Good job to all who came out and represented the team by racing, cheering, or both!  Was really a fun time at a great venue!

Age Based TB&S Results:

W 30-34:  Jenny Park 1st

W 35+:  Kim Ciolli 2nd

W 45+:  Kelly Martinez: 2nd

M 35-39:  Jason Bentley 10th,  Jeromie Payne 11th

M 40+:  James Murff 11th

M 50+:  Charles Bippert 20th

M 60+:  Phil Durham 7th

Skill Based TB&S Results:

W Cat 1/2:  Jenny Park 10th,  Kim Ciolli 19th

W Cat 3:  Lindy Alton 11th

W Cat 4:  Kelly Martinez 10th

M Cat 2:  CJ Hebert 17th,  Jason Bentley 39th, James Murff 40th

M Cat 3:  Jeromie Payne 12th

M Cat 5:  Rance Ivie 24th

Non-Championship Results: 

W Cat 4:  Kelley Martinez 5th

M Cat 3/4:  Jeromie Payne 12th

University Oaks - April 15, 2012
Race Report by Jason Bentley, Winner of the P123 Race

The weather was cloudy with a cool breeze blowing through, and although it was dry, the potential for rain was ominous as the P123 race started. James Murff, CJ Hebert, and myself had a general plan of riding aggressively, but modulating our efforts depending on whether riders from teams with a large presence in the race were with us. CJ and myself took turns following the early attacks, but they were all reeled in fairly quickly. Then, about 20 minutes into the race, the rain started to fall. At first, it was light, but then the sky opened up, and the rain fell steadily for about 10 minutes. When the heavier rain started, I knew the corners would get slick, and for no other reason than self preservation, I made it a point to be the first one into the corners! Right away on turn 1, I heard a large crash behind me...

I wasn't sure if I had a gap or if any of my teammates went down, but I decided to keep the hammer down so I could again be the first one into the next corner. As I pressed on, I realized that I had established a solo break and was gaining time on the field. Since I knew the group would have to slow for the corners, I decided to maintain my solo effort because of the advantage I had in the corners. A few minutes later, I heard yet another crash behind me (I believe it was around turn 4), and although I still wasn't sure if any of my teammates were involved, it made me happy that I wasn't near it! I think the field got even more tentative around the turns after that, which allowed me to increase my lead. The plan was simple after that: hit the straightaways hard and take the corners gently. I knew with 3 laps to go that I was going to get the win! I had one scare with 2 laps to go when my rear wheel slid a little bit, but it was just a reminder that I needed to take the corners REALLY gently. I rolled across the finish well ahead of the 2nd place rider, who had also gotten away from the group, followed by what was left of the field. I was happy to learn that my teammates were able to stay upright despite the crashes, and very happy I decided to ride away from "danger"! This was my first mass-start victory, and I was thrilled my family was there to see it!

Day 1 Crit:

Women's Open:  Jenny Park - 5th, Kim Ciolli - 16th, Rheannon Cunningham - 21st, Lindy Alton - 25th.

Women's Cat 4:  Kristen Kjellberg - 4th, Allison Floyd - 6th, Kelley Martin - 8th, Kelly Martinez - 10th.

Mens 40+:  James Murff - 8th, Larry Blanchard - 22nd, Gary Obernolte - 34th

Day 2 Road Race:

Women's Open:  Celina Richardson - 21st

Women's Cat 4:  Kelley Martin - 6th, Kristen Kjellberg - 7th, Allison Floyd - 8th

Men's 40+:  Mark Jansen - 24th, Jason Newman - 31st, Grant Woolf - 33rd, (Charles Bippert, Larry Blanchard, and Gary Obernolte - DNF but had fun)

Congratulations. Keep it up!

