Shelby Criterium - NE

USA, May 3, 2003

2002 Results Results Past winners

Soda Success: Diet Rite and 7UP-Maxxis Take the Day

By Kristy Scrymgeour

Chis Horner
Photo: © Tina Cyr

Following the completion of the South Carolina Heritage Series, the action moved north to Shelby, North Carolina, for the Shelby Criterium, one of the most popular races on the NRC in the Southeast. Unlike the Heritage Series, Shelby also offered a women's race so that the women who competed in last week's Athens Twilight Criterium would stick around for another weekend.

The course was a 1.4 km, figure eight loop with some slight uphill drags. The men completed 60 laps and the women 20.

The women's field was strong despite the conflict in schedules with Tour of the Gila going on at the same time. Strong teams were fielded by Diet Rite which included defending champion and National Criterium Champion Tina Mayola-Pic, TDS, Genesis Scuba with Athens Twilight winner Candice Blickem, and Victory Brewing.

The race was aggressive from the start with Blickem pushing the pace and stringing out the field, and sporadic breakaway attempts by TDS, Diet Rite and Genesis. Midway through the race, Blickem countered a small break that was caused by the prime sprint and took Kori Kelly (Diet Rite) with her. The two got the most significant gap of the day, but their efforts were defeated by Ashley Kimmett who led the Colavita/Bolla chase.

With no other attempts at breakaways being successful, the Diet Rite team took control for the last three laps preparing to lead out their sprinter, Mayolo-Pic. With one lap to go, Tanya Duff-Miller took the Gamblers prime and continued the pace for the lead-out.

Mayolo-Pic did not let her team down as she crossed the line with a wheel to spare from Megan Long (OBRU) and Shannon Hutchinson (Colovita/Bolla).

Mayolo-Pic's win capped off an emotional week after suffering the sudden loss of her mother who lost her battle with cancer only a week ago. "I am tired, this last week has been tough, but I figured it was the best thing just to get back out here, race and continue doing what I do. I didn't feel good at all out there today, it was my team, they were great and that's what it's all about."

Shortly following the women's race, the men took the stage in an 84km effort that wasted no time in getting right to the action. The pace was blistering as Henk Vogels (Navigators) took the first $200 prime of the day after only three laps. Additional primes contributed to small gaps materializing frequently as riders attempted to collect the large amount of cash and prizes that were available. In fact it was Vassili Davidenko (Navigators) that collected perhaps the most unusual prime ever handed out as he won a free vasectomy from a local clinic!

After 14 laps, a break of nine formed which included most of the strongest riders in the field, last night's winner, Vogels, Davidenko, Chris Horner and Eric Wohlberg (Saturn), John Lieswyn and Greg Henderson (7UP-Maxxis), Danny Pate (Prime Alliance), James Baldesare (West Virginia) and Jason Bausch (Schroeder Iron).

A lap later, Jelly Belly's Brent Dawson bridged across to make it an even ten in the break. As the break powered away, an effort was made by Ofoto-Lombardi Sports and Jittery Joe's to bring it back, but the horsepower ahead was once again too strong. As the gap continued to grow and the pace increased, Baldesare fell out of the break, as did Dawson a few laps later.

Colavita/Bolla, realizing that they were the only ones who had the numbers to make a dent in the gap, moved to the front of the peloton and started an organized chase effort, but at the same time, restlessness within the break resulted in a split amongst the remaining eight up front. Lieswyn, Pate, Davidenko and Wohlberg created what would be the final selection. In the second group it was Bausch who suffered from this split, as the other three still had teammates up the road.

With 14 laps to go, the front group had a gap of 42 seconds as the second group was consumed by the bunch.

Pate, knowing that his chances weren't great in a sprint tried a couple of attacks, as did Wohlberg and Lieswyn with Davidenko being the strongest sprinter on paper.

With one lap to go however, the four were still together, and behind the field was closing in as 7UP was preparing a lead out for fifth place. Davidenko, driving the break so as not to be caught by the field, took the $750 Gamblers prime, an effort which cost him in the end as Lieswyn and Wohlberg had enough to outsprint him. Lieswyn took the honours, ahead of Wohlberg, Davidenko and Pate and Miguel Meza (Schroeder Iron) won the bunch sprint for fifth place only four seconds behind.

