Blueberry report for 1-2-3, 35+, 45+
After 1/2 lap of incredibly slow racing, Navigator pro attacked. Sonke Theil covered and said he felt like retreating to the field because it was so hard. 2 laps later they were joined by 2 others. They held off the field by about 20 secs. in the end. Nav. won, Sonke 3rd. In the 35+, 4 big teams. A break of 6 representing all of them but one, ours, went with 1 and 1/2 laps to go. I bridged with one other and that was the race. Chuck Carnila won by 2 lengths in the sprint. I was 2nd. 45+ – Field chased everything and then sat up. No counters. Discouraging. 3 slipped away in last 4 miles including my teammate, Kenny Hochman, the owner of my team. One bridged and I rode like a putz at the front of the field and through the last 2 corners (I’m not supposed to start at the inside and drift to the outside slowing all the time?) The break held off and Kenny took 2nd.

that guys has some serious instincts, always aim for the grass !

Blueberry report for 1-2-3, 35+, 45+
After 1/2 lap of incredibly slow racing, Navigator pro attacked. Sonke Theil covered and said he felt like retreating to the field because it was so hard. 2 laps later they were joined by 2 others. They held off the field by about 20 secs. in the end. Nav. won, Sonke 3rd. In the 35+, 4 big teams. A break of 6 representing all of them but one, ours, went with 1 and 1/2 laps to go. I bridged with one other and that was the race. Chuck Carnila won by 2 lengths in the sprint. I was 2nd. 45+ – Field chased everything and then sat up. No counters. Discouraging. 3 slipped away in last 4 miles including my teammate, Kenny Hochman, the owner of my team. One bridged and I rode like a putz at the front of the field and through the last 2 corners (I’m not supposed to start at the inside and drift to the outside slowing all the time?) The break held off and Kenny took 2nd.

Pro/1-2-3

1. David Wiswell (CRCA/Sakonnet)
2. Lisban Quintero (GS Mengoni)
3. Guy East (CRCA/Sakonnet)
4. Gavriel Epstein (GS Mengoni)
5. Michael Chauner (CRCA/Sakonnet)
6. Chris Ruhl (CRCA/Sakonnet)
7. "Pollo" Marte (GS Mengoni)
8. Horace Burrowes (WS United)
9. Anthony Lowe (CRCA/Visit Britain)
10. Tom Dolan (CSR)
11. Alex Ferrero (CRCA/Sakonnet)
12. Scott Bodin (TargetTraining)

Category 3/4

1. Juan Pimental (Global Locate)
2. Ken Harris (CRCA/Merill Lynch)
3. Gabriel Lloyd (CRCA/ReMax)
4. Scott Willingham (CRCA/Metro Sanchez)
5. Thomas Bencivengo (Champion System)
6. Brandon Lee (Kissena)
7. Chris Uglietta (CRCA/Jonathan Adler)
8. Luis Perez (CRCA/Sakonnet)

Women

1. Caryl Gale (CRCA/Comdey Central
2. Kimile Taylor (CRCA/Radical Media)
3. Sarah Chubb Sauvayre (CRCA/Comdey Central)
4. Ellen Moses (CRCA/Comdey Central)
5. Cheryl Wolf (Bethel)

Masters 35+

1. Abdul Kabia (TargetTraining)
2. Tony Taylor (TargetTraining)
3. Scott Bodin (TargetTraining)
4. Zoltan Tisza (CRCA/Axis)
5. Glenn Schneider (Colavita)
6. Stephen Badger (CRCA/Sakonnet)
7. David Sommerville (Champion System)
8. Alan Buday (Unatt)

Masters 45+

1. Colman O’Connor (MBRC/Bicycle Link)
2. Chris Gugliemo (CTS)
3. Jose Collado (Global Locate)
4. Glenn Schneider (Colavita)
5. Gerardo Martinez (Global Locate)
6. Doug O’Neill (CTS)
7. Morgan Stebbins (TargetTraining)
8. Brian Wolf (Bethel)

Category 5

1. Jan Micko (GBSC)
2. Hal Winsake (Unatt)
3. Calvin Campell (Westwood Velo)
4. Skender Sakajami (Liberty Cycle)
5. Isaac Dinner (Columbia Univ)

I would like to personally thank all the race sponosrs (Hank Williams’ Allstate Agency, Brands Cycle, Kreb Cycle, The Bicycle Planet, Accelerade,Champion System), officials, pace drivers, registration volunteers and marshals. Riders – next time you see these people also offer a quick "thank you" and let them know you appreciate all their hard work.

