Schafer surprises in Spartanburg
Ilesic, Kalz round out podium
German track rider Stefan Schafer (Maloja Pushbikers) charged to a solo win today in Spartanburg. The national madison champion attacked in the closing laps of the 70 lap race, gaining about 11 seconds before Astellas sensed the danger and began chasing. However it was too late, and Schafer barely held off the swarming field while Aldo Ilesic (Astellas) sprinted to second. Marcel Kalz (Maloja Pushbikers) rounded out an all European podium.
Daniel Holloway (Giant Racing), winner of the Spartanburg Criterium two years in a row, finished in fourth place.
"It was horribly hard," Schafer said after his win. "But this crowd was amazing to ride for. And their cheers kept me going. This is the best race I’ve ever done because of the crowd atmosphere. It’s amazing here, even better than last year. It’s so loud. It’s really great to race here."
120 riders took the start of the 4th race of the TUFMED USA CRITS Series that coincidentally had the same kind of neutralization as the women’s race. Again, a crash on the fourth lap caused a massive pileup and officials chose to stop the race so those affected could get mechanical help.
As the laps flew by, Maloja Pushbikers team were on the offensive, throwing attack after attack at the Astellas team, who were forced to respond, as their sprinter was Aldo Ilsec (Astellas) was the best placed rider in the Speedweek series present at Spartanburg at fourth place.
With 30 laps to go, Michael Stoop caught the field sleeping and set off solo. He pulled out a few meters advantage and spent a few laps away while Astellas, sensing the danger, formed at the front to pull him back in.
Schafer countered, then Christian Grassman, both from Maloja Pushbikers, pressuring Astellas constantly. Finally, Schafer made his winning move with less than 10 laps remaining and rode to an impressive win.
Full recap video:
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Stefan Schafer (Maloja Pushbikers) | 1:22:45 |
2 | Aldo Ilesic (Astellas Cycling Team) | 0:00:01 |
3 | Marcel Kalz (Maloja Pushbikers) | 0:00:01 |
4 | Daniel Holloway (Giant Racing powered by Intelligentsia) | 0:00:01 |
5 | Colton Brookshire (NCCF team specialized) | 0:00:02 |
6 | Christian Grasmann (Maloja Pushbikers) | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Bobby Lea (Maloja Pushbikers) | 0:00:02 |
8 | Ed Veal (RealDeal/D'Ornellas p/b Garneau) | 0:00:02 |
9 | Quentin Valognes (Team Novo Nordisk) | 0:00:03 |
10 | Kevin Goguen | 0:00:03 |
11 | Ben Fredrick | 0:00:03 |
12 | Jose Frank Rodriguez (Stradalli - Safetti) | 0:00:03 |
13 | Zack Kratche (Pioneer Mortgage Funding) | 0:00:03 |
14 | Sam Rosenholtz (GREEN LINE VELO driven by Zipcar) | 0:00:04 |
15 | Ben Renkema (Team Finish Strong) | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Adam Farabaugh (Support Clean Sport / SeaSucker / Guttenplan Coaching) | 0:00:04 |
17 | Enrique Lopez (Stradalli - Safetti) | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Justin Meade (Team Finish Strong Elite Cycling Team) | 0:00:04 |
19 | Ryan Good (11elevencycling) | 0:00:04 |
20 | Hamza Eastman (Team Cocos) | 0:00:04 |
21 | Matt Moosa | 0:00:05 |
22 | Jacob White (Team Arapahoe Resources) | 0:00:05 |
23 | Andrew Dahlheim (Team Arapahoe Resources) | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | John Harris (GREEN LINE VELO driven by Zipcar) | 0:00:05 |
25 | Tom Gibbons (United Healthcare of Georgia p/b The 706 Project) | 0:00:05 |
26 | Martin Hacecky (Maloja Pushbikers) | 0:00:06 |
27 | Andy Reardon | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Chad Hartley (Giant Racing powered by Intelligentsia) | 0:00:06 |
29 | Blake Anton (Team Clif Bar) | 0:00:06 |
30 | Matthew Salpietro (Texas Roadhouse Cycling) | 0:00:06 |
31 | Gen kogure | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Guy Tawney (Centurion Next Wave Cycling Team) | 0:00:07 |
33 | Eamon Lucas (Astellas Cycling Team) | 0:00:07 |
34 | Ian Keough (Astellas Cycling Team) | 0:00:07 |
35 | Geron Williams (CRCA/Foundation) | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Akil Campbell (Stradalli - Safetti) | 0:00:07 |
37 | Anthony Rodriguez (CRCA/Foundation) | 0:00:07 |
38 | Ricky Randall (Team Arapahoe Resources) | 0:00:08 |
39 | Darren Dowling | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Michael Jasinski (Team Clif Bar) | 0:00:08 |
41 | Parker Kyzer (Team Finish Strong) | 0:00:08 |
42 | Ryan Aitcheson (Astellas Cycling Team) | 0:00:08 |
43 | Paul Morris (Team Clif Bar) | 0:00:08 |
44 | Chris Uberti | 0:00:08 |
45 | Devin Reavis (High Country Development Team p/b Pactimo) | 0:00:08 |
46 | chris ernst (Team Ontario) | 0:00:09 |
47 | Graydon Staples | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Stefan Mastaller (Maloja Pushbikers) | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Philip short | 0:00:09 |
50 | Christian Camilo Torres (CRCA/Foundation) | 0:00:09 |
