Van Gilder and Damiani score at Iron Hill USA Crits race

by VeloNews.com

July 12, 2009
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Results

By Chris Spaeth

Veteran sprinter Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushrooms) lit up the night at the fifth annual Iron Hill Twilight Criterium Saturday, taking the win and the lead in the USA Crits series.

In the men’s race at the Westchester, Pennsylvania, event, Luca Damiani (Colavita-Sutter Home) took a hard-fought victory from a field of hardcore sprinters. Tom Soladay (Team Mountain Khakis) took the lead in the men’s USA CRITS overall standings.

Early break in the women’s race

The fireworks started early in the women’s event when on the third lap of the 40km race. A five-rider break containing Cath Cheatley (Colavita), Laura Bowles (Vanderkitten Racing), Gemma Dudley (Bikeenz), Christina Smith (Veloforma) and Jesse Maclean (Verducci Breakaway Racing) slipped away from the field.

Van Gilder attacked two laps later, dragging with her Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway Racing) to bring the lead group to seven. Race announcer Joe Jefferson nailed it when he told the crowd, “There is too much juice in that caboose.” Once the lead group settled into a rhythm, the race was theirs, and with 22 laps to go the lead group had lapped what was left of the main field.

With 18 laps to go Cheatley attacked and was followed by Van Gilder, who made the junction on the following lap. From there they were never seen again until they lapped the field for the second time with eight laps to go.

Van Gilder and Cheatley watched each other for the remaining few laps, and on the last go-round Van Gilder jumped early out of the last turn and took an easy victory.

Van Gilder, who had just one teammate at Iron Hill, said she did not intend to simply “wait until the end of the race and sprint.” Without a full team to support her, she needed to follow the attacks and look for a break.

Sparks in the men’s race

In the men’s race, Russ Langley (Battley Harley-Davidson) attacked on the first lap of the 60km race to win a $250 prime. Langley opened up a good gap and stayed off the front until 16 to go, when he lapped the main field.

“I had no intention to go from the gun and ride all the way to the finish. I just got a gap and then decided to put my head down and go. I just followed my instinct,” he said.

The field seemed content to let Langley dangle out front. Not until 32 laps to go did the chase start in earnest when Mike Friedman (Garmin-Slipstream) hit the front and started to chase, taking with him Damiani, Josh England (Subway Avanti), Tom Soladay and Will Hoffarth (Team Mountain Khakis) and David Fuentes (Evolution Cycling Team).

At 11 laps to go, Friedman and his comrades joined Langley in lapping the main field. This group of seven sprinted to the finish with Damiani winning by several bike lengths after being led out by teammate Alejandro Borrajo. Soladay finished second and Langley third.

“Once the race came back together, it was a bit confusing and it took me three more laps to work my way back to the front,” said Damiani. “Then it was between us and Mountain Khakis. Our team was great: we are all like brothers and I am happy to win for them.”

With six events remaining, the USA Crits series heads to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational on August 8.

For more information on the USA CRITS Series, visit www.usacrits.com.

