Historic Roswell Criterium - NE

Roswell, Georgia, USA, April 26, 2009

Results Past winners 2008 Results

Soladay, Pic power to Roswell wins

By Daniel Carruthers

Tom Soladay (Team Mtn. Khakis) took the biggest win of his career at the Historic Roswell Criterium, Sunday in the second race of the USA CRITS Speed Week series. Soladay won with such a tremendous display of raw power that he took the gambler's prime on the penultimate lap and still managed to cross the finish line comfortably ahead of his more favored breakaway companions: Kyle Walmsley (Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light), Zach Bell (Kelly Benefit Strategies), Frank Travieso (Champion Porsche P/b Herbalife/Racers Edge) and Bobby Lea (OUCH).

150 riders lined up on the one mile, tree-lined, Roswell course under sunny skies, Sunday. Besides the USA, there was quite an international flavor, with riders from New Zealand, Australia, Cuba, Ireland, Mexico, and Canada to name a few. The race at Roswell was not as lightning fast as the Athens Twilight, but a high pace was still maintained throughout, with an average speed of 29 mph for the 80-minute contest. The hill on the back side of the course, combined with a slight cross-wind, served to stretch out the field each lap. But it usually came back together on the home straight where speeds were hitting 31 to 34 mph through the start-finish line. Riders would fan out going through the first turn and allow for some recovery before the hill.

Various attacks from different teams went up the road, but were quickly snuffed out by the spritely peloton. Nothing changed until a late race attack by Zach Bell of Canada started the winning breakaway. His move was quickly followed by Kyle Walmsley, Frank Travieso, Tom Soladay, and Bobby Lea. The five escapees quickly established a large gap that grew to 30 seconds through some slick work together. Teams that missed the break, such as Fly V Australia, Team Hotel San Jose and Team Type 1, were trying desperately to either bridge across, or bring it back to set up for a field sprint. Carlos Vargas (Team Hotel San Jose) was one of those riders doing his best to jump across but to no avail.

In a post-race interview, Soladay commented that the team had come to Roswell to win the race and were following the same plan as they did at the Athens Twilight Criterium a day earlier. Soladay's win is even more remarkable when you consider that it wasn't that long ago when he was hit by a car and suffered slight nerve damage.

He seems to have made a speedy recovery, and the whole Team Mountain Khakis squad was right behind him Sunday. If the break was brought back, there were five other strong riders poised to do what it takes [to win].

Bell, who finished third, said that his teammates "dug in very deep today" and the Roswell Criterium was only his second crit this year (Athens Twilight being the first one); so he is still re-adjusting. Bell said that he thought Travieso "would go harder coming out of the final turn, but he eased up, and I ended up leading out."

Bell still held on to claim the final podium spot behind Kyle Walmsley.

Aldo Ilesic (Team Type 1) of Slovenia took out the bunch sprint by at least a bike length in front of John Murphy (OUCH) and Ben Kersten (Fly V Australia). Mark Hekman (Team Mountain Khakis) and Carlos Vargas (Team Hotel San Jose) rounded out the top ten.

Pic repeats in photo finish

The top three in Athens swapped places in Roswell's women's race. Tina Pic (Colavita/Sutter Home) used her long sprint to get the jump on US Criterium champion Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO) to take home her third consecutive victory in this race. Jen McRae (Team Type 1) rounded out the podium for the second day in a row.

As the big teams like Colavita, TIBCO and Team Type 1 marked each other, it was the small teams like Vanderkitten, Kenda Tire and Cycle Life who tried to animate the race on the long, undulating circuit in Historic Roswell. But with the firepower of top professional riders in the peloton, nothing stayed clear for long.

It wasn't until the mid-way point that a prime sprint split up the peloton, with a large group of favorites going clear of the field. Several crashes also helped to disrupt the rhythm of the chasing peloton.

