The Sterling road race is a leg breaking New England classic that usually serves as a good indicator of form following the early season races. The eight mile course features a short, steep kicker through the start/finish line followed by a series of twisty false flat rollers. The course then heads downhill to a fast, wide open highway and back towards the start. With a total of 10 laps (80 miles) around the circuit and up the “Sterling Wall,” the race is definitely one of the most challenging and tactical races.

With healthy representation, the MetLife team made its way to start line for an aggressive day of racing. The plan was to stay near the front of the peloton and make sure we were in anything dangerous moving up the road. The first lap went out HOT, and a break containing Brad and several other teams found themselves with a :30 second gap, just six miles into the race. The pace, however, refused to let up as there were many fresh legs still eager to inflict pain.

As we came into the third lap, the initial break was absorbed back into the field and it was on again. Both Kenda/Raleigh and CCB repeatedly attacked, trying in vain to get a new move to go clear. Finally on the fourth lap, a move of six, containing Corey, Toby Walch (Kenda), Todd Rowell (NEBC), Damien Colfer (Mechanical Services), Josh Austin (NorEast) and Amos Brumble (CCB) rolled off the front. Sensing a lull in the field, Chris, Ryan, Corey, Charlie, Brad, and Peter moved to the front to cover anything attempting to go across. Because Independent Fabrication was not represented, Ryan immediately reacted to an attack by John Bruno (IF) to get a free ride up the road. As soon as they realized there was no reaction from the field, they quickly closed the gap. With two in the break, Ryan and Corey organized the move and drove it hard for a lap to help a establish the gap quickly. During this time they were also joined by former national champion Mark McCormack. Within a lap and a half, the gap grew to over two minutes.

Back in the field, the rest of the team rode selflessly to help keep the gap, allowing nothing to go up the road. With seven laps covered, a strong chase group of eight containing Al Donahue (Nerac), Dan Cassidy (CCB), and Justin Spinelli (KBS/Medifast) quickly bridged up to the front nine, forming a lead group of 17. Almost simultaneously with formation, was an attack by Dan Cassidy on the hardest section of circuit. Al Donahue and McCormack reacted immediately and proceeded to ride away from the group. Unfortunately, Corey’s hard efforts had run their toll and he found himself popped from the lead group. Ryan tried in vain to get across to the three but the group wouldn’t let him go. Ryan then attempted to rally the group to chase the front three down, but unfortunately the legs in the group were not as fresh as they had been a few laps earlier.

With the front three more than a minute up on the group, Ryan began to think about the finish and saving something for the final lap. As they went through the finish line on the bell lap, Toby Walch (Kenda) attacked the group, hovering just in front of the group all way up the ascent and into the twisting rollers, but never quite getting the gap he needed. As he was caught, Damien Colfer countered and got a small gap, but a quick reaction from the field neutralized it. Brumble and Bruno then tried their hand. Sensing that a notably rested and wily Brumble may have the horsepower to go, Ryan attacked at the bottom of a small riser leading into the fast downhill and the finishing highway road back into town. With adrenaline kicking in, he passed the fading CCB veteran, cresting the riser and not looking back again. With a cogset that “goes to 11,” Ryan motored his way to the finish for a solo fourth place finish, two minutes behind the winner. The splintered peloton limped in about 8 minutes back, led in by Brad for 18th place. All in all, a solid finish for the MetLife team.

Look for the team to be back in action this weekend at the Lake Sunapee Road Race.