CanAm 2007 – The Team “Gels”

Third after the opening ITT, Connor Sallee longs for the gold medal...

The Can-Am U19 Challenge is a rare junior-only stage race. Held in the northeast corner of New Jersey, the field is generally large and far-flung, with riders trooping down from New England and up from the Southeast. This year’s 17-18 age group was dominated by Zack Allision, a 17-year old from the Washington DC based National Capital Velo Club, who pulled into the lead in the stage two criterium and then handily won the field sprint in the third stage circuit race.
CRCA JrDev’s Connor Sallee was on the podium from stage one, with a third place ride in the opening four-mile uphill time trial. The stage race overall was based on points, rather than time, and Connor’s position would be constantly under threat by a bevy of superior field sprinters, all of whom were in the middle of the top twenty, but still in the points. Strong rides in the TT by Lewis Almonte –in 9th- and Ian Harris –in 11th, provided some buffer for Connor, who’s dangermen were primarily Daniel Sullivan (Metra-Wendy’s) in 12th and Filip Capala (Capala Bros) in 10th. The team also had strong rides from Evan Cooper (15th) Graham Lang (17th) and Ryan Storm (20th). Neophytes Liam Quigley (27th) and Khary Ward (34th) rode very respectably in their first ever race against the clock.

Filip Capala (right) and Lewis Almonte (left) last year's stage two and three winners (respectively), get called to the line.


Going into the second stage criterium CRCA JrDev’s objective was to make the race as hard as possible for the resident sprinters in the field with the goal of popping Connor or Lewis off the front in the final laps. Unfortunately the already-too-short criterium was trimmed to a mere 20 miles due to a delay clearing an earlier accident off the course. Ian Harris, Ryan Storm, Graham Lang and Evan Cooper exchanged repeated attacks. There was a CRCA rider off the front for most of the race. Ian Harris had a perticularly remarkable ride, either sitting five seconds ahead of the field or in lantern rouge position. He was rewarded for his efforts with the race’s only merchandise prime.
Despite CRCA JrDev’s best efforts the race came down to a field sprint, captured by Daniel Sullivan. Connor moved into second on GC with a strong seventh place. Ryan, was 10th, Evan 13th and Lewis15th.


Cheese Grommit!! Graham grits his teeth and takes a flyer.


Sunday’s third stage circuit race was also dramatically shortened for the 17-18 year-old field, and again the “field softening” strategy did not have enough time to gain traction. Lewis Almonte won this stage last year, and we were hoping for a repeat, which didn’t happen. The team was impressive nonetheless. Ryan Storm opened up hostilities almost from the gun, and Ian Harris and Graham Lang provided worthy counter attacks. Ian found himself accompanied by Kyle Foley of ACT midway through the race and the two hammered out a fifteen second advantage, the largest lead of the day. Things fell apart for Ian after he made a successful bid for the stage’s only time-bonus prime, and lost Foley to a counter attack. Evan Cooper was in the process of bridging to the two and in a moment’s inattention Ian found himself on the deck as Evan joined up to bring Foley back. Remarkably it was the team’s only crash of the weekend.
With Foley back to the fold the race lost momentum as the riders seemed resigned to another field sprint. Connor, Lewis, Evan and Ryan were all prominent in the final kilometer but came into the last turn just a bit too far back to contest the win, finishing 7th, 9th, 10th, and 15th respectively.
Results-wise the weekend was successful, but more importantly each rider achieved specific process goals and overall the team took a huge step in learning to ride as a collective. This was the first weekend that the team dynamic was able to gel and a real effort was made to strategize as a squad.

Race Notes:
Liam Quigley had the unenviable task of riding his first stage race, time trial and criterium with a pinched nerve and a head cold. All the same Liam’s innate climbing ability shined through in the time trial, but the rest of the race was a study in hanging on as long as possible.

Khary Ward has all the makings of a criterium specialist, and none of the technique. Like Liam this weekend was also his first stage race, time trial and criterium. Khary’s improvement between Saturday and Sunday was substantial. Ward suffered at the back of the stage two criterium but hung on impressively for 3/4’s of the race, In stage three he finished with the field, a minor victory in and of itself. In the process Khary earned a bit of a reputation as the team wrecking-crew, all the while masterfully holding himself upright through a series of equipment-chewing misadventures. The tally so far: one rear-derailleur, a quick-release skewer and some spokes.


Mike Fraysee holds yet another future star in the start tent at the ITT.


The faces of CRCAJrDev at the rain-dampened CanAm circuit.


2007 CanAm U19 Challenge Final GC:
1. Zack Allison, NCVC Inova Health Systems
2. Daniel Sullivan, Team Metra/Wendy's/Ideal Tile
3. Filip Capala, Capala Brothers/Polska
4. Connor Sallee CRCAJrDev/Orbea
5. Nikolai Masluk 3D Racing Team/Tom's Atlantic Cyclery
12. Lewis Almonte, CRCAJrDev/Orbea
17. Evan Cooper, CRCAJrDev/Orbea
19. Ian Harris, CRCAJrDev/Orbea
21. Ryan Storm, CRCAJrDev/Orbea
22. Graham Lang, CRCAJrDev/Orbea
26. Liam Quigley, CRCAJrDev/Orbea
34. Khary Ward, CRCAJrDev/Orbea


Ryan Storm (rear) stays tenaciously glued to Filip Capala's wheel (front)...

CRCA got the ladies in the tent! Lewis, Nina Santiago, and Filip, warming-up.

