Written by: Ed Veal
July 13, 2011 (Windsor, ON) – After Saturday’s close call in the Criterium Detroit we headed back to Windsor for the 6th Ontario cup race of the year. The Ciociaro club was the venue and Dylan Lanspeary was the race organizer. Let’s just say…This place was meant for bike racing. The course was a closed, wide open loop and flat except for one slight rise. Let’s just say it was built for….well…me!! I was sad to see such a low turnout but man did I like what I saw and had a good idea what was in store for us.
With only 20 starters I thought we were in for a lot of attacks and a lot of me, Schiller (Garneau) and Ivey (Kallisto Wheels of Bloor) marking each other. I figured with five guys racing in Jet Fuel/La Bicicletta kits we would have the upper hand most of the day and it turned out to be true. Right from the start we attacked and did the old shake and bake. We had guys in everything and when we didn’t we had someone sprinting off the front. I rode right on the front for the opening laps making sure to be seen and jumping whenever my two rival team leaders decided they wanted in on something.
After about 15 mins of this cat and mouse attacking and counter attacking a group of four got off the front and rode away. Each team had a guy in the move. Our guy was Kevin Hazzard and he was away with Anton Vabrai (Cycle Solutions), Brandon Spencer (Kallisto Wheels of Bloor), and Chris Balistrini (Garneau).
After these guys got up the road it my was job to shut things down and I took the role pretty serious. I love nothing more than being second wheel and staring down a dude who wants you to pull through for no reason. When the next guy jumps I jump and do it all over again. Doing this frustrates the other riders and it especially frustrated Schiller and Ivey. They both had guys up the road but they both knew they had to get across to them.
The three of us attacked and chased each other for a full hour getting into multiple moves and stand offs, if doing nothing but coasting. As we were about to get lapped Schiller and Ivey launched and I got there in a hurry. The three of us started rotating and got a good gap on the guys who just got lapped. I thought this could be good as we could get up to the leaders and help out but the guys on the sidelines made the call for me to shut things down and sit on.
Out little break blew up a lap later when I stop rolling through. As we got lapped the groups integrated and we were now one big happy family with four guys one lap up. We communicated to each other that we are going to protect Kevin and take him right to the line and set him up to win the sprint.
With roughly 10-15mins to go Pete and Anthony get to the front and held a steady tempo and I sat 3rd wheel protecting Kevin. Then Schiller took off alone to chase 5th place but I yelled to the guys just let him go and keep our eye on the prize of delivering our teammate for the win.
In the final laps there were a few guys who jumped and tried to get off the front but we slowly reeled them back in making sure the four leaders got their chance for glory. We all knew how the sprint would go down. Danielle explained how fast the finish was and how you needed to attack it hard before the last two bends and then hold it to the line.
Anthony took his last pull and lined out the group, Pete pulled through with some good force and took us to the back stretch and down the hill and then I had the home stretch including the two final bends in the road. I ramped things up and peeked to make sure Kevin was there.
As we came through to the finish I tucked low and to the right side of the road as Kevin poured it on and went around me on the left. My heart stopped and I watched them go by me as Kevin cranked it up and held it to the line. It was a huge win for us and I couldn’t contain myself. I yelled like it was me crossing the line first. It was an incredible feeling and one I will remember for ever!
Our boys worked like a true team on Sunday and we soaked up the win and enjoyed the rest of the day hanging out and relaxing. Pizza, beer and a great group of guys! Sunday might have just be one of my best cycling experiences of my career.
By: Ed Veal