Another Podium for MetLife p/b groSolar at the Greylock Federal Criterium
All photos courtesy of www.berkshiresports.org – check out all Brad’s great pics!
PITTSFIELD, MA. With the regional calendar well into the New England criterium season, this week provided a “work-night” affair similar to the previous events in Beverly and Salem. Smack in the middle of Pittsfield’s “Third Thursdays” street festival, the Greylock Federal Criterium was sure to provide throngs of spectators along the straightforward 3-corner course, along with a strong regional field eager to impress on home turf.
Though Peter Bell, Ryan Fleming, and Chris Coutu have been representing the team well over the past few weeks in the series, Austin and I decided it was high time to motor north and join up with the New England crew and stack our chances at nabbing a much-deserved win for either Bell, myself, or one of our breakaway artists. Despite the onerous 3.5 hour drive from central Jersey up to the Berkshires, Big Tex and I manned up, loaded up the car, and cruised up I-87 for what promised to be a fast evening of bicycle racing.
Coutu Makes it look easy. Photo courtesy of www.berkshiresports.org
With five strong protagonists on-hand, we decided from the beginning to take ownership of the race, instigating moves off the front when appropriate and covering others’ attempts when necessary. An early attack by Austin, followed by my own bridge up , looked promising. With three other seemingly strong riders, we poured on the gas and hoped an additional 2-3 would come across from the field and give us the cumulative horsepower to stay away. Despite some gargantuan efforts from Big Tex and a few only slightly-less impressive pulls of my own, the field proved to anxious to allow such a split.
Austin and I off the front. Photo courtesy of www.berkshiresports.org
With the Jersey boys thoroughly gassed from our full-fledged attempt, Chris and Peter took over much of the responsibility at the front, with both launching some fine attacks of their own and spending large amounts of time and energy in several potentially lethal breaks. Race announcer Richard Fries took note our aggression and attentiveness at the sharp end of the race, and we were routinely greeted with shout-outs across the start finish.
Peter Bell: always lookin' good. Photo courtesy of www.berkshiresports.org
A late-race and truly dangerous attack by local favorite Josh Lipka was aptly covered by Peter, and the two motored ahead of the field for several laps. As this, too, was brought back into the fold, it became apparent that things were reasonably destined to end in a mass dash for the line. After a brief stint following pre-race picks (and pros) Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly) and Adam Myerson, Austin – unofficial captain of the lead-out – began assembling the MetLife train, which was aptly led by Ryan as we entered two laps to go. Despite their massive efforts earlier, Peter and Chris attempted to reach the front and lend horsepower, though the quickening pace ensured we’d have a trio to set up the field sprint.
Ryan follows BikeReg ahead of his lead-out effort. Photo courtesy of www.berkshiresports.org
Head-down and throttle open, Ryan motored at the front for the entirety of the penultimate lap, keeping the pace high and Austin and I out of trouble. As we entered the start/finish with 1-to-go, Big Tex took the reigns and upped the speed, and although a bit of reshuffling put Will Dugan (Team Type 1) in between us, I wasn’t concerned. We arrived at the courses’ steady climb to the final corner in perfect formation, though the day’s toll and length of the effort slowed Austin as we neared the right-hander. Myerson took perfect advantage of the lull and jumped early from the left. With no one eager to pull the field up to his wheel, and with I briefly boxed-in on the right, we went into the turn with a solid gap to the seasoned Moutain Khakis veteran and myself on Dugan’s wheel. I poured on all that I had left and surged passed the Team Type 1 rider, though could not close the distance to Myerson in time, who took a well deserved win.
Austin pours it on for the final lap with me in tow. Photo courtesy of www.berkshiresports.org
It was’t until a cool-down lap that we had a chance to see just how thoroughly the town had come out for the evening’s festivities, lining the finishing straight three-deep in places. Though we narrowly missed out on the victory, we were more-than-consoled by the praise we received for taking the race by the reigns and riding as a team.
A few miraculously post-race downpours and burritos (Hot Harry’s – do not miss if you’re in Pittsfield) later, Big Tex and I loaded ourselves back into the car and onto the New York Throughway for the long haul home. ”Seven hours of driving for 1 hour of racing?” you might ask? When you ride like a team and nearly take the W, the answer is most definitely “Yes”.