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Lehigh Valley Velodrome, Pennsylvania, USA, June 22, 2007
Chiappa caps off strong week
By Nathan Carrick
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For the third time in a week Italian sprinter Roberto Chiappa has proven he's the fastest against a strong international field at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome. After winning the Red Robin Keirin Cup last Friday, then taking a rain-delayed sprint victory over Max Levy (Brandenburg) of Germany on Wednesday, Chiappa claimed another victory over Levy again in the sprints at the Fastest Man on Wheels.
"I prefer the race in Keirin," Chaippa said through his wife Evelyn. "I understand that I have really good condition, but it was a surprise to be so strong in that race. After the world championships [at the end of March] I had a break. I was doing my training, and when I saw I was so fast in the Keirin, I said 'okay, I can do it also in the sprint.'" He added that he likes riding in T-Town because it resembles his home track in Milan, and looks forward to returning stateside for more racing in August.
"Marty and Erin gave me everything I need," he said. "This track is different from Italy because there's a lot of big riders and there's more atmosphere, more public."
Chiappa must be in fine condition. With three full days of racing this week, many riders were feeling the fatigue begin to set in. Ryan Nelman (T-Town Express) qualified eighth with an 11.18 second 200 meter time, but lost to teammate Giddeon Massie in the first round because he said he was just too tired.
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When Andy Lakatosh (T-Town Express) lost to Adam Duvendek (Momentum Cycling) after a blistering 10.8 second qualifying ride - the fastest he's gone at T-Town - a lot of eyebrows were raised. Assistant Director of the Velodrome and coach for the T-Town Express team Marty Nothstein hollered instructions across the track during the race, but to no avail. Lakatosh seemed to be returning to form after taking some time away from racing.
"He made a little mistake," Duvendek said later. "I took that opportunity and it worked out." Duvendek qualified ninth, almost a half second slower than Lakatosh. He added that over the years he and Lakatosh have often met on the track and it's usually a toss-up who wins. In the semifinals, however, Levy beat Duvendek handily.
On the women's side, it was again a case of small upsets unsettling the expected finishing matches. In heat two of the semifinals, Anna Lang (SDBC/Karl Strausse) beat Jenny Reed (Momentum) by taking a flyer with a lap and a half to go. Too much space opened up between them for Reed to close the gap in time. This set up a final sprint between German powerhouse Christin Muche (Brandenburg) and the American Lang, which Muche won easily. "It's good for me," Muche said. "I do a lot of training here, and this competition was good training."
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The sprinters took the sidelines though when the men's 20 kilometer points race got under way. The pace was high from the start, but eight riders managed to escape and eventually lap the field. Colby Pearce (Cody) and Canadian Zach Bell (Semetrix) both had 42 points at the end of the race, so the winner was determined by finishing order on the last sprint. Pearce earned the victory since he finished fourth on the final lap, edging out Bell by a single place at the line.
The women had the opportunity to break two track records - the one and five-mile records. In the one mile attempt, sprint extraordinaire Muche took the victory but not the record. She had to beat the time of 2.01.36 set by the Kiwi sprinter Fiona Ramage in 2000, but couldn't match the time. Muche does, however, hold one track record - the junior women's flying 200 meter TT, a time of 11.98 seconds, set in 2001.
In the five-mile attempt, Gina Grain (Team Canada) had to beat a time of 10.36.14 for the record, set by Lucy Tyler in 1995, but was also unable to do so. Grain did, however, triumph in the 16 kilometer points race. She racked up a total of 44 points, beating her nearest rival, Kele Murdin (Ultra Link) by 15.
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In the morning session, which was mostly for getting lengthy first round heats out of the way before the evening session, a team sprint was run to get the legs moving. Team Momentum, composed of Yanni Morin (Team Canada), Josiah Ng (Momentum) and Adam Duvendek (Momentum Cycling), took the win in a blistering time of 1.05 flat. They beat team Argentina, composed of Leandro Bottaso (Argentina), Sergio Guatto and Diego Grosso (Sprinter #3) by only four tenths of a second, coming in at 1.05.04.
