That loud explosion you heard Saturday may have been the sound of the Cat 4/5 field detonating on the first lap of the Whitnall Park Criterium in Hales Corner, Wis. A capacity field quickly dwindled to about 50, with more casualties on each lap. Some early attacks failed to gel, so it was left to Stan Schultz (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew) to barrel up the hill and take the win in the sprint, followed by Schaumburg’s James Pradun (Unattached) in 4th and Joe Bippus (South Chicago Wheelmen) in 5th, as captured in in this video. (The first two riders across the line are a lap down.) By my math this is the fifth different person to podium for the Cuttin’ Crew this year, impressive depth for such a small squad.

In the masters 3/4 race, a XXX Racing-AthletiCo rider spent about 25 minutes in a two-man break only to be consumed about 300 meters from the line. This video captures the final frantic laps. (Check out that awesome throw at 2:06!) Top local finishers in the ensuing field sprint included Tim Keeley (ABD) in 2nd and Arlington Heights’ Jason Rudroff (Unattached)  in 4th.

A lively 3’s race finally yielded a five-man group with about 20 minutes to go, including Rockford’s Jordan Heimer (Geargrinder), Aspen Gorry (Team Get a Grip Cycles) and a XXX Racing-AthletiCo rider. After a cat-and-mouse five-up sprint, Heimer proved himself the cat, with Gorry coming in third as the second-largest mouse. Tomasz Boba took 2nd in the field sprint for 7th overall.

The women’s open race saw Devon Haskell (Team Get a Grip Cycles) escape with two ISCorp riders. Despite being outnumbered she held them off for the win, with teammate Val Brostrom cleaning up for 6th and Francine Haas (Alberto’s) getting 8th.

Other good results from Whitnall Park: Chazz Martin (Smart Cycling) 5th in the juniors 15-18, Adam Lesniakowski (PACT-Dish Network) 6th in the masters 1/2/3 and Ken Delo hanging on for 6th after dropping off the breakaway in the P/1/2/3 race.

Doesn’t look like a lot of Chicago-area riders participated in the weekend’s other races, although I see Andres Romero (North Branch) got a top-10 in Sheboygan and at the Brown County Road Race Lindsay Koren (Team Get a Grip Cycles) took 4th in a women’s open race stacked with Team Tortuga riders.

I know a handful of riders went to Iowa, but I haven’t seen results yet.  I gather from Matt Smith‘s report, however, that it was a tough, windy weekend out west. UPDATE: Results are up. Jason Schisler (Vision Quest) got 3rd in the Cat 3 road race, and in the crit, Kenilworth’s James Bird (ISCorp) and Chazz Martin (Smart Cycling) went 1-2 in the 15-16 juniors race.

Full Whitnall Park results. Full Iowa City Road Race results. Full Evergreen Park results. Full Brown County results. Full Old Capitol Criterium results.

Whitnall Park photos
Val Brostrom

Whitnall Park race reports
Tamara Fraser (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; W-4): “I crossed the line at my max, dried snot all over my face, just about ready to vomit. Bike racing is so charming.”

Devon Haskell (Team Get a Grip Cycles; W-open, 3): “What has the ideal blend of carbs, protein, fat, and deliciousness?  No, it’s not the latest supplement-rich, protein-filled, fruity-flavored powder. The answer is frozen custard.”

Ed Hernandez (North Branch; 3): “I looked around them to see a gap of two bike lengths. Dang, hammer, boy, hammer. This [stuff] is gonna suck right here, but ya gotta hammer.”

Jeff Holland (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5, 4/5): “I’d rather race for 1st place and finish 35th than race for 35th and finish 35th.”

Tim Keeley (ABD; 30+ 3/4, 3): “Apparently head-to-head a 155 lb. leprechaun cannot go downhill as fast as a 200 lb. man with tats on his calves. “

Brian Morrissey (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 4/5, 4): “It felt like every rider who came past as the hill crested whacked me with a baseball bat.”

Chris Padfield (Team Pegasus; 4/5): “I got bored. I took the prime bait, hook-line-sinker, and attacked. Whether my attack was strong enough that no one thought they could follow, or whether they were thinking of what a sucker I was, I don’t know. Either way, I took the prime uncontested.”

Stan Schultz (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew; 4/5): “GO GO GO GO GO GO GO!!!!!!! is repeating over and over through my head. As everyone dies half way up the hill I am going faster and faster. I am flying by people and I see the line. My legs feel like a machine and my chest is exploding with a cosmic-like glow.”

Luke Seemann (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+ 3/4, 3): “I’d spent all winter longing for a chance to win as a lion. Instead, I lost as mutton.”

Calvin Smythe (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4/5): “I need to gain the courage to crawl further into the cave of pain.”