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Gateway Cup - NE
St Louis, Missouri, USA, August 29-September 1, 2003
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Stage 2 - August 30: Greentree Park
7Up dominates; Kelly makes it look easy
By John Musselman, www.stlbiking.com
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Saturday's event was held in this park setting. It represented the only course of the weekend with some true climbing. The rain had stopped but cloudy skies still threatened to cut loose a few showers but never did. No surprises here at this venue. Dan Schmatz said before the race that his team would take it easy until half way through the race before "whacking 'em".
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Most racers had little sleep to contemplate the results. It was a team effort for the 7up/Maxxis team. Lead groups would attack then get caught wearing out the competitors. Favorite local cat 2 riders took their 10 minutes of glory by attacking up the hill only to get caught time after time. The pace kept increasing forcing more riders to simply drop off and eventfully drop out posting a big dnf next to their name. The lead group would slow a bit only to attach again and again with devastating results to the less forceful riders.
As the race was nearing the point of "5 laps to go" the 7up/Maxxis team flexed their muscles and took charge sometimes riding 4 or 5 in a row in a sea of 7up green. The finish line is at the top of the climb and sprinter Dan Schmatz took the win almost as scheduled. It was a textbook finish.
Diet Rite's Kori Kelly won easily in the women's Pro 1, 2 categories. Half way through the race she attacked and detached herself from the field and never had to look back. She made it look almost easy.
Photography
Images by John Musselman/www.stlbiking.com
- John Lieswyn rides the wheel before attacking past the leader
- Jason McCartney in the red leaders jersey climbs with the pack.
- Dan Schmatz does an interview after his win.
- Dan Schmatz crosses the finish line at Greentree and takes home a big win.
- Jason McCartney takes a corner
- McCartney wearing the red leader jersey is about to make his move
- John Lieswyn grunts with the best of them as he begins his climb.
- Kori Kelly and Kerry Soraci do a little posing before the race.
- Kori Kelly wins with arms held high.
- Kerry Soraci climbs
- Saturn’s Megan Elliot rides Soraci on the heart-pounding climb
- Soraci sprints toward the finish line while Nancy Benjamin makes every effort count.
- Jason McCartney increases the pace to stay ahead of the field.
Results
Men Pro,1,2 1 Dan Schmatz 2 Greg Henderson 3 Jason McCartney 4 Aaron Hubbell 5 John Lieswyn 6 Alex Robles 7 Paul Nilsen 8 Frank Pipp 9 Mark Southland 10 Eric Pirtle 11 Charles Huff 12 Jeff Hartman 13 Todd Cornelius 14 Ainslie Mac Eachran 15 Chad Cagle 16 Erik Tomlinson 17 Mike Kehrberg 18 Luca Fagundes 19 Ben Weaver 20 Ryan Nenninger Women P,1,2,3 1 Kori Kelly 2 Kerry Soraci 3 Kelly Benjamin 4 Nancy Daigler 5 Stephanie Hannos 6 Ali Mc Nulty 7 Megan Elliot 8 Stacey Bertsch 9 Katie Arehart 10 Liz Cazer Men 3 1 Ronnie Cookson 2 Lance Sulzen 3 Steve Muhle 4 Mike Kincaide 5 Kevin Schroder 6 Sven Sprogoe 7 Jeremiah Strohman 8 Eric Lambi 9 Ryan Hermsmeyer 10 Mark Murawski 11 Andy Chocha 12 Brian Shoemaker 13 Ulric DeYoung 14 Rob Dirnbeck 15 John Danzer Men 4 1 Jeremy Sievers 2 Carlos Garcia 3 James Pirtle 4 Nick Coil 5 Aaron Johnson 6 Johnny Merli 7 Dan Bruns 8 Jon Randell 9 Nicholas Kempin 10 Ben Beger Women 4 1 Laura Starr 2 Julie Tatar 3 Pam Hinton 4 Megan Hottman 5 Jill Thole 6 Michelle Jensen 7 Marilyn Cullinane 8 Catherine Scott Men 5 1 Lee Cable 2 George Godet 3 Andrew Singleton 4 Dan Stutts 5 Dave Breslin 6 Michael Rickey 7 Jeff Davis 8 Mark Hunsaker Masters 40+ 1 Mark Swartzendruber 2 Greg Harper 3 Peter Erdos 4 Evan Wykes 5 Gary Doering 6 Kenneth Smith 7 Craig Farrell 8 Lonnie Kennedy Masters 50+ 1 Ben Thigpen 2 Jim McDonald 3 Bruce Gary 4 Brad Reid 5 Mike Vonnahmen