Thanks to Charlie Issendorf for putting on a great race; glad the weather held off.

I’ll have full results done tonight and will send off to Charlie and have Andy post them here.

Well ok than. First six miles (1/2 a lap more, or less) 26,2 mph the whole race was run at 26.9 mph. Hope that’s good enough.

don’t respond to PP. she’s just bitter that her mosquito bites can’t hold our attention compared to the bumps of a housatonic. 6 fields 100 deep of sweaty menfolk pounding up those hills. mmmm.

Thanks I’ll remember that the next time Im insulting you

where’s the crash pic from?

Shoot – I am going to check my chain. Though this has only happened to me once in my entire life – while training.

So for the most part, it appears the usual suspects got away in the 3/4 race. I have no clue why Juan is still racing as a 3 and I love the guy but, I am going to have to claim that he is sandbagging. Frankly, I am getting kind of sick of sandbaggers and ironically I was called one the other day. For the record, it has been a year since I last placed in an event and my best this year is 8th. Not to bad considering I had major surgery a couple of months ago. If you got the points – upgrade – or at least try to.

My usual 2 cents.

Ray

Juan is a 3 yes but he is also 35+ with a family I believe. To his credit he usually races Master’s races strictly but when he has a chance to do a couple he does, and usually places in both. I’m sure he doesn’t even train every day but when he does it is quality. Give the guy a break.

Also a small matter of the Montauk Century.
Which I know many snub cos it’s not a race and it’s flat etc, but it was still a 5am start and 145miles of steady pedalling.
Congrats to all who took part, you know who you are, even those not in team kit (call that disguise!) lol.

Andew LaCorte was in there somewhere – probably 15 or 16.

I’m sorry Ray but I have to disagree. Let the old men do what they want. Also your brother doesn’t race really much anymore and when he does it is only Prospect so he isn’t really a good example. I still love ya though.

I would agree with Ray on this… one key point is being missed. By staying in the 3 field and placing in every race, you’re taking away opportunity for upgrade points for the guys who do want to race in a higher cat.

I love Ray too – I bet Badger does too.

All the Albas are dreamy in my opinion!

Just curious how old is James Joseph?

have you seen ray’s thighs….

All must climb me in order to upgrade
In a 53… no less

alan, pascal (sauvayre) finished around where you have the ????listed in the 3/4 tour de parc results. i thought he was around 12th, but it was a tight finish.

Ray Don’t blame Juan or Ken just look what you are doing wrong in your training. Learn from them.
COLTS NECK 2006 RACE RESULTS
May 7, 2006 Cat 3
3. Juan Pimental
12. Ray Alba
—————————————————————————-
32nd Annual Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic
New York, NY
June 19, 2005
Men Pro/1/2/3
place
8 Juan Pimentel
37 Raymond Alba
Master 35 plus
7 Juan Pimentel
Cat 3
1 Ken Harris
Prime #617 Ken Harris 10 to go
Prime #617 Ken Harris 5 to go
———————————————————————
2005 Mengoni Grand Prix
Saturday, August 27, New York City
1. Anthony Lowe
2. John Mattio
3. Sean Marvel
4. Morgan Stebbins
25. Raymond Alba
39. Ken Harris
———————————————————————
Kissena Tuesday Night Race Series
June 14, 2005
Pro 1/2/3
35 starters
Action started from the gun with Ray Alba (Champion System) taking a first lap flyer and from there the attacks were non-stop
—————————————————————–
2005 Kissena Race Series Prospect Park Series
(Sorry I didn’t see you name)
September 10, 2005
August 28, 2005
August 13, 2005
August 6, 2005
July 24, 2005
July 9, 2005
June 26, 2005
May 22, 2005
——————————————————-
2005 Kissena Race Series Results
Floyd Bennett Field (Sorry I again never saw your name)
August 16, 2005
August 9, 2005
August 2, 2005
July 19, 2005
July 5, 2005
June 28, 2005
June 21, 2005
June 14, 2005
June 7, 2005
May 31, 2005
May 24, 2005
May 17, 2005
May 10, 2005
May 3, 2005
————————————————————-
International Tour de Toona 2005
Hoss’s Martinsburg Road Race
Men Category 3
DNF 302 ALBA Ray
——————————————————————-
International Tour de Toona 2005
Verizon Blair County Road Race
Men Category 3
53 302 ALBA Ray
————————————————————————————
Men 3/4
The 2004 Columbia University Grant’s Tomb Criterium
March 2004
2 88 Morgan Stebbins
54 2 Ray Alba
—————————————————————————————–
This are your own words on CRCA 7/31 2005 40+, C fields
Ray Alba
Jerry.. remember. You owe me a WIN… Please remember that… Ray
——————————————————————————————-
Dick Adamucci Memorial Road Race-results 5/23/2004
Men 1/2/3 – 60 miles
1.Roosevelt Martes-Mengoni
5.Ray Alba-Hells Kitchen Cycling
———————————————————————————————–
2004 NY City Championship Standings – Pro-1-2-3
25 Ray Alba
30 Juan Pimentel

