Aug. 29, 2007
Filed under:
Race reports
Comments (14)
Previous:
Elk Grove, Downers Grove on TV
Next: Hump day links
Glencoe Grand Prix wrap-up
Photo by Luke Seemann
Like Evanston before it, Glencoe employed its North Shore clout to order up perfect weather for its inaugural criterium. And after all those long drives to races in Wisconsin or the western suburbs, it was a pleasure to get to Saturday's race in style: on my bicycle. Hooray for Glencoe!
The four-corner course featured fast turns in 1 and 3, a narrow turn in 2 and in Turn 4 the aptly named "Amen Corner," sponsored by a nearby church. Shift down, hold your line and say a prayer that everyone else holds theirs, too. A pastor was on-hand to give free lemonade and administer last rites to any dearly departed carbon fiber.
A strong wind out of the east played a role in the more crowded fields. Riders hoping to advance position in the homestretch faced a choice: Go up the left and be protected from the wind? Or go up the right side, which offered the safest line in Turn 1?
A huge field turned out for the masters 4/5's. Matt Smith (Big Shark) and Tim Keeley (ABD) had their latest throw for the line, but this time it was Smith getting by first, a reversal of the previous day's Sherman Park masters 4/5.
James Pradun (UIC) won the 4's race by overcoming a five-man break in the final homestretch. I don't know much about the University of Illinois-Chicago program, but I hope this is a sign of good things to come. What's especially impressive for Pradun is that the next four finishers are all familiar names to those who've followed the 4's results this year
Colavita put two on the podium in the 5's race, behind Mike Shklovski in 1st and Craig Scott in 3rd. In between was Scott Claiborne (Apache), whom we last saw unclipped at Downers Grove.
Speaking of the 3's, ours was a lively cap to the USCF season. Several attempted to go off the front in search of primes and/or glory, and with two to go, it was James Bird (IS Corp) with a dangerous gap. Unfortunately for Bird, two unidentified XXX Racing-AthletiCo riders exhausted themselves to bring him back in time for Jason Schisler (Vision Quest) to avoid the predictable last-lap mayhem and pick up the win. (Previously Bird had won the 15-18 juniors race, with Chazz Martin (Smart Cycling) winning the 10-14.)
The women's 1/2/3 race stayed together for the most part until Jen Greenberg launched a flier with two to go. After the pack hesitated to chase, she held them off for a clear victory.
In other racing, Elizabeth Engwis (Kenosha Velosport) won the women's 4's, and Andy Kerr (Village Cyclesport) won an exciting sprint in the 50+.
I couldn't stay for the finish of the P/1/2 race, but when I left a solid split had been created, with a future Toyota-United rider Johnny Clarke (Colavita) anchoring the lead group. (Unlike the last time Clarke raced a local crit, his brother Hilton (Navigators) was not there.) It was Rob White (PCW) who took the win, however, with Clarke settling for second. I'd love to read a report on how that came to be. (UPDATE: Frank Shapiro has this photo of Clarke and White off by themselves. He says they nearly lapped the field, or whatever was left of it.)
Just like Evanston, this was a fantastic debut race: well organized, generously prized. Some might have wished for the repaving to have been extended to South Avenue, but as someone who calls Hillsboro Roubaix a favorite and considers potholes "features" rather than "problems," I'm not complaining, and I hope the Glencoe Grand Prix returns to our calendar year after year.
Race reports:
Newt Cole (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5): "Two laps left. Time to move. Flyin' single-file into Corner 2, big scary crash. I dodge two dudes by inches and another two unfortunates who hit them. I have no freakin idea how I got thru that."
Debbie Dust (Team Kenda Tire; W-P/1/2/3): "On the last lap I decided that I had to chase and in so doing, also decided that I had to straight up win the field sprint since it was obviously too late to catch Jen."
Tim Keeley (ABD; 30+ 4/5, 4): "With about 1 to go I took my final pull and got gapped, chased, latched on before Turn 4 and then witnessed the eventual race winner (a guy from UIC who had won an earlier prime) scream by for the win."
Matt Smith (Big Shark; 30+ 4/5, 4): "A Vision Quest rider made a cheeky move and jumped well before the last turn on the last lap. I thought it was a good move and that he might hold it. It's a long way from Turn 4 to the line, however."