Bear Mt. Juniors: Back with a Vengance

Lewis Almonte drives a train of pink Quebecois

Junior racing returned to Bear Mountain for the first time since 2001 this weekend with a 46-rider field that posted the fastest average speeds of any category save the Pro 1-2. With seven riders on the line, CRCA JrDev was instrumental in driving up that average speed as they battled with a strong contingent of Canadian riders, spearheaded by the pink-jerseyed Louis Garneau-Crocs formation. In the finale both teams were outfoxed by Quebecois rider Nicolas Lefrançois (CIBC/Wood Gundy), who slippped away on the last of three 14-mile laps to capture the win in a dramatic two-up sprint against breakaway companion Brett Jacoby (Gotham Cyclists).
Back in the greatly diminished field the sprint for third was taken by Metra-Wendy’s Daniel Sullivan, who is proving to be the sprinter-du-jour of 2007. CRCAJrDev rider Connor Sallee brought the team home with 9th place in the field, 11th overall. Evan Cooper was inches behind him in 14th, while Lewis Almonte took 17th and Graham Lang 22nd.
Farther afield:
Ryan Storm's Mother's Day obligations prevented him from contesting Bear Mountain, but the man from White Plains was at
the Somerset Circuit Time Trial where he finished third in a strong twenty-three rider junior field, behind Nickolai Masluk (3DRacing) and Brian Register (Liberty Cycle).

Up at Jiminy's Peak and Down at Colt's Neck

Mid-way through Colt's Neck Connor, Ryan (in need of a new jersey) and Lewis prepare to launch Graham...



with Graham ahead of the field with Filip Capala chasing an early two-up break...Connor (far left) sprints to 2nd in the field, 6th overall


CRCAJrDev's largest showing this season happened at Colt's Neck, NJ this Sunday, May 6th. With a team of five in a 20-odd strong junior field CRCAJrDev should have been able to control the field, but early inattentiveness allowed a two-man break to slip off the front. The guys went off in pursuit a little too late, but in the melée of repeat attacks, Graham Lang was able to escape with Filip Capala (Capala Bros.) and nearly brought the break back. Capala beat Graham to the line for 3rd while Connor Sallee was edged into 6th place bt field sprint winner Dan Sullivan (Metra-Ideal Tile). Still, with all 5 riders in the top ten overall it was not a bad showing.
Ryan had this to say at the end of the day: "It was great racing with the team today! We rode smart....controlled the pack when needed...and made the other guys hurt more than they thought they would have to...Great teamwork all around!! It was a pleasure, I look foward to an amazing season! I'm sure, with this group, we have the ability, and talent to achieve many, if not all our goals."

Saturday Lewis Almonte and Khary Ward took on Jiminy Peak where Lewis finished 11th and Khary 23rd. For Lewis it was a slightly disappointing result, last year he took 6th in this event with an equally competitive field. Khary, however, is making large improvments in his form. The 190pd Ward was not suited for this course, but managed to cut his loses finishing fourteen minutes down on the winner.
CRCAJrDev Director Sportif Craig Cook was too busy getting popped off the back of the Pro 1-2 race at Jiminy and thus unable to provide photo documentation of the day.


Colt's Neck Line-up: Ryan, Lewis, Evan, Connor and Graham. photos courtesy of S.Sallee

Storm Warnings

Dateline Floyd Bennett Field: Ryan Storm took 4th in the Season Opener Floyd Bennett Senior 3/4 race flying the CRCAJrDev colors this Tuesday. Ryan also sent in this missive from last weekend's Binghamton LAJORS :
"Jr-15-18...I took off right as the first [1.6 mile] lap was coming to an end, and gained 15 seconds on the field. After that however, there was a pursuing group not far behind and after riding 3 laps solo I rode the rest of the race with them.
We dropped a few of these kids along the way....By the last 4 laps it was just three of us.
As the final lap approached one kid attacked and another countered, my legs just wouldnt go, so i waited for one of them to bonk....thank god one did because i was able to take 2nd in the uphill sprint. Finishing 2nd overall!!
Pretty good race....Fast, moderatly tough circuit. 51 degrees, cloudy in the morning, and 60 degrees w/sunny skies by the end of the race."

JrDev has Senior Moments at Sturbridge & Palmer

L to R: Breakfast in America with Joao, Amaury, Lewis and Ian

Looking for experience in large, surly fields and longish distances a smattering of CRCA JrDev riders headed north this weekend to Massachusetts for the Sturbridge and Palmer Road Races. There were no junior fields, so Lewis Almonte and Ian Harris got to "ride up". JrDev graduate Amaury Arias (CRCA/Sakonnet) and sponsorship director Joao Corriea (Bicycling magazine as well as loyal DS Craig Cook rounded out the convoy. Joao was fresh with tales to tell from getting hosed at the Tour of Virginia, but was riding well all the same.
Sturbridge was a bust. Lewis hit the deck on the first lap of the 3/4 event. Ian didn't fall but fishtailed off the road trying to avoid the same pile up. Ian waited for Lewis but Lewis was down for the count. Ian eventually pressed on but the effort cooked him and he called it a day.
With Lewis all bruised up we decided that the Pro 1-3 might be a better option for the lad in Sunday's Palmer Library Road Race. The 70-odd mile road race was the longest event this 17 year-old has competed in. Twirling his junior cluster Lewis finished the race in the main field, 16 seconds behind Sebastian Potok of team Northeastern Hardware. Ian, meanwhile, stuck to the 3/4 event where he rode admirably, losing contact with the pack on the last of three 19 mile laps, and finishing nine minutes down.

Nothing says "Pro" like matching orange Crocs.