Sunday, Fast/IF powered by Lionette's sent 4 manly men to the Naugatuck Crit in CT (John Hanson, Luke Krisch, Greg Montello, and Jon Bruno.) It is a 50 mile , fast, hot, criterium. Over 70 riders lined up the race in the humid 85 degree afternoon. We were racing for $1500 and were told there would be a $200 midway prime. This was surely going to cause the race to be fast and hard. The first ten laps were fairly easy and gave us time to stretch our legs. Fast/IF pb Lionette's put riders in multiple break attempts but nothing stayed away. The pace was kept very high and the field soon split with about 30 riders in the front group with two Fast/IF riders, Luke and I. With the midway prime approaching, riders began to jostle for position at the front. Alec from Nerac went off the front with another rider with one lap to go and at the back stretch the field slowed, allowing the two to dangle well off the front. I saw the move and shot out of the field, up the hill and onto the finish straight with a good gap over the field, caught and passes the two leaders to rob them of the $200 prime. YAY!!! That will help pay for future races. Three laps later the skies opened up, throwing lighting and rain down. The race was stopped for a half hour.

At the re-start there were 20 riders in the front group with about a minute on the rest of the field. It was from this group that we knew the winner would emerge. The racing resumed, just as fast and furious as before. Riders continuously jumped off the front trying to stay away for the remaining 15 laps. Luke and I both covered every move, until I bridged up to a strong duo of Kurt Davis and Adam Myerson. The three were soon four, joined by Tim Unkert, and remained away for the final 8 laps. Two more riders joined up and on the last lap, on the hill I attempted a jump but all break compatriots were right on my wheel. Damn. Now I was on the front in the finish straight. Nothing left to do but keep it up and lead out for the sprint. I felt pretty good but faded in the last fifty meters to finish fourth. A good result and some good money for the team.

Thanks to Hanson, Greg and especially Luke's hard work and diligence, we had a super strong presence and a good result for the team. More success soon, I am sure.

Thanks