Mt Holly-Smithville GP - NE

New Jersey, USA, July 19, 2008

2007 Results Results Past winners

Artacho unlocks a victory

By Kirsten Robbins in Mount Holly, New Jersey

Gustavo Artacho (Colavita/Sutter Home) conquered the heat, the hills and a four-man break to claim victory at the Mt Holly- Smithville Grand Prix. The Argentinean all rounder jumped out of the last bend ahead of Eneas Freyre (Target Training) and Gerardo Castro (Richmond Pro Cycling) to claim victory in the challenging circuit race.

"I've always liked this race, but now I like it more," said Artacho. "I'm a criterium rider so the style of race today was perfect for me. I think the first third was very fast but the riders started to slow down because of the heat and the new hill on the course."

The winning break of four riders slipped off the front of larger 15 rider break.

Crowds place their bets on the strongman from the Ukraine Valeiry Kobzarenko (Team Type 1). The three-time Olympian tried to get away from his competitors on the last lap's steep climb, but the watchful trio reeled him back in and he was forced to settle for fourth place.

"I think Kobzarenko and Castro were working the most," admitted Artacho. "They tried attacking but all I had to do was follow them because I had a winning sprinter, Alejandro Borrajo close behind us in the second group."

Jonathan Erdelyi (Rite Aid) was present in the field for the event's 10th anniversary, the first and only American to win the race back in 1999. The event continues to attract a magnitude of foreign rider who find success on the American racing scene.

"Foreign riders do well at this race because this area is home to a lot of foreign families and so there is a higher percentage of foreign riders who participate," said Artacho, who came to the USA in 2001 to compete in a mixture of track and criterium racing.

"Cyclists all around the world, and a lot from Argentina, can come here and have the opportunity to compete in a wide range of events from track, criterium and stage racing," he added.

How it unfolded

More than 140 riders lined up to start the 30 lap Mount Holly-Smithville, with the race totaling 112-kilometres. The race continues to grow into what has become one of the east coast's biggest one-day events.

The shorter circuit included a new European style ascent that wound its way through the narrow and shaded avenues of Mount Holly. Tough terrain mixed with high heat and humidity challenged the peloton with a real race of attrition.

Several early breakaways cleared the peloton, but the wrong combination of riders forced the field to respond and pull back any threatening riders.

A 10 rider mid-race break included Artacho and his team-mate Borrajo, Castro along with Matt White (Fiordifrutta), Dan Holt (Team Type 1), Brian Butts and Ryan Dewald (Batley-Harley Davidson), Eric Brownell (CRCA-Empire) and the most aggressive rider Bill Elliston (Rite Aid).

"Our strategy was to put one rider in the break, if it was less than five riders and put two in the break, if it was more than five riders," said Artacho.

As temperatures continued to rise, the conditions caused the main field to split into four groups. A chase group of 12 riders fought its way to within 15 seconds of the back of the front group.

The break away swelled to 15 when six additional riders jumped across from the chase group. The bridging riders include Freyre, Matt Johnson (CRCA-Empire), Kleber Ramos (Garneau Crocs), Valeiry Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Ramone Benitez (Immediate Mortgage). The event's best young rider and point's winner Euris Paulino (Champion System Racing) also joined the front group.

Kobzarenko attacked with four laps to go with Artacho, Freyre and Castro in tow. "Kobzarenko and I were working the most but in the end I tried to save a little bit for the finish," admitted Castro, the third placed rider from Uruguay. "I felt bad for him because he was working a lot, by himself."

After a flurry of last-ditch efforts, the four-man break rounded the final corners toward the finish line. "I was sitting on Artacho's wheel," said Freyre, pleased to give his east coast team a podium finish. "I knew he was going to go and that he was the best sprinter in the break.

"He did a good job today and I was happy to throw my bike with him to try for the win - I didn't win but it was a good opportunity," he added.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Todd Leister/leister.smugmug.com

The Honor Guard gives the 2008 Mount Holly – Smithville Grand Prix a first class send off.
101 professional men pass the historic Burlington County Prison, which operated from 1811 until 1965, making it the oldest continually used prison in the United States of America.
The pace was fast and furious from the start, forcing many riders to retire after just a few laps.
Bill Elliston (Rite Aid) was involved with every move and was awarded the most aggressive rider jersey for his efforts.
Even the descent down Mt. Holly was fast and single file.
The ascent up Mt. Holly may not have been very big, but the pace combined with the heat did take its toll on the riders’ legs.
A hard turn before the climb robbed the middle of the field of it's speed, forcing riders to grind the first few meters in their big rings.
Davide Frattini (Colavita Sutter Home) climbs. Frattini is the winner of the 2007 edition of the Mt. Holly-Smithville Grand Prix.
The winning break has formed and is working well towards a common goal.
Team CRCA-Empire Hotels drives the field in pursuit of the breakaway.
A chase group formed but never developed much continuity.
A few riders tried to keep the pace high but most were feeling the heat and not very eager to help.
The break continued to work as one and eventually lapped the field.
Team Battley Harley Davidson leads the break onto High Steet.
Historic Mt. Holly provided photo opportunities everywhere one went.
Gustavo Artacho (Colavita Sutter Home) coils and waits to pounce.
An unfortunate puncture during the final laps combined with a wheel that refused to cooperate, spoiled Matt Joanisse’s chances of a strong finish.
On a day where temperatures reached the mid-90’s, riders were glad to hear the bell, indicating that the suffering was almost over.
The break is down to four with one lap to go.
Euris Rafael Videt Paulino (Champion System) leads what remains of the original breakaway.
Gustavo Artacho (Colavita Sutter Home) outsprints his breakaway companions by half a bike length.
The keyword after today’s race was “rehydrate”.
Euris Rafael Videt Paulino (Champion System) is awarded the jersey for the best U25 rider.
Euris Rafael Videt Paulino (Champion System) is also awarded the sprinters jersey.
Podium (L-R): Eneas Freyre (Target Training), Gustavo Artacho (Colavita Sutter Home) and Gerardo Castro (Richmond Pro Cycling).
Gustavo Artacho (Colavita Sutter Home) is awarded a key to the historic Burlington Prison.
The most aggressive rider jersey goes to Bill Elliston (Rite Aid).