For the final event of the evening, the men endurance riders took to the track again for a 20 kilometer Madison. The team of Bell and Guy East (CRCA/Sakonnet) took home the victory after going a lap up on the field and earning 15 points in the sprits. Four other teams gained a lap on the field, but only the team of Bobby Lea (Toyota-United) and Pearce came close to the points of Bell and East, with 13.
Throughout the night, young riders took to the track for races which cap off their journeys through one of the velodrome's development programs, the Bicycle Racing League. The program teaches them tactics and training techniques often learned only after countless years of hard experience and racing at the top of the sport. These youngsters, however, get those lessons with free loaner bikes from the velodrome's own inventory. The top team and top riders from each age category were awarded trophies by the top brass.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Todd Leister/www.leisterimages.com
- This pile'o'gold is what the kids from the Bicycle Racing League finals were gunning for.
- Ben Barczewski (T-Town Express) winds it up in one of the early sprint rouds.
- Josiah Ng (Momentum) looking gassed.
- Crowds come out when the racing is top-notch, a fact Velodrome Director Erin Hartwell seems to understand quite well.
- Christin Muche (Brandenburg) takes an easy win in the sprint final over Anna Lang (SDBC/Karl Strausse), who advanced by using wit more than pure speed.
- In the men’s sprint final, Max Levy (Brandenburg) led out Roberto Chaippa (Grouppo Sportivo), but the Italian Stallion’s speed and determination was too much for the German.
- With a bike throw at the line, Roberto Chiappa (Grouppo Sportivo) secures his third sprinting event win this week.
- Erin Hartwell, Max Levy (Brandenburg), Roberto Chiappa (Grouppo Sportivo), Evelyn Chaippa, Marty Nothstein.
- Marty Nothsteins of the future - literally. Tyler Nothstein (center) took top honors in one of the Bicycle Racing League races.
- The women's field hammer through a turn.
- Colby Pearce (Cody) leads the men down the backstraight in the Madison.
- Adam Duvendek (Momentum Cycling) prepares for a sprint.
- Max Levy (Brandenburg) eliminates Adam Duvendek (Momentum Cycling) in the sprint semi finals.
- Gina Grain (Team Canada) cranks it toward the line.
- They grow up so fast - Velodrome Director Erin Hartwell's son Magnus raced in the Bicycle Racing finals Friday.
- Hands-on management: Velodrome Director Erin Hartwell holds Giddeon Massie (T-Town Express) and Marty Nothstein holds Andy Lakatosh (T-Town Express) at the starting line.
- Max Levy (Brandenburg) kicks hard.
- Junior racing throughout the night mixed up the action and kept things interesting.
- A Rite-Aid rider takes a spill early in the race. He jumped back on and got back in the race quickly.
- Colby Pearce (Cody) concentrates.
- Todd Yezesfsky (NERAC) shows the strain of the race as he throws in his partner, Dave Wiswell (NERAC), during the Madison.
- Daniel Larson (Cycle Science) slings Darren Harry into the Madison.
