Some highlights from this weekend’s ABD masters criteriums in Wood Dale:

• » Verizon Wireless saved its best for last. In Monday’s 40+ 1/2/3, Mark Swartzendruber soloed away, enabling teammate Dave Stone to sprint for 2nd out of the first of many chase groups. As a light rain started ahead of the 30+ race, Swartzendruber was quickly in street clothes, meaning Michael Zellman was on his own. No matter: A group of three formed about halfway through, and Zellman wound up a long sprint from the final corner to win.
• » Break specialist Scott Pearson (Comcast/Higher Gear) picked up the overall in the 30+. Although he missed Monday’s break, his 2nd and 1st the previous days had pretty much secured the win by then.
• » David Hudson (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) raced six times over the weekend and never finished outside the top 10, winning the 30+ 5’s overall and placing 5th in the overall for 40+ 5’s. The top 40+ 4 was Bob Karlow (Verdigris), who won two of the three races.
• » There was minor scandal in that 40+ 4’s field when it turned out that one of the top finishers was a few years shy of 40. Upon discovery, ABD struck his results and adjusted the tables accordingly.
• » The 50+ was as competitive as expected, with the usual suspects near the top. Masters national champion Wayne Simon (Verdigris) didn’t get a win, but accrued enough omnium points to nip Tom Doughty (Amgen/Masters) in the overall. Teammate Christian Zauner picked up the 40+, giving Verdigris three overall victories.

Full Saturday results. Full Sunday results. Full Monday results. Full overall results.

Saturday race reports
Andy Daley (Burnham Racing; 30+ 1/2/3): “It was simply attack, break gets off, break gets chased down, someone counters, another break gets away, break gets chased down, etc.”

Debbie Dust (PACT/Dish Network; 50+): “Lots of them are very strong, smart racers

— some current and former national and state champions —

so it was definitely going to be hard. (Fine with me!)”

Ed Hernandez (North Branch; 30+ 1/2/3): “Forget EPO, I had me some DPO

—

Druber Potential Optimization. I have come to play, fellas!”

Mark Swartzendruber (Verizon Wireless; 40+ 1/2/3, 30+ 1/2/3): “My faith has been fully restored in masters racing.”

Monday race reports
Debbie Dust (PACT/Dish Network; 50+): “My favorite quote of the day? Tom Doughty, making an observation as Fabio Orlandi attacks and opens a sizable gap, ‘That’s not good…’”

Tamara Fraser (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; W-40+): “She tried to exploit my my weakness in the corners, but these corners were so gentle, and the roads so wide, that I didn’t have even a moment of panic.”