6/14-18 Nature Valley Grand Prix Stage Race (NRC 2.2) St. Paul, Minnesota

Johnny Hayes earned valuable NRC points for the team at last weeks Nature Valley Grand Prix held in five locations through out Minnesota. Racing began in St. Paul with a short 4.8mi prologue time trial, which was won by Nathan O’Neil (Health Net). Sakonnet’s top finisher on the day was 18-year old Guy East with a time of 9:20, which was 51 seconds off the lead but put Guy in 5th Place in the U23 competition after the stage.

Stage1: Cannon Falls Road Race (58 miles) – The course featured rolling terrain, brutal cross winds and a 2-mile section of loosely packed gravel. The Health Net team blew the Race apart in the first 10 miles with an impressive display of how to form echelons. Johnny Hayes raced his way into the first group behind the breakaway (which was made up of only Professional riders) and sprinted to a 38th Place on the stage, 2:17 behind the winner Greg Henderson (Health Net).

Stage 2: Minneapolis Criterium (1 hour) – The stage was nullified due to dangerous weather after just 27 minutes of racing. Lighting, driving rain and hail marred the evening. The team however did very well holding their positions at the front of the peleton, avoiding the many crashes that occurred.

Stage 3: Mankato Road Race (87 miles) – The stage was raced at a blistering average speed of 32mph and the course featured another day of strong cross winds and rolling terrain. The Health Net team again forced the breakaway with their impressive echelon riding at mile 28. Johnny and Chris Ruhl were both in the first group behind the leaders. Johnny was the teams top finisher, bettered his placing from Thursday with a great 28th Place, 9:17’ behind the double stage winner Greg Henderson (Health Net).

Stage 4: Stillwater Criterium (1 hour) – The figure eight course featured the brutal Chilkoot Hill climb with an average grade of 18% every lap. The race organizers recommended a 39x25 gearing to all riders for the day. As soon as the racing began the ravaged peleton of 93 riders (out of 161 starters) began to splinter. Johnny road brilliantly in the first group and stayed collected throughout the event finishing in a well-earned 31st Place.

The team did very well, Johnny had a break thru ride earning 10 NRC Points and the Team finished with three riders gaining us a placing in the NRC Team Competition.

Special thanks go out to Mike Pederson our Lazer Helmets rep who generously provided the team with new helmets, to Rob Arend our gracious host who took care of us all week (we can’t thank you enough) and to Louis Perez our assistant manager who helped make the week run smoothly.

Final G.C Standings:
24th – Johnny Hayes
64th – Chris Ruhl
71st – Chris Kuhl

Final U23 Standings (23 starters):
10th – Chris Ruhl
13th – Chris Kuhl

Final Team Standings (27 starters):
13th – CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25 Cycling Team

For more information visit: www.naturevalleygrandprix.com

6/18 Detroit 3-Day Madison Detroit, MI

David Wiswell and partner Curtis Gunn (Successful Living.com Professional Team) raced ahead of the competition from the opening day to 1st Place at this 3-Day event in Detroit. The team of Wiswell and Gunn finished with 276 points, well ahead of the second place team that had 135 points, both teams where on the same lap. There performances should earn them a ticket to Italy in late June to compete as the official U.S Team at two summer 6-Day events in Italy.

6/18 Stillwater Criterium (Cat 2) Stillwater, MN

The under card event to the Pro race proved very profitable for Sakonnet riders as Lee Rosenthal took 1st Place, Guy East took 4th Place and Jon Swain finished in 10th Place. After a hard week of racing where these riders missed the time cut in the Pro event (crashes and strong winds took their toll) the victory was a small consolation prize.

6/18 Harlem Criterium New York, NY

Mike Chauner with the help of Joao Correia, Bob/Bruce Weyman, Alex Ferrero and Lee Sossen raced to 6th Place on this blistering hot 91-degree day in New York City. The event now being promoted by CRCA’s Mike Green received rave reviews from all riders.

6/18 Harlem Criterium (35+) New York, NY

Bob/Bruce Weyman continued his fine riding from the day before and sprinted to 6th Place on the day.

6/17 Mankato Criterium (Cat 2) Mankato, MN

Jon Swain displayed the aggressiveness that netted him 2nd place at Collegiate Nationals by riding off the front for the day in a five-man breakaway. Back in the field Rosenthal and Perez kept the peleton in check and at the end Swain sprinted into 3rd Place.

6/17 Tour of New York Brooklyn, NY

In a rare field sprint appearance Bob/Bruce Weyman the teams resident model/actor/west coast manager flared out the elbows and mixed it up after a fine lead out by Joao Correia and landed himself a top finishing 7th Place at the event.

6/11 Keith Berger Memorial Criterium East Hartford, CT

Robbie Giannini followed the lead-out of the Anthem Blue Cross team and sprinted into 6th Place on this tight criterium circuit.

For more information visit: www.skntcycling.com