June 25...
Stage 1 of the Elkhorn Cycling
Classic was long and tough and the team rode superb.
The idea was to race together and save it until the big
climb half way through the stage. At the bottom we
got organized and Chris and Tad set a serious tempo at the
front of the pack diminishing the field to three distincy
groups. Jukich flatted early and chased to finish
in the third group.
Up front Matt Weyen riding his new Orbea Lobular Carbon
made the selection of 6 over the top and drops his chain
on the last climb and loses over a minute.
In the remaining peleton was Gonzalo Tagliabue in his second
race back from tendonitis along with Justin Mayfield, and
Eric Ransom. Matt gets picked up from the break and
finishes in this group. Mayfield also blew on the
last climb going through and finishing just behond the third
group containing Jukich.
Tagliabue sprinted to the line taking the field sprint and
7th for the day. The team rode well together and looked
to be strong to mix it up for the general classification
and the win for the weekend.
June 26...
Matt takes 2nd in TT at Elkhorn
Matt Weyen once again scores big
as he takes 2nd place in stage 2 of the Elkhorn Cycling
Classic in Baker City, Oregon. Matt's time was only
6 seconds off the winner and moved him up to the top end
of the leaders. "Matt was super focused before
the start." said Team Manger Gary Casella. "His
goal was to go as hard as he could to make up the time he
lost when he unfortunately dropped his chain yesterday."
Afterwards Matt was please with the result. "I'm happy
with my time...I just can't get the dropped chain out of
my head."
Truth is had Matt finished with the group he was in on stage
1, he would have been in the leaders jersey for stage 3.
Other notable mentions is Eric Ransom's 10th place int he
stage and Justin Mayfield in 34th.
June 26...
Elkhorn Criterium gets iomega-Orbea
rolling
Stage 3 of the Elkhorn Cycling Classic was the criterium
in downtown Baker City. The team was riding a good
wave of high moral given the fine performance of Matt Weyen
in the Individual Time Trial earlier that day. The
criterium was not to decide the overall GC, so the plan
was to ride smart, ride up front and ride agressive.
The team rode extremely well with Esteban Jukich, Gonzalo
Tagliabue picking up primes during the race, with Matt Weyen
stayin up front and with a few laps to go Justin Mayfield
blasting off the front going for the win. An imprressive
showing by the squad, all to be nullified as a massive crash
with two laps to go had the race stopped and everyone given
the same time.
June 27...
Mayfield has epic
90 mile breakaway. Weyen cracks.
The final stage in the Elkhorn Cycling classic was a grueling
course with plenty of climbing, tremendous heat, and over
100 miles in length. Team stratagy was layed out by
Gary Casella and team Captain Tad Hamilton that morning
to put other teams on their heels and ride agressive for
a stage win.
The plan called for Tagliabue and Mayfield to try their
hand early while Ransom and Jukich would counter if they
got caught with Hamilton and Abbruzzese keeping and
eye on Weyen.
the race started out fast and attcks were almost right from
the gun with Gonchi and Justy Chang right there inthem.
After a small group of 8 rolled off and gained a quick 20
seconds 6 of them sat up and Mayfield saw his opportunioty
and kept it rolling in the companionship of rider "xyz"
Soon the opened up a 1 then 2 then 3 minute lead on the
main peloton with Seattle based Team Broadmark with race
leader Evan Elkin taking up the chase.. The gap contiued
to grow to a maximum of just over 6 minutes
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