First Union Invitational, Cat 1.3

Brief

Just back from First Union Invitational (formerly Corestates Lancaster Classic) in Lancaster, PA. 13 circuits of 11.3 kms for a total of of 147.5 kms on a very difficult, no recovery course, approx. 3 hours 20 minutes, so pretty fast. Mapei represented by Zanini, Peters, Leyson, Steels (Tafi slated to start but I didn't see him), a small Saeco squad, several small Euro squads (Die Continentale, Acceptcard, Mobilvetta Northwave, Mroz) and the standard US pro squads (Postal, Saturn, Mercury, Oilme, Shaklee, ect.).

I can tell you Armstrong is back in good form - he, teammate Andreau, and Mroz Cezary Zemana came out of a group of 8 or so with maybe 50 kms to go, opened a gap as big as 2:30 on a chase group of 15 or so, and held on by approx 45 seconds, with Andreau finally splitting the group for the win, Armstrong second. My observation was that he was driving the train - and, again, a very difficult, technical, up and down course. Very impressive!!! Mapei's appeared to have missed boat altogether, as did Saecos - one thinks maybe it was vacation time!!

And the official US Cycling Report:

Veteran professional Frankie Andreu jumped from a group of three riders with 2km to go to win the 91-mile First Union Invitational road race Tuesday.

Andreu (U.S. Postal Service), 31, made the decisive move in the last lap, getting the edge on breakaway teammate Lance Armstrong and Polish rider Cezary Zemana (Mroz).

"It was great to win here. It’s important to get U.S.Postal to the line. but it’s my first race back in the U.S. and I’m just very glad to win it," Andreu said.

Andreu, of Dearborn, Mich., made his key move earlier in the race about 63 miles into the 13-lap event, breaking from a group of six riders who were off the front but being caught by a chase group of 10 riders.

"I was just trying to keep Norm Alvis from Saturn and the others from coming up. I really wasn’t trying to go off. It was on the back part on a climb. I looked back and me and Cezary were off and then I saw Lance bridging up," Andreu said.

The group of three then built a steady lead of up one minute and four seconds on the chasing field that was quickly breaking into smaller groups.

A field of 143 riders started the Invitational, with 43 finishers. The race, the first event in the First Union Cycling series, had a total purse of $15,500, with $2,500 going to first place.

Armstrong, 26, of Austin, Texas, said he was glad to see Andreu win.

"Frankie is like the Bart Simpson of pro cycling," Armstrong said. "A strong engine, but you don’t see him win very much. It was gratifying for me."

Lancaster, 147.5 kms:

 1. Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service		     3.23.17
 2. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service			0.07
 3. Cezary Zamana (Pol) Mroz					0.12
 4. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco 				1.13
 5. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service			1.13
 6. Morten Sonne (Den) Acceptcard				1.13
 7. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit) Mroz
 8. Gabrielle Valle (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave
 9. Trent Klasna (USA) Navigators
10. Chann McRae (USA) Saturn

12. Czeslaw Lukaszewicz (Can) Mroz   				1.13