Results
Men's one mile sprinter's dash 1 Kevin Schiller (USA) GS Adams Ave 2 Colby Pearce (USA) Cody 3 Tim Veldt (Ned) Schijf 4 Josiah Ng (Mas) Momentum 5 Diego Grosso (Arg) Sprinter #3 6 Eric Beausejour (Can) Track Team 7 Gary Ryan (Aus) Verducci 8 Angelo Martorell (USA) SBW 9 Matt Diefenback (USA) 10 Bobby Lea (USA) Toyota United 11 Lanell Rockmore (USA) Young Medalists 12 Peter Fitzpatrick (Aus) 13 Yannik Morin (Can) Team Canada 14 Haseem Maclean (Tri) Trinidad 15 Josh Taylor (USA) Rite Aid 16 Ryan Nelman (USA) T-Town Express Men's 20 kilometre points race 1 Colby Pearce (USA) 42 pts 2 Zach Bell (Can) 42 3 Pete Dawson (Aus) 41 4 Alejandro Borrajo (Arg) 39 5 Kevin Schiller (USA) 24 6 Guy East (USA) 22 7 Marc Prutton (NZl) 21 8 Dave Wiswell (USA) 21 9 Todd Yezesfsky (USA) 5 10 Bobby Lea (USA) 5 11 Peter Fitzpatrick (Aus) 2 12 Randy Smargiassi (USA) 1 13 Barry Miller (USA) 14 Gui Nelessen (USA) 15 Paul Pearson (USA) 16 Mark Gorman (USA) 17 Mike Beers (USA) 18 Andrew Kuklis (USA) 19 Chris Ruhl (USA) 20 Dave Bonser (USA) 21 Josh Taylor (USA) 22 Rodney Santiago (PRc) 23 Ryan Oelkers (USA) 24 Guido Palma (Arg) DNF Matt Diefenback (USA) DNF Daniel Larson (USA) 2 pts DNF Haseem Maclean (Tri) DNF Darren Harry (Aus) 3 pts DNF Gustavo Artacho (Arg) DNF Rich Orner (USA) DNF Dave Wells (USA) DNF Josiah Ng (Mas) DNS Giddeon Massie (USA) DNS Eric Beausejour (Can) DNS Yondi Schmidt (Ned) DNS Tim Veldt (Ned) Women's one mile (record attempt) 1 Christin Muche (Ger) Brandenburg 2 Jenny Reed (USA) Momentum 3 Becky Quinn (USA) BMW Bianchi 4 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (USA) Verducci / Breakaway 5 Gina Grain (Can) Team Canada 6 Ashley Kimmet (USA) Miya Shoti 7 Jess Mclean (USA) Verducci / Breakaway 8 Liz Reap Carlson (USA) T-Town Express 9 Veronica Martinez (Arg) JVR Sports 10 Anna Lang (USA) SDBC/Karl Strausse 11 Cari Higgins (USA) America's Dairy Land 12 Lauren Shirock (USA) BMW Bianchi 13 Kele Murdin (USA) Ultra Link 14 Kacey Manderfield (USA) Verducci/Breakaway 15 Cindy Lakatosh (USA) Tri State Velo DNS May Britt Hartwell (Nor) YMCC Women's five mile (record attempt) 1 Gina Grain (Can) Team Canada 2 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (USA) Verducci / Breakaway 3 Kacey Manderfield (USA) Verducci/Breakaway 4 Becky Quinn (USA) BMW Bianchi 5 Jess Mclean (USA) Verducci / Breakaway 6 Cari Higgins (USA) America's Dairy Land 7 Ashley Kimmet (USA) Miya Shoti 8 Veronica Martinez (Arg) JVR Sports 9 Kele Murdin (USA) Ultra Link 10 Liz Reap Carlson (USA) T-Town Express 11 Lauren Shirock (USA) BMW Bianchi DNS Cindy Lakatosh (USA) Tri State Velo DNF Anna Lang (USA) SDBC/Karl Strausse DNS May Britt Hartwell (Nor) YMCC Women's 16 kilometre points race 1 Gina Grain (Can) Team Canada 44 pts 2 Kele Murdin (USA) Ultra Link 29 3 Ashley Kimmet (USA) Miya Shoti 26 4 Jess Mclean (USA) Verducci / Breakaway 22 5 Lauren Shirock (USA) BMW Bianchi 10 6 Becky Quinn (USA) BMW Bianchi 8 7 Anna Lang (USA) SDBC/Karl Strausse 7 8 