Grant’s tomb 3/4 race definitively owned by Brendan Cornett.
By Michael Sherry
While quite a few strong NYC/NJ team showed up to do battle at The Grant’s tomb Criterium it was 19 year old Brendan Cornett (Maine Cycling Club/Rainbow) who showed everyone how it’s done. Hey, who needs teammates when you’re invincible? The race got off to a quick start as expected. Teams put riders on the front to keep the pace high and separate the field early on. After only few laps the field quickly went from 100 riders to about 50.
Orcutt and Beerman stayed away longest, but were still brought back.
Mid race was animated by a lot of fruitless attacking. Sanchez–Metro, Westwood Velo, Merrill Lynch–Hincapie, Champion Systems, Blue Ribbon–Tranlations.com, VisitBritain.com, and countless others all tried their luck off the front. The most promising move of all was by Jon Orcutt (Merrill Lynch–Hincapie) and Jason Beerman (Champion System Racing), but even with both of their teams trying to block nothing was getting too far off the front. One reason was that there wasn’t enough representation with more chasing than bridging, and two, Brendan Cornett. He wasn’t afraid to stick himself out in the wind and help bring things back. Like I said, who needs teammates? In the end Brendan had it his way and showed the boys how to sprint. The podium was rounded out by Tom Sieno (unattached?), and Jason Beerman (Champion System Racing).
Your author, Ceccolini, Cornett, Sieno, and Beerman.
1. Brendan Cornett Maine Cycling Club/Rainbow
2. Tom Sieno
3. Jason Beerman Champion System Racing
4. Ed Ceccolini Westwood Velo
5. Tiger Williams
6. Michael Sherry CRCA/Merrill Lynch/Hincapie Sportswear
7. Morgan Stebbins
8. Stephen Harvey CRCA/Next/Sanchez
9. Juan Aracena Team Tread
10. Jerry Martinez CRCA/Strictly Bicycles
I drove by Rainbow Cycles in Maine a couple weeks ago — that’s a long way away!
i love rainbows
I love unicorns!
Happy to see the Pride Flag waved so proudly at the line. Thank you Brendan! BTW, I also love unicorns.
Sorry to say fellas, the color has nothing to do with pride. Rainbow Bicycles had it way before it stood for pride.
Must have hurt your guys NYC pride to have a little ole rider from Maine bust your chops :)!!
Thank you Mr. Sherry for the very flattering race report, and thank you JB for clarifying things. Also, does anyone know if there was video of this race, thanks:)
I bet ‘Mr.’ Sherry feels old now.