Before each lower-category race at Saturday’s Sherman Park Criterium, coach Randy Warren (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) reminded riders that although the course was peppered with bumps and cracks, there was nothing that should have required riders to alter their paths. Nonetheless, some riders felt these imperfections had to be avoided at all costs, and often that cost was rubbing wheels and/or hitting the tarmac. Too bad. As far as I know none of the injuries were too serious, although Barry Tauerbaum (Alberto’s) suffered a shiner and cut that may long remain as racing mementos. The day’s chutzpah award goes to Peter Strittmatter and Leonard Hatcher of XXX Racing-AthletiCo, who attacked from the first stroke of the 4’s race. Hatcher pulled off after helping establish the break and was replaced by teammates Newt Cole and pro triathlete Chris Riekert. Riekert led the 12-man group to a blistering 27 mph pace — quite possibly the fastest race on the day. Unfortunately for him, he would experience one of bike racing hard truths: Ours is not a contest to see who goes the fastest. It’s a contest to see who can cross the line first, and in this case it was Eric Young (Morris Trucking) taking a tight sprint. Host XXX Racing-AthletiCo had the numbers to rabbit-punch their way to victory in two races. With Tamara Fraser and Emily MacDonald part of a four-woman break well off the front of the women’s masters/4’s race, four lady XXXers team-time-trialed their way to bridge with reinforcements. That freed Fraser up to attack and stay off solo to win. This after the men in black had rattled off attack after attack in a fast 5’s race, wearing down the field and setting up Kyle Wiberg, Grant Davis and Erik Didriksen to go 1-2-3. There were plenty of attacks in the 3’s race, many of them featuring Team Get a Grip Cycles and Vitaminwater-Trek. When the winning break finally stuck, it was Alex Voitik (Turin) enjoying the benefits of the other two teams’ blocking, attacking Aspen Gorry (Get a Grip) with one to go to ride home solo. Adam Lesniakowski (PACT-Dish Network) drove a four-man break that lasted more than half of the masters 1/2/3 race, yet had enough in the tank to take a sprint over Marc Zionts (Alberto’s). In the masters 4/5’s race, 5’s winner Wiberg gave a blistering leadout to set up Newt Cole (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) for the win. The women’s open race featured a guest appearance from newly named Paralympian Greta Neimanas (XXX Racing-AthletiCo), who will be representing her county in Beijing this summer. It didn’t take long for her and teammate Fraser to form a break with Francine Haas (Alberto’s). As soon as they were off, they’d lapped the field. As soon as they’d lapped the field, Haas and Neimanas had broken free again, with Haas taking a lead out of Turn 4 for the win. The P/1/2/3 race was as confusing as a 100-lap Madison race with two groups lapping the field. (The first of these groups comes together in the photo above.) Twelve riders eventually made it across with about 30 minutes left to race. Isolated riders attempted to break free again, but Get a Grip, Vitaminwater-Trek and XXX Racing-AthletiCo marked each attempt in order to protect the teammates who still had a shot at winning. In the end Michael Heagney (PYOC), a member of the initial eight, won the sprint without the benefit of a leadout, spreading his arms wide as he won a few meters ahead of Ed Amstutz (XXX Racing-AthletiCo). Full results.

Photos Daniel Bliss Carolyn Golz Luke Seemann Vitaminwater-Trek Ed White

Race reports Donovan Braud (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 5): “All of our attacking efforts led to a full XXX podium at race’s end.”

John Coyle (Wolverine Sports Club; P/1/2): “We were in a reverse breakaway. 20 riders up the road and for whatever reason or discipline, teams were still blocking. I took over the front again and led. and led some more. I suck at leading, but I probably led 4 or 5 laps before I completely gave up the ghost. ”

Grant Davis (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 5): “The two of us went for the line bumping shoulders and giving it our all.”

Tamara Fraser (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; W-35+, W-open): “I rode the lap as hard as I could manage and crossed the line in first place! And this year I raised an arm in victory.”

Nick Gierman (Vitaminwater-Trek; 4): “I felt gassed and wasn’t sure I would be able to hold on and keep the pace up, but I dug deep and pushed myself a little harder.”

Jim Hamman (Tower Racing; 30+ 4/5): “I have no recollection of hitting the pavement or how I got there.”

Brian Morrissey (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5, 4): “With the speed ramping up on the last lap, I suddenly found my handlebars locked with another rider. ”

Ella Neurohr (Unattached; 10-12): “A guy behind me was yelling ‘You’re getting beat by a girl, and she’s half you’re age!’ at one of the boys I passed.”

Chris Padfield (Team Pegasus; 4): “By the time I realized I was getting screwed my day was over.”

Brian Parker (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5, 4): “On the back stretch there is a decent bump that has a tendency to make some people go all clown shoes and do ridiculous things they maybe know they should not do, but they do it anyways. Ride over the bump and take it and end of story; swerve to miss it, CARNAGE ensues.”

Chris Riekert (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4): “Just like in a Schwarzenegger movie there was a lot of pointless collateral damage and absolutely no tactics whatsoever. Just brute force from square one.”

Luke Seemann (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 1/2/3, 3, P/1/2/3): “I was merely hoping to hang on long enough for a break to get off so I could settle in for a leisurely ride in the caboose.”

Sue Semaszczuk (ABD; W-open): “As soon as i caught the end of that break, my stomach was in my throat. I felt lightheaded and like I was vibrating. I swear, I was about to throw up on my bike.”

Mike Shea (Spider Monkey Cycling; 5): “The winning move came from a XXX rider who jumped at 200m and pulled away so damn strong and smooth that even as the race was happening I couldn’t help but admire it.”

Andy Skeen (ABD; P/1/2/3): “I took a couple of good digs, and got rid of some people who weren’t pulling their share of the load.”

Matt Smith (Vitaminwater-Trek; 30+ 1/2/3, 3, P/1/2/3): “No breakaway in the races I was in was the result of huge efforts or selections; they were manufactured selections, of which I admittedly played a part.”

Calvin Smythe (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4): “I jump on his wheel and sit there, legs aching, eyes hurting, ears throbbing.”

Paolo Urizar (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5): “I did what I’ve always wanted to do in a road race and that is be the guy up in front pulling the entire field.”

Kyle Wiberg (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 5, 30+ 4/5): “Tension behind is building.  Subconscious takes over. I hear Eric say ‘Go.’”