With a fan’s large Australian flag flapping over the finish line, two Aussies hit the podium Firday at Superweek’s opener in Beverly.

Australian national criterium champion Bernie Sulzberger (Fly V Australia) won out of a 12-man break, followed by teammate and 2008 overall winner Jonathan Cantwell in 3rd. In 2nd was Chad Burdzilauskas (Kenda), shown above launching a bridge to an early move.

Attacks started on the first lap. Eventually a 13-man break formed and lapped the field less than halfway through the 62-mile criterium. After several primes and an intermediate sprint, a second break of 12 formed, including 10 from the original break, and it built about a minute on what was left of the field. Fly V Australia had three in this second break and used its numbers to its advantage.

Of the approximately 80 riders who started, no more than 35 finished. I could be wrong, but although Wisconsin riders Rob White (Geargrinder), James Stemper (Geargrinder) and Andy Crater made both breaks, I didn’t spot any Chicago riders among the finishers.

Rock Racing was not present, but other elite teams included Garmin-Slipstream, which sent two Dutch riders, Ricardo Van der Velde and Hans Dekkers, the latter of whom earned the red points jersey.

Full results.

Update: Elgin’s Douglas Street Bar and Grill will be hosting OpenSprints fixed-fork roller races Sunday. These races are fun, and could be a good way to spin the post-race pain out of your legs. The restraurant is at 231 Douglas Ave., close to the start/finish.

Race reports
Adam Mills (Mercy; P/1/2): “Superweek is a place where time has a different meaning, where the only time that matters is the race start time and when Noodles or Chipotle close”

Photos
Luke Seemann
John Wilke