Bloomington Grand Prix = OUCH!

The Bloomington Grand Prix has earned quite the reputation over the years - large fields, large crowds (some there to watch cycling, others just happen to be in the area due to the course being surrounded by IU's favorite drinking establishments), and last but not least, crashes.

Nearly 70 3/4 racers took to the line Saturday evening, with a vocal, eclectic mix of spectators lining Kirkwood Ave. Racing was fast & furious, but the STV contingent fell victim to both first and last lap crashes. Aaron Yancey was taken down in the first lap of the race (was able to rejoin the race, but lost contact with the pack with 5 laps to go). Russell Reed and Jason Mygrant were both sitting pretty in the top 10, entering the last turn of the last lap. Unfortunately, both were caught in a wreck exiting the last turn - Jason manged to stay upright but lost a ton of places doing so (finished 19th), while Russ took a hard fall, hitting the pavement/curb/sidewalk bench. Jason Romain was the only STV rider to escape incident. In the end, only 29 racers finished the race. Great race with a great atmosphere...you just gotta avoid the inevitable carnage!

Publish Post

Recent Racing Recap

Here is a quick recap of some recent racing results:

Eagle Creek 'Contemporary' Criterium - Another fine race brought to us by the fine folks at Planet Advernture Race, this brand new course was a somewhat technical circuit that snaked through Eagle Creek Park. A handful of break attempts were unsuccessful, although we did have Chris Jolivette representing us in the only real break that had the possibility of succeeding. Jason Mygrant was our only top 10 finisher (7th) in what ended in a big pack sprint. Jeff Ryan, Aaron Yancey, Mike Slattery, Jeff Ryan and Chris Jolivette all finished mid-pack. Jeff Ryan also put in another solid effort in the 4's race with a 4th place finish, and a 2nd place finish in the Masters 3/4 race (yes, that is three races in one day for Jeff!)

Eagle Creek 'Fast' Criterium - This crit get is name due to the design of the course - one big circle with no real turns. In the 3's race, two riders were able to attack, and eventually lap the field, due to a combination of strong horsepower, and teammates helping slow the main pack. With 10 min left, three more riders attacked and quickly got a small break established. Chris Jolivette and another rider bridged up, and the group of 5 was able to hold of the pack for the remainder of the race. As Chis says, his "spring lance choice totally BLEW" - he got 4th in the break, for 6th overall. Jason Mygrant raced the 1/2/3 race, and scored another result with a 4th place finish!

Ohio State Road Race - last Sunday, myself (Yancey) and Russ Reed tackled the Ohio State Road Race - 6 laps on a 13 mile course (77 miles total). Course was slightly rolling, with one technical descent, rather short but steep climb followed by a never ending false flat into the wind. It was really freakin' hot and very humid. Did I mention it was hot? Russ was able to bridge up to the winning break at the beginning of the 5th lap- with some some nice assistance from Scott Bond (Speedway Wheelmen) Russ went to the front and strung out the entire group along a slight incline leading into the feed zone, pulled off and tucked in behind Scott, who continued to keep the pace high, and then jumped to the break (I think there were 5 in the break). The break was quite close, but for some reason, as soon as Russ launched off the front and Scott let off the gas, there was no reaction whatsoever from the pack - I think it was a combination of everyone being totally redlined, and the fact that we were so close to the break, everyone just 'assumed' we'd roll up to them. Instead, the break re-established itself. Going up the climb on the next to last lap, a rider from Arizona attacked, bridged to the break, and then left the break to solo for the win. The rest of the break was about 20 sec behind, and Russ put in another impressive finish (5th place). The pack finished about 2 min later. At the end of the fifth lap I was out of fluids, and was about 3 min behind the pack (came off on the climb), and called it a day. I had good 65 mile fitness...to bad the race was 77 miles :-)

Brookside Crit - Jeff Ryan takes 1st, and 2nd!

photo courtesy of Shutterwideopen Photography


Jeff Ryan put forth a seriously impressive effort at the Brookside Criterium. In the 4/5 race, Jeff took second place, but was not quite satisfied with that result. So, immediately after the 4/5 race was over, he was on the start line for the 3/4 race, and took the win in 3/4 race! First win of the year for STV Cycling!

As for the rest of the team? Not so good. Slattery went down in a wreck on the last lap. Romain, Yancey, and Jolivette were also caught behind the wreck. Luckily, Slattery suffered only a few scrapes and bruises, but did hit the deck pretty hard. His bike survived, which is always a good thing :-)

On a side note, the Brookside Crit was the fist of five races that are being organized and promoted by Planet Adventure Race. Team member Matthew Jordan is the driving force behind these races (PA also organizes/promotes running, inline skating, and various adventure racing events), and has made the switch from bike racer to race organizer extrodinare. Thanks to all the fine folks at Plant Adventure Race for all your hard work! Great job on your first race of the season!

