Salem, NY — In unseasonably warm temperatures for April in New England, the 69-rider Category 2 field headed out on the challenging terrain that comprised the ‘Tour of the Battenkill.’ This unique road race couples smooth paved roads with loose dirt climbs, often shredding the peloton in its wake. It is a true race of attrition.
The 80+ degree heat and dry conditions kept the peloton rolling along at a relatively calm pace for the first several sectors of the race. This type of weather would be expected during the summer months in New England, but given the fact that it had been in the upper 40’s only a week prior, the heat would surely be a factor in the race.
The first significant dirt climb of Juniper Swamp Road was similar to a sand pit in a cyclocross race, only tipped on end to a 20 percent pitch. The key here was to stay seated, as many riders who stood found out the hard way and wound up running the 200 meters or so to the top.
Word came to the front that Corey Masson and Chris Coutu had flatted on the early sections of the course and were chasing to catch back to the field. Fortunately for them, the pace settled again as the terrain leveled and they were able to make it back.
Attacks started coming and eventually two riders broke free of the peloton, gaining over two minutes. During this time eventual race winner Mike Margarite (CRCA/Empire Cycling Team) bridged across to the duo. Aaron Molloy went out on a solo attempt to cross the then 2+ minute gap to the leaders. He was within 15 seconds at one point but never made it across to the trio. As the hills of the latter half of the race ensued, Molloy was slowly pulled back into the fold, leaving the breakaway hovering around the 2-minute mark.
Through Cambridge, a series of a half-hearted attacks shook the field during the balmy and wide open stretch traveled on NY State Route 22. After three or four unsuccessful attempts by various riders, McCarthy was able to spring from the pack in an attempt to hunt down the move up the road. Riding the shallow rollers just after Cambridge, McCarthy gained nearly 30 seconds. His efforts, however, would be squelched by the hard-charging Kenda/Raleigh duo of Colin Murphy and Eric Tremble who caught him just before the feedzone, at which point the field caught the gasping trio.
Once throu gh the first feedzone in Center Cambridge, Sheehan went to the front with Dylan O’Sullivan (CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25) to whip up the pace heading into the decisive Meeting House Rd section. With Sheehan and McCarthy in the front group over the top of Meeting House Rd. in a select group of 25 or so riders, the objective was to stay as close to the front as possible, as riders were popping off the back of the group like sizzled kernels, opening gaps in the line that were hard to close – especially on the soft and sandy dirt roads.
With the gap to the breakaway still over 1:30, Sakonnet’s O’Sullivan and Cheyne Hoag went to the front of what was left of the peloton to try to bring the breakaway back, setting up their finisher, Nick Keough, for the win. The two did a sterling job, with each taking huge turns at the front. Their efforts brought the break under one minute before the last decisive dirt section of the day on Ferguson Rd.
This long uphill section of loose dirt and sand was riddled with riders that had fallen off the pace of the earlier races – many walking or swerving across the soft dirt doing anything possible to stay on their bikes. With Sheehan in third and McCarthy close behind in the dwindling group, the race ripped through the remnants of the other fields.
Two of the three breakaway companions were now in sight and would eventually come back to the 10 or so in the front group. The pace was again set by Sakonnet trying to pull back the remaining solo rider, still with a 30 second advantage.
The front group entered the final circuit through the start finish with a 40 second deficit. The attacks started coming on the last dirt section of Bogtown Rd. With everyone in the group looking at each other to see who would make the next move, Alex Bremer (CRCA/Empire Cycling Team) attacked just outside of 1KM to go with Sakonnet’s Nick Keough on his wheel. The anxious move was quickly pulled back and the sprint opened up with 300 meters to go. Sheehan moved up the left side of the road, passing 3-4 riders but unable to match the charging Marcinko (Connecticut Coast Cycling) for second. McCarthy dug in, passing several riders before the line to round out the top 10.
Results can be found here