my 2 cents. if a guy’s been a strong 3 and masters racer for a while he should race masters and 1/2/3 and not against 4’s. especialy in crits.. but whatever, the only thing to do is go out and beat him.. not complain

I still love you.

as a 4 I stopped wishing people would upgrade…there’s always some new monster that comes along to take their place. all you can do is try to train the best you can and ride a smart race and hope for the best.

having said that it is kind of strange that 3’s have the choice of racing against 4’s, or against P-1-2’s. big difference.

Anyway if Ken or Juan aren’t at the race you didn’t finish in the top ten. Don’t cry

Sakonnet rode a very good race at Tour de Parc, those young guys are some heavy hitters.

It would be good to use your real name –

you all know ray alba owns the biggest dick in nyc. where he swings it… it goes. don’t fight the power.

the up grade to a 2 is pretty tough, it is always cool to see how far talent will take you, the problem is that once you are a two then what do you do? there are very few 2 only races, more than before but one has to travel. be careful what you wish for. getting dropped in the first 5 laps of a p 1.2 crit sucks, but it is all part of it

I agree somewhat with the KWK, Haters post. If you’re slaying 3’s left and right constantly, then the two progression may not pose a problem. If you’re ocassionally slaying 3’s on a good stretch of form then an upgrade could be a big chunk. I do, however, feel that assimulation is a eventual. Exposure to riding in an upgraded field will raise the game of most guys like K.Harris. In his case I think he can and would adapt to the conditions. Let us not forget that riding smart and beating fast guys can be learned through time. If Ken has to up the climbing game, he strikes me as the kind of guy that will doggedly go at in the same way he goes off the front in races!

"the problem is that once you are a 2 then what do you do? "

Start riding masters races?

not only is PP a bore
he can’t add too

Does anybody remember David Casidy? He was a cat 1 in Ireland. He moved to NYC, was a messenger and a cat 4. He would travel around the east cost winning just about any cat 4 race he wanted. He would even throw races, not to be noticed. After years of sandbagging they finally upgraded him before the tour of Michigan as many riders protested. He went on the win the cat 3 version of the 7 day race and go up against Tom Shular (who was a masters racer, but just retired from riding PRO the previous year) in a track like event where the winner gets a pick up truck. Dave told me how he was giving Tom Shular some sad story about how much the truck would mean to him and his family, before Tom dusted him in the sprint. Now he was a sandbagger, and my hero.

did anyone watch The Sopranos the other night? Tony accused Vito of sandbagging him.

You should talk! You know who you are. Get up off your fat ass and lose some weight. You look like Grizzly Adams. Better yet get a bike.

where are the photo’s

If I understand here, what your saying here is to sacrafice my chance at a top 20 place, maybe, for the good of the team, that is HOGWASH!! (Sacrcsim)

Hey Ray anybody tell you that you look like Ron Jeremy.

http://chypor.free.fr/ronjeremy.jpg

word is your hung like him too

I dont think USCF would let an active racers go from a 2 to a 3. Would they?

