Tonight was my first return to the Ciocaro Race Series this year. I missed the first race of the year because of the Georgia Trip. WSC’s own Raymond Dybowski came home victorious for the season opener on April 12th, 2007.
Think Fast…Ride Faster…Think Fast…Ride Faster…repeat. This is my new mantra passed onto me by Ray this week. After a stern talking to on Tuesday night, it seems Ray gave me just the words I needed to hear.
Tonight’s race started with a gentle pace, as many of these Can-Am races do. Within the first three laps, the field watched Allen Smith ride away solo and did not seem to react much. He stayed out for a few laps and started to get two turns ahead. Just when he was far enough away to no longer read the WOLVERINE on his posterior the field decided to react and pull him back in. As soon as we made contact with him, I attacked with what I thought would be the start of several early attempts to get away. However, I got a gap quite quickly and was joined by two Maple Leaf Cycling teammates, as well as Daniele DeFrachesi (formally of the Hooters Cycling Team and newly signed to the JetFuel Coffee Cycling Team). Shortly after, we were joined by Paul Eugeni of the Hooters Cycling Team who had bridged to the break. Knowing we had the horsepower necessary and enough teams represented in the break we began to roll an organized pace line. The temps dropped in the 40s and the clouds began to torrentially downpour. The race was not comfortable, but I was happy to only have four guys around me instead of thirty with such intense wheel spray. The first prime was called and surprisingly I won it without much effort. We regrouped after the sprint and fell back into line. We quickly lapped the field. I was instructed by Ray to keep Paul and Daniele in my crosshairs. At this point, the rain just got too intense and the race was called early. As we saw the 3 lap card I decided to sit in a lap and attack on the 2 to go. Knowing I was racing against two of the finest sprinters Ontario has to offer, I knew my only hope was to out muscle them early. At 2 I attacked, got a gap and stayed out until 1 to go. I then got stuck in a dipsy doo with two very snappy riders. Impatiently, I went into my sprint early and basically lead Paul and Daniele out for the 1-2 win and myself for a respectable 3rd. Oh well, first podium of the year, I cannot complain.
Results:
1. Paul Eugeni Hooters Cycling Team
2. Daniele DeFranchesi JetFuel Coffee
3. Tim Finkel Wolverine Sports Club
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