Images by Marco Quezada/www.nyvelocity.com

Beautiful downtown Mt Holly play host to a bike race.
Jonathan Elderly (RITE AID) looks calm and relaxed.
Gustavo Ortacho (Colavita Sutter Home) looks good and cool on a hot summer day.
Eric Brownell (Team Empire) does not like the hills.
Matt Johnson (Team Empire) turns up the heat on an already hot day.
Mike Margarite leans in for the turn like an Indy car.
Doctor John Loehner keeps an eye out for the attacks as he had a man on the break.
Alejandro Borrajo missed the break but had two team-mates up the road.
Eneas Freyre (Target Training) rode very well and it paid off at the end of the day.
Someone better tell these boys that this is not a Madison.
Angela Johnson busy handing out a lot of H2O all day.
It was a twisty, eight-turn circuit through a residential neighborhood.
Two laps to go! Not a good time for a flat if you’re were in the break.
Alejandro Borrajo takes a break from wearing the green jersey...but keeps the green shorts.
Bill Elliston rinses off before his move to win most aggressive rider of the day.
Euris Rafael, the best young rider, looks focused and as cool as a cucumber.
Gustavo Artacho (Colavita/Sutter Home) takes the four man break.
Gustavo Artacho (Colavita/Sutter Home) wins the race.
Podium (L-R): Eneas Freyre (Target Training), Gustavo Artacho (Colavita/Sutter Home) Gerardo Castro (Richmond Pro Cycling).
A reporter interviews one of the riders after the race.
Gustavo Artacho (Colavita/Sutter Home) is interviewed for live radio.

Results

1 Artacho Gustavo (Colavita/Sutter Home)
2 Eneas Freyre (TargetTraining)
3 Gerardo Castro (Richmond Pro Cycling)
4 Valeiry Kobzarenko (Team Type 1)
5 Alejandro Borrajo (Colavita/Sutter Home)
6 Kleber Ramos (Garneau-Crocs)
7 Euris Paulino (Champion System Racing)
8 Matt White (FiordiFrutta)
9 Bill Elliston (Rite Aid)
10 Bruno Langlois (Equipe Volkswagen)
11 Brian Butts (Battley Harley Davidson)
12 Dan Holt (Team Type 1)
13 Matthew Johnson (CRCA/Empire Cycling)
14 Ramone Benitez (Immediate Mortgage/Artemis Elite)
15 Ryan DeWald (Battley Harley Davidson)
16 Ryan Wohlrabe (Heart House/CADV/CC Evesham ()
17 Mike Margarite (CRCA/Empire Cycling)
18 Chuck Hucheson (Battley Harley Davidson)
19 Colin Jaskiewicz (CCB/Volkswagen,)
20 Rick Norton (Kelly Benefit Strategies,)
21 Evan Fader (Battley Harley Davidson,)
22 Amos Brumble (CCB/Wolkswagen,)
23 Jermaine Burrowes (WS United)
24 Sean O’Rourke (Kenda/Raleigh Cycling,)
25 Salvatore Scotto Divetta (Sommerville Sports)
26 Nick Friesen (GS Mengoni)
27 Luca Damiani (Colavita/Sutter Home)
28 Michael Joanisse (Garneau-Crocs)
29 Vincent Quirion (Garneau-Crocs)
30 Arnaud Papillon (Equipe Volkswagen)
31 Gregory Battista (Metra/Wendy’s/Victor Homes)
32 Gabe Lloyd (TargetTraining)
33 Nick Keough (CCB/Wolkswagen)
34 Unidentified)
35 Hayden Brooks (FiordiFrutta)
36 Stephan Kincaid (Rite Aid presented by Shebell and Shebell)
37 Sean Barrie (Battley Harley Davidson)
38 Adam Sullivan (Kenda/Raleigh Cycling)

Sprints classification

1 Euris Vidal Paulino (Champion System Racing)
2 Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1)
3 Kleber Ramos (Garneau-Crocs)

Most aggressive rider

1 Bill Elliston (Rite Aid presented by Shebell and Shebell)

Under 25 classification

1 Euris Vidal Paulino (Champion System Racing)

Amateur classification

1 Colin Jaskiewicz (CCB/Volkswagen)

Past winners

2007 Davide Frattini (Colavita/Sutter Homes)
2006 Glen Chadwick (Navigators)
2005 Melito Heredia (TOGA-GOTHAM) 
2004 Mark Walters (Navigators)
2003 Melito Heredia (Toga/CRCA)
2002 Victor Ripinski (Saturn Developmental)
2001 Alex Lavallee (Kissena Cycling)
2000 Roosevelt Martes (TOGA-dash.com/CRCA)
1999 Johnathan Erdelyi (Ideal Tile)