Our intrepid reporter Mihael has sent this report of the Tour de Parc. There is a special level of Hades reserved for copy editing Mihael’s reports. Photos allegedly to follow.

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Pro 123

First thing I noticed was lots of matching Jamis bikes on roof rack, then lots of Sakonnet riders. Most were young, ripped, and had fashionable mullets. Badger (Sakonnet assistant manager), was also there, with a much better hair style. There was Basil, Oregano, and some other elite looking riders I did not see listed on their roster. Mengoni also had a strong team, with almost their entire team present.

Race promoter, Charlie I, warned riders that if there was thunder the race would be cut short. I sprinted off of the starting line before the race started for my rain poncho and camera. I already got dropped in the Master, I did not feel like getting dropped in the rain. The race was blistering the first few laps with gaps forming everywhere. Sakonnet was the main aggressor with Mengoni making sure they were represented. Five get clear, 2 Sakonnet: Dave Winwell (did not recognize the other guy), 2 Mengoni: Gavi and Lisban, and Mark Brinken from ReMax. After the break gained almost a minute, Brinken couldn’t handle the pace. He did not give up and stayed in no mans land for a few laps. Attacks and blocking continued, the 4 man break was about to catch the field, but sat up with 3 to go to battle it out among themselves although they all had team mates in the field. Sakonnet’s Dave Winshel won with a Mengoni rider taking second in a close sprint. Sakonnet riders attacked many times and one of them gets off the front for 5th, with Mengoni’s Pollo and a Burrow’s brother leading in the field.

35 plus

Lots of good guys in a field I would guess to be over 40. The pace, the wind and course shed many, me included. TargeTraining seem to have an advantage as they were attacking with Tony Taylor and Scot Bodin, on a regular basis. The 45 plus winner was also noticeably off the front. Sakonnet was represented with The Badger and the spice (Basil). In the end, it would be one of the few field sprints of the day, which turned very ugly after the finishing line as Axis’s Zoltan inadvertently, bumped TargeTraining’s Tony Taylor’s handlebars pushing for the line. Zoltan yelled at Tony, and Tony yelled at Zoltan, but pictures do not lie. No one meant for it to happen, it was in the spirit of competition. Although the speed was close or over 40 mph, no was seriously hurt

Abdul from TargeTraining would take the close win with Tony Taylor coning in second and Glen Schneider of Colavita taking third. Zoltan took 4th and the rest slammed their brakes and skidded across the finishing line to take the last spots in the money.

Charlie I had an ambulance there in no time patching the riders up. Zotan , bloody and bandaged raced and finished the 1,2,3 race.

34 race

Heavy favorite Ken Harris went hard right away, The wind was his friend, and it was windy. The largest field of the day (80?) was strung out. Remax’s cat 3: Gabe Loyd countered, a 5 man break formed with Ken Harris, Gabe Lloyd, Juan Pimental, Scot Willingham, and Thomas Bencivengo. Behind the large field was split in two after an Edgemont rider’s chain broke causing two other riders to tumble in the grass. Back in the break, Ken attacked constantly, and once the gap was established, the others worked together to keep Ken in sight. They all wanted Ken on their side, but once you reach Ken – you must work or Ken will let the others catch and Ken will go again. With a few laps to go the Champion rider got dropped and there were 4 sprinting for the win. Gabe attacked with 500 meters. He couldn’t hold it and Juan easily won the sprint with Ken showing a bit of a sprint himself taking 2nd. Gabe 3rd and Scott rolled in for a well deserved 4th.

Women

Did not see most of the race as I was needlessly warming up for my race, but it did seem like Comedy Central had a firm grip on the race. They would attack, and if nothing stuck, they seemed content for a field sprint, which they got with, Carol Gayle easily take the win.