Some deep fields visited Wood Dale and Batavia this weekend for ABD’s three-day masters extravaganza. Some highlights, and one lowlight:

• » The 40+ races must have been something, what with the usual Team Mack vs. Lucas Oil grudge match, plus chronic national champion Curtis Tolson (Texas Roadhouse) there to make it even more interesting. Tolson won Saturday, then Clark Priebe notched one for Mack on Sunday and Dave Stone took Monday for Lucas Oil. Shame that Mark Swartzendruber (Lucas Oil) wasn’t there to provide his usual commentary.

• » Tolson’s wife Tracy Tolson (Texas Roadhouse) swept the women’s 40+ races.

• » In addition to his 40+ win, Priebe won Saturday’s 30+ race. Cory Hickman (Vitaminwater-Trek) won the other two 30+ races, the only other multiple winner I spot in the larger fields.

• » Saturday saw some terrible crashes, including one that sent the popular Mike Jones (MetCycling) to the hospital. We’re going to miss him. Speedy recovery, Doc.

• » The Beacon News has a story about the “200 professional cyclists” who raced in Batavia, complete with photo gallery.

Not too many people hit Indiana’s Great Race series, but there were some podium appearances. In the criterium, Jeff Popelka (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) got 3rd in the citizens criterium and Long Grove’s Andrew Starykowicz (Unattached) got 3rd in the 30+ 1/2/3. In Monday’s road race, Doug Braun of the new Tower Racing squad placed 2nd in the 4’s race, while Chicago’s Jeanette Schrand (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) and Lindsay Jones (Unattached) went 2-3 in the women’s open. Finally, Pieter Ombregt‘s father Ludwig Ombregt (XXX Racing-AthletiCo), visiting from Belgium, placed 2nd in the 40+ road race. Gefeliciteerd!

And last but not least we have the Duluth Classic, a four-day stage race in Minnesota. Last week an insider asked me to handicap the field of Chicago riders. “Brian Haas (Alberto’s) in the 35+ is on good form,” I told him. “He’ll break some legs.” Sure enough, Haas won both road races over the weekend, but unfortunately that didn’t make up for the time he lost in the opening time trial, and he finished the weekend 7th overall.

Jason Schisler broke away from the closing crit and finished 2nd, earning enough time to bump him from 11th into 6th overall in the 3’s. Tamara Fraser also needed a good result Monday to move up and got it, getting 4th in the women’s 4’s crit to finish 5th overall. Finally, Evanston’s James Sauls (Vision Quest) finished 3rd overall in the masters 50+. He also won the final two king-of-the-mountain sprints on Sunday to clinch the polka-dot jersey (shown above).

OMG, is that a camo leader’s jersey?

I’ve heard raves about the race’s organization and execution, and not just from my inside contact. It’s a long haul from Chicago, but time stage races are pretty special, and I expect an even larger contingent will make the trek next year.  If so, I may ask to bum a ride.

Full ABD Saturday results. Full ABD Sunday results. Full ABD Monday results. Full Great Race results. Full Duluth Classic results.

ABD photos
Carolyn Golz: Saturday, Sunday

ABR masters race reports
Gary Chioda (Tower Racing; 30+ 4) “The second of three Mack riders killed us. He covered every attempt to bridge up.”

Fran Connelly (Tower Racing; 30+ 5, 30+ 4): “We had dropped close to half the field in what seemed to me to be a somewhat blistering pace.”

Ron Cook (Project 5; Juniors 9-10, 30+ 1/2/3): “Ryon took off from the gun and never looked back.”

Rob Dongoski (North Branch; 30+ 4): “After a few Hail Marys, I looked back and saw more carnage happening on the other side of the road.”

Cory Hickman (30+ 1/2/3): “There was this fellow in the break with a really big potty mouth and an obvious dislike for other bike racers and everything else maybe.”

Terry O’Grady (Tower Racing; 30+ 4): “As the blood returned to my brain, I remembered my plan: ATTACK!”

Scott Van Maldegiam (Spin Doctor Cyclewerks; 30+ 4): “I thought I wasn’t going to make the turn. I did make the turn, but I had swallow as my heart was up in my throat.” (Day 1, Day 2)

Great Race reports
Doug Braun (Tower Racing; 4): “I crested the hill with a small gap and then started to hammer it as hard as I could. Only one rider was able to bridge and we agreed to work.”

Pat Dillon (Tower Racing; 4): “I’m not saying Tower Racing is ready for the Tour de France but we sure worked like a pro team at this race.”

Duluth Classic race reports
Tamara Fraser (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; W-4): “I suffered mightily and I enjoyed it!”

Tim Hayes (Grumpy’s/LGR; 3): “Coolest road race course I have ever done.”