Norwell, MA – Coming off of a difficult Saturday at the Tour of the Hilltowns much of the peleton was tired. This was no exception for Chris Coutu, Tim Mitchell and Peter Bell. Unfortunately, tired bodies did not make for easy racing. The rolling circuit has over the last three years lent itself to the breakaway, meaning anyone wanting to win this race would have to be vigilant. As per usual, the attacks started early, with several of the protagonists from Saturday’s race apparently feeling feisty. Bell, Amos Brumble (CCB) and Al Donahue (Spooky) found themselves off the front briefly in what looked like a great move. Some more fresh legs in the group however were able to close the gap on the only small rise on the course. Not to be deterred Brumble and Donahue went again.  And that my friends was the race.

With the two breakaway riders slaying themselves up front, MetLife at first attempted several bridging moves, but the plethora of Spooky riders still left in the peleton would have nothing of it. Despite a chase put on by NEBC and MetLife, the break refused to relent, and a field sprint for 3^rd was inevitable. With Coutu and Mitchell having put the work in at the front to try to shrink the gap, it was up to Bell to finish it in the sprint. Coming around the Spooky train into the last corner, Bell was able to hold everyone off for the field sprint win over emerging sprinter Luciano Pavan (Fitchburg Cycling Club) and a solid 3^rd place. Coutu slotted in to a 9^th, and Mitchell rounded out the MetLife riders with a respectable 14^th.