News

March 16, 2008

Orange Crush at Grant's Tomb!

3/15 Grant's Tomb Criterium (New York, NY)

Sakonnet rides like a young pro team
A full Sakonnet team including Road Manager Matt Koschara took to the line at the first big race on the northeast racing calendar the Grants Tomb Criterium. It was a special occasion for the team as both Eric Min (Sakonnet CEO) and Alarik Myrin (Sakonnet CTO) where in the crowd to cheer on the team. Most of the event was played out with small breaks taking minor leads, it became obvious in the last five laps that the race was going to come down to a field sprint.

Having practiced lead outs for a month at the teams warm weather spring house in Chapel Hill, NC the guys where ready to roll and they organized themselves like a seasoned professional team. With two laps to go the train was in place and it was Matt channeling his days as Julian Dean’s last lead out man on Navigators who started the fireworks by taking a full lap pull. Nick took the reigns after Matt and brought the field to the last corner where Gavi opened up the sprint. Trailing Gavi was a duo of Rite Aid professionals Bobby Leah and Bill Elliston, behind them where three Sakonnet sprinters!

In the drag race to the finish it was Jake who over took Leah for a brilliant win in the teams home town and in front of the sponsors!
More pictures are found here: www.VeloCityNation.com

1st Jake Keough (CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25)

2nd Bobby Leah (Rite Aid Professional Cycling Team)

3rd Wilson Vasquez (G.S Mengoni USA)

4th Danny Estevez (CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25)

5th Cheyne Hoag (CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25)

3/15-16 Fayetteville Stage Race (Fayetteville, TX)

Travis time trials to stage victory
Travis started the weekend with a solid effort and a podium in the wind swept Road Race on Saturday morning. He however saved his best effort for the afternoon as he took the team’s second win of the weekend by averaging 27.3 mph and hammering out a flying 14:15 over 6.5 miles in Stage 2. Travis’ TT effort landed him in second place in overall G.C. after the stage. Things were looking good on Sunday despite Travis having to cover all attacks himself. Unfortunately he missed the move that stuck and lost some placings but overall he secured a fine top 10 in G.C.

Overall General Classification:

6th Travis Burandt

Stage Results:

4th – Stage 1 Road Race Travis Burandt

1st – Stage 2 Time Trial Travis Burandt

20th – Stage 3 Road Race Travis Burandt

3/11 Tuscany, Italy

Guy checks in from his travels with the U.S. U23 National Team
“Hey guys I just wanted to give everyone a quick update on what I’ve been up to the last couple weeks. But first, congrats to everyone who has had early season success, it bodes well for the upcoming season.

The first race of the year for me was Tour of Belize ; it was a great race, warm weather, and lots of kilometers to start the year with. The first day pretty much decided the GC, and luckily I made it in the winning break with Gavi and we put tons of time into everyone. By the end of the race I was able to move up a couple places to 3rd overall.

I'm in Tuscany now for training camp with the National Team. The last couple days we've been training with the Jorg Jaksche, and the other day we went training with Team CSC. It’s been a great to train here, absolutely the best place I've ever been. Next week we go back to Belgium and start racing again. I'll be home in mid May, and join everyone at the team house for a couple weeks in June.

Good luck at the races,
Guy”

3/9 Belmopan Cycling Classic (Belize City, Belize)

Gavi scores in return trip to Belize

Sakonnet rider Gavriel Epstein did such a good job at the Tour of Belize that his Santino’s team invited him back for the Belmopan Cycling Classic. It was a whirlwind trip for Gavi as he flew in the day before the trip and flew out right after the race. Gavi arrived safely but unfortunately his bike didn’t make it with him. A spare bike was borrowed from a local and Gavi tried to make the set-up work despite having a very short stem. Nevertheless Gavi took no prisoners and launched the winning break that only his teammate Marlon Castillo could follow. In the finish Mr. Santino in true Mr. Squizi (Mapei) fashion “told” Gavi that Marlon was to win and so it was decided.

Gavi will be returning for another engagement in Belize this weekend but this time he’ll be brining Ryan Baumann with him.

1st Marlon Castillo (Santino’s)

2nd Gavi Epstein