Bethel Race #3 recap

In typical early spring weather for Connecticut, cyclists for the 3rd race of the Bethel Crit. series were greeted to some lively winds. Windy conditions can cause havoc on a bike race, just ask Alberto Contador who failed to claim the GC overall in the Paris Nice stage race as he lost valuable time when he missed a critical split in the race due to strong wind conditions.
The Bethel Crit. series may not be Paris Nice, but it sure gets everyone motivated on cold and windy Sunday mornings in March.

TARGETRAINING fielded several athletes in all the races, but the most notable one was Bart McDonough who completely totaled his beautiful Cervelo R3 SL in the finishing sprint in front of a host of TT clients that had ridden up to the race from TARGETRAINING led by Max Veiga. I will spare you pictures of his bike, suffice to say that Bart is OK but services for the bike will be held this Sunday as its ashes will be spread along the race course. We will be sure to send the bill for Bart's new bike to the unamed racer that took him out in the sprint.

Congratulations go out to Sam Goater who took out his first USA Cycling license and jumped into the CAT 5 field and held his own with Brad Hardy and Bill Schwartz. The future looks bright for those three.

The day was culminated with the P/1/2/3 race that saw TARGETRAINING riders Badger, Baldwin, Spear, and myself take on a windswept course and nervous field. Baldwin stirred up the pot in the first half of the race by applying some much needed heat to the pace of the race. With the conditions of the race ripe for a break, I took advantage of a tiring field and initiated the move that set up the winning break just after the halfway point. Coming into the finish, I was unable to shake my 8 breakaway companions and finished 4th in a complicated sprint.
Yet the day was not lost as I captured the GC lead and am set to defend the jersey in the coming weeks.