Don’t blame Adam he learnt it all from Schmaltz

"Even without a squad, I didn’t see you putting in for the chase."

If I was Luis I’d take that as a compliment. I’m sure he’s bummed to miss the break, but someone riding solo shouldn’t help the big teams.

When I’m patrolling the front for a teammate in a break, I play gatekeeper. If guys want to chase, I let them rotate in front of me. If someone jumps, I follow, sometimes I work with them – sometimes I don’t. This is called bike racing.

These other Merrill guys would be better served doing there own race and trying to get in the break with Harris. That might get them a result instead of the BS feeling that they did something that aided Ken in getting his placing. Weaker riders resort to this crap.

Case in point CRCA A cup last month with Harris in the break Sherry and Euri tried to bridge. No active blocking for guys like that.

I agree, Ken is smart racer and a good teamate. The problem is he is always on the other end so his team has to block for him 99% of the time.

Dearest "c",
Nice name. Wouldn’t MLs tactic have been to follow moves to the break? If no moves went that were capable of making it to the break. Why should they have instigated moves?

Bottom line "c", we’ve been winning races this year, I don’t know what team you’re on, captain anonymous, but I’d bet you might not have as successful a year teamwise as we have. Or maybe you’re on Axis – wait strike that – Axis can tell this asses from their elbows.

And C, Ken decides to do one FBF all year and he does it only to help a teammate? Does that sound selfish to you? Step away from the permanent markers you ‘ve been inhaling.

1-Schmaltz
0-C

On a serious note:
Manolo Saiz, manager of the Liberty-Seguros team has been arrested on doping charges, the Cadena Ser radio station reported on Tuesday.

"Police have arrested Manolo Saiz and the Liberty team doctor Eufemiano Fuentes on suspicion of being involved in doping," the radio said.

Liberty spokesman Jacinto Vidarte was not immediately available for comment. Saiz was detained in Spain and is not with his team at the Giro d’Italia.

The Spanish Cycling Federation could not immediately confirm the report. Federation spokesman Luis Roman denied reports that the cycling body had launched an investigation into Liberty Seguros or filed a complaint against Saiz or Fuentes.

In February, former Liberty Seguros star rider Roberto Heras was banned for two years after testing positive for EPO. He was also stripped of his 2005 Vuelta a Espana title.

The Liberty Seguros team suspended Heras in November after the UCI announced he had tested positive in the Vuelta. The rider has always insisted that he is innocent and attributed the positive test to an error.

Before he managed Liberty Seguros, Saiz had previously directed the ONCE squad.

Dan read Ugly’s comment. I think you are a little too uptight regarding what I said. There is a difference in jumping on moves and bridge attempts and sitting second wheel and messing up any attempt by the group to get a chase working.

KENS FAST
YOUR NOT AS FAST
WORK HARDER
STOP CRYING

I have mighty WIND power that is killing my wife.

"Secondly, sometime blocking happens, deal with it, don’t whine on a web site about it – here’s a secret, go around the blocker and then you have a virtual teammate blocking for you in the pack. Jesus, I think I need flash cards with you guys sometimes."

Yeah thats fine if you’re the ML guy someone is chasing but when its Harris you need some other engines to have a chance to get there.

By the way I said you were strong my mistake was the crap about the team concept, I was out of line there.

Hey wait, that’s way too cordial for the internet. Everyone bite me!!!

Mihi — you should have seen me when was really fat- I was like MINI RON JEREMY. Well not downstairs of-course.

And to Block Head – I agree – blocking will get you curbed.

As for me – I am just a fat, whinning bitch that can’t seem to catch a break and place in races. I shoulg go on the Ken Harris diet and program and maybe I will finally win something. Any pointer Ken? Juan?

Ray

Getting into a chase rotation and ghost peddling will definitely get’cha curbed. Good etiquette is just sitting on the wheels for the free ride. You’ll find the list of guys that actually engage in chasing to be a short one in most races as most racers just like to sit on wheels and watch others bust a hump. The most a rider with a teammate up the road can do or should do is maintain last wheel in the chase rotation – simple, no harm done and one can still police for moves attempting to snap the line.
I always though Manolo was dirty!! Poor Vino!