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Another great day of racing out in Manor for Team Seton Brain and Spine Cycling! Results:

Women Open: Kim Ciolli - 2nd, Nadia Barrera - 9th, Lindy Alton

Women Cat 4: Allison Floyd - 2nd, Kelly Martinez - 4th

P12: CJ Hebert - 24th

Men Cat 3: Jeromie Payne - 6th, Kevin Girkens

Masters 40+ 1/2/3/4: Mark Jansen - 7th, James Murff - 9th, Grant Woolf - 10th, Rob Eason - 16th, Larry "1 Break & Broke" Blanchard

Masters 50+ 1/2/3/4: Chuck Bippert - 9th, Jason Newman - 10th, John Collins - 11th

Masters 35+ 4/5: Bill Huie - 27th, Gary Obernolte - 33rd

Great turn out by the team today at the J. Lorraine Ghost Town for some Manor racing!  Here are some of the results.

Women Open: Kim Ciolli - 2nd, Celina Richardson - 4th, Lindy Alton - 7th, Tiffani Harkrider - 8th

Women Cat 4: Kelly Martinez - 3rd

Men Cat 3: Jeromie Payne - 6th

Men Cat 4: Mark Moze - 19th

Masters 40+ 1/2/3/4: Mark Jansen - 2nd, Larry Blanchard - 7th, James Murff - 19th, Rob Eason - 20th, Jorge "Part Timer" Martinez

Masters 50+ 1/2/3/4: Will Visser - 7th, John Collins - 12th, Jason Newman - 14th, Charles "Attack Dude" Bippert

Masters 35+ 4/5:  Barry Conlan - 28th,  Rance Ivie  - 40th, Phil Durham - 42nd, Gary "Dang Hill" Obernalte, Grant "There goes the hamstring" Woolf,

The race started with near-perfect weather conditions, but with a bit of north wind at 10 to 15 mph, which didn’t do much to alter the race tactics. The forty or so guys lining up for the start looked like most of same guys I saw at the state championships last year. The race was only 33 miles: six loops of a 5.5 mile course.

The first lap, no one seemed interested in forcing anything. On the second lap, I could tell there were two guys itching to launch on the long climb. I moved forward and waited for the attack, which happened about halfway up with Bill Shirer and another guy going off the front. I thought it was too early but decided that if the guy from Tulsa, Janne Hamalainen, goes, I would, too. We went together, but since no one reacted to the attack, I decided to try to make it work anyway.

When I looked back, I had Hamalainen on my wheel, and the four of us had a decent gap. By the time we got to the top of the hill, we were working well and putting time on the group, which didn’t seem interested in chasing. The pace seemed manageable, and after the fourth lap, I knew Jason Newman and John Collins were putting the brakes on any attempts by the group to bring us back because we had over a one-minute gap.

On the on the fifth lap climb, we started to ease up, but not before we lost one guy. At this point, the three of us were thinking we had left the pack behind, but we didn’t know that they were now closing the gap, with Henry Skowronek of North Texas Road Team (the former Polish national Champion) doing most of the work.

By the time we started the sixth and last lap, our gap was down to 35 seconds, but the group had given up on us. I decided to make my attack on the last stair step of the climb and got myself into third position just waiting for Hamalainen to take his next pull. Instead, he decided to attack with three miles to go, halfway up the climb. I could not match the surge, nor could Bill: he was already spent and seemed unable to get on my wheel. I knew that was the race, and the best I could do was to hold the gap between me and Hamalainen all the way back to the finish.

Pace Bend Road Race 2012-Women's Cat 1/2/3Race Report by Kim Ciolli

Kim Ciolli
Pace Bend Road Race 2012
3rd Place, Women's Cat 1/2/3

I have raced Pace Bend every year since I was a Cat 4 in 2005, and I have had the opportunity to experience every one of the finishes: the feed zone hill; the less steep, longer hill of the last 2 years; the counter-clockwise finish; and, of course, the finish we just did. Unlike all those nervous about the possible carnage at this year's finish line, I was ringing my hands in excitement. What could be better than a downhill, hard right and then an all-out, high-speed, head-to-head sprint for the line? In my mind, it was no different than a crit finish. I really felt the race would be decided by the corner. The racer who goes into the last corner third wheel will win the sprint. I learned that lesson a few years ago, and I have never forgotten it.

