News
June 23, 2008
SKNT represents the USA and Jake earns a Pro contract
June 15th - Harlem Rocks Criterium
This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of seeing the best field ever, line-up for the Harlem Rocks criterium, held on the streets of New York City. The Rock & Republic team quickly asserted itself in multiple attacks, but CRCA/Sakonnet’s Cheyne Hoag, Ryan Baumann, and Nick Keough followed these moves to ensure that the race would end in a field sprint.
In one of the craziest finishes I have seen in my 30 years of involvement in bicycle racing, Jake Keough squeezed himself onto the podium for third place as the race winner, Eric Barlevav (Time Pro Cycling) literally threw himself off his bike to snatch the win from Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing).
Congratulations and many thanks to Jake Keough for a fine season with CRCA/Sakonnet- and best wishes to him with his new team, Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast, which is managed by my friend, Jonas Carney.
June 5th-8th - Coupe Des Nations, Ville De Sagueney (Saguenay, Quebec, Canada)
CRCA/Sakonnet had the honor of representing the United States at the Canadian U23 World Cup, which was held in Saguenay, Quebec. In its first year, the four day, five-stage event, Coupe des Nations was a pleasure to attend, due to the world-class competition, world-class race organization, and the welcoming nature of the Sagueney community. CRCA/Sakonnet/USA’s Travis Burandt, Nick Keough, Jake Keough, Ryan Baumann, Guy East, and Cheyne Hoag showed there skills by quickly adapting and becoming competitive in a U23 World Cup.
Jake Keough’s sprint proved to be world class as he narrowly missed the podium with an awesome fourth place finish in Stage two.
CRCA/Sakonnet/USA’s Guy East showed how us how his racing with the US National Team this spring has given him the form to finish an amazing second place in the Stage four’s 8.4 km time trial.
On a personal note, I would like to thank Alma Acura for providing cars for the race caravan. In my opinion, having a caravan of the same make and model made the caravan much safer to drive in, thus much safer for the racers.
May 28th - Ricola Twilight Gran Prix (Basking Ridge, NJ)
On a beautiful spring evening, many of the same riders who had contested the Tour of Somerville raced the Ricola Twilight Gran Prix, in Basking Ridge, NJ. The hilly criterium course proved to be to the liking of CRCA/Sakonnet’s Jake Keough, as he finished a fine fifth place.
May 26th - Tour of Somerville (Somerville, MA)
A large field of talented riders racing from Slipstream Chipotle, Team Type 1, Colavita/Sutter Home, Calyon, CRCA Sakonnet U25, CRCA Empire, CRCA Foundation, et al, lined up on the bumpy streets of Somerset County to contest America’s longest running cycling event, the Tour of Somerville. In just a few laps, it became apparent that the race would be decided in a field sprint, as the total negativity of the field manifested itself in the form of numerous crashes. In one of these crashes, CRCA/Sakonnet lost the services of Gavi Epstein (due to a broken hip) for the rest of the season. In the final laps the pace picked up and Jake Keough finished seventh, not far off from the winner, Sebastian Haedo (Colavita/Sutter Home).
Gavi Epstein Interview #2 - Matt Koschara, SKNT U25 G.M.
Matt: Where do I begin?
Gavi: Begin?
Matt: With this interview, where do you want me to begin?
Gavi: Let’s start with how great this season started.
Matt: Okay. So let’s start with Belize.
Gavi: I was second in a stage, I was instrumental in helping a teammate get on the podium for the overall, and I finished in the top ten, too.
Matt: Yes, you and your teammate, Guy East, had great results there (Guy was racing for the US National Team, Gavi for Santinos). It seems like you really enjoy racing in Belize. How many times more did you travel down there?
Gavi: I went down twice (to Belize) more, three times, total.
Matt: Yes, you were second in the Belmopan Cycling Classic, and then you helped your teammate, Ryan Baumann, win the Holy Sat. Cross Country, while still managing to finish fifth.
Gavi: Yes- Belize loves cycling- that’s why it is so much fun to travel and race there. We were in the airport, on the way back, and people recognized us from the race. It was pretty cool.
Matt: Tell me more.
Gavi: Well, I came back, had some good races locally.
Matt: And then?
Gavi: At the end of April I went and raced in Brazil. The length of the stages and the speed was similar to that of racing a pro stage race in Europe.
Matt: Which is what you want to eventually do, right?
Gavi: Yes. I want to someday race professionally in Europe.
Matt: Let’s talk about Somerville.
Gavi: Well, I crashed. It was when I got up to go to the pit that I knew something was horribly wrong.
Matt: And?
Gavi: It took a while to figure out that my hip was broken. Baz (Former Team Manager of CRCA/Sakonnet) had me see a doctor in NYC, he found the crack.
Matt: So, now what?
Gavi: I go back in this week and see how my hip is healing. Hopefully, everything is going alright and I can have a productive end of the season.
Matt: Yes, my fingers are crossed. The team has struggled without you. Let’s talk about something other than cycling.
Gavi: Okay.
Matt: You, and your wife, Viviana, live in Englewood, NJ. You have two pets, a Chihuahua named Pumpkin, and a rooster named Coo Coo.
Gavi: Yes
Matt: And what do you like to do in your spare time?
Gavi: I like to spend my time with my wife, Viviana. We like to watch movies and cook together.
Matt: Thanks, Gavi.
