swebster posted on April 13, 2009 14:43
BikeClicks.com/Team Louisville came to the Lexington Circuit race not knowing what to expect. The race itself, only the second of the McDonald’s Kentuckiana Spring Classics Series, features a sweeping wide course just over a mile with a long with a long decent on the backside and moderately uphill finish. Not the place for a break to get away so it would come down to teamwork in order to get a win.
Starting off with the Men’s CAT 4/5 Race, BikeClicks.com/Team Louisville simply dominated the peloton from the gun. With riders through the pack spectators commented on the “sea of blue”. Working hard during the 30 minute race the team chased down breaks and kept the pace animated. With two laps to go, the squad lined up a 10 man train on the outside of the course and began to turn up the heat. Coming up the final turn Charles Garner shot forward, having been pulled up by his teammates and crossed the line with room to spare.
Next up, the CAT 3 Men’s squad followed the same basic tactics. Riders spent time on the front, chasing down or getting into breaks. With two laps to go it was clear this would be a sprint finish. The squad lined up their sprinters behind the lead out men and hit the gas on the backside. Even with a minor change up in the lead out order mid finish, the guys reacted and got Aaron “the truck” Mundy up to the front where he outsprinted the other teams for another win. When the dust settled we had three in the top ten.
Not to be outdone, the women lined up in what would be one of the largest women’s road racing fields to date. Unlike the men’s races, the women race in an open category, meaning brand new CAT 4 racers are in the same race as CAT 1s and at least two current National Champions. Despite the competition, the women consistently animated the race, launched some attacks and saw the finish line with Teri Meek first in the CAT 4s, followed closely by Suzanne Webster in 4th.
Not a bad way to come back from a soggy race at Long Run and get the team fired up for the reset of the series.