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USA Cycling Tandem Sprint Nationals - IM
Pennsylvania, USA, July 6, 2007
Lakatosh and Barczawski set new record
By Nathan Carrick
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Andy Lakatosh (T-Town Express) and Ben Barczewski (T-Town Express) saw double Friday night as they looked down from the top step of the Lehigh Valley Velodrome podium. Not only did the new track record for fastest flying lap on a tandem have their names below it, they also bagged the tandem sprint national championships.
"We've ridden tandem together, but we've only been training for about a week and a half to get ready for tonight," Lakatosh said about their ride at the first of two nights of Dan's Camera City Tandemonium.
"Our main focus was the track record," Barczewski added. Set in 1993 by Australians Steven Pate and Danny Day, the time of 17.49 was truly a high mark to aim for, and Lakatosh and Barczewski beat the mark with a 17.34.
"To beat the record of a team that trained exclusively for tandem," Barczewski said, still breathless just moments after the effort, "that really means something."
Mike Beers (Rite-Aid) drove the second fastest qualifying tandem, the Rite-Aid team, stoked by Ryan Nelman (T-Town Express). Beers has won a national title on the tandem before and knows what it takes to produce a fast ride. "You have to be in very good synch with your driver or stoker, depending on what position you're in," he said. "A lot of it's being able to finesse the bike right. If you come into the corner wrong or someone wiggles a little, you end up moving up track and losing time instantly. To go that fast, it's all about being smooth, really."
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Barczewski was stoker for the T-Town Express team, and during the record-setting qualifying ride he was all concentration, too. "I closed my eyes during the ride, so I don't really know what happened," he said, "but I know that from when we stood, over there until the finish, I was going full. This was by far the hardest thing I've ever done. My legs never hurt so much."
"I was concentrating on being smooth," he continued. "I put my head on Lacky's back so I can feel where he's going. I don't need to see the corner to know we're going into a corner. It's really important for the stoker and driver to be in complete unison."
"Actually, this bike fits us horribly," said Lakatosh. "It's too short for me and it's midget-sized for Ben. But driving was pretty easy because Ben's a good stoker. He's real smooth and follows my every move. It's really just like driving a long, heavier version of my bike."
Before the qualifying ride, Barczewski and Lakatosh said they were more concerned with setting the record than winning the national championship, but the sprint tournament went on anyway.
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In the quarterfinals, the last minute entry of Aussies Darren Harry (SouthAustralia.com-AIS) and Pete Dawson (SouthAustralia.com-AIS) were matched against the Island Boys, Haseem Maclean of Trinidad and Peter Fitzpatrick of Australia. Harry and Dawson qualified on a borrowed bike while Jack Simes III dusted off a classic for them to use in the sprint rounds. Simes said the frame dated to the 1960s, and once carried riders to a fourth place in the world championships.
Unfortunately an over-tightened collar split the seat tube during a last minute adjustment at the line, and the Aussies were forced to scratch. But don't worry - Simes says the bike can probably be fixed and will live to ride another day.
The sprint tournament came down to the team of Barczewski and Lakatosh facing off against Beers and Nelman in the finals. In two highly tactical rides, T-Town Express beat Rite-Aid soundly to secure the national title - its second victory of the night. Despite their focus being the record, after winning the sprint tournament, Barczewski and Lakatosh were thrilled.
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"I feel just amazing," Barczewski said. "The combination of the record and the national championship…there's no way this night could have gone better. We smashed the track record and decisively won nationals. The key was teamwork. Lacky and I seemed to work really well together, and I couldn't have asked for a better driver."
"And I couldn't ask for a better stoker," Lakatosh chimed in, as if finishing Barczewski's sentence. "I mean, I thought we were hauling ass in training, but I had no idea we were going that fast."
"I was concerned about sprints as well as the record," Lakatosh continued. "Winning a national championship is never on my list of things not to do." But he may have summed up the first night of doubles at the velodrome with one simple phrase. "It was good".
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Todd Leister/www.leisterimages.com
- The Bicycling Magazine team of Ray Ignosh and Andy Kulkis power their tandem in the qualifying round.
