Events | Past Events

Monahan Checks McCormack to take Cox Charities Cycling Classic. by Peter Pezzelli

PROVIDENCE — (Saturday, July 12) It was a day for Stars and Stripes in the self-proclaimed Renaissance City as the kings of U.S. Pro Cycling came out to play in the second running of the annual Cox Charities Cycling Classic.

In a race that looked at the outset to be a classic cycling chess match, reigning U.S. Pro Criterium Champion, Kevin Monahan (7-Up/Maxxis) sprinted away from a three-man break on the final lap of the race to checkmate newly crowned U.S. Pro Road Champion, Mark McCormack (Saturn) and a talent-laden field.

“I’m a mid-season guy these days,” said a smiling Monahan after crossing the finish line. “I love it in July and August with the hot weather.”

Indeed, at a time in the summer when many leg-weary bike racers start daydreaming about the off-season, Monahan seems to be just coming into top form. The racing and the weather on this day suited him well.

Things heated up quickly on the opening lap with the attacks coming as fast and furious as the hot summer wind whistling across Providence’s Water Place Park (earlier in the day a violent gust snapped the poles supporting the banner over the start/finish line). A resurgent Amos Brumble (CCB/Volkswagen) and Doug Ziewacz (7-Up) featured prominently in the opening flurry of breakaway attempts, but none of the moves could muster the necessary steam to stay away. Five laps later, with a tentative peloton marking the movements of Saturn’s Mark McCormack, Monahan slipped off the front with teammate Oscar Pineda and U.P.M.C. rider Gerardo Castro.

It proved to be the decisive move of the race.

The three breakaway companions established a fifteen-second gap that quickly swelled to thirty before any semblance of an organized chase began. With no teammates by his side and few allies in the pack, McCormack waited until the gap stood at almost a full minute before moving to the front of the peloton.

By then it was too late.

The challenging, technical course featured seven corners and a short, steep descent that delivered the riders into the teeth of a fierce headwind.. By the time the field reacted, the gap to the lead group was too large for a single rider, even one of McCormack’s caliber, to cross alone. With no other cards to play, the Saturn rider could only sit and wait for a strong posse to form. A chase group of four riders eventually sped off the front of the main field, but never seriously challenged the lead of the breakaway group.

With eleven laps to go to the finish, Castro, Pineda, and Monahan reintegrated with the back of the main field. The three surged to the front of the group and remained there until just before the bell lap when they drifted off the back to sort out the race amongst themselves.

“We decided to finish the race like gentlemen,” commented Monahan.

The three riders swept into the final lap with Castro at the front. Castro had ridden brilliantly all day, but the U.P.M.C. rider could not match Monahan’s power when the U.S. Pro Crit Champion attacked just before the next to last corner. With his arms spread wide in a victory salute, Monahan easily cruised alone down the finishing straight to take home the win.

Sadly, Castro’s superlative effort went to waste as he was relegated to twenty-first position for accepting a water bottle handed up to him during the course of the race. The relegation bumped Pineda up to second place and Dan Larson (Cycle Science), who led the chase group of four, into third. McCormack settled for seventh place.

At the finish line, Monahan was clearly pleased with the satisfying victory. After having suffered through much of the early season, he seems to be back on top of his game.

“A lot of guys don’t realize that this is just the halfway point of the season,” said the 7-Up rider. “There are still a lot of races left to be won.”

Race Results (PDF)