Team Latitude/ABRT went to Binghamton, NY and competed in 4 races over 2 days. The races were extremely well organized and the people of Binghamton were amazing and super friendly!!!Representing the team- Chris Harshman, Lance Lacey, Keith Reeder, Back from the Rockies- Nat Thompson, and me, Chip Hoover. Lance, Chris and I traveled up late Friday night. We should have gotten there a bit earlier but Chris and I waited around for Lance to catch some fox with a trap stuck to his leg. Seriously! Reeder and Nat traveled up saturday.
Race #1 was the 30+ masters race. All but Nat were racing. The race started with me attacking and getting a good gap. Mark Warno bridged up to me and I worked with him for a few laps, then I decided, due to a lack of confidence in being able to stay in a break the whole race, that I would drop back to the field (mistake #1). Ramon from Artemis then put in a few attacks but never was able to get away early on thanks to Lance, Chris and Reeder covering his every move. Reeder then countered one of Ramon's attacks and got away with one other rider.
Now there were 3 guys up the road a quarter in to the race. A few others try and get away including Ramon but all covered nicely by Team Latitude. I then attacked the field on the one climb on the course and manged to gain a nice gap. I was quickly joined by Ramon and we began to work to catch the chase group.
Speed up to 10 laps or so to go and we reach Keith alone along the start/finish stretch. I began a solid pull prior to the first turn and climb once we reach Keith (major mistake #2). Ramon then attcks us and I am not able to go with him. So now it's Keith and me in the chase group racing for 4th and 5th. Ramon reaches the lead group and they began to pull away from us. That was the race. I ended up 4th and Keith 5th!
40+ Race- Keith did this one and landed another impressive top 10 with 8th place. Ramon and Jamie Carney lapped the field. Carney Won.
3/4 Race- Chris and Lance suited up for their 2nd race of the day and represented well. They put in multiple attacks but were counted, then they worked hard to bring them back. Eventually 2 guys got up the road. With about 5 to go Chris put in a huge effort to bring back the break but other teams were content with racing for 3rd and did nothing to help. With 2 laps to go Lance put in a huge attack and managed to get about 8-10 seconds on the field. Keith and I were screaming at him to stick it. With one to go he had about 10 seconds but was caught on the last corner with about 300 meters to go. Great Move- Lance would have stuck it if had fresh legs- No doubt!
Cat 2/3 Race Sunday- All of us raced! Strategy was to, quote Keith, "race positive". And that's exactly what we did! Lance went from the gun just liked we discussed and that triggered a number of attacks with Nat finally sticking one solo. Here's Chris Harshman's recap of the Cat 2/3 Race prior to the Men's Pro Race!
"After cramping up on lap 3, getting caught behind a crash on lap 4 and sucking a@@ at the back of the race for the next 10 or so laps in the Cat 2/3 race, I went into photog mode for the remainder of the day. When you scroll through the photo's, notice Nat is getting a neutral bike from Mavic. Not only did Nat get a bike, but at some point Keith also required a neutral support bike.
"Nat was in the 5 man break that he started after countering Lance's initial attack from the very start of the race up the climb. He and another rider got clear but were joined by Chip and two other riders a few laps later. With about 6 laps to go Nat's chain broke about half way around the course and he had to run to the pit plus get there before 4 laps to go before the free lap rule went away. Nat made it in time as was set up the bike and was able to rejoin the break which still consisted of the 4 other original riders. They went on to lap the main field just before one to go making things a bit difficult to sort out for the finish. Nat attacked immediately after the start finish to try and draw out the riders from the break but it stayed together for a bunch sprint with the field. Keith was in the 8 man chase group when his chain broke but rejoined the group and eventually attacked solo out of the group to get 8th."
"Lance was The Man this weekend. After doubling up Saturday riding two strong races in the 30+ and the 3/4, the later of which he was so close to holding a two lap solo effort to take 3rd behind a 2 man break but was reeled back in just before the finish, he still had the legs to attack the 2/3 field after turn 1 up the hill to set up Nat for the counter which resulted in the winning break from lap 1 of a 25 lap race. Lance continued to work in the field disrupting attempts to bring back either the break of the chase group including Keith.""What a great weekend of racing. It was great to go to a race out of state where no one knows who you are and hearing the announcers call out your team and rider names the entire race and making your mark there. 6 top 10s on the weekend, representing in 4 different races with just 5 riders. Incredible! Great job guys."
During the final lap there were multiple attacks by the breakaway guys. Nat ended up 3rd and I ended up 2nd.
It was a great weekend of racing and I believe we all learned a little more about each other and our capabilities on the bike! I look forward to more of these type weekends in the future!
Thanks for reading!
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