
Photo by Luke Seemann
Kenosha Velosport wrap-up I
Pedals have turned in anger for the first time in 2010, although it’s hard to get too angry at a small ABR race where your primary objective is to stay warm.
Conditions warmed up by the afternoon but wind was the biggest factor at Sunday’s kick-off in Pleasant Prairie, Wis. A fierce headwind on the backstretch required concentration lest a gust turn a crossed wheel into a trip to the tarmac.
I heard more than one lower-category rider blame the wind for their inability to break away, but it didn’t stop Mark Swartzendruber (Verizon Wireless) from taking leave of both the 30+ and 40+ races. In the 40+, he lapped the field with Ricardo Otero (WDT-Allvoi) in tow and kept on going to win solo. In the ensuing 30+ he broke free again but couldn’t shake John Acker (Wheel & Sprocket) and settled for 2nd.
The 4’s and 5’s started separately but were a single group by the end of their race. Out of that scrum Bryan Witry (Spider Monkey Cycling) took 4th in the 4’s and Patryk Limanowicz (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) was 1st among the 5’s.
Continuing an ABR tradition of “call your own category,” Chris Padfield and some of his ReCycling mates lined up for the 3’s. After some early attacks, Padfield escaped and cruised to a win (photo above). A tangle in the chase brought a handful of riders down, including ReCycling’s Bryan McVey and Ben LaForce. Scott Knoepke (Psimet) caught the worst of it and left in an ambulance, but he’s already back on the bike.
Meanwhile, Mark Serafin (PACT/Dish Network) showed his usual stellar spring form by winning the field sprint for 2nd. I’ve lost count of how many Kenosha field sprints Serafin has won over the years, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s double digits.
Padfield doubled up with the 1/2’s race and finished 4th, having helped initiate the chase after two unattached Wisconsin riders slipped away from a small field.
No Chicago women made the trip, aside from Debbie Dust (PACT/Dish Network), who threw down with the masters men, finishing 8th in the 40+ and 3rd in the 50+. Interesting to see Sam Schneider (Tibco) of West Allis, Wis., make an appearance in the women’s race: She’s one of three women with Midwestern roots to join that top pro team this year.
Racing continues the next two Sundays, weather permitting.
Race reports
Stephen Butler (Wheel Fast; 4): “The field never strings out, which is both a good and a bad thing.”
Debbie Dust (PACT/Dish Network; 40+, 50+): “I decided to just roll off the front and was surprised to see that I had a gap.”
Ed Hernandez (North Branch; 30+): “Within two laps, the attacks had begun and the hammerfest was underway.”
Chris Padfield (ReCycling; 3, 1/2): “Extra Belgian-style training points for the wind.”
Luke Seemann (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 1/2): “Having a teammate — especially incognito — could make or break the race.”
Mark Swartzendruber (Verizon Wireless; 30+, 40+): “I cajoled the Spanish sprinter to take a pull or two, to which he indicated he could (would) not and suggested that he was more than happy with 2nd place so long as I did not attack him.”
Andrew Zens (Spider Monkey Cycling; 3, 4): “All attacks had the same result: They died on the back stretch as they went straight into the 20 mph wind.”
Photos
Katie Cook
John Wilke
Sunday
Kenosha Velopsort Spring Training Series
ABR Criterium
Pleasant Prairie, Wis.
Distance from Chicago: 1.5 hours
2009 wrap-ups: I, II















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