With the best sprinters in the front, BMW-Bianchi's Kirsten Davis put in a strong effort to close the gap but was getting no help from the complacent bunch. The group of 13 stayed clear for the final sprint, which Pic opened up early on the long stretch from the last turn. While Miller put in a strong challenge and brought the decision down to a photo finish with a powerful lunge to the line, the judges called it for the local hero, Pic.

"Yesterday was really tough," Pic said, recalling the team's inability to control the race in Athens. "We missed attacks at the Twilight because we just couldn't get things right. We decided to change our tactics for Roswell, and made up our minds to be more aggressive."

Miller retained the overall lead for the USA CRITS Speed Week series, which resumes on Tuesday in Beaufort, South Carolina.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Trish Albert/www.southeasterncycling.com

Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) leans hard into a turn.
Women's podium (L-R): Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO), Tina Pic (Colavita/Sutter Home) and Jennifer McRae (Team Type 1).
Morgan Pattom (Team Type 1) on the cobbles of turn four.
Team TIBCO fought hard in the women's race.
Kristin Bowers (Sorella Cycling) rides in the pack.
Leigh Valletti Hopkins (Vanderkitten) concentrates before the start of the professional women’s criterium.
Christi-An Hensley (Team Medplan) is all smiles before entering the pain cave.
Colavita/Sutter Home was on the front early in the women's race.
Atlanta John Murphy (OUCH-Maxxis) raced in front of his hometown crowd in Roswell.
Team Type 1 early in the race.
Australian Criterium Champion Bernard Sulzberger (Fly V Australia) tries to escape.
Local resident Cesar Grajales (Rock Racing) garnered loud cheers from the crowd.
Men’s podium (L-R): Kyle Wamsley (Colavita/Sutter Home), Tom Soladay (Mountain Khakis) and Zac Bell (Kelly Benefit Strategies).

Images by Brandon Andrews Photography

Women's podium (L-R): Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO), Tina Pic (Colavita/Sutter Home) and Jennifer McRae (Team Type 1).
Men’s podium (L-R): Kyle Wamsley (Colavita/Sutter Home), Tom Soladay (Mountain Khakis) and Zac Bell (Kelly Benefit Strategies).