Why is disrupting rotations not a quote-unquote acceptable tactic? Must be effective, from the wrath it inspires, and an effective tactic that helps a teammate win sounds legitimate to me (I’m talking generally here, not this specific race.). What is the difference between "solid … blocking" and "constant annoyance" blocking? Spread some knowledge to a newbie.

I’m looking to avoid the curbage here, but for the record I would prefer you keep a frame pump on your rig to deliver the more theatrical "Team Cinzano"-type move rather than some clumsy as$ push.

With all this talk of blocking, did we all forget that the break was being driven by Ken Harris (strongest CAT3 I know) and Gabe Lloyd (you will read about his 60+ mile break at Collegiate Nationals in the next VeloNews). This was not a schlub break, and my guess is that if you put all these whiners on the front of the pack they still would have taken a ton of time out of them. Admit that a good move went with strong commited riders, and all the blocking and bitching wasn’t going to change it. Let’s also remember that both Ken and Gabe went on to race in the 1/2/3 field.

Ugly: No worries. We were definitely trying to stay involved in the race and this is frustrating when you are trying to bridge. I just wanted all of you to know that everything was "above board" and that we were simply working as hard as we could to make sure either Ken or one of us ended up in the final selection.

Aside: (not for Ugly)
As for all this ‘curbing’ nonsense, I hope you seriously consider what you’re saying when you write that. People have wives and kids and to ever suggest that you would intentionally cause another rider to crash is way beyond unsportsmanlike and irresponsible. What a shame if someone ended up dead or disabled because you didn’t like their racing tactics.

Ugly,
I did my share of the work with JP. Do you know how many times I pulled to look back and seeing a gap between myself and the rider behind me. After several pulls I changed my game plan and sat in for the sprint.

Gettn’ curbed or chopped happens. I will not do it and most people I know don’t do it either. However once you make your way up the ladder into the higher categories, this blocking annoyance thing doesn’t happen. Guys will seriously not take it lightly. This is not the same but none the less the same thing. When you watch the Tour, Giro or any of the classics do you ever see some guy trying to mess the chase…no. Why, because you just don’t do it.

Ben I think what you say is true and probably why guys get upset with blocking and wheel following later in the race after 4 strong guys are long gone.

From my point of view blocking is fine but once a break is gone 45-60 secs in a crit teamates of the guys up the road should work in the small bridging groups that they go with late in the race. Its the sporting thing to do rather than still tagging along for the ride when the top 4-5 places are foregone conclusion.

I didn’t do this particular race but I’ve been in some Masters races at Prospect where dominant teams are still blocking and disrupting pacelines with 1 to go and the break 2+ min up the road.

Juan is sand bagging
So is Ken
Ray Alba’s hair is too long
So is his penis
and if you don’t like I’m taking you to the curb

There are links from the CRCA website’s Harriman results page to those "palmares" photos.

More off the subj.; How does the Empire State Games work. – I noticed the tryouts will be next wk. Friday morning at Prosp.pk. and that I read that all fields will be combined and its a first person to the line type deal. For the cycling event, is there a TT event? Is this like a Stage race? Please advise.

I personally would prefer to get kisses from the el salvador freako ladies than some weird chippendale podium dude. I think to have men on the podium for us would be a little presumptuous. Most of the ladies I know (straight or gay) would probably appreciate a female on the podium more than a guy. I’d be fine if you could get Basso to stand on the podium doling out the kisses though… okay, that’s shallow.

CAN-Am U19 Saturday Time Trial and Crit. Sunday Route
Christopher Thornton 5 overall 15-16 years. cuevas
Lewis Almonte 6 overall 15-16 years. crca Won (route)sunday after crash.Then breakway and win with a beatiful sprint.
Ryan Storn 10 overall 15-16 years.crca
Juan Pimentel 9 overall 10-12 years. cuevas (after crash in crit.sprint for 7)
Samanta Barlow 1 overall 15-16 yaers. cuevas (won in solo breakaway .sunday route)
Nina Santiago 2 overall 15-16 years. cuevas
Our future in cycling. LOOK GOOOOOOD.
And Filip Capala 3 overall 15-16 years.