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International Cycling Classic - Superweek - NE
USA, July 11-27, 2008
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Stage 6 - July 16: Ray Basso Bensenville Criterium (Day 2)
Colombian nationals push the pace at Superweek
By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor in Bensenville, Illinois
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The Superweek series always brings a variety of riders – from Euro-pros to local amateurs to Olympic hopefuls. It was the latter that prevailed in the second day of racing in Bensenville, with the Colombian national track team using Superweek as a warm-up to the Beijing Olympics. Jairo Perez Suarez (Colombian National Team), a pursuit specialist by nature, attacked solo out of the field to take the win, while Aussie Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joe's) took the field sprint for second.
"It was very difficult but this is my specialty, attacking alone," he told Cyclingnews. "I am a pursuiter on the track, both individual and team – that is what I am going to do in the Olympics."
The Colombians are always floating on the front of the field, looking for cash primes and any opportunity they can use. "One of our strategies is to always have someone at the front, because at any moment it could be the move, and we go. That is how it happened today. One of my team-mates was chasing me down and I was hoping he would catch me, but it didn't work out that way."
The racing showed how much weather can affect a race. Using the same course as the day prior, much to the chagrin of many racers, the wind and heat were much more pronounced. So while a large break lapped the field yesterday, no laps were taken today.
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Series leader Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing) did not mind seeing non-threatening riders up the road, as he held onto his overall lead. However, an error by the race promoters changed the sprint category. The race bible put the points going seven deep for the sprint laps, but the officials had been going off of older information of just five. This change put Chad Hartley (Jittery Joe's) into the lead for the day – as he had really been leading since day two.
"Last night Jonathan [Cantwell] and I looked at the guide to check out prize money and we saw it and brought it up to the officials. They recalculated it and I've been in the lead since the second day."
But Rock Racing seemed determined to get Rahsaan back in the jersey, and did just that. "His team rode all out for it and put a couple of guys in between us in the first couple of sprints," said Hartley. "There was some dodgy sprinting a couple of times but he certainly got it. They've got like eight guys and we have two, but we'll have Ryan Sullivan coming in soon."
The race for the two leader's jerseys is also complicated by another mistake in the race bible. "It's hard to bounce between the yellow and red jerseys because another mistake they made is that the sprint jersey is worth more than the overall by $500!"
Cliff-Ryan doubles up and extends lead
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Teresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci-Breakaway) showed why she is a former criterium national champion, edging out Samantha Schneider (Mesa Cycles) for her second Superweek win. Once again, the weather and conditions revealed themselves on the same course and the day before.
"Same course but a totally different race," she said. "I think everyone was really tired from yesterday – the heat, constant attacks and the breakaway. I don't think anyone wanted to stay out like that today, which is perfect for me because I love the sprint finishes."
"We actually went too early," she said regarding the finish. "Jess took it over with three to go and in this wind it was too early. But then with one to go Kacey took me down the back stretch and into the last corner."
The less-than-ideal course with two turns running over bumps into parking lots made the final sprint exceptionally difficult. "I tried to stand up and kick it but my wheel was skipping all over, so I had to pretty much sit down and sprint."
The series moves up the Wisconsin for the next three days, and then back to outside Chicago on Sunday where the women's series will conclude. Cliff-Ryan said the win gives her a lot of confidence in holding the overall until then. "Another great day for the team – keeping Kacey in the red and me in the yellow! There are a few girls sitting there close to me but I am pretty confident."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com
- A pre-race team meeting for Rock Racing.
- One of the sketchy turns on the Bensenville course.
- The Colombian team was always on the front.
- Jairo Perez Suarez (Colombia) goes it alone.
- Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing) sits comfortably in the pack and in the series leader's jersey.
- Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing) held onto his overall lead.
- The Colombian team patrols the front with two riders ahead.
- Kevin Kline (Rock Racing) shakes out the lactic acid from a two-hour plus criterium.
- Jairo Perez Suarez (Colombia) is cheered on in Spanish by the local Latino community.
- Jairo Perez Suarez (Colombia) takes the solo win.
- Teresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci-Breakaway) looks to take the overall series, which ends Sunday.
- Kacey Manderfield (Verducci-Breakaway) was active defending her sprint jersey.
- One lap to go and it's Manderfield setting up Cliff-Ryan.
- Teresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci-Breakaway) takes the win on the dangerous curving finish.