Photos:
John Rowland
Frank Shapiro
The Editor
Comments
Here is the link for UIC Cycling:
http://www.uiccycletri.com/
My former TA at UIC rode at Sherman Park as a 5. James P. is probably one of the founders of the club. I graduated from UIC 3 years ago and always wondered why there wasn't a real cycling club considering the number of fixies parked around the campus. I guess now it's in existence and I am getting a jersey next year for sure.
Posted by: EJ at Aug. 29, 2007 11:11 AM
Everybody should check their results for sherman park Glencoe. It's showing matt smith as 1st place and not finishing the same race, as well as Tim Keely not finishing in the 30+ 4/5.
Posted by: Jason at Aug. 29, 2007 11:23 AM
Regarding checking race results for Glencoe... I see that there's a certain rider that came in 2nd place for the Cat 4/5 30+ race. From my understanding he did not come in 2nd place nor is he a 30+ rider. Unless there are two riders with the same two letter name as him that ride for ABD I think there might be a mistake.
Posted by: Clay at Aug. 29, 2007 12:37 PM
I'm pretty sure that's Tim Keeley (ABD) who's supposed to be in 2nd there. It's not unusual for teammates to get mixed up in results. Usually not a big deal. Surely Tim stuck around to make sure he got his pay day and got on the official results.
Good racing, Scott, by the way. Two top 10's in one day!
Posted by: Luke at Aug. 29, 2007 12:48 PM
I'm sure he did. I wasn't able to stick around after the sherman park masters race because I had to get to work and I'm not even listed as finishing when I came in 7th. Oh well.
Posted by: Jason at Aug. 29, 2007 01:08 PM
After legally applying for a name change, I was granted my money and Chicago Fire Ticket prime. It may be confusing to have two Oz's in the peloton, but it just had to be done....
Oz (formerly Tim)
Posted by: Tim Keeley at Aug. 29, 2007 01:15 PM
"Those results aren't wrong; that's what the protest period is for..."
HAHA!
Posted by: Matthew Smith at Aug. 29, 2007 01:33 PM
Actually, I yield to Matt, he is the one that scuffled with the official over this. It almost got ugly.
Posted by: Tim Keeley at Aug. 29, 2007 01:42 PM
That's why I like to finish mid pack. No need to worry about a spot or two there. I do want to finish 1st and not finish the same race though. Seems tricky but I think I can pull it off in a kids big wheel race or something.
Posted by: Jason Addante at Aug. 29, 2007 02:28 PM
Big Wheel race? Seems possible as you would have gotten 70 minutes to race at Downers in the Big wheel race! Kinda difficult to place twice in 20 minutes...
Posted by: 20 minute Wet Nightmare at Aug. 29, 2007 03:46 PM
More photos from the Glencoe Grand Prix can be seen in this flickr group:
http://flickr.com/groups/glencoegrandprix/
Feel free to post yours!
Posted by: IllinoisFrank at Aug. 29, 2007 04:18 PM
I suggest everyone check your numbers. For example, Scott Claiborne, I think your actual number was 303 and you finished 4th in the 30+. Were you wearing 303? If so, did you get 4th place money? Most everyone's numbers were one less than was listed in the computer. For example, I am listed as 327, but my number was 326. The organizer admitted this mistake and apologized for it. Keeley and Oz are the exception to this rule.
Posted by: ScottV at Aug. 29, 2007 09:04 PM
Sure about that, Scott? In this photo of Matt's you can see the 30+ 4th place, Jacques of XXX. You can also see 3rd (North Branch) and the 40+ 1st (VQ) and 2nd (Newt of XXX). Unless Scott is obscured on the far right, these results look OK.
But the point stands: If you're in the top 10, check the results before they're final!
Posted by: Luke at Aug. 29, 2007 10:18 PM
The organizer explained that was the mistake he made. Point I am making is to check your number. I know I am supposed to be listed at 16 as that is my number in the results. If your name and number match, which Matt's and Tim's did not originally, then you are ok. If you notice, Matt is listed as first and DNP. They corrected his name and number combination, but didn't correct his incorrect listing at one number higher.
Posted by: ScottV at Aug. 29, 2007 11:44 PM