Results

Elite men
 
1 Thomas Soladay (Team Mountain Khakis)             1.23.32
2 Kyle Wamsley (Colavita Olive Oil/Sutt)                   
3 Zack Bell (Kelly Benefit Strategies)                     
4 Frank Travieso (Champion Porsche P/B Herbalife)          
5 Bobby Lea (Ouch Presented By Maxx)                       
6 Aldo Ilesic (Team Type 1)                                
7 John Murphy (Ouch Presented By Maxx)                     
8 Ben Kersten (Fly V Australia)                            
9 Mark Hekman (Team Mountain Khakis)                       
10 Carlos Vargas (Hotel San Jose/Redbudsports)             
11 Jonathan Clarke (Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team)          
12 Kenneth Hanson (Team Type 1)                            
13 Adam Myerson (Team Mountain Khakis)                     
14 Chad Burdzilauskas (Kenda Pro Cycling Prese)            
15 Matt Winstead (Kenda Pro Cyclig)                        
16 Rafael Meran (Gs Mengoni Usa)                           
17 Logan Loader/Mooney (Team Mountain Khakis)              
18 Chad Hartley (Team Geargrinder)                         
19 Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia)                     
20 Lisban Quintero (Foundation)                            
21 Daniel Holt (Team Type 1)                               
22 Jacob Keough (Kelly Benefit Strategies)                  
23 Thomas Brown (Jittery Joe's U-25 P/B Kudzu.Co)          
24 Robert Giannini (Locos)                                 
25 Sean Sullivan (Team Hotel San Jose)                     
26 Oneal Samuels (Myogenesis.Com P/B United Healt)         
27 Craig Dodson (Richmond Pro Cycling)                     
28 Nicholas Reistad (Endeavour Cycling Club The)           
29 Amaury Perez (Gs Mengoni Usa)                           
30 Joey Rosskopf (Jittery Joe's U-25 P/B Kudzu.Co)         
31 Emilio Asconeguy (Aerocat Cycling Team)                 
32 Brendan Cornett (Richmond Pro Cycling)                  
33 Tyler Hawes (Team Globalbike)                           
34 David Guttenplan (Team Mountain Khakis)                 
35 Andrew Crater (Team Wheel & Sprocket)                   
36 Patrick Weddell (Globalbike)                            
37 Heath Blackgrove (Team Hotel San Jose)                  
38 Brian Toone (Tria Market / Donohooauto)                 
39 Barry Lee (Team Hotel San Jose)                         
40 Steven Gordon (Dlp Racing)                              
41 Boyd Johnson (Dlp Racing)                               
42 David Forkner (Globalbike)                              
43 Philip (Alder) Martz (Dlp Racing)                       
44 Bernard Sulzberger (Fly V Australia)                    
45 Adam Bergman (Texas Roadhouse Cycling Team)             
46 Eric Murphy (Myogenesis.Com P/B United Healt)           
47 Ryan Anderson (Kelly Benefit Strategies)                
48 Jared Nieters (Haymarket/Function Drinks)               
49 David Hutton (Myogenesis.Com P/B United Healt)          
50 Chad Madan (Pacesetter Steel Service P/B Li)            
51 Ryan Nye (Preferred Care Elite Cycling)                 
52 Jordan Heimer (Team Geargrinder)                        
53 Benjamin Renkema (Kenda Pro Cycling Prese)              
54 Christopher Schmidt (The Bike Rack Of Wash Dc)          
55 Cesar Grajales (Pacesetter Steel Service P/B Li)        
56 Dirk Pohlmann (Texas Roadhouse Cycling Team)            
57 Karel Sumbal (Lindner Capital Advisor)                  
58 Robert White (Team Geargrinder)                         
59 Adrian Hegyvary (Hagens Berman Cycling)                 
60 Jafer Beizer (Jittery Joe's U-25 P/B Kudzu.Co)          
61 Christopher Butler (Hincapie Development Team)          
62 Tyler Stanfield (Kenda Pro Cycling Prese)               
63 Aaron Johnson (Hagens Berman Cycling)                   
64 Christopher Bogedin (Wolverine Sports Club)             
65 Evan Fader (Richmond Pro Cycling)                       
66 Joseph Collins (Locos)                                  
67 Yosvany Falcon (Champion Porsche P/B Herbalife)         
68 Joshua Carter (Abd Cycling Team)                        
69 Sam Silvey (Pacesetter Steel Service P/B Li)            
70 D Tyler Grahovec (Pacesetter Steel Service P/B Li)      
71 Isaac Howe (Team Mountain Khakis)                       
72 Steven George (Fly V Australia)                         
73 Jonathan Sundt (Kelly Benefit Strategie)                
74 Matt Seagrave (Richmond Pro Cycling)                    
75 Lang Reynolds (Hagens Berman Cycling)                   
76 Casey Magner (Locos)                                    
77 Stephen Housley (Myogenesis)                            
78 Jeff Buckles (Richmond Pro Cycling)                     
79 Tim Hargrave (Team Type 1)                              
80 Whit Clifford (Locos)                                   
81 Shawn Gravois (Lindner Capital Cycling)                 
82 Andrew Baker (Team Mountain Khakis)                     
83 Robert Mcconville (Aerocat /Latino Cycling)             
84 David Veilleux (Kelly Benefit Strategies)               
85 Michael Stoop (Team Mountain Khakis)                    
86 Alan Tripp                                              
87 Noah Metzler                                            
88 Luke Servedio (Krystal Cycling Team)                    
89 Eugene Boronow (Gs Mengoni)                             
90 Santiago Rosell (Johan Bruyneel Cycling Academy)        
91 David Wiswell (G.S. Mengoni U.S.A.)                     
92 Marco Aledia (Kenda Pro Cycling Presented By )          
93 Harold (Phil) Southerland (Team Type 1)                 
94 R Curtis Gunn (V Australia-Virgin Blue)                 
95 Bennet Van Der Genugten (Kenda Pro Cycling Prese)       
96 Ryan Sullivan (Myogensis.Com P/B United Health)         
97 Matthew Hansley (Locos Cycling)                         
98 Alejandro Borrajo (Colavita Olive Oil/Sutt)             
99 Seth Hansley (Vc La Pomme)                              
 
