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Branchbrook 101
Newark, NJ, June 6, 2004
ACT-UPMC Makes it two-in-a-row with victory in Newark!
By Mike Fraysse, ACT-UPMC
To race 101 miles in the rain around Branchbrook Park in Newark, NJ requires as much mental fortitude as physical strength. Uruguayan Alvaro Tardaguila of the ACT-UPMC squad proved that he had both today by soloing to victory in the epic Branchbrook 101 Pro/Am. Tardaguila, who yesterday finished third in the Blue Bell Circuit Race, attacked his remaining breakaway companions Roger Aspholm (Westwood Velo) and Igor Misicki (High Gear) with 1.5 laps of the 2.2 mile circuit remaining. Tardaguila crossed the line for victory in 3:41:24, with Igor Misicki besting "The Flying Finn" Aspholm for second.
On an unseasonably cold day made heavy with overcast skies and intermittent rain, approximately 50 Pro-1-2-3 riders (including several women) took to the start of the 46-lap elite race. The first five trips around the park passed quickly, as tentative, probing attacks were launched, caught and countered by a field dominated in numbers by Ideal Tile. However, after his team leader Joe Papp worked to bring back one of the early escapes, ACT-UPMC's Alejandro Acton set out on another of his Jacky Durand-style solo adventures. The Argentine, who turned 32 this week, led the field alone from laps six to twenty-six despite a steady pursuit by Ideal Tile. "I wanted to make a good training today," said Acton, "and after a few laps I knew I had good legs and would finish the distance, so I thought I would push myself as hard as possible."
While Acton motored ahead on the flat, fast circuit, Ideal Tile and a gaggle of riders who were competing with perhaps only one or no other teammates in the race tried to bring him back. Inevitably, the peloton gradually erased the Argentine's lead, and when he was finally caught, a series of counterattacks began, until nine riders eventually separated themselves from the field. This group, which would prove to be the winning breakaway, included Tardaguila, Misicki and Aspholm, in addition to Steve Dioslocki (METRA) and Michael McGinley (CVC). Also spotted in the escape was Ian Dille of Team Snow Valley, who arrived late for the start and surreptitiously worked his way into the field, and a mysterious "Russian" rider who was seen taking half-lap pulls at speeds in excess of 50km/h. "I don't know who he was," said Tardaguila of the eastern European who rode like a train, "but as quickly as he came, he went." There was some confusion as to whether the "Russian" had stopped mid-race to relieve himself and then rejoined the peloton, or like Dille, arrived late and rode hard to make up for lost time. Eventually, both riders were warned off the course by the generous but still vigilant officials, though not before doing a fair share of the pace making up front.
With the departure of Dille and the mystery man, the original leading group of nine was reduced to seven, then six, then five, and then three as Dioslocki was dropped from the break while McGinley suffered an untimely flat with three laps to go. Thanks to a generous spectator who loaned him his bike, McGinley was able to continue racing, though he never regained the breakaway.
Back in the field, Acton, who like the Energizer Bunny just kept going and going and going, broke from the pack with Ideal Tile's David Somerville and several other riders, though this duo would soon leave the others chasers behind and continue on together. In the final laps, the field dwindled in size as one rider after another decided he had suffered enough, though ahead Tardaguila planned his final attack. When the ACT-UPMC man finally decided to test his companions, neither could respond.
"Tardaguila was smart," reported a surprisingly-fresh looking Aspholm at the finish. "He never did more work than he had to in the break, and when he attacked, that was it." Asked whether he suffered very much during the cold, wet race, Aspholm shrugged off his effort and said he did not have to ride as hard as he thought he might.
Race notes
A bit of negotiating took place on the start line, as several prominent riders including Chris Young of Ideal Tile lobbied for a reduction in the distance. The Promoter from The Bikery held firm, however, and the riders set out for a full 101-mile race.
A surprising farewell of sorts was uttered by another prominent elite rider to his teammates, when after only 30 minutes of racing he turned right off of the course and headed for the parking area: "Ciao guys, I'm sick of being wet and I'll see you back at the car!"
Results, 101 miles
Pro 1-2-3 Men 1 Alvaro Tardaguila (ACT-UPMC) 3.41.23 2 Igor Misicki (High Gear) 3 Roger Aspholm (Westwood Velo) 4 Steve Dioslocki (METRA) 5 Michael McGinley (CVC) 6 Alejandro Acton (ACT-UPMC) 2.54 7 David Somerville (Ideal Tile) 8 Robert Ryan (CC Eversham) 9 Tony Setter (CRC of A) 10 Eric Streckfuss (Velocity)
