August 26/99 9:45 am - Shep Report, Midweek Results

Posted by Editor on 08/26/99
 

Shep Report - Mercury Tour Stage 2
(courtesy Chris Sheppard, Catera-Klein pro)

There is something wrong about starting a race at 10,600 feet above sea level at 9:00 in the morning. Not only does it feel like you're breathing through a straw shoved up your nostril, but how do you get going when you normally race at 1:00 pm? I really feel for the women because they race at 10am every weekend....that's when I wake up! Today was the true test to find out who would be the players for the rest of the race.

The course was 42km long, consisting mainly of single track both wet, rooty, rocky,loose,etc. The organizer loves to call this the downhill stage (there is 4000ft of descending), but what awaited the riders were climbs that totalled over 3000ft! A big challenge though.

The start was really hard due to Lance and Jerome attacking each other from the start. I chose to pace and rode with Larson for the first five miles before jumping into the single track in a great 26th possition! Over the next couple miles of single track I slowly picked off a boat load of people and almost made contact with the lead group, but Chiotti really punched it with Swiggers, Juarez, and Leuchs in tow. That was the last I saw of them and coming into the feed zone I was in 15th...oh oh looks like my feeder forgot I was in the leader's jersey...didn't see me and therefore I missed my Coke. My heart dropped as I thought of the inevitable bonk that would show it's ugly face within the next 30 minutes!

Pounded out the downhill like a bat out of hell passing four guys and making contact with Mexi Ziranda....then the 15 min climb started and lo and behold my bonk met me half way up! I turned on damage control for the remainder of the climb and then used the ensuing 1500ft descent to catch Ziranda near the bottom....meanwhile....Swiggers had taken the lead but flatted, passing the torch on to Chiotti, and Leuchs followed while Brown ended up in 5th. Roland rode steady the whole time and ended up seventh just behind a group that had Weins and Swiggers. I missed ninth by 15sec but was 11th in the end...not that disappointed because riding steady may pay off or...well...maybe not! Wish me luck because tomorrow will bring me new meanings of pain (it's uphill day...4000ft of it)!

Note: Lance Armstrong dropped out after contending for the lead with Chiotti. He crashed twice on technical sections, and after his second crash withdrew with a bruised knee


Tour of Holland

Stage 3 - Coevorden to Denekamp 85.5 km

1 Rudi Kemna (Ned) 1:57:07
2 Stuart O'Grady (Aus)
3 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned)
4 Jans Koerts (Ned)
5 Jan Svorada (Cze) all s.t.

Stage 4 - Nordhorn to Denekamp ITT 26.2 km

1 Sergei Honchar (Ukr) 30:52
2 Dylan Casey (USA) at 0:17
3 Jonathan Vaughters (USA) s.t.
4 Enrico Cassani (Ita) 0:23
5 Jan Ullrich (Ger) 0:30

GC

1 Sergei Honchar (Ukr) 11:21:12
2 Dylan Casey (USA) at 0:17
3 Enrico Cassani (Ita) 0:23
4 Jan Ullrich (Ger) 0:30
5 Leif Hoste (Bel) 0:34


MIDWEEK CLUB WEDNESDAY NIGHT CRITERIUMS
(courtesy Peter McCaffery)

EVENT # 19, DATE: August 25th, 1999
DISTANCE: 44 KM - 22 LAPS Av. Sp.: 43.4 KPH
WEATHER: Overcast, some drizzle, slight SW breeze, 26C.

SPEACHT SHOWS Å’EM HOW!

The inclement weather kept most of the regular riders at home but the 28 stalwarts who did show up put on a great display of racing. Right from the gun, James Wadden, Kiro and Jet Fuel‚s Andrew Randall and Heath Cockburn took 20 seconds out of the pack but were hauled in within a lap.

On the 7th. Lap, a break of 8 developed a similar gap, but only Andrew Pinfold, Jet Fuel, stayed away and he soloed for the next couple of laps. On lap 10, a chase group comprising Kevin Speacht, Kiro, Christian Hansen, KHS and Heath Cockburn broke from the bunch and, within a lap, caught Pinfold. After this, the quartet consolidated its lead and continued to take 5 seconds per lap out of the bunch, which was still more-or-less intact.

With one lap to go, the break had 70 seconds lead and the spectators were discussing who would win the sprint. However, with everyone watching the last corner, a lone rider came into view. It was Kiro‚s Kevin Speacht, who, in a superb display of class, had managed to take 15 seconds out of his competition. At the line, it was Speacht first in 1-00-50 with Christian Hansen 15 seconds down. Pinfold and Cockburn fought out the sprint for third with Andrew just edging out Heath. The pack had also split in the last lap and Don Zuck, Pavan and Steve Lessey, Jet Fuel, finished 8 seconds ahead of the remnants in 5th. and 6th. Places.

Thanks to all who came out despite the conditions (which turned out to be pretty good in the end) . A tip of the cap to Andrew Pinfold, Mike Barry and Krys Hinds for coning and to Mike for lap board.

WATCH FOR INFORMATION ON THE MIDWEEK CLUB SEASON WINDUP AND AWARDS PRESENTATION ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18TH. THERE WILL BE RACES FOR ALL CATEGORIES INCLUDING NOVICE AND THE SENIOR EVENT WILL BE A 100 KM CRIT. ON THE POPULAR MIDWEEK CIRCUIT.

POS	NAME	CLUB	CAT	TIME	PTS
1	Kevin Speacht	Kiro	2	1-00-50	12
2	Christian Hansen	KHS	1	1:01:15	11
3	Andrew Pinfold	Jet Fuel	1	1:01:26	10
4	Heath Cockburn	Jet Fuel	1	s.t.	9
5	Don Zuck	Pavan	MB	1:02:02	8
6	Steve Lessey	Jet Fuel	2	1:02:04	7
2	James Wadden	Kiro	3	1:02:10	6
8	Mike Ybanez	Mississauga Volvic	2	s.t.	5
9	Allan Worozbyt	Jet Fuel	1	s.t.	4
10	Greg Borden	Schwinn Toyota	MB	s.t.	3
11	Brian Turner	Ind.	3	s.t.	2

ALL OTHER ENTRANTS GET ONE POINT. 28 STARTERS, 23FINISHERS

SERIES STANDINGS TO DATE

First and second places are sewn up but from 3rd to 10th it‚s still wide open, with two events to go.

Jeff Hansen 152
Kevin Speacht 125
Heath Cockburn 87
Greg Cavanagh 85
Don Zuck 78
Matthias Schmidt 78
James Wadden 74
Andrew Pinfold 73
Mike Ybanez 62
Steve Lessy 50

CATEGORY STANDINGS:
2 points cover the top 7 women
Masters C: George Fraser is 1 point ahead of Drew Harvie
Masters B: Don Zuck cannot be caught
Senior 3: Duncan Salisbury 43, Chris Paton 33
Senior 2: Kevin Speacht is way ahead
Senior 1: Jeff Hansen has this sewn up
Junior: Peter Mazur wins

 

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