Iowa once again attracted some of the best riders from the Midwest and beyond this Memorial Day weekend. Some of the local highlights:

• » Argentina. Ukraine. Trinidad & Tobago. Those are the countries whose national champions lined up for Friday’s Burlington-Wapello-Burlington Road Race. Will Nowak (Verizon u25) made it into a break with two of them, and with the pack bearing down on this threesome, he initiated the sprint, only to be overcome and have to settle for 3rd. As is becoming the Verizon u25 modus operandi, teammate Mike Sherer finished strong in the field sprint, coming in 2nd for 5th overall.
• » In my preview of the weekend I neglected to note how dodgy the downhill finish can be at the Wapello-Burlington Road Race, especially in the lower categories.  As usual, fast, violent crashes marred the end of this year’s 5’s race, but Owen Aronson (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) avoided the mayhem to finish 2nd. But here’s your warning for next year: That downhill finish is dodgy as hell.
• » Just how does a Ukrainian national champion riding for an Italian team end up in rural Iowa, anyhow? As usual, Steve Tilford (Tradewind Energy/Trek Stores) has some interesting thoughts on the matter. In any case, on a day where the heat was just as oppressive as the famous cobbled climb of Snake Alley, Volodymyr Starchyk (Amore & Vita-Conad) overcame a rear start position Saturday and proceeded to ride away from a blockbuster field like it was the kiddie trike race. Only Paul Martin (Texas Roadhouse) was able to present a challenge, but a dropped chain derailed that. Out of a large group chasing, Sterling’s Bryce Mead (Texas Roadhouse) managed 7th, Ryan Fruend (Verizon u25) 13th.
• » Fox River Grove proved to be the perfect tune-up for Snake Alley, helping Chicago assert itself on the famous cobbled climb, especially in the 4’s, where 7 of the top 10 hailed from Chicago, including winner Ryan Fay, who overcame the leader on the final descent to take the win. Eric Christ (Bicycle Heaven) joined him on the podium in 3rd. XXX Racing-AthletiCo got two others in the top 10, and Rhythm Racing’s Evan Jahn and John Villena finished 5th and 7th.
• » Avi Neurohr (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew) deserves a brick for racing three times at Snake Alley: two masters races and the 4’s.
• » I confess to giving juniors short shrift in these pages, partly owing to the size and competitiveness of their fields. Not so in Iowa, where the juniors ranks were large and impressive. Brandon Feehery muscled into the top 10 in all three crits, including a 2nd at Quad Cities. Strong finishes in the juniors races also came from IS Corp’s Kaleb Koch and Chazz Martin, and Koch also found time to finish 3rd in the 4’s at Quad Cities.
• » Kristen Meshberg (Flatlandia) has been banging on the door at Quad Cities, finishing 2nd in both 2008 and 2009. This time she broke through, winning out of a strong women’s 1/2/3 field.
• » Dave Stone (Verizon Wireless) hit for the cycle in the 40+, placing 3rd, 1st and 2nd at Snake Alley, Melon City and Quad Cities, respectively.
• » Top Melon City results include Ryan Freund (Verizon u25), who finished 5th after making the break in the P/1/2’s. Cady Chintis (Alberto’s), Mia Moore (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) and KIm Gialdini took 2nd, 4th and 5h in the women’s 4’s. Julio Jacobo (PYOC) has been paddling his canoe well all year; riding without teammates, he finished 2nd in the 3’s. And Dave Reed (EMC2) got 6th in a 30+ race that saw three pros take the podium spots.
• » In the notorious Cage Match of Quad Cities, Chicago riders went 1-2 in the 3’s behind winner Ryan Zook (Comcast) and Henry Loud (ReCycling), and Ian Murray pulled off a 2nd in the 4’s.

Full Burlingon Road Race results. Full Snake Alley results. Full Melon City results. Full Quad Cities results.

Burlington Road Race reports
The Hawk Eye: “The Burlington Road Race exhibited an international flair Friday.”

Lew Chin (Rhythm Racing; 3/4): “Everyone at the back wants to be up front. Recipe for disaster? Maybe.”

John Meyers (Verizon u25; P/1/2): “I thought it was pretty funny just how chippy people were getting at the end of that race. We were bumping bars a solid 15 miles from the finish jockeying for position. It never stopped.”

Matt Riezman (Spidermonkey Cycling; 5): “The last thing I saw was a carbon wheel near my head.”

