Ilesic makes it two on the trot

Image 1 of 44

Aldo Ino Ilesic (Team Type 1) proved to be the fastest sprinter at the Hanes Park Classic, winning the bunch kick with a commanding lead ahead of reigning Commonwealth Games kilo champion, Ben Kersten (Fly V. Australia) and Sebastian Haedo (Colavita-Sutter Home), who placed second and third respectively.

"We wanted to keep the field together because my teammate Ken [Hanson] and I were feeling strong for the sprint," said Ilesic. "It was a good reason to keep everything together. In the end, I had the best legs and I won but the team did a perfect job so thanks to all of them."

Ilesic went into the criterium slightly disappointed after placing second in the previous night's Presbyterian Hospital Invitational. A strong Team Type 1 lead-out carried him through the last kilometre protected and in perfect position to sprint. He kicked with 250 metres to go and held a downhill run at the line, all it took to redeem himself in a victory salute.

"I knew today would be a nice race," said Ilesic, who pinched his tyre just outside five laps to go. "The guys made a perfect lead out and I just put the cherry on top."

With 160 riders lining up in typically humid North Carolina summer conditions, the 90-minute criterium got underway a three in the afternoon as temperatures touched 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The course ran in reverse compared to the previous year. It began with a lengthy up hill drag that was followed by a technical descent through Winston-Salem's neighborhood streets and back down to the finish line.

Riders from local professional team DLP Racing kicked off the race with several strong attacks followed by teams Aerocat, Batley-Harley Davidson, Geargrinders and Kenda Tire. Mid-race, several short-lasting breakaways included a mix of riders from teams Bissell, Team Type 1, Kelly Benefit Strategies, Colavita-Sutter Home, Texas Road House and OUCH p/b Maxxis.

The city's local pro, Jon Hamblen (DLP Racing) surprised his cheering section when he initiated the first move of the day that stuck. Hamblen was later joined by the USA Crit Series runner up, Thomas Soladay (Mountain Khakis) and the pair maintained a 20-second advantage for more than 12 laps.

Hamblen and Soladay worked well together but their power of two was not enough to hold off the field and they were reeled in at the onset of Colavita-Sutter Home's lead-out train with three laps to go. The squad held a quick tempo at the front of the field to avoid further attacks and keep sprinter, Haedo in a good position. "My teammates were on the front for three laps but on the last climb things reshuffled," said Haedo. "I was sitting on Kelly Benefit's train when Aldo went. His gap opened fast and I'm a lot lighter on the downhill so it would be difficult to catch him."

With half a lap to go, Team Type 1 surpassed the Colavita-Sutter Home lead-out and carried their speed down through the technical corners to the finish line. Ilesic capitalized off of his momentum and started his sprint at the 250m-to-go mark. Kersten, a silver placed medallist at the track world championships, reacted first but Ilesic was already gone.

"It was a weird kind of sprint that I was trying to figure out during the race," said Kersten who is also a 30-time Australian national track champion, specialising in the kilo event. "I think a lot of the sprint was done on the back side of the course through the corners before the descent. After that it was really just hanging on because you really couldn't move up on the downhill."

Miller's marvellous weekend gets better 

US National criterium champion Brooke Miller (TIBCO) won her second race in one weekend at the Hanes Park Classic. After a close sprint, Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci) took second place ahead of USA Crit Series leader Laura van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) in third.

"It's a real treat to win two," said Miller. "Thanks to my teammates. When we started picking the roster this year I couldn't have imaged more of a dream team. They're all incredible athletes and any one of them can win any race. No one on our team would ever hold back 10 percent for themselves. I have confidence that our team can win over and over because everyone is selfless, does their job and has a great attitudes."

Team TIBCO pulled through with an organised lead out with one lap to go to ward off attacks over the climb on the back end of the circuit. Cliff-Ryan, a former US national criterium champion, caught Miller off guard by starting her sprint through the winding down hill finish. Miller wound up enough leg speed to catch Cliff-Ryan and narrowly hold her off for the win.

"I thought the line was closer than it was and when I saw her come under me at the line I thought, 'uh-oh, that would've been bad," said Miller who threw her arms in the air as Cliff-Ryan was throwing her bike at the line. "I've seen that happen to other sprinters before and I don't want it to happen to me. She had a great sprint."

Attacks from the women's peloton started a little later than normal due to the uncomfortably warm temperatures. Team Type 1, who missed out on many of the breaks in the previous day's Presbyterian Hospital Invitational, made up for it by igniting a flurry of attacks that forced teams TIBCO, Value Act Capital and Colavita-Sutter Home to play defensively.

"We had to really bust our butts out there today and we had to really improvise," said Miller. "Team Type 1 raced an awesome, aggressive race which kept it fast and we were chasing a lot of late attacks. The girls were doing such a good job of keeping me in position, it was a solid team effort."

Several breakaways included one rider from each power-house team but none seemed to carry the right combination of riders. Many were reeled back in by individuals riders from Hub Racing, LipSmackers and BMW-Bianchi and Kenda Tire.

Rachel Warmer and her teammate Kacey Manderfield (Team Lipsmackers) took individual flyers but their efforts were also short lived because of the faster momentum that the peloton carried through the down hill.

"The race was really aggressive but it was a hot day," said Cliff-Ryan. "I don't know if anyone really wanted to get away for the whole race in this heat. It was a good race and I love it when the women's field is attacking the whole time."

Van Gilder relied on experience to take her to a podium finish. She and her single teammate, Kristin LaSasso, rode into several key moves, picking their battles wisely to save energy. "Kristin and I have been battling it out with the bigger teams all season and we have learned to pick the moves that we think are the most dangerous," said Van Gilder. "We read the races very well. I'm really happy with the podium because it's been difficult but I think we work off of our instincts well."

Colavita-Sutter Home started a lead out with two laps to go for Tina Pic only to be passed by TIBCO and Miller on the last lap. Team Type 1 swarmed the front over the climb with half a lap to go for their sprinter Jen McRae. Cliff-Ryan surprised everyone when she jumped on the descent. Miller chased after her, both gaining speed as they approached the line.

"I went really early and hesitated before the last curve," said Cliff-Ryan. "Brooke shot through on the inside and I thought, 'Oh crap.' I was able to get another run at her and I thought it was going to be close but she got me."

Results