- Last minute entries to the tournament, the team of Darren Harry and Pete Dawson qualified well on a borrowed bike.
- Saluting the crowd after setting the track record, Andy Lakatosh and Ben Barczewski (T-Town Express) were ecstatic.
- Giddeon Massie (T-Town Express) had an uneventful night.
- Dan Holt (NERAC Pro) looks determined and calm.
- Lanell Rockmore (Young Medalists), sporting his junior national championship jersey, raced with the big boys Friday—and held his own.
- The Argentinean team of Sergio Guatto and Leandro Bottaso focus.
- Mike “Speedy” Beers and Ryan Nelman (Rite Aid) beat the Argentineans at the line to advance to the finals.
- The men's field rolls through the turn.
- Taylor Brown (PA Lightning) follows Pete Dawson (SouthAustralia.com-AIS).
- Darren Harry (SouthAustralia.com-AIS) and Pete Dawson (SouthAustralia.com-AIS) rode together in the mass start events as well as on their tandem.
- Teams line up for the five-seven finals.
- The Australian tandem team had to scratch when Jack Simes' classic frame split at the seat tube.
- Matt Dieffenbach drives the big bike as Jimmy Alvord provides some extra horsepower.
- The women's field pours on the speed.
- Lauren Shirock (Capital Cycling) was active in the women’s field all night.
- Liz Reap-Carlson (T-Town Express) gets focused.
- Why not put a roof over the velodrome and race all year? Oh yeah, nights like this.
- The riders get the bell.
- One of the Canadian riders from Team R.A.C.E. mixes it up with the domestic field.
- Lauren Shirock (Capital Cycling) puts her head down and digs in.
- Cindy Lakatosh (Tri State Velo) on the rivet.
- Darren Harry (SouthAustralia.com-AIS) muscles his machine forward.
- Pete Dawson (SouthAustralia.com-AIS) edges out an Argentinean rider to grab some cash during the prime race.
- In the tandem finals, Barczewski and Lakatosh lead out Beers and Nelman.
- The podium for the tandem national championship. The tournament was run like the US Pro Championships, where the internationals race, but only US riders get placed in the end.
- At least three of Tom Kellog’s (center) tandems were seen skimming around the banks Friday, including this one, ridden by Andy Kulkis and Ray Ignosh.
Images by Zui Hanafusa/www.keirin.us
- Lakatosh and Barczewski (TTown Express) break a record.
- The women's field was filled with many favourites.
- Ashley Kimmet (Itoen) won two events out of three.
- The tandem races were simply fast.
- The Argentinean National Team was very dominant in all its events.
- Argentinean National Team blazing up the track.
- Rite Aid duo ready to push there turbos on.
- Ray Ignosh (Bicycling Magazine) focuses on the reigns with his partner looking out for anything from behind.
- Mike Beers (Rite Aid) about to drop down from turn two.
- Tag your it. Im gonna get you. Actually go around you...
- The Argentinean duo raced in every event including the tandem.
- The field was hungry for the back-to-back primes.
- There were a handful of tandem racers Cornell was one of them.
- One lap to go and no stopping till the finish
- Barczewski plays radar as Lakatosh handles the move.
- The multi-national affair was well represented.
