Sunday, June 15, 2008

The State Championship Road Race


A week from today Montana's strongest cyclists will be battling it out over the hilly, Eden road course. So who will be crowned "The Best?"


Eden is going to be exciting. It's a new course that has lots of climbing, open and exposed sections and at 75 miles (Cat1/2/3) should be tortuous. Will the Five Valley Velo boys come out in force? Will Montana Velo finally put together a winning combination or will G.A.S. continue to impose their will onto the peloton?


I can foresee lots of attacks on the hilly sections that will keep the pace high and the legs and lungs burning. G.A.S. will be organized and it will be up to the other teams to break them up. Matt Seeley took the "W" at Star Meadows last weekend and John Weyrich has been riding well, but NRO may be a little bitter and will definitely be gunning for them. Right now, I don't think anyone can beat Seeley!


The Cat 3's have been showing their strength over the last few weeks and several of them will be vying for the top spot. This course really suits the aggressive riding style of our own Elliot Bassett, but if Jean Meyer (RUR) or Bob Presta (NRO) get away, it's all over. I will be fighting just to stay in the group!


The Cat4/5 group should be a great race, as usual. This year's group of 4/5's has been big, bad and strong! Five Valley Velo's "farm club" has been dominating and it's been awesome to see. Looks like we're going to have even more guys moving up to the 3's by next year. I can see Twohig getting away, but with Rob Gillespie and Kyle Shannon riding better each week, it's anyone's race...Willy got his upgrade and will be racing with the "Big Boys" this weekend. Good luck Willy!


The other strong field has been in the women's Cat1/2/3/4. Tamara Bessette (NRO) has been riding with the men, so Danyel (NRO) has stepped up and will be hard to stop. Lisa Curry (G.A.S.) may be the strongest woman on the road, but without teammates, will find it hard to come up with the win. This race is too close to call.


So come next Sunday we'll find out who will be crowned the Kings and Queens of Montana road racing. Stay tuned.

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