sevencyclist
11-18-2007, 11:16 PM
From Cyclingnews.com
It seemed an almost unanimous decision from all racers spoken to, that the course for the North Carolina Grand Prix is fast and fun. As on the previous day, the elite racers set out on the same course that had a mix of tight grassy turns, elevation changes with a tough hill that posed as a problem for all but the elite riders, a churned up sand pit, and the running track start and finish. While both the elite fields saw different winners from the day before, Jon Hamblen (RGM Watches/Richard Sachs) is no stranger to wins in North Carolina.
As one of the frequent racers in the NC series, Winston-Salem resident, Hamblen took the win in style alongside yesterday's winner and team-mate Justin Spinelli. After a warm up lap that included being the lead motto for the kids' race, Hamblen used the number one call up to get off to a fast start. But it was Matt Shriver (Jittery Joes) who took the hole shot to the grass. As the field snaked along on the first lap, little separation occurred and the lead changed several times. A few laps into the race it looked like the day's strongmen were in a group of seven comprised of Hamblen, Spinelli, Shriver, Steve Tilford (KCCX/Verge), Taylor Carrington (Turin Bicycles/CTS), Jonny Sundt (Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Charlie Pendry (Back to Dirt/Inland Construction).
Although the seven riders were constantly attacking one another, no single rider was able to break out of the group and gain a big enough lead to stay away. Hamblen and Spinelli had planned to wear down the leaders by one towing their rivals, but the group was so strong that they were still all together when they entered the final lap. Hamblen was clearly frustrated as no one seemed to want to race but he was unable to break free from the group on his own. In the final lap, Pendry was the first to fall off the pace, and the six remaining entered the sandpit in single file. It was Spinelli and Hamblen that were the quickest back on their bikes and onto the track with a small gap. With Carrington closing in on them they had no time to discuss who would take the win, and so Spinelli gifted the race to his team-mate, Hamblen, since he had won the previous day. Carrington came in third, followed by Sundt, Shriver, and then Tilford.
Classy move FSTRTHNU !
It seemed an almost unanimous decision from all racers spoken to, that the course for the North Carolina Grand Prix is fast and fun. As on the previous day, the elite racers set out on the same course that had a mix of tight grassy turns, elevation changes with a tough hill that posed as a problem for all but the elite riders, a churned up sand pit, and the running track start and finish. While both the elite fields saw different winners from the day before, Jon Hamblen (RGM Watches/Richard Sachs) is no stranger to wins in North Carolina.
As one of the frequent racers in the NC series, Winston-Salem resident, Hamblen took the win in style alongside yesterday's winner and team-mate Justin Spinelli. After a warm up lap that included being the lead motto for the kids' race, Hamblen used the number one call up to get off to a fast start. But it was Matt Shriver (Jittery Joes) who took the hole shot to the grass. As the field snaked along on the first lap, little separation occurred and the lead changed several times. A few laps into the race it looked like the day's strongmen were in a group of seven comprised of Hamblen, Spinelli, Shriver, Steve Tilford (KCCX/Verge), Taylor Carrington (Turin Bicycles/CTS), Jonny Sundt (Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Charlie Pendry (Back to Dirt/Inland Construction).
Although the seven riders were constantly attacking one another, no single rider was able to break out of the group and gain a big enough lead to stay away. Hamblen and Spinelli had planned to wear down the leaders by one towing their rivals, but the group was so strong that they were still all together when they entered the final lap. Hamblen was clearly frustrated as no one seemed to want to race but he was unable to break free from the group on his own. In the final lap, Pendry was the first to fall off the pace, and the six remaining entered the sandpit in single file. It was Spinelli and Hamblen that were the quickest back on their bikes and onto the track with a small gap. With Carrington closing in on them they had no time to discuss who would take the win, and so Spinelli gifted the race to his team-mate, Hamblen, since he had won the previous day. Carrington came in third, followed by Sundt, Shriver, and then Tilford.
Classy move FSTRTHNU !