When asked about his chances in the sprint, Lieswyn replied "Davidenko, on paper, is a really fast guy. I've only beat him once before at the Tour de Toona. So I knew I could beat him, bit I had to be a bit cagey."

Wohlberg was pleased with his result, "I was happy enough with second. I didn't want it to come down to a sprint, but when it did, I was creeping up on Lieswyn, but he just kept accelerating to the line."

Davidenko was also pleased, "To tell you the truth, I am fine with my third place as I had a terrible winter, I was sick several times and I am really behind with my form this year. In fact, this is my first podium spot in 2003. Those guys were strong today, it was a tough race. I did my best. At the end I saw the field was coming pretty close so I pulled for almost a full lap, so I was tired at the finish, but I did my best."

Photography

Images by Tina Cyr

The peloton wound its way round historic Shelby for 84km
US Postal was represented by Kenny Labbe and Robbie Ventura
A Prime Alliance rider leads the early action
Dan Schmatz (7UP-Maxxis) contemplates the next turn
Chris Horner (Saturn) during a brief solo moment
Danny Pate (Prime Alliance) and Eric Wohlberg (Saturn) in the break
Vassily Davidenko (navigators) leads breakaway companions Danny Pate (Prime Alliance) John Lieswyn (7UP-Maxxis) and Eric Wohlberg (Saturn)
The kids race also saw fierce competiton
More action from the kids race

Images by Tom English

The field winds its way through the streets of Shelby.
The peloton cruises down Lafayette street.
Eventual winner and Cyclingnews diarist John Lieswyn (7-Up Maxxis) leads the pack up the hill on Marion Street in the 2003 Shelby Criterium.
Chris Horner (Saturn), who was aggressive throughout the race, turns onto Graham Street.
Jason Bausch (Schroeder Iron) in the early break.
7-Up Maxxis director Jeff Corbett surveys the action in Shelby.
John Lieswyn leads the early breakaway that eventually split to form the winning group.
Greg Henderson (7-Up Maxxis) in the second group on the streets of Shelby.
Eric Wohlberg (Saturn) leads the break in the 2003 Shelby Criterium.
Vassili Davidenko (Navigators) checks out the competition.
Danny Pate (Prime Alliance) leads John Lieswyn (7-Up Maxxis) on Marion Street in Shelby.
Eric Wohlberg attacked several times during the final laps, but couldn’t shake his breakaway companions.
John Lieswyn (7-Up Maxxis), Vassili Davidenko (Navigators), Eric Wohlberg (Saturn), and Danny Pate (Prime Alliance) lead the Shelby Criterium.
Danny Pate (Prime Alliance) leads the winning break onto Lafayette Street.
The Shelby Podium: Eric Wohlberg (Saturn), winner John Lieswyn (7-Up Maxxis), and Vassili Davidenko (Navigators).
Lieswyn and Wohlberg ham it up with Shelby Criterium promoter Mike Keeley.

Images by Clarke Rodgers

Tina Mayolo-Pic (Diet Rite) crosses the line to win the Women's race.