Joe Tortorelli (Verizon Wireless; 3/4): “With 30mph+ going up the roller we just couldn’t shake the field. Bummer.”

Verizon u25 (P/1/2): “In the field sprint the group was spread across the road as they barreled toward the finish.”

Snake Alley reports
Amore & Vita-Conad: “Sul traguardo in salita di Burlington lo scalatore di Amore & Vita – Conad non ha avuto rivali.” (Translation.)

Ryan Fay (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4): “This is the finest race I think I’ll have the honor of competing in and to get the win here means the world to me.”

Kim Gialdini (Flatlandia; W-4): “The snake was everything that everyone had told me.”

The Hawk Eye: “With four laps left, Starchyk came down Jefferson Street on his own.” “Miller was in control from the start, and no one had an answer for her charge.”

Lew Chin (Rhythm Racing; 4): “My eyes were rolled fully back into my head and the pounding of my heart distorted the sounds my ears were trying to process.”

Chris Kinonen (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+, 3): “It wasn’t the result, but rather the journey.”

Kristen Meshberg (Flatlandia; W-P/1/2): “I got a great start and got the ‘hole shot’ hitting the hill first.”

Avi Neurohr (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew; 40+, 30+, 4): “‘Wheelie!’ they cried, and the crowd I obliged.”

William Pankonin (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4): “This race is Fox River Grove on crack.”

Jannette Rho (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew; W-P/1/2/3): “I’m lapped by the two leaders. Cool with me. One less lap to do!”

Matt Riezman (Spidermonkey Cycling; 5): “Big man no go up hill.”

Steve Tilford (Tradewind Energy (P/1/2): “Everyone was overheated and had held up the white surrender flag.”

Chris Uberti (Panther; P/1/2): “Stuck with the group till five to go, then blew sky high, partly because of some dumb riding on the Snake, but mostly because of the heat.”

Verizon u25 (P/1/2): “Freund confessed he worked often on the flats to make sure that he was on the front and could ‘sag’ climb the Snake each lap.”

Snake Alley photos
Morpheus3230
USA Cycling (video)
Verizon u25

Melon City reports
Lew Chin (Rhythm Racing; 4, 30+): “Halfway through and feeling OK, the heat begins to take its toll and I start to wonder which cards to play.”

Shawn Delk (Project 5; 4): “The unique (and fun!) part is the speed hump at the very bottom of the downhill that if you want to carry your speed into the climb you need to bunny hop.”

Kim Gialdini (Flatlandia; W-4): “I believe I really could have won this race if I was better prepared mentally for that speed bump.”

Podium Insight: “Following the usual early aggressions a powerful group rolled off the front after 12 laps.”

Kristen Meshberg (Flatlandia; W-P/1/2): “I do not have good feelings towards this race and just did not have my head in the game today.”

John Meyers (Verizon u25; P/1/2): “Despite someone running into me from behind I managed to a) avoid being sodomized, b) avoid eating poo, and c) not break anything on my bike.”

Jannette Rho (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew; W-3): “It was again HOT and riders were cracking all day.”

Steve Tilford (Tradewind Energy/Trek Stores; P/1/2): “I’d rather be riding great and finish fourth than be riding bad and finish 2nd. First is a different deal.”

Chris Uberti (Panther; P/1/2): “The heat wasn’t too bad and I got into a sick breakaway with ALL the strong guys of the race.”

Verizon u25 (P/1/2): “Breaks that stay away at Melon City need to have boatloads of power.”

Melon City photos
McKimm

Quad Cities reports
Kim Gialdini (Flatlandia; W-4): “A rider in front of me skidded her wheel. Almost crashed. I lost my chance to go around and pass like I wanted to.”

Kristen Meshberg (Flatlandia; W-P/1/2/3): “I went into that race ready for battle.”

John Meyers (Verizon u25; P/1/2): “Not like I was going to be powering the poop out of that break anyways.”

Jannette Rho (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew; W-2/3): “We get going and riders go down like clockwork at Turn 7 for the first 5-6 laps.”

Steve Tilford (Tradewind Energy/Trek Stores; P/1/2): “It was enough for me to grab a handfull of brake and I ended up scrubbing so much speed I ended up 6th. I lost 3 places in 75 meters. I was not going to win so it didn’t really matter.”

Joe Tortorelli (Verizon Wireless; 3): “Tail-gunnin’ the first eight laps. Jumping around people getting shelled.”