Racing and riding is in full swing in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Many of our elite racers, team sponsors, and club members chose to ride one of our regions most ambitious early season events, the 2019 Kermesse Sports Hell of the Hunterdon. 82 miles of climbing and 19 sections of gravel, dirt and hardscrabble roads through western New Jersey. Pictured above are team sponsors (front to back) Stefan Richter (Clemons, Richter & Reiss, PC), Mike McCarthy (Pharosity Consulting), Kirk Palermo (Doylestown Bike Works), and Geoffrey Prudhomme (Geoffrey Prudhomme, ART). [Photo: Mike Maney]. Not pictured is team sponsor, Dr. Rob Riesenberger (Dentist 4 Kids) who also completed this pain-fest. 

Junior racer Sam Smith of Lenape Middle School finished 19th in the Men Pro 1-2-3 race at the Blueberry Biciciletta Road Race in Hammonton, NJ supported by teammates Jason Wood of Lansdale, PA. [Photo: Ron Short]. Team sponsor Rob Beighley (Glazing Concepts) competed in the Men’s Master’s age 50-54 category but suffered an ill-timed flat tire. 

gToday was a day for our veteran riders. Huge congratulations to Captain Mike Bowe (20/48) and Rob Beighley (17/48) for their efforts in the 55+ race in today’s  2019 Cherry Blossom Challenge in Newark, NJ. Then Rob woke up and did it all over again on Sunday at the Ronde van Mullica (Mullica Hill, NJ) finishing 27/58 in the Master’s 50+ race. 

Meanwhile, in Belgium, Fast Pat McLaughlin rode the prestigious 85 mile Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) ahead of one of the most famous UCI road races in the world. First raced in 1913, the race is one of cycling’s thirteen “monument races” and one of two raced on cobbled roads. Pat was joined by shop-friend Rick Shoff and shared these pictures of an epic cycling trip including taking in race (won by Italian Albert Bettiol of EF Education First Pro Cycling) which starts in Antwerp and ends in Oudenaarde. 

A little closer to home, junior racer Alden Weinhold (Lenape Middle School) ventured up to New York City to race in the Century Road Club Association (CRCA) Category 5 training race in Central Park. At thirteen years old, Alden was the youngest racer in the race by about seven years and got quite an introduction to life in the Big Apple Congratulations to Alden for jumping into the deep end of the pool. 

Four of our elite racers: Colin Kelly (Ottsville), Sam Smith (Doylestown), Jason Wood (Lansdale), and Chris Baccash (Doylestown) participated in the Pro 1-2-3 race at the Ronde van Mullica in New Jersey. The team worked hard for Colin and Sam today and reported that it was our best team effort of the season thus far. Colin won the field sprint and finished 8th overall. Congratulations to Sam for working hard in the break today and making trouble for everyone. [Photo by Ron Short: Colin Kelly at right]. 

Happy Birthday to Zach Shearon, our team’s most ferocious mountain biker. 

Colin Kelly and Chris Baccash got our racing season off to a great start, finishing 5th and 10th respectively in the CAT 2/3 Race at the Century Road Club Association (CRCA) Grant’s Tomb Criterium. Both showed great early season fitness, and also competed in the Pro 1/2 race as well. Founded in 1898, CRCA is America’s oldest surviving cycling association. The Grant’s Tomb Criterium is one of two races that still happen on the streets of New York City. Morningside Heights is an amazing venue for a race with great views of the General Grant National Memorial, the East River, the George Washington Bridge, Columbia University, Barnard College, and Riverside Church. Here’s a recap from the event organizers. Big thanks to the organizers and race sponsors, and to Mother Nature for giving us a mild day in the sun. 

Addition: Here’s a race report from Vegan Cyclist including race footage.