Hanson claims Tour de Francis Park

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As the National Criterium Calendar rolled into the second stage of the Staenberg Group Gateway Cup, the course and the conditions worked with the riders to create a more dynamic and aggressive race at the Tour de Francis than the previous night’s race around Lafayette Park. In both the men’s and women’s race, smaller teams worked to bring the fight to the powerhouse UnitedHealthcare squad, before inevitably succumbing to a near repeat of the previous evening’s results, this time with Ken Hanson and Coryn Rivera taking the wins.

The women’s race began and the organizers immediately offered a $100 prime after the first lap to kick off the aggression. The payout served to begin the hostilities as the women spent the remaining 50 minutes lined out, driving the front of the field, trying to break up the race and cause UnitedHealthcare some difficulty.

Colavita, Fearless Femme and FCS|Zngine each spent time pushing the pace for their respective leaders while UnitedHealthcare sat back, controlling affairs and refusing to let any moves gain more than a few seconds off the front. In the closing laps, there was no denying the team’s sprinter Coryn Rivera another commanding win with plenty of time for celebration, again ahead of Team Tibco/To the Top’s Samantha Schneider with Fearless Femme’s Tina Pic edging out Colavita’s Erica Allar for the final podium spot.

In the men’s race, smaller teams saw opportunities to attack the powerhouse squads of Athlete Octane and UnitedHealthcare with aggression around the Francis Park course.

An early move by local elite team, Gateway Harley Davidson, led to a solo counter by the Bissell/ABG squad. A lonely break for two laps sparked a bridge from a second Bissell rider, followed by an Elbowz Racing rider and Zachary Carlson of Matrix Racing/RBM.

The field allowed the four-rider break a 15 to 20-second gap before the Athlete Octane squad took up the chase with 10 to go for sprinter Daniel Holloway. With the catch inevitable, UnitedHealthcare organized to the front with three to go to begin their lead out and put the final nail in the break.

A furious sprint to the line saw Hanson and Luke Keough take first and third, a reverse of Friday night’s result, again sandwiching Athlete Octane’s Holloway.

The racing continues on Sunday at the 29th annual Giro Della Montagna, for stage three and the finale of the USA Crits series.

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