We just completed the last 3 days of Superweek with races in Kenosha, the Downer Ave. Crit in Milwaukee and the Whitefish Bay Classic. The Kenosha course has to be one of the quicker ones out there with 4 wide and fast corners and if you’re near the front, no brakes are needed. We rolled out with the lap counter showing 100 to go and before I knew it a break of 12 had lapped the field with Mark Walters in it for us. The Columbian National track team had 2 guys in there so their remaining 3 teammates began rolling it on the front with about 30km to go. I got in the rotation to hopefully allow Mark the luxury of sitting on the back of the train and not having to wasted energy fighting for wheels with the other members of the break. Â Soon enough we were inside 10 to go and the Columbians were still in control going faster and faster. Seriously, these guys were doing some crazy long and fast pulls and eliminating any chance of someone getting away. I won a prime with 3 to go and took my last big pull in the process. Mark managed 7th for the stage and that was that.
Next up was the Great Downer Avenue race. This stage always has the biggest, loudest and best crowds of the whole 17 days and this year was no exception. Also on the line was a massive “super-prime.” The night before it was announced at being a minimum of $4000, but by the time the bell rang it was up to an astounding $7000. Of course this made things very fast and a little sketchy with lots of dodgy riding going on. There were only 10 laps to go after the prime and a bunch sprint looked inevitable. I still tried my luck with an attack at around 12 to go that lasted all of 1/2 a lap. Unfortunately, it looked like my plans for a break were finished and with all the chaos, we were having trouble getting ourselves together to help lead out Buck for the finish. He battled it out for 14th, while a nasty crash near the front on the last lap held up Adam and I.
Things wrapped up with the Whitefish Bay Classic on Sunday. All of us were up front and being attentive, knowing that a break would likely decide the day. After a bit of a chase a strong move was brought back, and I immediately followed the first counter attack. 2 more bridged, a few laps later 3 more made it up to us and then after some solid work together 7 of us had lapped the field with about 30 or so laps remaining. Another group took off with Mark in it and one of the Columbians that had lapped the field. I didn’t know this and figured things were looking good for the finish. Adam and Buck were on the front trying to keep things under control for me while I kept and eye on Rudy Napolitano of Rock who seemed to be the the most dangerous of the break. He did manage to be the best of the break in the sprint while I was 3rd, which gave me 4th on the stage. Not a bad result, but also 1 spot off the podium so I was a little disappointed with that. Overall the week was a successful one with 3 podiums as well as 2 other top 10 places. Big thanks to Tony James for housing Adam and I and Tim and Sheri Conway who put up with Buck and Mark for the week.
