MOB Race Report: August 25-26

"The Indy Stage Race Weekend is here and like the Criterium weekend its an important objective. We want to do well in each of the races but also contest the overall. At the same time we need to protect our riders that are also going for the Zipp Challenge race. This is a 4 to 5 race series within the season. The winners get some cool Zipp item. There is alot to think about so the team meetings will be important."

Mario Camacho
Team Director

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Indy Stage Race Weekend

8.25-26.07

Ft. Harrison & TT

The first stage of the Indy Stage Race weekend was the Ft Harrison road race. This is about a 3 mile loop with small hills and some winding sections. After awhile this course can take its toll on you. But, it wasn't the course that scared anyone, rather the rain and wet roads. This made this course a challenge and the peloton a bit nervous.

Citizens
It was great to see 15 year old Tucker Hale in action in the Citizens category. Being a talented swimmer took some time off the bike but he was ready to for some two wheel competition. Tucker did a good job staying in the field but on this course the hills take no prisoners. Tucker did drop of the pace but stood in to finish the race. Way to go.

Masters 3/4
We had lots of objectives for this weekend and the team definitely had a plan. During the team meeting we decided that Matt Barker and Scott Hill would be our GC riders. Dave Anderson could only race on Saturday so he would be helping our GC riders. Dave Enmark was going to ride for the GC boys and on Sunday ride to protect the Zipp Challenge series. To add reinforcement and fire power Trent, Spencer, Doug and Mark added their legs for support. This race had some strong teams and they were aggressive. The boys kept things in control and helped Matt and Scott stay up towards the front and out of trouble. With the rain settling down the race was also coming to an end. The team continued to follow the game plan and coming around the corner you could see Dave Enmark's leadout placed Matt in perfect position. Right behind Dave Anderson was leading out Scott. With the final push Matt Barker and Doug Trumpey of the Indiana Hand Center went head to head to the finish line. It was a very close sprint but Doug threw his bike and then Matt. His timing was perfect and Matt wins the Ft Harrison race and takes the overall GC lead. Right behind Dave Anderson takes 6th and Scott Hill places 7th. This was a perfect start to the weekend. Strong riding and great teamwork was evident in this race. It always makes me proud when I hear other riders from different teams paying you compliments on the teamwork they saw.

The Time Trial showed Matt's good form. He knew Doug was a good TT rider and he only gave up 4 seconds to keep the lead for the GC. Chris Clarke joined in on the fun and placed 3rd for the Masters 3/4 category.

Cat 4
Another good size squad showed up for the Cat 4's. With Rob Templemen and Dave Benson who was coming back into action for the team. Both riders road very well staying up front and keeping the race close. With the last lap the boys were in good position and sprinting towards the finish line. Dave makes his comeback with a strong second place and right behind Rob takes 3rd.

Cat 1/2/3
This is always a tough category and today was no different. John and Brad came into this race for the Cat 3's. Adam was our Cat 1/2 representative. Dan Daly, the Indiana Race Series promoter decided to run the two categories together. John's main objective was to protect his Zipp Challenge lead and as for the Stage race he told our junior rider Brad that he was the man. Brad was up to the challenge and this rolling course suited his style. Now Adam was in the same race but his goal was to be aggressive and try to get a break established. Many attacks were made and had good gaps but the field wanted noting to do with that. Finally after several attacks the break was established consisting of one guy from each of the major teams. Adam was in there for the MOB and John and Brad could sit in knowing they had a teammate in the break. Adam was attentive in the break but then Anthony Patrick attacked and opened up a gap to win the race. The remainder of the breakaway started their sprint and Adam who started the sprint early was able to stay strong upfront and take second. Our buddy Westin Luzadder took the final podium spot and the overall GC for the Cat 3's. With vital GC points at stake John lead Brad through the final sections and hills of the race. John then took the pace up early to give Brad a leadout to the final hill before the finish line. It was a perfect leadout and Brad comes around and motors to win the pack field sprint.

In the time trial Adam smoked the course with a 9:38, best time of all the riders. This gave him the GC lead for the Cat 1/2. Brad also showed great form in this TT and placed himself well with a 10:46. John came home with a 10:52.

Indiana State Fairgrounds Criterium

The official results of the day have not come out, but we know some of the final results.

Citizens and Womans
Tucker was back and so was Darrell one of our original 5 members of season 2. Both road very well and Darrell took the young junior rider under his wing and helped him on this course. Both were able to stay out of trouble and in the end finished in the pack. I will wait for the official results before I say were they placed. For Tucker it was great experience to race on back to back days and will get him excited for next season.

