Weekend Racing Report - May 1, 2005

Cone-Azalia Classic

On Sunday the legendary Cone-Azalia Classic Road Race was held. This event is unique due to the 3 miles of gravel and dirt sections it incorporates into a 10 mile circuit. Racers were riding their beefiest tires and strongest wheels for this event. In addition, extremely strong head winds and cross winds wreaked havoc with the field, ensuring that only the strongest most determined riders would survive.

As an added punishment for the Category 1,2 riders, Michigan native and UCI Continental Pro Team member Jake Rytlewski of the Advantage Benefits/Endeavor pro team showed up to give some bike racing lessons.

In the Category 1,2 field the team was represented by Vince Roberge, Ian Lockley, Andy Weir and Josh Tarrant. Total race distance would be 71 miles. The team support vehicle was manned by none other than team sponsor Chad Johnston, Manager of Sunrise Sports. This would be crucial as it was a guarantee there’d by several flats on this course.

Unfortunately, both Ian and Andy got flats at inopportune moments on the course and were never able to regain the peloton. Josh and Vince rode strongly, make the final selection to stay in the chase group and finish 8th and 14th, respectively.

The race was won by Jake Rytlewski for the 2nd year in a row, in a solo breakaway several minutes in front of the nearest chaser.

In the Category 3 race Joe Lekovish, John Rigdon, Mark Caswell, Brandt Coultas, Jeff Elam, Jordan Stohl, Dominick and John Zaccone, Ramon Corpuz and Alex Keomany took the start. The day started out bad for Jeff Elam who flatted for the 1st time within 2 miles of the 51 mile race.

After this set back the team started off aggressively with John Rigdon forcing a breakaway after only 5 miles. John was joined by a Saturn of Toledo rider and the two stayed out front for another 1 ½ laps before succumbing the to harsh head winds and gravel roads. John would flat and be out of the race on the 3rd lap.

Next to go down with flats/mechanicals were Dominick and John Zaccone, Ramon Corpuz, Alex Keomany, Jordan Stohl, Brandt Coultas, John Rigdon and Jeff Elam for a 2nd time. Incredibly Jeff Elam was able to re-integrate after his 2nd flat. On lap 4 the Saturn of Toledo team orchestrated a great attack and put 2 riders into a 5 man break. Despite strong efforts to chase by Joe Lekovish, Jordan Stohl and Mark Caswell, the break succeeded, putting 2 minutes into the chase. With ½ lap to go as the much reduced pack rode through the final section of gravel/dirt, 3 more riders escaped in individual attacks. Leaving only 8 riders to contest the field sprint. Jeff Elam of Sunrise Sports put in a great effort to win the field sprint and place 8th, the best showing for the team.

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There’s a very interesting commentary on the race posted on the Michigan Road Racing Bulletin Board. You can read it here:

I saw the race producing efforts from riders who otherwise wouldn''t have tried so hard to compete. I saw the riders agonizingly putting in huge efforts to hang on, then ultimately getting shelled in the cross winds. I saw the strong riders simply riding off the front, riders digging beyond deep to just to simply re-integrate with their fields after getting dropped. The hopeful staring dejectedly at a simple flat that dashed their plans. I saw one rider from Sunrise Sports calmly change his flat, for the second time, re-integrate with the pack, and then hang in to finish strongly with his category.

I saw another rider with a debilitating cramp in the last lap, reducing him to a rolling stop in the gutter and a silent whimper, refuse a ride in the support car and insist on finishing under his own power. I saw riders go into the red zone for miles, only to miss tacking onto the pack by an excruciating ten yards or so. I saw other riders re-integrate to the pack with moves between the long train of support vehicles that can only be described as a white-knuckled ballet.

I saw this race separate the strong from the weak with nowhere to hide. I saw the Men's Category 4 lead vehicle drive the cat 4 field past the Cat 3 support caravan like we had our cars in reverse, all the while with a content grin and a wink, knowing it was his hour. I saw support vehicles from teams helping out riders from competing teams with flats and mechanicals out of true bike racing sportsmanship.

I saw a Masters rider from the AAVC grinding long, lonely, solo miles on his own, going for the finish line, gritting it out and challenging himself all the while for a personal best. After Sunday I''ve come to believe in Cone-Azalia, this race of attrition. It is truly a gem in our pockets, one in which we shouldn''t lose because of the almighty dollar.

Riders, I believe, are just a little better after they do this race. Their parking lot stories of heroics and disappointments make that idea so.