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.