Elite women
 
1 Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutterhome)                    1.12.47
2 Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO)                               
3 Jennifer Mcrae (Team Type 1)                             
4 Laura Van Gilder (Juice Plus Cycling)                    
5 Rebecca Larson (Jittery Joe's U-25 P/B Kudzu.Co)         
6 Carla Swart (Lip Smacker)                                
7 Kristen Lasasso (Kristen Lasasso)                        
8 Meredith Miller (Team TIBCO)                             
9 Kori Seehafer (Team Type 1)                              
10 Jennifer Wilson (Vanderkitten Racing)                 
11 Kelly Benjamin (Colavita-Sutterhome)                    
12 Lauren Tamayo (Team TIBCO)                              
13 Joanne Kiesanowski (Team TIBCO)                         
14 Samantha Schneider (Team Type 1)                        
15 Anna Mcloon (Altarum Women's Cycling Team)              
16 Tiffany Pezzulo (Dft P/B Treads)                        
17 Kirsten Davis (BMW-Bianchi)                             
18 Jennifer Rasmusson (Cyclelife Powered By Specialize)    
19 Carrie Cash Wootten (Team Revolution)                   
20 Veronica Martinez (Hub Racing)                          
21 Erica Allar (Colavita-Sutterhome)                       
22 Carmen McNellis (Michela Fanini Record Rox)             
23 Mary Pat Jones (Blue Competition Cycles)                
24 Sheba Farrin (Hub Racing)                               
25 Sally Annis (Hub Racing)                                
26 Linsey Bradshaw-Sandoval (Dft P/B Treads)               
27 Jenette Williams (Altarum Women's Cycling Team)         
28 Christy Blakely (BMW-Bianchi)                           
29 Dana Martin (BMW-Bianchi)                               
30 Melissa Sanborn (Vanderkitten Racing)                   
31 Morgan Patton (Team Type 1)                             
32 Nicole Wangesgard (Colavita)                            
33 Veronica Leal (Team Type 1)                             
34 Jacquelyn Crowell (Team Type 1)                         
35 Jennifer Reither (Vanderkitten Racing)                  
36 Christy Keely (Team Kenda)                              
37 Silke Wunderwald (Team Kenda)                           
38 Leslie Jennings (Cyclelife Powered By Specialize)       
39 Rebecca Blatt (Team Kenda)                              
40 Sonja Evers (Cyclelife Powered By Specialize)           
41 Dale Tye (Altarum Women's Cycling Team)                 
42 Krystal Mcnutt (Team Kenda)                             
43 Jacqueline Kurth (Team Kenda)                           
44 Kathryn Clark (Team Kenda)                              
45 Michelle Hart (Cyclelife Powered By Specialize)         
46 Amy Mcguire (Hub Racing)                                
47 Heather Davis (Naples Cyclery/Gulf Coast Racin)         
48 Christian Hansley                                      
49 Elizabeth Morse Hill (Hub Racing)

Past winners

     Pro men                                              Pro women

2008 Caleb Manion (Toyota United Pro Cycling Team)        Tina Mayolo-Pic (Colavita Racing)
2007 Dominique Rollin (Kodak Gallery-Sierra Nevada)       Tina Pic (Colavita)
2006 Gord Fraser (Health Net-Maxxis)                      Laura van Gilder (Team Lipton)