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Results and Reports for June 29 - July 5, 2002
USA
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Storage Tek Coal Miner's Classic
Louisville, CO, June 30, 2002
Newbie Lusby takes women's; men fall to Stoyanov show of strength
By Calvin J Gauss
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On a sunny Sunday afternoon a strong field of Colorado racers gathered to contest the annual Storage Tek Coal Miner's Classic. This race has been around for nearly a decade and was moved to its current location on the Storage Tek campus last year. For 2002 the status of the race has been upgraded and it was included as part of the Best Overall Rider and Team competition for the State of Colorado.
As the temperature climbed to near 100 degrees a strong but small woman's field gathered. The field was lead by riders from several strong local and nation team including Margell Able of the powerful Veritas Women's team, Missy Thompson of the T Mobile Team, and Kendra Keely of the regional team Pedalhome.com. The race started fast with riders going out the back due to the large finishing hill and strong cross winds. During the majority of the race the field was happy to attack, chase and work on winning primes. No one team had a significant number of riders, so the race remained together. Coming into the last prime brand new category 3 rider Allison Lusby opened up a gap and continued on after the prime to build her lead. With no concentrated chase from the field she continued to extend her lead and soloed home for the win in her first category 1/2/3 race. The field followed her home with a uphill field sprint for 2nd taken by Kendra Keely from Missy Thompson.
After a short break the men's pro/1/2 field assembled for the biggest, fastest and hottest race of the day. Several US professional teams were well represented with Mercury having three riders, Jittery Joe's having two riders and Saturn, 7 UP, and Sierra Nevada all having one rider. In addition all the top amateur teams in Colorado fielded full squads including Pro Peloton, GS CIAO, Chippers, Trek/VW, and Monsoon.
The race got underway with a fierce pace being set by Mercury with several local riders trying to mix things up. The heat and the early pace took their toll as riders were coming off the back within the first few laps, some were so dehydrated they kept the ambulance busy getting fluids. As the race settled in the three Mercury rider took turns attacking with Scott Moniger leading the way.
The field could only hold on for so long and eventually Mercury rider Plamen Stoyanov got away from the field with an incredible burst of speed. Only one rider had the courage or ability to take his wheel, Rich Davis from the Monsoon Racing team. The two riders worked together and never looked back. Their escape. combined with Mercury and Monsoon's blocking allowed them a free run to the finish.
In the end Plamen was just too strong and easily took the victory and first place check. Behind the break the field was shattering on the last few laps under pressure from GS CIAO, Pro Peleton and the Trek/VW team. With one to go everything was strung out with Christian McCarthy attempting to solo away for 3rd. In the end he was caught and Andy Clark took the field sprint for 3rd, giving the Monsoon team 2nd and 3rd in the race.
All in all it was a great day of racing with large fields, a well run event and great weather. All of this would not be possible with out our sponsors, Storage Tek, EDS, Mentor Graphics, Eldordo Springs Water, The Daily Camera, Go Boulder, Hind, Rudy Project, SmartFuel, Goodbye Blue Money, VeloNews, Rockymounts, Mohan Design, Stan's Automotive, Louisville Cyclery, Shimano, Giro, Astra Physical Therapy, Merilee Johnson.
Photography
Images by Justin Balog
- Scott Moniger (Mercury) relaxing at the start
- The start of the pro/1/2 men's race as the rider get ready for the heat
- Leon Vogels (Mercury), followed by Jeff Courter (GS CIAO), rides tempo at the front to control the field
- Plamen Stoyanov (Mercury) looking happy and relieved as he nears the line for his victory
- Mike Lay (Jittery Joe's) working to bring the break back
- Rich Davis (Monsoon Racing) held on in the break to take well deserved 2nd place
- Jilayne Lovejoy (Excel Sports) taking a corner on her way to 4th place
