September 18-21

Team: Alister Ratcliff and Justin Lindine

Results: Justin Lindine wins a Stage and the Overall, Alister wins best climber competition

http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2009/09/18-Tour-of-the-Catskills.asp

Alister and I spent the weekend representing in upstate NY against a small but pretty good field of guys including Andy Guptil, Peter Horn, Aspohlm, Cogburn and company.  In any case, we both had solid rides in the TT. I was third and Alister was fourth. We followed it up the next day with a solid and active road race where we just missed the podium with a fourth place.  With the top ten separated by roughly 20 seconds, Sunday was the going to be the deciding day with 15, 10, and 5 second time bonuses on the finish line.  We rode a great race thanks in no small part to Alister’s active start and getting into a 5 man break and putting all the other GC guys under pressure all day.  When we finally did catch him (after he handedly took the KOM jersey) he slotted in to the 6 man winning move and then proceeded to give me a killer lead out from about 1k to 200 meters where I jumped Peter Horn and took Andy and Roger by about a bike length.  On top of the stage win, the bonus catapulted me into the lead by a three second margin over Andy and a 5 second margin over Peter Horn.  Not bad for a two man squad of the "blue train".  Nice to end the season on a high note and with a solid win!

September 13, 2009

Doylestown, PA

Eric: 5th

After throwing down the gauntlet in Allentown and Souderton, BikeReg.com / Cannondale had one more opportunity to prove just how strong we are to a field full of international talent.  The Doylestown Criterium is a beautiful race in a bustling little town.  Big crowds came out to peruse the Arts' Festival and cheer on the racers despite the fact that in a few short hours, the Philadelphia Eagles would be kicking off their season opener.

The race started off fast and furious, and the team moved to the front to cover attacks. Justin, Thom, and Dan took turns patrolling the front, and Dan narrowly missed out on a hefty prime after initiating a promising breakaway.  It took me a few laps to get my legs under me, but I slowly moved up.  I focused on saving as much energy as I possibly could for the inevitable sprint finish.  As the racing continued, it became clear that Amore-Vita would attempt to hold the race together for their sprinter, Yuriy Metluschenko.  Alister and Josh worked together to position me as close to their lead out as they could.  Josh and I got into a rhythm each lap of moving up on the long downhill straight away, and then attempting to maintain position as the field bunched up on the uphill finishing stretch.  Finally, with two laps to go, Josh pulled up next to me after the first corner, and I asked, "Ready to go one more time?"  Josh replied with something to the effect of "Hell Yeah!", and I locked on to his wheel.

Coming down the downhill back-straight, Josh powered his way in front of the Amore-Vita leadout and took control.  He then singlehandedly towed the field at a ferocious pace while Kelly Benefits attempted to organize behind us.  After a monstrous pull, Josh relinquished control of the front and was replaced by a Kelly Benefits rider who polished off the leadout.  Coming into the second to last corner, I was sitting second wheel.  A number of riders jumped around me and I tagged on the back.  We pulled onto the finishing straight and I struggled to escape from the riders going backwards all around me.  I saw an open path and sprinted to fifth place.  It was a true team effort, and an excellent way to finish off a spectacular weekend of racing!