Huff blows Van Der Valde away

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Jelly Belly’s Brad Huff began his Racine.org criterium by making a six-man break that would go on to lap the star-studded field. He then proceeded to show why he is regarded to be one of US best field sprinters, winning the dramatic sprint at the end of the100km criterium, held in downtown Racine. Ricardo Van der Velde (Garmin-Slipstream) finished second in the race ahead of Ronnie Strange (Team Hotel San Jose).

How it unfolded:

The race began at a blistering pace, as the major teams drove the field at a staggering average speed of 33 miles per hour for the first thirty minutes. The high speed saw a number of riders dropping out early as a major split of 20 plus riders formed as riders scrambled for wheels.

A small breakaway consisting of Jonathon Cantwell (Fly V Australia), Carlos Vargas (Team Hotel San Jose), Daniel Bowman (Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Brandon Gritters (Kahala La Grange) established themselves on the front and looked to have it sewn up when time splits showed they were gaining on the every lap. However, a supreme effort by both Team MTN and Team Geargrinder brought the quartet back to the field, just in time for the APC Nutrition red jersey sprint round. Team MTN's Jay Thompson taking the points on offer.

Three laps later, a counter-attack went and a group of six established itself at the head of the race. The group had an international feel with Dutchman Ricardo Van Der Velde (Garmin Slipstream) and Argentine Juan Pablo Dotti (Aero Cat Cycling) joining four Americans: Ronnie Strange (Team Hotel San Jose) Michael Friedman (Garmin Chipotle) and Andrew Bajadali (Kelly Benefit Strategies) and eventual winner Brad Huff (Jelly Belly). This strong group quickly rolled away from the field and fired on all cylinders to lap the field with 34 laps remaining.

With the breakaway back in the peloton, one lap ahead of the field, the final round of the APC Nutrition sprint points became open again. Jay Thomspon (Team MTN) was once again able to get the best of nearest rival, Rob White (Team Geargrinder).

Immediately after the sprint lap, another breakaway formed containing Bradley Potgieter (Team MTN), Jacob Erker (Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Carlos Calcerrada (Aero Cat Cycling). It soon became just two forging the lead, as Calcerrada dropped back to the peloton.

With a 12 laps remaining four riders, including Jonothan Cantwell (Fly V Australia), attempted to bridge across to the duo up the road, but they were not given much free reign and their attack was short lived.

A counter-move was launched by Robert White (Team Geargrinder) and this was followed by Ryan Fruend (ABD Cycling) and Jorge Alvarado (Kahala La Grange). The three worked well together to bridge across to Potgieter and Erker. This group of five riders established a good 45 second lead with Potgieter sprinting for the late race primes on offer. It was Robert White (Team Geargrinder) who outsprinted Potgieter to the line for 7th position.

It was a chaotic dash on the last lap with teams from Garmin-Slipstream, Aero Cat Cycling, Kelly Benefit Strategies and Team Hotel San Jose all trying to set up lead-out trains for their breakaway teammates. Remarkably, it was Brad Huff, without the assistance of his Jelly Belly Team, who was able to take the win ahead of Ricardo Van Der Velde and Ronnie Strange.

"I was super throttled from the Lake Front Road Race here in Milwaukee," said Huff, after his win. "But I went for a nice two hour spin with Karl Menzies earlier this afternoon and that really helped me to get moving again."

Despite riding for rival teams Huff revealed he had received help from Menzies (Team Ouch Presented by Maxxis) during the race. "[Karl] Menzies helped me to get into a better position in the final laps, without his help I would not have been able to make it up there. Karl Menzies was for sure one of the strongest riders in the race, but he just missed the opportunity to get into the break. In the final lap it was quite sketchy and I had to quite patiently for the right opportunity to make my move.

"I was suffering badly in the break, especially when the Friedman and Van Der Velde were killing it on the front. I got gapped off every time we went through the start finish, it was very painful. I actually yelled at Friedman several times for driving the pace so much that he was dropping me and gapping off other riders in the break. Lucky for me I was able to hang on for dear life."

Texan Ronnie Strange (Team Hotel San Jose), who took third, explained that he had been uncertain that the break would survive. "It was my turn to cover an attack when Van Der Velde and Friedman both went up the road, so I was on their wheel. It was Friedman and Van Der Velde who drove the break so hard and nearly dropped everyone, because of this I was initially unsure if the break would stick.

"I felt great in the break, I took the day before off, so my legs were well rested. My team-mates Sullivan and Vargas tried to help me out and keep me at the front [in the last lap], but we kept getting swarmed, so it made things difficult. I found a gap and just made sure I was in the top three of the six that lapped the field."