- Missy Thompson (T Mobile) leads Rene Eastman (Chipper/Vitamin Cottage) through corner number one
Results
Jr. Girls 10/14 1 Danielle Haulman (Team Cornerstone) 2 Andrea Schwab (Lakewood Racing Team) 3 Ashley Ooley (Rio Grande/Monsoon Racing) 4 Hannah Summerhill (Unattached) 5 Nicole Balgley (Vitamin Cottage/Morgul BiMark) 6 Alexandra Fox (Unatt) 7 Nicole Fox (Unatt) Jr. Boys 10/14 1 Alex Howes (Lakewood Racing Team) 2 Daniel Summerhill (Lakewood Racing Team) 3 Bryce Lawson (Front Rangers Cycling Team) 4 Alex Coelho (Monsoon Juniors Team) 5 Tyler Gallup (Team Cornerstone) 6 Jerry Medford Jr. (Clif Bar/Denver Spoke) 7 Connor Simmons (Simplegreen/MAZDA) 8 Ty Olwin (La Forza) 9 Davis Balgley (Vitamin Cottage/Morgul BiMark) 10 Jon Anderson (Monsoon Juniors Team) Jr. Girls 15-18 1 Nichole Sauer (Front Rangers Cycling Club) Jr. Boys 15-18 1 Peter Stetina (Unattached) 2 Brandon Weil (GS Boulder Masters Cycling Team) 3 Miles Burnett (International Christian Cycling Club) 4 Alex Coelho (Monsoon Juniors Team) 5 Adam McGrath (Ritchey) 6 Adam Maerz (Storagetek Cycling) 7 Davis Glasscock (Monsoon Juniors Team) 8 Philip Martin (Run Jane Run) 9 James Anderson (Monsoon Juniors Team) 10 Eloy Flores (Ridge View Cycling) Master Men 35+ 1 Michael Carter (Clif Bar/Denver Spoke) 2 Michael Brown (Clif Bar/Denver Spoke) 3 Richard Rodriquez (Clif Bar/Denver Spoke) 4 John Holcombe (Rio Grande/Monsoon Racing) 5 Donald Spence Jr (Clif Bar/Denver Spoke) 6 Charlie Hayes (Excel Sports) 7 Bart Sheldrake (Cody Racing Team) 8 John Seibert (Clif Bar/Denver Spoke) 9 Mark Littrell (Vitamin Cottage/Morgul BiMark) 10 Brack Hattler III (Cody Racing Team) Master Men 45+ 1 Mac Caldwell (GS Boulder Masters Cycling Team) 2 Bret Wade (Simplegreen/MAZDA) 3 Steven Worley (GS Boulder Masters Cycling Team) 4 Randy Gaffney (GS Boulder Masters Cycling Team) 5 Paul Mack (GS Boulder Masters Cycling Team) 6 David Kruger (Simplegreen/MAZDA) 7 William McGinley (Simplegreen/MAZDA) 8 Robert Bieterman (Simplegreen/MAZDA) 9 Barry MesMer (Fort Collins Cycling and Racing Club) 10 William Simmons (Simplegreen/MAZDA) Master Men 55+ 1 Don Arthur (GS Boulder Masters Cycling Team) 2 James Kinsinger (Co. Bicycle Racing Seniors) 3 Fred Owen (Pikes Peak Velo) 4 James Leach (Co. Bicycle Racing Seniors) 5 Bernie Lieff (Pro Peloton Velo) 6 Jim Dlouhy (Co. Bicycle Racing Seniors) 7 Gary Dickinson (Lakewood Racing Team) 8 Larry Webb (Lakewood Racing Team) 9 Gene Mendez (Techniques.org Cycling Team) 10 Tom Stocker (Allegheny Cycling Association) Cat. 3 Men 1 Christopher Stockburger (Rio Grande/Monsoon Racing) 2 Robert King (Lakewood Racing Team) 3 Toby Strom (Laurel Street Racing) 4 Steven Porter (Rio Grande/Monsoon Racing) 5 Chad Moore (GS CIAO) 6 Chad McShane (Red Rocks Velo) 7 Thomas Dolak (Fort Collins Cycling and Racing Club) 8 Eric Ray (Fift Cycling) 9 Andre Rusconi (GS CIAO) 10 Mark Erickson (Vitamin Cottage/Morgul BiMark) Cat. 4 Men 1 Jeb Dunnuck (Galyans) 2 Josh Stoll (Rio Grande/Monsoon Racing) 3 Trevor Davis (Monsoon Juniors Team) 4 Courtney Guck (Fort Collins Cycling and RacingClub) 5 David Middlekauff (Red Rocks Velo) 6 John Gaensbauer (Unattached) 7 Gordan Selkirk (GS CIAO) 8 eric Liprandi (Unattached) 9 John Drake (Red Rocks Velo) 10 John Chinkes (Louisville Velo Club) Men Pro/1/2 1 Plamen Stoyanov (Mercury) 2 Rich Davis (Rio Grande/Monsoon Racing) 3 Andy Clark (Rio Grande/Monsoon Racing) 4 Jim Feehan (Color Me Safe Racing) 5 Christian McCarthy (Pro Peloton Velo) 6 Dirk Friel (Choco-Andean Eco-Coffee) 7 Kelly Ruddick (Pro Peloton Velo) 8 Max Clauson (GS CIAO) 9 Jeffrey Hartman (Big Shark Racing) 10 Will Frishkorn (Saturn) Women Pro/1/2/3 1 Allison Lusby (Unattached) 2 Kendra Keeley (Pedalhome.com/Rogue Wave) 3 Missy Thompson (Cannondale/USA) 4 Jilayne Lovejoy (Excel Sports) 5 Margell Abel (Veritas Womens Cycling Team) 6 Leah Reeve (ICO/Ionic) 7 Renee Eastman (Chippers) 8 Jennifer Martin (La Forza) 9 Maatje Benassi (Veritas Womens Cycling Team) 10 Carla Flores (Lakewood Racing Team) Women cat. 4/35+ 1 Ann Schofield (Rio Grande/Monsoon Racing) 3 Martha Pomares (Rocky Mountain Road Club) 4 Jo Campbell (Fort Collins Cycling and Racing Club) 5 Amanda Harris (Louisville Velo Club) 6 Jacqueline Wood (Red Rocks Velo) 7 Karen Dlouhy (La Forza) 8 Nicky Van Bulck (Pedalhome.com/Rogue Wave) 9 Deidre Garvey (Louisville Velo Club)