Results
Tandem 1-lap Time Trial 1 Ben Barczewski/Andy Lakatosh (USA) T-Town Express 0.17.4 2 Sergio Guatto/Leandro Bottaso (Arg) Argentina 0.00.6 3 Mike Beers/Ryan Nelman (USA) Rite Aid 0.01.0 4 Pete Dawson/Darren Harry (Aus) Australian 0.01.1 5 Pete Fitzpatrick/Haseem Maclean (Trin/Aus) Trinidad 0.01.3 6 Ray Ignosh/Andy Kuklis (USA) Bicycling Magazine 0.01.6 7 Jim Alvord/Matt Diefenbach (USA) 0.02.3 8 Brian Lawney/Stephen Fratini (USA) Cornell 0.04.1 9 Raphael Gomez/Vincente Gomez (USA) South Bay Wheelmen 0.05.6 Tandem quarterfinals Heat 1 1 Barczewski/Lakatosh 2 Lawney/Fratini Heat 2 1 Guatto/Bottaso 2 Alvord/Diefenbach Heat 3 1 Beers/Nelman 2 Ignosh/Kuklis Heat 4 1 Fitzpatrick/Maclean 2 Dawson/Harry Tandem Semifinals Heat 1 1 Barczewski/Lakatosh 2 Fitzpatrick/Maclean Heat 2 1 Beers/Nelman 2 Guatto/Bottaso Tandem Finals 1-2 Final 1 Barczewski/Lakatosh 2 Beers/Nelman 3-4 Final 1 Guatto/Bottaso 2 Fitzpatcick/Maclean Tandem Final Standings 1 Andy Lakatosh/Ben Barczewski 2 Ryan Nelman/Mike Beers 3 Leandro Bottaso/Sergio Guatto 4 Pete Fitzpatrick/Haseem Maclean 5 Ray Ignosh/Andy Kuklis 6 Jim Alvord/Matt Diefenbach 7 Stephen Fratini/Brian Lawney 8 Pete Dawson/Darren Harry Women's Elimination 1 Ashley Kimmet (USA) Miya Shoji 2 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (USA) Verducci Breakaway 3 Jess Mclean (Aus) Verducci Breakaway 4 Liz Reap (USA) T-Town Express 5 Monique Hanley (Aus) Blackburn Cycling 6 May-Britt Hartwell (Nor) YMCC 7 Veronica Martinez (Arg) JVR Sports 8 Rebecca Larson (USA) Aaron’s/LS Flyers Men's 5 Mile Finals 1 Pete Dawson (Aus) Australian 2 Giddeon Massie (USA) T-Town Express 3 Darren Harry (Aus) Australian 4 Peter Fitzpatrick (Aus) 5 Emile Abraham (Tri) Priority Health 6 Ryan Oelkers (USA) PA Lightning 7 Taylor Brown (USA) PA Lightning 8 Jackie Simes (USA) PA Lightning 9 Adam Myerson (USA) NERAC Pro 10 Mario Mazza AF Pro Women's 5km Scratch Final 1 Ashley Kimmet (USA) Miya Shoji 2 Lauren Shirock (USA) Capital Cycling 3 Rebecca Larson (USA) Aaron’s/LS Flyers 4 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (USA) Verducci/Breakaway 5 Kacey Manderfield (USA) Verducci/Breakaway 6 Cindy Lakatosh (USA) Tri State Velo 7 Elspeth Huyett (USA) Young Medalists 8 Julia Bradley (Can) Team R.A.C.E. Men's Elimination 1 Pete Dawson (Aus) Australian 2 Emile Abraham (Tri) Priority Health 3 Pete Fitzpatrick (Aus) 4 Darren Harry (Aus) Australian 5 Ryan Oelkers (USA) PA Lightning 6 Taylor Brown (USA) PA Lightning 7 Jackie Simes (USA) PA Lightning 8 Chris Ruhl (USA) Team Alliance Women's 10-lap Tempo 1 Monique Hanley (Aus) Blackburn Cycling 2 Rebecca Larson (USA) Aaron’s/LS Flyers 3 Kacey Manderfield (USA) Verducci/Breakaway 4 Lauren Shirock (USA) Capital Cycling 5 Ashley Kimmet (USA) Miya Shoji 6 Liz Reap (USA) T-Town Express 7 Elspeth Huyett (USA) Young Mealists 8 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (USA) Verducci/Breakaway Men's 5km Preme Race 1 Ryan Oelkers (USA) PA Lightning 2 Pete Fitzpatrick (Aus) 3 Emile Abraham (Tri) Priority Health 4 Taylor Brown (USA) PA Lightning 5 Barry Miller (USA) Mike Frayssesport.com 6 Marc Prutton (NZl) Pegasus 7 Bruce Donaghy (USA) Morgan Stanley 8 Leandro Bottaso (Arg) Argentina
