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Mark McCormack wins 2006 Cox Charities Cycling Classic
Fifth try is charm for New England cycling hero

PROVIDENCE — (Sunday, June 25) On a day better suited to ark building than cycling, veteran pro cyclist Mark McCormack (Colavita/Sutter Home Cycling Team) navigated the slick, rain-soaked streets of Providence, methodically shedding his rivals before sprinting home down the finishing straight to take victory in the fifth annual Cox Charities Cycling Classic.

“I felt strong right from the start,”said an elated McCormack after the finish. “Fortunately, I know how to ride my bike in the rain!”

It was not a race for the faint-hearted. From the outset, the darkened skies over Rhode Island’s capitol city relentlessly poured down on the talent-laden field of 138 riders who showed up at the start line to vie for the $15,000 in prize money.

The lure of a big purse combined with the horrendous weather conditions was enough to set nerves on edge. Anything could happen.

“It was important to be more proactive today,” explained McCormack, “to stay up front and out of trouble.”

No stranger to racing in New England’s peripatetic weather, McCormack also benefitted from the support of a solid team, something he had lacked in his four previous starts at the race. In past years, the 2003 U.S. Pro Champion had come to Providence with few or no teammates.

This year, however, Colavita entered its strongest team yet. When the field rolled up to the start, McCormack was backed up by teammates Davide Frattini, Zak Grabowski, Todd Herriot, and last year’s Cox Charities champion, brother Frank McCormack.

The rain came down in earnest as the riders pedaled away from the start and wound their way past the steps of the State House on the opening lap. The early action of the race saw a flurry of tentative attacks, but no semblance of an organized break.

The first real effort at a bonafide escape came when Christian Grassman (Navigators) instigated a four-man break that included Bill Elliston (Targetraining), Justin Spinelli (Team Nerac/Outdoorlights), and Frattini of Colavita. The group never gelled, however, and was reeled back into the field after three laps off the front.

Another series of half-hearted feints and jabs ensued until eleven laps into the race when Josh Dillon (Fiordifrutta) slipped off the front of the field. He was soon joined by Todd Henriksen (VMG Racing), Frank Pipp (Targetraining), Patrick Walsh (CCB/Time), and Mark McCormack.

They never looked back.
Working together like clockwork, the group of five quickly established a gap of twenty seconds on the reluctant pack. With no one in the main field willing to take up the chase, the lead group steadily increased its advantage. By the time the breakaway whizzed past the podium halfway into the race, the peloton was nowhere in sight, more than a minute in arrears.

By now it was obvious to all that this breakaway represented the decisive move of the day. All that remained to be seen was how the drama between the five select riders would play out as the race wore on. With twenty laps to go, the hearty spectators who lined the course throughout the day got a taste of things to come.

Suspecting that the legs of some of his breakaway companions were beginning to hurt from the chill rain and the strain of the pace, McCormack threw down the gauntlet and attacked after taking a prime lap. The powerful acceleration provoked a furious chase by Dillon, Pipp, and Walsh, one that soon left Henriksen far behind.

The group was down to four.

“I wanted to see what would come of it,” said McCormack of the attack. “It’s always better to have a predictable situation when it comes down to the end.”

Sensing perhaps that a sprint finish against the wily veteran would not be in his best interest, Dillon launched an attack of his own ten laps later. Pipp, however, responded quickly and led the charge to bring him back to the group. It was huge effort, one that no doubt exacted a heavy toll.

The attack played into McCormack’s hands. With six laps to the finish he attacked again, this time shedding Dillon and Walsh, and leaving only the tenacious Frank Pipp to grapple with.

The two lead riders kept the hammer down, pressing the pace so much so that they nearly caught up to the back of the main field. It was not until the bell lap that the two eased off so as to assure themselves of a clear run to the finish.

Rounding the last corner, it was Pipp who took the lead up the hill to the finishing straight. With a hundred meters to go, McCormack burst to the inside. For a moment the two were neck and neck, but as the finish drew near, McCormack’s power prevailed and his bike crossed the line a half wheel ahead of Pipp’s.

After four frustrating starts going back to 2002, it was a sweet victory for the Colavita rider, one made all the more special since it followed on the heels of brother Frank’s victory on this same course a year ago.

After the race, McCormack contemplated his good fortune. “I got lucky out there today, I guess,” he shrugged, ever modest.

Perhaps, but if so, luck obviously runs in the family.

Race Results (PDF)