Tuesday, May 22, 2007

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).