Results

Men’s results | Click for: Women’s race

1. Luca Damiani Colavita/sutter Home P/b Cookin in 1:18:28.8*
2. Tom Soladay Mount Khakis in 1:18:29.6* at 0.8
3. Russell Langley Battley Harley-Davidson in 1:18:31.0* at 2.2
4. Mike Friedman Garmin-Slipstream in 1:18:32.1* at 3.3
5. Will Hoffarth Mount Khakis in 1:18:34.9* at 6.1
6. Dave Fuentes Evolution Cycling Team in 1:18:36.6* at 7.8
7. Josh England Subway Avanti Cycling Team in 1:18:38.6* at 9.8
8. Alejandro Borrajo Colavita/s U Tter Home P/b Cookin in 01:20:28.80 at 02:00.00
9. Anibal Borrajo Colavita/sutter Home P/b Cookin in 01:20:30.30 at 02:01.50
10. Amaury Per Ez in 01:20:31.40 at 02:02.60
11. Jake Keough Kelly Benefit Strategies in 01:20:31.50 at 02:02.70
12. Douglas Repacholi in 01:20:31.70 at 02:02.90
13. Daniel Holt Team Type 1 in 01:20:32.50 at 02:03.70
14. Gavi Epstein Champion System Racing in 01:20:32.70 at 02:03.90
15. Clay Murfet Kelly Benefit Strategies in 01:20:32.80 at 02:04.00
16. Adam Myerson Mount Khakis in 01:20:33.00 at 02:04.20
17. Frank Travieso Cham Pion Pors Che Pre S E N Te D By R in 01:20:33.00 at 02:04.20
18. Craig Dodson Richmond Pro Cycling in 01:20:33.60 at 02:04.80
19. Stephan Kincaid Rite Aid Pro Cycling P/b Shebel in 01:20:33.60 at 02:04.80
20. Euris Pauli N O Champion System Racing in 01:20:33.80 at 02:05.00
21. Daniel Zmolik Crca/empire Cycling Team Bp Nor in 01:20:34.00 at 02:05.20
22. Colin Jaskiewicz Ccb Racing in 01:20:34.40 at 02:05.60
23. Jermaine Burrowes in 01:20:34.40 at 02:05.60
24. Yosvany Falcon Cham Pion Pors Che Pre S E N Te D By R in 01:20:34.50 at 02:05.70
25. David Wiswell Gs Mengoni Usa in 01:20:35.40 at 02:06.60
26. Cheyne Hoag Kelly Benefit Strategies in 01:20:35.50 at 02:06.70
27. Mark Hekman Mount Khakis in 01:20:35.60 at 02:06.80
28. Brian Butts Battley Harley-Davidson in 01:20:35.80 at 02:07.00
29. David Guttenplan Mount Khakis in 01:20:36.10 at 02:07.30
30. Chris Schmidt The Bike Rack Of Wash Dc in 01:20:36.40 at 02:07.60
31. Jared Nieters Haymarket/function Drinks in 01:20:36.80 at 02:08.00
32. Aaron Gate Bikenz in 01:20:36.90 at 02:08.10
33. Chad Butts Champion System Racing in 01:20:37.20 at 02:08.40
34. Pe Te Fitzpatrick Heart House/cadv/cc Evesham in 01:20:37.70 at 02:08.90
35. Andy Guptil Colavita/sutter Home P/b Cookin in 01:20:38.70 at 02:09.90
.
. First Name Last Name Affiliation in Time at DeltTime
36. Shane Kline Kelly Benefit Strategeis in 01:20:38.90 at 02:10.10
37. Hayden Godfrey Subway Avanti Cycling Team in 01:20:39.20 at 02:10.40
38. Charles Hutcheson Battley Harley-Davidson in 01:20:39.90 at 02:11.10
39. Michael Freiberg in 01:20:40.20 at 02:11.40
40. Michael Margarite Crca/empire Cycling Team Bp Nor in 01:20:40.20 at 02:11.40
41. Nicholas Bennette Metlife Cycling Team in 01:20:40.30 at 02:11.50
42. Toby Marzot Mount Khakis in 01:20:40.90 at 02:12.10
43. Ryan Mele Richmond Pro Cycling in 01:20:41.10 at 02:12.30
44. Issac Howe Mount Khakis in 01:20:41.40 at 02:12.60
45. J Gabriel Lloyd Crca/remax in 01:20:41.40 at 02:12.60
46. Steven Gordon Dlp Racing in 01:20:41.70 at 02:12.90
47. Melito Heredia Innovation Bike Shop in 01:20:41.80 at 02:13.00
48. Bill Elliston Van Dessel Factory Team in 01:20:42.80 at 02:14.00
49. Benjamin Zawacki Richmond Pro Cycling in 01:20:43.20 at 02:14.40
50. Seth Hansley Cham Pion Pors Che Pre S E N Te D By R in 01:20:43.50 at 02:14.70
51. Neil Bezdek Gs Mengoni Usa in 01:20:43.80 at 02:15.00
52. Andrew Wulfkuhle C3-Sollay.com in 01:20:44.00 at 02:15.20
53. Evan Fader Richmond Pro Cycling in 01:20:44.40 at 02:15.60
54. Chip Hoover Team Latitude/abrt in 01:20:45.80 at 02:17.00
55. Luke Keough Cl Noonan/ Kam in 01:20:47.40 at 02:18.60
56. Christopher Hayes in 01:20:47.60 at 02:18.80
57. Luis Aquino Champion System Racing in 01:20:48.20 at 02:19.40
58. Bobby Lea Ouch in 01:20:51.70 at 02:22.90
59. Rodney Santiago Champion System Racing in 01:20:55.60 at 02:26.80
60. John Minturn Crca/empire Cycling Team Bp Nor in 01:21:20.60 at 02:51.80
61. Kyle Centrella Dynaflo Racing in 01:22:01.50 at 03:32.70
62. Matthew Spohn Dynaflo Racing in 01:22:01.60 at 03:32.80