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (USA) Verducci / Breakaway 6 9 Cari Higgins (USA) America's Dairy Land 5 10 Kacey Manderfield (USA) Verducci/Breakaway 1 DNF Liz Reap Carlson (USA) T-Town Express 6 DNF Christin Muche (Ger) Brandenburg 2 DNF Veronica Martinez (Arg) JVR Sports 2 DNF May Britt Hartwell (Nor) YMCC DNS Cindy Lakatosh (USA) Tri State Velo Women's 200 m TT 1 Christin Muche (Ger) Brandenburg 0.12.00 2 Anna Lang (USA) SDBC/Karl Strausse 0.12.10 3 Jenny Reed (USA) Momentum 0.12.20 4 Cari Higgins (USA) America's Dairy Land 0.12.60 5 Liz Reap Carlson (USA) T-Town Express 6 Cindy Lakatosh (USA) Tri State Velo 0.13.10 7 Kacey Manderfield (USA) Verducci/Breakaway 0.13.20 8 Becky Quinn (USA) BMW Bianchi 0.13.30 9 Dana Feiss (USA) 0.13.50 10 Veronica Martinez (Arg) JVR Sports 0.13.60 11 Kele Murdin (USA) Ultra Link 0.13.80 12 May Britt Hartwell (Nor) YMCC Women's sprint quarter finals Heat 1 1 Christin Muche (Ger) Brandenburg 0.13.50 2 Becky Quinn (USA) BMW Bianchi Heat 2 1 Anna Lang (USA) SDBC/Karl Strausse 0.13.60 2 Kacey Manderfield (USA) Verducci/Breakaway Heat 3 1 Jenny Reed (USA) Momentum 0.13.70 2 Cindy Lakatosh (USA) Tri State Velo Heat 4 1 Liz Reap Carlson (USA) T-Town Express 0.13.50 2 Cari Higgins (USA) America's Dairy Land Women's sprint semi finals Heat 1 Race #1 1 Christin Muche (Ger) Brandenburg 2 Liz Reap Carlson (USA) T-Town Express Heat 2 Race #1 1 Anna Lang (USA) SDBC/Karl Strausse 2 Jenny Reed (USA) Momentum Woen's 9-12 final 1 Dana Feiss (USA) 2 May Britt Hartwell (Nor) DNS Veronica Martinez (Arg) DNS Kele Murdin (USA) Women's sprint 5-8 final 1 Cari Higgins (USA) 2 Becky Quinn (USA) 3 Kacey Manderfield (USA) 4 Cindy Lakatosh (USA) Women's sprint final Final for 1 and 2 1 Christin Muche (Ger) Brandenburg 2 Anna Lang (USA) SDBC/Karl Strausse Final for 3 and 4 1 Jenny Reed (USA) Momentum 2 Liz Reap Carlson (USA) T-Town Express Men's 200 m TT 1 Roberto Chiappa (Ita) Gruppo Sportivo 0.10.80 2 Andy Lakatosh (USA) T-Town Express 3 Maximilian Levy (Ger) Brandenburg 0.10.90 4 Josiah Ng (Mas) Momentum 0.11.00 5 Leandro Bottaso (Arg) Argentina 0.11.10 6 Tim Veldt (Ned) Schijf 7 Sergio Guatto (Arg) 8 Giddeon Massie (USA) T-Town Express 9 Ryan Nelman (USA) T-Town Express 0.11.20 10 Adam Duvendek (USA) Momentum Cycling 0.11.30 11 Kasper Jessen (Den) Oldense T12 Angelo Martorell (USA) SBW T12 Ben Barczewski (USA) T-Town Express 14 Diego Grosso (Arg) Sprinter #3 0.11.50 15 Eric Beausejour (Can) Track Team 16 Kevin Schiller (USA) GS Adams Ave 0.11.60 17 Yannik Morin (Can) Team Canada 18 Gary Ryan (Aus) Verducci 19 Haseem Maclean (Tri) Trinidad 0.11.70 20 Yondi Schmidt (Ned) Schijf 21 Lanell Rockmore (USA) Young Medalists 0.12.00 22 Travis Smith (Can) Momentum Cycling 23 Ted Sheperd (USA) Young Medalists 0.12.80 24 Josh Taylor (USA) Rite Aid 0.12.90 25 Peter Fitzpatrick (Aus) 0.13.00 26 Colby Pearce (USA) Cody 0.13.40 27 Bobby Lea (USA) Toyota United 0.13.50 DNS Marc Prutton (NZl) Pegasers DNS Maralet