The early season races--Walburg, Pace Bend, and Lago Vista--always bring strong women's fields. This year, nearly forty ladies lined up to compete, including the very dominant Rouse/FCS ladies. I think they had six or seven women in town racing, prepping for this year's NRC calendar. The day before at Walburg, I had driven the lead car for the P/1/2/3 women and witnessed the Rouse women sweep the podium against a very deep field. Obviously, they were the ones to watch, and I was planning for an aggressive, strategic battle at Pace Bend.

The attacks were early and often and put me in the hurt locker for the first two laps (12-15 miles). I was concerned because my legs felt heavy and lactic -acidy. Regardless of my suffering, I stayed up front (not ON the front, NEAR the front). I did not want to be sitting near the back and risk getting gapped or missing a split. As poorly as I was feeling early, Nadia was looking fresh. My initial thought was to try to make sure Nadia could get in a break, but nothing was sticking. I decided to relax and watch everyone beat up on each other. I simply followed wheels and began feeling better. When Rachel Warner countered a counter-attack, I was in the right place and went with her. It proved an almost fatal move for me because we were reabsorbed at the bottom of the steep feed zone hill. I went from off the front to dangling 5 meters off the back. Luckily, teammate Tiff was there to make sure I didn't get spit out the back!

I don't remember the race having any easy moments other than being neutralized briefly for the men. The entire race was tough. When the bell rang for the last lap and the attacks continued, I thought of this being my last time to ever race at Pace Bend, but I sucked it up and pedaled, thinking about getting to the last corner third wheel. I was sitting in perfect position just behind Christina Gokey-Smith and Jen McRae. The rest is kind of a blur except that I know I went over the last climb in what felt like last place. The wind had picked up and was blowing right to left. Rouse/FCS sent Rachel Warner early, which was not unexpected, forcing everyone to chase.

When I crested the last climb, I thought it's now or never. I had to make up some ground, so I worked my way all the way to the left and made my move down the outside. I HAD to get to that corner 3rd wheel. I felt like I might die, but I was passing the strung-out riders one by one. The corner was approaching, and I seamlessly slipped in just before the corner in fourth spot. I was thrilled with myself. We were making ground on Rachel Warner, but the race was now for second place since the finish line was coming up fast. At that point, instincts took over. Shifting, spinning the right gear, watching the gears and the wheels around, shifting and spinning some more. Then, at the exact time the Rouse girl jumped, my immediate instinct and reaction was to jump with her. I remember sprinting, shifting twice, and then throwing my bike across the line. I had no idea what place I was, but I knew it was good: a photo finish! Later I was told I was second in the field sprint, just edging out Jen McRae for the podium. Apparently, I was the only non-Rouse/FCS girl to podium the entire weekend. They were going for the sweep both days.

I would like to say after years of racing and hundreds of races, achieving personal goals never gets old. It took me seven attempts to be on the podium at one of my favorite races. Thanks to Tiff and Nadia for the teamwork!

Another great day of racing La Primavera for the team!  Way to go!

Kim Ciolli:  Women's Open - 4th Place

Allison Floyd:  Women's Cat 4 - 2nd Place

John Collins:  Mens 60+ - 3rd Place

Great job to all the racers and supporters out at Lago Vista today!  Racers endured a very challenging course and supporters provided handups fantastically as I didn't notice a single dropped bottle.

Here are some of todays results:

CJ Hebert - Cat 2/3:  12th Place

Nadia Barrera - Women 1/2/3/4:  13th Place

Will Visser - Masters 50+:  2nd Place

Grant Woolf - Masters 35+ 4/5:  3rd Place

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