Women’s results | Click for: Men’s results

1. Laura Van Gilder Mellow Mushroom in 54:21.5*
2. Cath Cheatley Colavita S U Tter Home Pb Cookin G in 54:23.7* at 2.2
3. Theresa Cliff-Ryan Verducci/breakaway Racing in 56:22.2* at 02:00.70
4. Laura Bowles Vanderkitten Racing in 56:23.4* at 02:01.90
5. Christina Smith Veloforma in 56:23.5* at 02:02.00
6. Jessie Maclean Verducci/breakaway Powered By D in 56:24.7* at 02:03.20
7. Gemma Dudley Bikeenz in 56:55.5* at 02:34.00
8. Jennifer Wilson Vanderkitten Racing in 58:23.30 at 04:01.80
9. Cassan Dr A King Amor Oso’s Rac In G Team in 58:24.50 at 04:03.00
10. Kristen Las Asso Mellow Mushroom in 58:24.70 at 04:03.20
11. Kate Veronneau Altarum Women’s Cycling in 58:26.20 at 04:04.70
12. Lisa Jellett Verducci/breakaway Powered By D in 58:26.70 at 04:05.20
13. Jennifer Maxwell Team Kenda in 58:29.30 at 04:07.80
14. Silke Wunderwald Team Kenda in 58:30.30 at 04:08.80
15. Kristy Altarum in 58:45.60 at 04:24.10
16. Colleen Hayduk Verducci Breakaway Racing Uci P in 59:04.50 at 04:43.00
17. Laura Mccaughey Juice Plus in 59:05.20 at 04:43.70
18. Tricia Carnila Verducci in 59:45.60 at 05:24.10
19. Rebecca Blatt Team Kenda in 59:46.10 at 05:24.60
20. Erin Silliman Immediate Mortgage – Artemis El in 59:46.90 at 05:25.40
21. Colleen Gulick Team Kenda in 59:48.6* at 05:27.10
22. Dale Tye Altarum in 59:49.60 at 05:28.10
23. Name? in 1:00:24.3* at 06:02.80
23. Erica Zaveta Zaveta Cycling in 1:00:24.3* at 06:02.80
25. Elizabeth Bonilla Pr O Pedals in 1:00:30.8* at 06:09.30
26. Jennifer Reither Vanderkitten Racing in 1:00:31.5* at 06:10.00
27. Marni Harker in 1:01:45.4* at 07:23.90
28. Kristine Church Human Zoom / Pabst Blue Ribbon in 1:01:46.3* at 07:24.80
29. Anna Milkowski in 1:01:53.3* at 07:31.80
30. Michele Bote Altarum in 1:02:30.7* at 08:09.20
31. Ilze Bole in 1:02:31.7* at 08:10.20
32. Kaitlyn Lawrence Team Vortex in 1:03:36.3* at 09:14.80
33. Nonnie Howard Human Zoom / Pabst Blue Ribbo in 1:04:37.0* at 10:15.50
34. Elspeth Huyett Young Medalists/team Dual Team in 1:05:35.0* at 11:13.50
35. Natasha Hansen Vanderkitten in 1:06:37.8* at 12:16.30