Results
Pro/1/2 men
1 Jairo Perez Suarez (Colombia)
2 Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joe's)
3 Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing)
4 Tommy Nankervis
5 Justin Williams (Rock Racing)
6 Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing)
7 Carlos Vargas (txTough/Hotel San Jose/RGM Advisors)
8 Adrian Gerrits (Kahala-LaGrange)
9 Logan Loader (BPG/Montano Velo)
10 Aram Dellalian (Bearclaw)
11 Daniel Chavez (Preferred Alliance)
12 Zachary Davies (RockyMounts~Izze Racing)
13 Juan Pablo Forero Carreno (Colombia)
14 Markus Weinberg (Kahala-LaGrange)
15 Carlos Alzate Escobar (Colombia)
16 Justin Kerr (Liquid Cycling)
17 Mike Sherer (Alderfer Bergen)
18 Alex Boyd (Team Waste Management)
19 James Stemper (velo trocadero cycling)
20 Chad Hartley (The Jittery Joes Pro Cycling Team)
21 Daniel Holt (Team Type 1)
22 Chris Scott (Hotmark)
23 Erik Tomlinson (Turin Bicycle/Barker+Nestor)
24 Adam Branfman (Fitness Together/IF pb Lionette's)
25 Max Taam
26 Barry Lee (txTough/Hotel San Jose/RGM Advisors)
27 Christopher Uberti (Turin/Barker+Nestor)
28 Juan Esteban Araugo Caruzjul (Colombia)
29 Danny Kam (Allegiant Air)
30 Joey Rosskopf (Kudzu.com U-23)
31 Jeff Schroetlin (ABD/Geargrinder)
32 John Bergmann (BPG / Montano Velo)
33 Ryan Wohlrabe (Bicycle Heaven)
34 Tyler Jewell (txTough/Hotel San Jose/RGM Advisors)
35 Sean McBride (BPG/ Montano Velo)
36 Tom Burke (West Michigan Coast Riders)
37 Chris Keane (Preferred Alliance Cycling Team)
38 Ryan Knapp (Alderfer Bergen)
39 Matt Seagrave (Kahala-LaGrange)
40 Josh Carter (ABD/Geargrinder)
41 Scott Jackson (DLP Racing)
42 Arlex Castro Caverde (Colombia)
43 Peter Dawson (Rock Racing)
44 Spencer Beamer (DLP Racing)
45 Rudolph Napolitano (Rock Racing)
Pro/1/2 women
1 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci/Breakaway)
2 Samantha Schneider (Mesa Cycles)
3 Cari Higgins (Americas Dairyland)
4 Jenette Williams (HPC Powered by Altarum)
5 Kacey Manderfield (Verducci/Breakaway)
6 Skye-Lee Armstrong (Bicycle John's Serious Cycling)
7 Karla Kingsley (Easton/ Sugar CRM/ Specialized)
8 Brooke O'Connor (Hub Racing)
9 Sydney Brown (Team Revolution)
10 Carrie Cash ( Team Revolution)
11 Louise Turner (Morris Trucking Velo)
12 Amy McGuire (Team Kenda Tire)
13 Lisa Jellett (Verducci/Breakaway)
14 Sherri Stedje (Hub Racing)
15 Tiffany Pezzulo (Squadra Velocita)
16 Katie Weber (Team Revolution)
17 Kendi Thomas (Team Revolution)
18 Kristin Wentworth (Team Kenda Tire)
19 Whitney Schultz (txTough/Hotel San Jose/RGM Advisors)
20 Elizabeth Morse Hill (Hub Racing)
21 Kristen Meshberg (Flatlandia Cycling Team)
22 Julie Bishop (Revolution)
23 Trish Black (Morgan Stanley/Specialized/24HR Fitness)
24 Anna Young (Americas Dairyland)
25 Genevieve Whitson (HPC Powered by Altarum)
26 Anne Guzman (Team Kenda Tire)
27 Alison Fischer (Hub Racing)
28 Sandy Hyra (Squadra Velocita)
29 Kate Ross (Americas Dairyland)
30 Dale Tye (Hub Racing)
31 Susan Hefler (HPC Powered by Altarum)
32 Jennifer Rasmusson (HPC Powered by Altarum)
33 Christine Roettger (Team Revolution)
34 Jessie Maclean (Verducci/Breakaway)
35 Michele Bote (HPC Powered by Altarum)
36 Emma Giddens (Hub Racing)
