.com/2011

It seems like springtime may have finally shut the door on the last remnants of winter as we're noting more short sleeves showing those awkwardly pale white arms draped over the handlebars around town.  Another sure sign the weather has turned is the increasing number of tri bikes showing up at Syracuse Bicycle for tune-ups & repair.  And the definite sure sign it is getting warmer, trying to match what's cooking on the grill with the proper Ommegang recovery beverage!

Get out your sunscreen and get out there and ride.  Seems like a fairly quiet race weekend coming up with Syracuse & the Highland Hex looming a little over a week away.

Hollenbecks

Ahhh finally, a beautiful weekend with perfect temps for an early season bike race.  It was nice to get home post race and not have to thaw out for a change or clean the road grit outta your teeth from road spray.  Hollenbecks again proves to be a great race with some sizeable fields while still providing a bit of a grass roots kind of feel.

Representation by the Ommegangsters across the categories was stellar again this past weekend.  Good numbers of the Belgian-style brigade in most categories (well, men's categories).  Lots of top 10's with top honors and props to Eric K (aka the Mad Minnesotian) for a podium spot in the 3/4 race. 

Results for Hollenbecks are here:  http://flcycling.org/?page_id=2101&cpage=1

Other developments include some 'gangsters looking at the state champs at Bristol this weekend, a few more looking at the Prattsburgh Ramble (perhaps a Black Fly prelude) the following weekend, and then Syracuse and/or the Highland Hex the weekend after.  Also some prelim discussions on the tentative "fun ride" from Syracuse Bicycle to Brewery Ommegang in August.  If you got ideas or suggestions (including a clever name for the ride/event) ... or want to roll up your sleeves and get involved in the planning, please let us know.

Get out there & be safe.