Now also racing was Abby in the woman's division wearing on here collegiate colors of the Marion Knights. She to road strong and I am waiting on the official race listing for the finish.

Masters 3/4
This was probably going to be the race of the day and the team came ready to defend all of its objectives. Dave Anderson was unable to come this time and that is a set of legs you always want on your side. So, with my daughter at home I came to play. During the team meeting we talked about what to look for and how we wanted the race to go. Then we talked about who to look out for and a couple of scenerios. During warm-up we come to find out that Dan Daly was giving out 3 primes that were worth 3 points each. That was a red flag because that could change the outcome of the stage race and Doug already showed he could sprint. During the race everyone raced strong. Scott stood up front and Matt marked Doug's every move. The race was very aggressive and Trent help bring back some breaks that could have been dangerous. Spencer, Mark, Doug and I took turns helping out. Remember that I said Dave Enmark was racing to protect his Zipp Challenge lead on Sunday. This meant stay in and sprint for a high finish. He showed strong form and unselfish teamwork. With those primes containing important points he moved himself up the pack to contest the sprints. This way Doug would not get them and Matt did not have to waist energy. Scott also looked towards the points to move him higher in GC. This was proving to be a very tactical race and one in which the team looked to show its teamwork. With the final laps coming up the boys moved up to push the pace and Doug did a great job in the final 2 laps. The game plan was to have a few of us drive the last lap and get the leadout boys to the final corner. It did not workout like Ft Harrison but once again Dave had Matt on his wheel. Scott was only a couple of spots behind and they made a dash to the line. With the final push Matt found himself racing once again for the stage win but against a new challenger. This time he takes second place but placing ahead of Doug he keeps the overall lead and wins the 2007 Indy Stage Race Masters 3/4 Race. Scott also finishes off the race strongly and sprints for I believe 6th for the day and Overall. After Dave Enmarks leadout he holds on for a high finish and places in he top ten for the overall. Most of all he Wins the Zipp Challenge.

Cat 3
Today the Cat 3's race alone and going into the day John tells Brad he is going to work for him. John also is trying to protect his Zipp Challenge lead. Spencer and Matt Barker join in to add some numbers and legs to the Cat 3 team. Brad is looking to stay up front and stay out of trouble. This course always has the power to cause crashes. The race was very aggressive and our friend Westin who leads the Cat 3's GC overall, was lighting it up. Now Brad was looking for GC points himself but we knew he could not earn enough to over take Westin. So the team was not going to work to bring him back when Westin made a very good attack to open a gap. That move was eventually brought back and John did a lot of work to protect Brad and keep him in good position. Matt and Spencer helped to keep things in check also in the final laps. Feeling the effects of racing for the GC Masters overall win Matt looked to help out with two to go. John then took over with Brad right behind. With a lap to go and the final corner Brad lost John's wheel. John continued to increase his speed and finished off strong. Brad was little further back but still a very strong showing. In the end I will have to wait for the official standings for the Cat 3's. I do know that Westin won the Cat 3's overall and John maintained his lead in the Zipp Challenge.

Cat 1/2
Adam was the overall leader of the Cat 1/2 Indy Stage Race and knew that he would be a marked man. From the gun he clips in and goes. The pace has settled and they are all back together. This was also an aggressive race with multiple attacks. It finally paid off when 3 riders opened up a gap and two of them were on the Barbasol team. They kept there pace high and worked well together. They were out in front for a little bit when Adam attacks the peloton and takes off after the three breakaway riders. With a good move Adam bridges solos to the group and begins to drive the pace. Many riders tried to either bridge up to the four breakaway riders or bring the entire peloton back. The 4 worked well and opened the gap to a high of 35 seconds. It looked to be the winning move and the winner would come out of these four riders. Then a bad crash happened on the back side of the course. I am not entirely sure of what happened but it was bad. The ambulance was called in and after a few more laps the race was neutralized. I had to leave at that point but I was told that the four rider were restarted with their initial gap time. They were able to get refocused and kept the lead till the end. With four riders Adam went on the attack a sprinted at the end for the stage win and the overall Stage Race Cat 1/2 victory.

Great job to all and thank you for working so hard. Its so much fun to see your teammates do well and to do well yourself. Then to put it all together and work as a team. As a team director its everything you hope for so thanks.

Thank you for reading this weekends racing reports.

Take Care
Mario Camacho

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