“Bring it on!” Race Series #3 (2/3/07)

From Truesport.com

“Bring it on!” Race Series #3
Alachua, FL


| February 03, 2007 |

The third and final stage of the “Bring it on!” series saw the coolest temperatures of the three stops, but still managed to defy the weather forecasts to stay dry.

The A grade finale was up for grabs as the points leader James Sweeney (American Bicycle) was absent to compete at the concurrent Tour of the Bahamas. While several riders were still within striking distance of his points total, the task proved too difficult. The closest contender, Bobby Sweeting (Aerospace Engineering-Toshiba-JetNetwork) aggressively sought the win early on, and found himself in the first real breakaway with Dan Larson (Cycle Science) and Jon Salsbury (JRC). This group was later joined by several other contenders to form a large selection of over 14 riders. After this reshuffle, the Cycle Science team sought a more favorable finishing mix with several successive attacks. Eventually, Jason Snow (Cycle Science) got clear for good with strongmen Jim Wright (JRC) and Gary Yates (Bike Route). Snow took the three up sprint clearly for the win and was followed in order by Wright and Yates. Larson managed to win the next tight sprint over Sweeting for 4th. Sweeney’s series lead held up though, and he was awarded the title in absentia. Jim Wright charged to a close 2nd, and Sweeting finished 3rd.


Like the A grade men, the Women’s event was also dominated by Cycle Science, with Cindy Tompkins taking the top spoils. Jackie Crowell (Cycle Science), who already had two straight victories in the series, again overcame a large handicap to help her teammate close the deal. In one of the toughest catches of the series, outmarkers, Kristin Bowers and Jessica Tomasello (both Atomic Racing) made the scratch markers, Crowell and Angela Connaughton (Helen’s), work hard to get on even terms. This came to pass in the closing laps and as the race wound down, Tompkins escaped with Alexis Dabroski (Team Florida) in tow. The veteran Tompkins won this battle for the win, while her teammates Crowell and Alane Balweg took the next two spots in the field sprint. Tomasello capped her hard ride with a very good sprint to round out the top 5.


The very large B grade event finale was split into two groups, Cat 4 and Cat 5, for fair play and safety.


The main B (Cat 4) race was nearly an exact replica of the previous weeks B race. Again, Wes Wolfenbarger (JRC), winner of week 1, and 15 yr old Mike Niemi (Chain Reaction), escaped together and charged out ahead. The script changed in their favor this time however, and they did manage to survive to the finish. Wolfenbarger dropped off the pace on the final lap and Niemi came through solo for his first ever race win. In the field sprint, the regional Colavita team put together a great leadout to take the 3rd and 5th place spots for Cody Vance and Adam Baker respectively. Local rider James Penrod (Cycle Logic) sandwiched between them for 4th. While the B series overall was a dead heat coming into the day, Wolfenbarger’s second place sealed it up, as the week two winner Ashish Patel (UF) punctured on the final lap, and Romero Gill (JRC) finished outside of the points positions.


The “bonus” B race (Cat 5) had plenty of action in its own right. In the end a small break of four stayed clear and Todd Ireland (Atomic Racing) narrowly beat Ed Joy(unattached) to the line for the victory. Talmadge Mincey(unattached) and Josh West(unattached) earned the 3rd and 4th spots respectively, and Thomas Hendry (Atomic Racing) won the field sprint for 5th.


The official Florida Points Series Calendar will begin next week with criteriums in Sanford and Lake Mary. www.floridacycling.com

Results and report courtesy of Team Florida Cycling

Women
1 Cindy Tompkins Cycle Science @1:30
2 Alexis Dabroski Team Florida @1:30
3 Jackie Crowell Cycle Science @2:15
4 Alane Balweg Cycle Science @1:30
5 Jessica Tomasello Atomic @0:45
6 Angela Connaugton Helen's @2:15
7 Christi-Ann Hansley Kenda @1:30

Men B (Cat4)
1 Mike Niemi Chain Reaction
2 Wes Wolfenbarger JRC
3 Cody Vance Colavita
4 James Penrod Cycle Logic
5 Adam Baker Colavita
6 Paul McManus unattached
7 Masoud Rezaei Velo Brew
8 Victor Arber Team Florida
9 Mike Sanford Team Florida
10 Paul Messal Cycle Logic

Men A
1 Jason Snow Cycle Science
2 Jim Wright JRC
3 Gary Yates Naples Cyclery
4 Dan Larson Cycle Science
5 Bobby Sweeting AEG/Toshiba/Jet Network
6 Dave Potter ASV
7 Chuck Jerabek JRC
8 Daryl Tompkins Bike Route
9 Rebecca Larson Aaron's Corporate Furnishing

Men B (Cat5)
1 Todd Ireland Atomic Racing
2 Ed Joy unattached
3 Talmadge Mincey unattached
4 Josh West unattached
5 Thomas Hendry Atomic Racing
6 Robert Stewart Velo Brew
7 Alastar Coomer Tunwald CC

SERIES RESULTS
A Grade
Rider TEAM Total
James Sweeney American Bicycle 10
Jim Wright JRC 9
Bobby Sweeting AEG/Toshiba/Jet Network 8
Jason Snow Cycle Science 7
Gary Yates Naples Cyclery 5
Kyle Wamsley Navigators 5
Winston David AEG/Toshiba/Jet Network 5
Dan Larson Cycle Science 3
Rebecca Larson Aaron's Corporate Furnishing 3
Roel Vanmuysen Klaipeda Splendid 3
Shane Braley Wheel and Sprocket 2
Chuck Jerabek JRC 2
Dave Potter ASV 1

B Grade
Rider TEAM Total
Wes Wolfenbarger unattached 11
Mike Niemi Chain Reaction 6
Adam Baker Colavita 6
Ashish Patel Team Florida 6
Romero Gill unattached 6
Victor Arber Team Florida 5
Cody Vance Colavita 4
Dayne Johnson Atomic Racing 4
James Penrod Cycle Logic 3
Joe Veglucci Higher Ground 3
Dan Heggblod Colavita 3
Josh Powe Team Florida 2
Brian Stalvey Colavita 2
Paul McManus unattached 1
Steve Deroche Cycle Logic 1

Women
Rider TEAM Total
Jackie Crowell Cycle Science 16
Cindy Tompkins Cycle Science 13
Alexis Dabroski Bike Route 5
Angela Connaugton Helen's 5
Amanda Tosh Team Florida 5
Christi-Ann Hansley Kenda 5
Marilyn Cullinane Naples Cyclery 4
Mandi Hall unattached 4
Alane Balweg Cycle Science 3
Jessica Tomasello Atomic Racing 2
Delene Beeland Team Florida 1





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