OhSoFast
04-29-2007, 09:39 PM
After a successful weekend in New York it was back to hometown Ontario for the Calabogie Road Race and ZigZag by the lake criterium on Sunday.
On Saturday Vince De Jong was an army of one at the Calabogie Circuit Race near Ottawa. The racing was fast and aggressive for 111km even with a small pack on the rolling 5km circuit. The weather was decent for most of the race until the last 30 mins it started raining. De Jong raced a conservative race covering some moves and helping chase when necessary. With two laps to go the race was all together and it looked like a bunch sprint was for dinner. However two crafty riders launched a hard attack that caught the pack by surprise. No one was willing to work and so it came down to a sprint for 3rd. De Jong finished in tenth position on the day.
On Sunday the team arrived in Toronto to find beautiful weather and clear skies along the lake where the ZM ZigZag by the Lake was to be contested. Four riders De Jong, Valenti, Purvis, and Saunders were present to represent the team. With most of the big names in Ontario crit racing present, we knew we needed a good strategy. During our little chit chat by the car, Jason showed his experience and leadership abilities when laying out our strategy. He rightly predicted the race would be decided in the first 20 minutes, and that a break would go right off the gun. He moreso stressed we needed to be in that break and the rest of the team covering moves in the pack. De Jong was chosen as the sacrificial lamb to make something happen.
Sure enough, on the word go, crit strongman Heath Cockburn blasted off followed by De Jong and a couple other riders. After 500m Cockburn looked around to see where the pack was and instantly spelled his demise. Even though the pack was right there De Jong lit the afterburners up the right side bringing a Jetfuel with him. After 4 laps a group of 4 riders bridged up to De Jong bringing another Jetfuel rider and two ciclissimo riders. With some of the stronger teams represented, and 6 riders all willing and able to work well together the break was set, with all the other teams left hanging their heads wondering how things could have gone so wrong.
For the next hour fifteen the break steadily gained half a lap on the pack and held it, aided by the alert CoachChris riders who quickly covered any countermoves from the pack. Going into the final lap a Jetfuel rider went for a flyer and with no one else willing to chase De Jong put in a big effort to cover the move. With half a lap to go and the rider caught, the other Jetfuel rider and two others from the breakaway went for the final sprint. De Jong's cookies were spent by that point and could only watch them go. The other Ciclissimo rider then outsprinted De Jong on the line after sitting on his wheel giving De Jong 5th place overall. The other team riders all placed well in the pack sprint.
With some recent strong results for the elite mens team, a podium position at London's own Springbank Crit is very likely. We look forward to your support of the team at Springbank. The team will also feature some riders in their first race of the season (Craig Brown & Sam Bail) and Graydon Raymer returning from sick leave. Best of luck to all CoachChris.ca/Ted Velikonja riders at Springbank next week!!!
OSF
On Saturday Vince De Jong was an army of one at the Calabogie Circuit Race near Ottawa. The racing was fast and aggressive for 111km even with a small pack on the rolling 5km circuit. The weather was decent for most of the race until the last 30 mins it started raining. De Jong raced a conservative race covering some moves and helping chase when necessary. With two laps to go the race was all together and it looked like a bunch sprint was for dinner. However two crafty riders launched a hard attack that caught the pack by surprise. No one was willing to work and so it came down to a sprint for 3rd. De Jong finished in tenth position on the day.
On Sunday the team arrived in Toronto to find beautiful weather and clear skies along the lake where the ZM ZigZag by the Lake was to be contested. Four riders De Jong, Valenti, Purvis, and Saunders were present to represent the team. With most of the big names in Ontario crit racing present, we knew we needed a good strategy. During our little chit chat by the car, Jason showed his experience and leadership abilities when laying out our strategy. He rightly predicted the race would be decided in the first 20 minutes, and that a break would go right off the gun. He moreso stressed we needed to be in that break and the rest of the team covering moves in the pack. De Jong was chosen as the sacrificial lamb to make something happen.
Sure enough, on the word go, crit strongman Heath Cockburn blasted off followed by De Jong and a couple other riders. After 500m Cockburn looked around to see where the pack was and instantly spelled his demise. Even though the pack was right there De Jong lit the afterburners up the right side bringing a Jetfuel with him. After 4 laps a group of 4 riders bridged up to De Jong bringing another Jetfuel rider and two ciclissimo riders. With some of the stronger teams represented, and 6 riders all willing and able to work well together the break was set, with all the other teams left hanging their heads wondering how things could have gone so wrong.
For the next hour fifteen the break steadily gained half a lap on the pack and held it, aided by the alert CoachChris riders who quickly covered any countermoves from the pack. Going into the final lap a Jetfuel rider went for a flyer and with no one else willing to chase De Jong put in a big effort to cover the move. With half a lap to go and the rider caught, the other Jetfuel rider and two others from the breakaway went for the final sprint. De Jong's cookies were spent by that point and could only watch them go. The other Ciclissimo rider then outsprinted De Jong on the line after sitting on his wheel giving De Jong 5th place overall. The other team riders all placed well in the pack sprint.
With some recent strong results for the elite mens team, a podium position at London's own Springbank Crit is very likely. We look forward to your support of the team at Springbank. The team will also feature some riders in their first race of the season (Craig Brown & Sam Bail) and Graydon Raymer returning from sick leave. Best of luck to all CoachChris.ca/Ted Velikonja riders at Springbank next week!!!
OSF