Calvin's Challenge - Jeff Ryan rides 235 miles in 12hrs for 2nd place!

From Jeff Ryan: As most of you know, sanity is not a strong suit of mine. Yesterday was Calvin’s Challenge in Springfield, Ohio. This is a 12 hour road race. The concept is simple, whoever goes the farthest in 12 hours wins. About 200 people registered for the race. It started fine for me even with the rain we had for the first 65 miles. The lead group kept dwindling during the first 100 miles until there were only 4 of us left. We covered the first 100 miles in 4.5 hours. Unfortunately, that is where I got a flat tire. I should have stopped to fix it, but it was a slow leak and I wasn’t really in the mood. I kept putting air in the tire every 25 miles or so and kept going. I rode the next 100 miles by myself in 5.5 hours. At 202 miles I switched over to the short loop and got to ride with people again. With the wind we had yesterday, drafting off people again was very welcomed. I got in another 33 miles before the time expired. The 235 miles gave me 2nd place overall. The flyover at 150 miles in by the 3 fighter jets from Wright-Pat made the day.

Mygrant takes 4th at Village of Winona Criterium

Jason Mygrant was the lone St. Vincent Heart Center representative up in Warsaw for the Village at Winona Road Race & Criterium, but he wasn't going to let a lack of teammates prevent a strong showing. After finishing in the pack on Saturday's road race, Jason put in a great ride in Sunday's criterium and taking 4th place ! Great result, especially with the pack at 50 riders strong.

On a side note, STV alum Andrew Kramer, who is now living in St. Louis, MO and racing with The Hub Bicycle Company. was also racing with the 3's up in Village at Winona. Drew was on the podium at the crit an impressive 3rd place finish! Too bad we don't have him with us this year!

Race Recaps - Cerland Circuit Race / Moorsville Crit

Cerland Circuit Race - Columbus, IN: An early spring favorite, this race is held on a nice 1.4 mile loop, with a nice little 'big ring' climb at the end of each lap. Race was aggressive from the get-to, with Sustainable Energy animating most of the attacks. Team did a great job in covering nearly every move, and ensuring that we had a least one rider in nearly every breakaway attempt. With about 15 min left in the race, two riders separated themselves from the pack, and started to build a nice little gap. We decided to roll the dice, and not chase after them, assuming that they would not be strong enough to stay away for the remainder of the race. Bad gamble on our part.

Jeff Ryan digging deep to catch the break

The duo's gap quickly increased and the two were gone. Russ Reed did a nice job of getting into a second breakaway group of about 5 riders, but they were ultimately reigned in by the pack. Yancey got taken down in a last lap crash, leaving Reed, Slatte ry, Mygrant, Romain, and Ryan to duke it out in the pack sprint. Mygrant was our best placing in 12th, followed by Romain in 13th .

Mooresville Criterium - my last lap wreck at Cerland left me without a usable bike for the following days action at the Moorsville Criterium, held on a rolling one mile loop in Pioneer Park. Don't have a ton of details, but the we took nearly half of the top 10 positions! Jeff Ryan 4th, Mike Slattery 5th, Jason Romain 8th, Jason Mygant 9th. Strong showing by the Men in Black!

Reed Scores Teams First 'Top 5' Placing for 2010

Russell Reed earned STV Cycling's first top 5 result for the 2010 season, taking 5th place at the Hueston Woods Road Race last Sunday, in Oxford, Ohio. Held on a rolling, 9 mile circuit through Hueston Woods State Park, Russ was part of a seven man breakaway that was initiated on the second of 7 and a half laps on the circuit (66 mile race). The break, which was reduced to 6 riders about halfway through the race, held a consistent 40sec to 1 minute gap throughout the race. The rolling, wooded, twisty course helped enable to break to remain largely unseen by the remaining pack of 50 riders. Entering the last lap the pack increased the pace, and the break just narrowly beat the charging field up the finishing climb. Aaron Yancey finished safely within the pack - any hopes of snagging strong placing in the uphill field sprint were quickly erased due to cramping. (photo courtesy of Jeffery Jakcvyk)

300 miles to the west, Jason Romain was battling it out at the Hillsboro Roubiax Road Race in Hillsboro, IL. This race has quickly become a true Midwest spring classic with large fields, rough, narrow, twisty roads, and usually lots of wind. There is even a long stretch through town along brick streets. A very tough race to start the year off with. JR put in a strong effort and represented STV Cycling well.