 June 23, 2009 11:04 by  ToddN
Race: Giro di Jersey 2009
Dates: June 17-21
Written by: Eric Schildge (Racing with former Team Mate Phil Gaimon)
Stage 1: 3rd Place
Stage 3: 6th Place
Results: http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2009/06/17-Giro-Di-Jersey-Stage-1.asp
After Nature Valley, I decided to compete in a well attended stage race in my own backyard, New Jersey! It's not all that often that I can race for five consecutive days and sleep in my own bed each night, so I was looking forward to this event despite the fact that I was a bit fatigued following our trip to Minnesota.
With the rest of the team racing at the Housatonic Hills Road Race that weekend, I teamed up with former teammate Phil Gaimon in order to improve his chances in the overall and my chances in the stage finishes. We worked well together, and proved a formidable twosome competing against full squads from Colavita, Mountain Khakis, and an assortment of elite regional amateur teams.
The first stage, a 65k criterium, went well. Phil and I were active in breakaway attempts all day, and coming into the final few laps, I was well positioned behind Colavita's leadout train. Unfortunately, they had six riders at the front in the last .46m lap, so coming into the finish, I was forced to pass a lengthy train of riders to contest for the win. As it was, I finished third behind two teammates from the aforementioned team. A well-earned podium appearance.
The next stage was cancelled due to a veritable deluge that resulted in extremely hazardous course conditions. Next up would be the 23km TT, where I gave it my all to maintain a decent GC position. Phil finished second behind
John Chodroff, securing a second overall GC position, which we would defend for the next few days.Rain clouds threatened once again prior to the start of the 135km road race on Saturday. It was a mostly flat course with one short climb immediately preceding the downhill finish in town. An early break got away early, and I lent a hand in the chase. Things settled down, as several unsuccessful attacks were launched. In the fourth lap, I put in a hard effort on the coming into the finish there were four riders off the front with a slight gap. They would hold on for the victory while I navigated through some traffic to finish second in the field sprint for sixth on the stage.
In the final stage our goal was to challenge Ouch's John Chodroff who wore the leader's jersey. While we were unable to wrest the lead from him, I did win another intermediate time bonus to ensure Phil was safe in second. Coming into the finish, Colavita was once again at the front, but this time they were running out of riders, and I was poised to strike just a few riders back. Unfortunately, I was positioned a little too far back, and while under normal conditions I would have been able to overtake the four riders in front... The cumulative effect of nearly two straight weeks of racing seemed to finally catch me up. I was able to sprint to fourth, buy I seemed to lack my usual snap. Mountain Khakis rider Isaac Howe took a well deserved win.
Overall, the race was a phenomenal opportunity to train in preparation for Fitchburg, and with a third, second, sixth, and fourth in the stages as well as a second overall... The combined efforts of Phil and I proved quite successful.
June 19, 2009 11:37 by ToddN
OK, i've read a few of the so-called "race reports" out on the world wide web from stage 6 and it just amazes me how poor the accuracy is of race dynamics. Especially given it was a criterium, which conveniently passes by the the exact same spot twice per lap...so it shouldn't be too difficult to follow. I realize my frustration stems mostly from my own vanity (ok, entirely) given the lack of press on a day we were very well represented, but it is also unfair to our sponsors. So, since this is a sponsor directed email...here goes my very biased view of the tactics on the road for stage 6 of the Nature Valley Grand Prix. To set the stage, let me state that this course is famous for its difficulty and the term "criterium" should be loosely used to describe the course in that it is 20 laps of a 1.4 mile circuit. The difficulty comes mainly from Chilkoot Hill, but also from the nearly 1k of false flat and continued climbing that comes after the famous wall. Personally, I have been wanting to tackle this beast for years and was pumped on Sunday when that day had finally arrived. The race started with the token first lap flyer initiated by cyclocross superstar and generally well received nice guy Tim Johnson (Ouch/Maxxis) and was countered a couple of laps later by his teammate Floyd Landis. A couple of laps after that Floyd was joined by 3 riders, a Colavita (Wamsley i think), an Amore, and one other that I didn't pick out. They were then joined around the mid-way point by Alex Hagman (Ciclismo). At this point the Bissell led peloton was holding the break between 15 and 20 seconds. That is when I made my move across to the break with Anthony Colby (also Colavita). I believe we were also followed by eventual race winner Phillip Mamos (also Amore). This break was too big to get much of a leash from Bissell so Colby attacked the break on the very next lap up Chilkoot hill, and then i countered the attack up the last rise on the false flat after the wall. This pruned the break down to 4 riders including myself, Colby, Mamos, and one of Mamos teammates. We then went to work and blew the gap back out to 30 seconds. This was the winning break. Unfortunately, I couldn't stick Colby's wheel when he attacked with 2 laps to go, and I blew sky high. About a half lap later I was passed by a very fast moving Ouch led peloton which was only about 15 riders total at that point. I hung on until 1 to go but was pretty well cracked and dropped off from there. Fortunately, Justin was also just off the back of the peloton and he helped me home to hold on to a top 20 overall.
For BikeReg.com / Cannondale, the 2009 Nature Valley Grand Prix was highlighted by our amazing volunteer support of Michael Staunton and our amazing host Connie Green. Without both of them, and the support of our sponsors, we wouldn't have even made it to the starting line, let alone the finish. So a big thanks to all of you.
Stillwater Criterium - pic of break
http://www.velonews.com/photo/93380
Full coverage of Nature Valley Grand Prix
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/9th-nature-valley-grand-prix-ne
June 16, 2009 16:00 by ToddN
Jiminy Peak Road Race - Eric Schildge 2nd
Joe Martin Stage Race - Eric Schildge Stage 2: 11th, Stage 3: 9th
Bank of America- Eric Schildge 10th
Kelly Cup- Eric Schildge 8th
The month of May brought success for the BikeReg.com / Cannondale Cyclng Team. Following Eric's second place at the Jiminy Peak Road Race, the team headed out to compete in the Joe Martin Stage Race (NRC). Dan, Dillon, Justin, Nick, Matt, Steve, and Eric headed out to Fayetteville, Arkansas (the illustrious home of Wal Mart) to compete against some of the best professionals in the nation. The stages clearly favored the sprinters, so the team worked for Eric at the finish of the speedy road stages. When all was said and done, Eric had managed to score an 11th. and 9th in the second and third stages, respectively.
Next up was a weekend of NRC crits in Baltimore, MD and Wilmington, DE. First up, the Bank of American Grand Prix in Wilmington. The team of Dillon, Steve, Justin, Nick, and Eric were active at the front of the race; getting representation in a number of dangerous moves. A big break had established itself with a commanding lead on the peloton, and largely thanks to a ferocious pull by Josh Dillon,. the field was able to reel them back in. Eric was able to come through with a 10th place on the line.
The next day was the Kelly Cup in Baltimore, MD. The racing was fast and tenacious, and once again, the team was well represented near the front. Coming into the last lap, Nick was well positioned to score a big result, but an error in judgment by another rider caused a nasty pileup passing through the start finish. Eric was able to make it through unscathed to finish 8th, once again cracking the top-10 in an NRC event.
While the final weekend in May brought unfortunate luck at the Tour of Somerville, with both Nick and Eric both being crashed out with only one lap left, the success the team achieved at the NRC level in May was impressive to say the least. Mixing it up with the best, BikeReg.com / Cannondale proved that they rank amongst the best teams in the country. Expect more success as the team continues it's jam-packed schedule at the Nature Valley Grand Prix, the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic, the Cascade Cycling Classic, and the Elite National Championships. Check back in and follow our success!
Thanks,
Eric
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