Results

Men
  
1 John Lieswyn (7UP-Maxxis)
2 Eric Wohlberg (Saturn)
3 Vassili Davidenko (Navigators)
4 Danny Pate (Prime Alliance)
5 Miguel Meza (Schroeder Iron)
6 Robbie Ventura (US Postal)
7 Jeff Hopkins (Jittery Joe's)
8 Chris Horner (Saturn)
9 Henk Vogels (Navigators)
10 Juan Jose Haedo (Colavita/Bolla)
11 Alex Candelario (Prime Alliance)
12 Jason Waddell (Mathis Brothers)
13 Jonas Carney (Prime Alliance)
14 Kevin Monahan (7UP-Maxxis)
15 Jacob Erker (Schroeder Iron)
16 Jackson  Stewart (Ofoto-Lombardi Sports)
17 James Baldesare (West Virginia)
18 Jesse Lawler (Jittery Joe's)
19 Roberto Gaggioli (Monex)
20 James Taylor (OLP)
21 Chris Frederick (Aerospace Engineering)
22 Marty Nothstein (Navigators)
23 Dean LaBerge (Lombardi Sports Fitness)
24 Gustavo Artacho (Colavita/Bolla)
25 Karl Bordine (Colavita/Bolla)
26 Mieko Biskner (Sierra Nevada)
27 John Murphy (Krystals)
28 Chris Pic (7UP-Maxxis)
29 Radisa Cubric (Easton/Clifbar)
30 Jonathon  Erdelyi (Ofoto-Lombardi Sports)
31 Diego Javier (Evergreen Eston)
32 Corey Fisher (Earthfare)
33 Ciaran Power (Navigators)
34 Luca Fagundes (Spin City Cycling)
35 Kenny Labbe (US Postal)
36 Paul Healion (Fairway Suburu/Hincapie Sportswear)
37 Ryan Guay (Navigators)
38 Steve Spencer (Locos PTI)
39 Joey Coddington (Cane Creek)
40 Travis Hutchinson (Krystals)
41 Steve McUjeac (Jamis)
42 Chris Foster (Suburu/Athletes Foot)
43 Patrick O'Donnell (West Virginia)
44 Phil Southerland (Locos PTI)
45 Steve Speaks (Lite Bites)
46 Siro Campanogara (Navigators)
47 Nick Kierman (Mathis Brothers)
48 Danny Schmatz (7UP-Maxxis)
49 Oleg Grichkine (Navigators)
50 Nathan Russell (Colavita/Bolla)
51 Torsten Wambold (OLP)
52 Ben Early (Carolina VW)
53 Rich Harper (Cane Creek)
54 David Leatherman (Carolina VW)
55 Joshua Carter (Spin City Cycling)
56 Keneth Bellau (Herring Gas)
57 David O'Laughlin (Ofoto-Lombardi Sports)
58 Greg Henderson (7UP-Maxxis)
   
Women 
   
1 Tina Mayolo-Pic (Diet Rite)
2 Megan Long (OBRU)
3 Shannon Hutchinson  (Colavita/Bolla)
4 Gina Grain (Victory Brewing)
5 Graciela Martinez (Victory Brewing)
6 Christine Underwood (Fuji)
7 Veronice Martinez (Victory Brewing)
8 Tracy Sproule (Colavita/Bolla)
9 Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing)
10 Joanne Kiesanowski (Diet Rite)
11 Kathleen Billington (Boone Bike)
12 Iona Wynter (Genesis Scuba)
13 Rachel Couch (Valdora Mountain Lodge)
14 Emily Glockner (TDS)
15 Anne Samplonius (TDS)
16 Helen Kelly (TDS)
17 Candice Blickem (Genesis Scuba)
18 Ashley Kimmet (Colavita/Bolla)
19 Nicole Freedman (Basis)
20 Kori Kelly (Diet Rite)
21 Leigh Valletti (Genesis Scuba)
22 Ellen Carroll (Veloclips)
23 Nancy Daigler (AWCT)
24 Marianne Holt (Nalley Automotive Group)
25 Alisha Little (Fuji)
26 Nicole Bossie
27 Lauren Gaffney (Bike Pedler)
28 Tanya Duff Miller (Diet Rite)
29 Kim Foland (Genesis Scuba)
30 Adrianne Brown (Earthfare)
31 Christine White
32 Grace Fleury (Genesis Scuba)
33 Robin Kaven (Best of the Bay Cyclists)
34 Summer Calder (Boston Bicycle Club)

Past winners

2002 Jamie Paolinetti (USA) Shroeder Iron
2001 Jamie Paolinetti (USA) NetZero
2000 Jonas Carney (USA) Shaklee
1999 Jonas Carney (USA) Shaklee
1998 Julian Dean (NZl) Mercury
1997 Jaime Carney (USA) Shaklee
1996 Dave McCook (USA) Plymouth 
1995 Rob Acciavatti (USA) Scott Bikyle Flyers