2/10-18/2007 Tour of Belize Belize City, Belize
The Sakonnet group at the Tour of Belize had a fantastic week of racing. The SKNT riders; Andy Cornelison, Gavi Epstein, Robbie Giannini and Guy East where part of a composite team that included several U.S pro’s from team Rite Aid as well as SKNT alumni David Wiswell (team Nerac.com). The Tour's highlights for the SKNT men include Guy East’s 2nd Place finish in Stage 2, 7th Place finish in Stage 6, 8th Place finish in the final Stage 9 and 19th Place Overall on the General Classification. Guy also held the King of the Mountains Jersey and Best Young Rider Jersey for most of the week. “My Sakonnet teammates where amazing every day, they kept me in position and took care of me with feeds, etc. I can’t wait to race with these guys once we get home. We are going to rock this year!” said East.
Note: Sakonnet Alumni David Wiswell won the Sprinters competition. “It’s great to see David start his career as a Pro with such a good start, I’m really proud of him. As for our SKNT guys, they were incredible.” said Sakonnet GM Basil Moutsopoulos.
For full results visit: http://www.tourofbelize.com
2/19/2007 Valley of the Sun Stage Race (CAT 2) Phoenix, AZ
Johnny Hayes and Chris Kuhl picked up where Guy East left off (in Arizona) by riding strongly at last weekends Valley of the Sun Stage Race. Kuhl and Hayes were participating in their last Cat 2 race with a vengeance. Both riders started strong with top 20 efforts in the prologue time trial and backed it up with a crushing ride in the next day’s road race. The Sakonnet duo made the race by drilling the field in a cross wind section that split the peleton with Kuhl finishing in 9th Place for the stage. Their ride in the road race catapulted them to 6th Place (Chris Kuhl) and 8th Place (Johnny Hayes) in the overall G.C for the weekend.
Note: SKNT Alumni Andy Guptill (Team Colavita – Sutter Home) was 20th in overall G.C in the Pro-1 event.
For the full results for this event visit: http://www.AZcycling.com
2/23/2007 Fairly Shining at the Tour of California
Midway thru the Amgen Tour of California Sakonnet Alumni Caleb Fairly is shining as a member of the U.S National Team/VMG Racing. Caleb’s hanging tough in the biggest race of his career with three stages to go. Caleb is looking great for a finishing place. “I know I speak for the team when I say we are all rooting for Caleb” says Sakonnet GM Basil Moutsopoulos.
To follow Caleb’s progress visit: www.TourofCalifornia.com
2/8/2007 Introducing New SKNT Rider Devin Flaherty
Devin Flaherty is a 20 year old racer originally from NYC but currently hailing from Northern California. Devin comes to the team from the northeast based Champion Systems amateur team. Devin joins the team as possibly our most powerful finisher in criteriums; his strengths include field sprinting and racing in a break away. Expect to see great things from Devin in 2007! – Editor
Editor: Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m 20 years old, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. I now live in Northern California where I’m doing my undergrad at Stanford University.
Editor: How did you get into riding?
My parents are cycling enthusiasts and persuaded me to stop being a lazy teenager and do something. I started riding/racing bikes when I was 16.
Editor: How did your first race go?
I won. It was a Cat 5 race and I was so scared of crashing that I started sprinting with 700m to go and just kept going.
Editor: What are your strengths and weaknesses on the bike?
My sprint and bike-handling skills have always been strengths of mine thanks to track racing. I am constantly working to make climbing less of weakness but it’s a long process.
Editor: What do you miss the most when you are away from home traveling to races?
My bed.
Editor: What would your perfect 2007 season on Sakonnet look like?
Winning the NCCA Criterium Championship and pulling off a few good placings at NRC races would be great. I’ve also always wanted to win my two hometown classics, the Mengoni GP and the Harlem Skyscraper Crit. With a team like Sakonnet behind me, I think I can pull it off.
Editor: What do you like to do when you aren’t riding your bike?
Make sushi, draw random stuff, survive Stanford.
Editor: What is the last movie you saw (what did you think about it)?
Brick. Pretty crazy movie but very good. ‘Film noir meets witty high school drama’.
Editor: New York City, L.A or Denver?
Never even heard of those last two.
