By JT Tomlinson

Nancy Morgenstern Memorial Bear Mountain Fall Classic

Harriman State Park, New York, USA, September 11, 2005

For the first time in five years, late-season racing came to New York’s Harriman State Park. The occasion was the Nancy Morgenstern Memorial Bear Mountain Fall Classic on September 11. Nancy was a member of the promoting club who was killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City. Each field started off after hearing a few words about Nancy and her life from close friend Tara Parsons, and then taking a moment’s reflection on the tragedy of the 9/11 attacks and also the importance of friends and family. Nancy’s parents Hanie and Suri Morgenstern were on hand to share thoughts and memories with the cycling community.

As always on this classic course, the racing was hard — best suited to riders that can climb, ride in the wind AND sprint. The 84-mile men’s pro-1-2 race had a popular winner in Melito Heredia of GS Gotham/Toga. Together with former Baby Tour of Italy winner Davide Frattini of Colavita, he forced the pace heading into the last lap with a few other riders. The two of them left that group to finish a few seconds ahead. Daniel Greenfield, who had won the spring race on this same course, took third. Earlier the race had been animated by a break of almost 20 riders.

Heredia and Frattini. Photo Marco Quezada.

There were two women’s races. The women’s 4 race was won in a two-up sprint by Nancy Ford, who took home one of the two Nancy Morgenstern Trophies. In the elite women’s race, nine-riders representing most of the key teams escaped on the third of four climbs up Tiorati Brook Road. That was it — though two Saab/CBRC riders were able to bridge to the leaders on the last lap, giving that team three riders in front. In the end it Mara Miller of the Somerset Wheelmen winning the sprint and a Nancy Morgenstern Trophy.

Tara Parsons unwrapping the Nancy Morgenstern Trophy, Rosanne Lent, Mara Miller, Ashley Kimmet, and race promoter Mike Green. Photo Marco Quezada.

Other noteworthy performances included 15-year old Filip Capala finishing in the front group of the men’s 4 race, and a nearly race-long breakaway by David Taylor to win the men’s 40+ event.

All in all it was a day of hard racing and also of contemplation about the sport and what is important to each of us. As racer Caitlyn McCullough put it afterwards, it’s good sometimes “to be reminded that things aren’t permanent — and to really love what you are doing right now.”

Next on the schedule in the northeastern US is the Univest Grand Prix in Souderton, Pennsylvania on September 17 and 18. A UCI-sanctioned event, the Univest Grand Prix helps develop young American riders by giving them an opportunity to compete against an international level field. The race has been a proving ground for professionals such as Tom Boonen and Todd Herriott.