51 | Ryan Joyce (Cyclus Sports) | 0:00:09 |
52 | Anton Varabei (RealDeal/D'Ornellas p/b Garneau) | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Noah Simms (Team Ontario/Centurion Next Wave Cycling Team) | 0:00:10 |
54 | Fabio Calabria (Team Novo Nordisk) | 0:00:10 |
55 | Jacob Gerhardt (Team Clif Bar) | 0:00:10 |
56 | Kevin Mullervy | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Dylan Cantrell (United Healthcare of Georgia/706P) | 0:00:10 |
58 | Grant Erhard | 0:00:10 |
59 | Umberto Poli (Team Novo Nordisk) | 0:00:11 |
60 | AJ Moran | 0:00:11 |
61 | Artur Sagat (Pioneer Mortgage Funding) | 0:00:11 |
62 | Isaac Strickland | 0:00:11 |
63 | Connor Schunk | 0:00:11 |
64 | Gonzalez Frankie | 0:00:11 |
65 | Andy Scarano (United Healthcare of Georgia p/b The 706 Project) | 0:00:12 |
66 | Sebastian Morfin (Stradalli - Safetti) | 0:00:12 |
67 | Brais Dacal (Team Novo Nordisk) | 0:00:12 |
68 | Adam Koble (Team Arapahoe Resources) | 0:00:13 |
69 | Willem Kaiser (United Healthcare of Georgia p/b The 706 Project) | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Matt Salpietro (Texas Roadhouse) | 0:00:13 |
71 | Michael Potter | 0:00:15 |
72 | Juan Polanco (CRCA/Foundation) | 0:00:15 |
73 | Frank Travieso (United Healthcare of Georgia p/b The 706 Project) | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Norlandy Tavera (CRCA/Foundation) | 0:00:15 |
75 | Lucas Livermon (Cyclus Sports) | 0:00:15 |
76 | David Pavlik | 0:00:16 |
77 | Unknown | 0:00:16 |
78 | Kyle Knott | 0:00:16 |
79 | Raynauth Jeffrey (Team Cocos) | 0:00:16 |
80 | Sam Connell | 0:00:17 |
81 | Gunner Holmgren | 0:00:17 |
82 | Clay Murfet (Astellas Cycling Team) | 0:00:17 |
83 | Christepher Zieman | 0:00:17 |
84 | Douglas Chrystall (Cannondale) | 0:00:18 |
85 | Sean Weddell | 0:00:18 |
86 | Andrew Baker | 0:00:18 |
87 | Shane Feehery | 0:00:20 |
88 | Chad Conley | 0:00:20 |
89 | Michael Stoop | 0:00:22 |
90 | Carlos Norena | 0:00:31 |
91 | Adam Leibovitz (Giant Racing) | 0:00:34 |
92 | Unknown | 0:00:43 |
93 | Brandon Feehery (Astellas Cycling Team) | 0:01:06 |
94 | John Pratt | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
95 | Justin Pfaff | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
96 | Matthew Staples (Ontario) | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
97 | Myles Lietzke (Lowcountry Racing) | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
98 | Matthew Kelley (Summit Wealth Strategies) | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
99 | Rainiel Sanchez (SCC SOUTHERN CRESCENT CYCLING) | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
100 | Andrew Hodges (Prima Tappa) | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
101 | Charkie Huegel (Nine Lives Carbon Repair) | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
102 | David Herrera (Governacion de Caldas) | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
103 | Juan Pimentel (CRCA/Foundation) | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
104 | Evan Bybee (Team Arapahoe Resources) | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
105 | Carlo Villarreal (Organic Valley) | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
106 | Emanuel Mini (Team Novo Nordisk Development) | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
107 | Connor Simmans | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
108 | loenardo marquez | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
109 | John Croom | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
110 | Chris Collins | Row 109 - Cell 2 |
111 | Jason Williams (Hartz) | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
112 | Brad Harman | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
113 | Zachary Lewis (11elevencycling) | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
114 | darel Christopher | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
115 | Nicholas Luther | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
116 | Eric Serantoni (Low Country Racing) | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
117 | Henry Willis | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
118 | Tim Burton (RealDeal/D'Ornellas p/b Garneau) | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
119 | Jaime Bernal (Team Cocos) | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
120 | Hector Fabian Aguilar Figueria (SCC SOUTHERN CRESCENT CYCLING) | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
121 | Carlos Arias Jauan | Row 120 - Cell 2 |
122 | Ryan Shean | Row 121 - Cell 2 |
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A former professional and two-time cyclo-cross US national champion, Beard is also an award-winning journalist and cycling commentator. Since leaving competition, she has written for several major cycling media outlets, worked as media director for major US stage races and consulted with men's and women's professional cycling teams.
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