| Wamsley Continues Winning
Ways…
Kyle Wamsley (Colavita Sutter Home) continued again
today in setting the record straight that Colavita is
the team to beat on the NRC circuit. Taking the winning
sprint from a break that got away from a strong field
of competitors at the halfway point of the race, Wamsley
had time to spare in celebrating his victory.
Providence, Rhode Island’s summer celebration
of “WaterFire” was a fitting end to a day
of hot racing around its downtown streets. In its 7th
year, the Cox Communities Cycling Classic is a new addition
this year on the NRC racing calendar and racers and
spectators were not disappointed with a change to this
year’s course. Fifty laps on a challenging 1 mile
circuit which saw riders tackle a steep leg-sapping
climb with a hair-rising descent and long riverfront
straight-a-ways proved to be the right combination for
fast and exciting racing. Add in the $15,000 of prize
money and surely things were going to heat up quickly.
Indeed, things did get going right from the start as
riders found themselves hearing the prime bell ring
for most of the first twenty laps. This proved to create
a stir at the front of the pack as several groups and
individual riders would find themselves away in their
bids for cash. But a constant headwind that blew down
the back straight along the Providence River would seem
to set them back. This theme continued until around
the halfway point of the race. A $150 prime set the
race on fire with a strong group of 12 riders moving
off the front and holding a gap of 30 seconds or more
for 10 laps. Wamsley was in this group along with Garrett
Peltonen (Bissell Pro) and Matt Johnson (CRCA Empire
Cycling). With about 14 laps to go the break was brought
back with the hard chasing of Ivan Stevic (Toyota United).
But with a crafty move, Johnson launched himself off
the break as they were caught. Sensing that it could
be dangerous, Wamsley and Peltonen quickly joined him
and the three set to work at getting the gap. Behind,
the boys from Colavita patrolled the front of a quickly
diminishing field. The trio worked well and built another
30 second gap as the laps starting ticking off. The
pack started chasing in earnest with 5 laps to go and
the crowd was sensing that this daring break was going
to be doomed. But announcer Joel Brown called for crowd
support of three and the city streets came alive with
the ringing of thousands of cow bells. It proved enough
to spur the riders on and with 1 to go it was a matter
of when the pair would go after Wamsley, the proven
sprinter of the group. Johnson faltered on the hill
but valiantly clawed his way back while Peltonen’s
efforts were matched by Wamsley. As they entered the
final straight it was Johnson who went first only to
be gobbled up by a fast charging Wamsley. Approaching
the line, Wamsley was challenged by Peltonen but was
easily able to celebrate victory by two bike lengths.
A hard driving field was brought to the line by fourth
place Ward Solar (Nerac Cycling) and fifth place Alejandro
Borrajo (Colavita Sutter Home).
When asked if he was surprised at his podium placing,
Johnson credited his wife’s presence at the race.
He also revealed that he had just completed an 11 hour
work shift the previous day. As the top amateur finisher,
one wonders what would have been had he not.
Peltonen admitted that he knew the day was going to
be tough with only three other members of his team present
but was fortunate to be in the initial break that launched
the winning move. Wamsley noted that the course suited
his style well and that the team was motivated to let
their legs do the talking in garnering respect. It was
certainly proven today.
Full
Race Results (PDF)
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