Rodriguez (PRc) GR Sport Men's sprint 1/8 final Heat 1 1 Roberto Chiappa (Ita) Gruppo Sportivo 2 Kevin Schiller (USA) GS Adams Ave Heat 2 1 Andy Lakatosh (USA) T-Town Express 0.11.20 2 Eric Beausejour (Can) Track Team Heat 3 1 Maximilian Levy (Ger) Brandenburg 0.11.10 2 Diego Grosso (Arg) Sprinter #3 Heat 4 1 Ben Barczewski (USA) T-Town Express 0.11.20 2 Josiah Ng (Mas) Momentum Heat 5 1 Leandro Bottaso (Arg) Argentina 0.11.70 2 Angelo Martorell (USA) SBW Heat 6 1 Tim Veldt (Ned) Schijf 2 Kasper Jessen (Den) Oldense Heat 7 1 Adam Duvendek (USA) Momentum Cycling 0.11.70 2 Sergio Guatto (Arg) Heat 8 1 Giddeon Massie (USA) T-Town Express 0.11.70 2 Ryan Nelman (USA) T-Town Express Men's quarter final Heat 1 1 Roberto Chiappa (Ita) Gruppo Sportivo 0.11.10 2 Giddeon Massie (USA) T-Town Express Heat 2 1 Adam Duvendek (USA) Momentum Cycling 0.11.70 2 Andy Lakatosh (USA) T-Town Express Heat 3 1 Maximilian Levy (Ger) Brandenburg 0.11.30 2 Tim Veldt (Ned) Schijf Heat 4 1 Ben Barczewski (USA) T-Town Express 0.11.40 2 Leandro Bottaso (Arg) Argentina Men's sprint semi final Heat 1 1 Roberto Chiappa (Ita) Gruppo Sportivo 2 Ben Barczewski (USA) T-Town Express Heat 2 1 Maximilian Levy (Ger) Brandenburg 2 Adam Duvendek (USA) Momentum Cycling Men's sprint 5-8 final 1 Giddeon Massie (USA) T-Town Express 2 Andy Lakatosh (USA) T-Town Express 3 Tim Veldt (Ned) Schijf 4 Leandro Bottaso (Arg) Argentina Men's sprint final Ride for 1 and 2 Final 1 Roberto Chiappa (Ita) Gruppo Sportivo 2 Maximilian Levy (Ger) Brandenburg Ride for 3 and 4 Final 1 Ben Barczewski (USA) T-Town Express 2 Adam Duvendek (USA) Momentum Cycling Madison 1 Zach Bell (Can) 15 pts Guy East (USA) 2 Bobby Lea (USA) 13 pts Colby Pearce (USA) 3 Dave Wiswell (USA) 6 pts Todd Yezesfsky (USA) 4 Pete Dawson (Aus) 6 pts Peter Fitzpatrick (Aus) 5 Gustavo Artacho (Arg) 2 pts Ryan Oelkers (USA) 6 Darren Harry (Aus) 2 pts Daniel Larson (USA) 7 Kevin Schiller (USA) Paul Pearson (USA) 8 Randy Smargiassi (USA) Andrew Kuklis (USA) 9 Marc Prutton (NZl) Barry Miller (USA) 10 Rodney Santiago (PRc) Chris Ruhl (USA) DNF Alejandro Borrajo (Arg) Guido Palma (Arg) DNF Mike Beers (USA) Dave Bonser (USA) Team sprint 1 Momentum 1.05.00 Yannik Morin (Can) Team Canada Josiah Ng (Mas) Momentum Adam Duvendek (USA) Momentum Cycling 2 Argentina 1.05.40 Leandro Bottaso (Arg) Argentina Sergio Guatto (Arg) Diego Grosso (Arg) Sprinter #3 3 Holland 1.06.20 Tim Veldt (Ned) Schijf Yondi Schmidt (Ned) Schijf Giddeon Massie (USA) T-Town Express 4 T-Town Express 1.07.00 Andy Lakatosh (USA) T-Town Express Ben Barczewski (USA) T-Town Express Ryan Nelman (USA) T-Town Express 5 Composite A 1.07.60 Kevin Schiller (USA) GS Adams Ave Angelo Martorell (USA) SBW Haseem Maclean (Tri) Trinidad 6 Team International 1.10.50 Travis Smith (Can) Momentum Cycling Gary Ryan (Aus) Verducci Eric Beausejour (Can) Track Team 7 YMCC 1.11.10 Lanell Rockmore (USA) Young Medalists Tynan Farley (USA) Young Medalists Ted Sheperd (USA) Young Medalist
