The next day, Jon Bruno, Kevin Wolfson, John Hanson, Emerson Oronte, Jerome Townsend, and I raced the Whaling City Cyclone, a crit in New London, CT. The race is very technical, with 6 corners, and a big horseshoe bend on a 1-kilometer loop. Bill Humphreys, the promoter, has created one of the most fun criterium courses in New England.

It started fast, and with Kevin representing us in the first breakaway of 3 riders, I chilled and sat on anyone's wheel who was trying to get across the gap, which lasted for the first six or so laps. When the next break went, I rolled with it. What formed was a group of two guys I ride with a lot in Exeter, Ryan Kelly (Noreast) and Dylan Hercules McNicholas (CCB), plus Amos Brumble (CCB) and Ron Larose (CCNS). Unfortunately, Ryan was dropped, and Will Dugan, (another CCB rider, who lately never ceases to amaze me) bridged across to our break.

So with three CCB riders against me, the outlook was grim. But as luck would have it, I won the next four primes, and then the race!

With two laps to go, Will smartly attacked immediately after my uphill, into-the-wind pull. So I chased him down. Then Amos countered, and I chased him down. Then Dylan attacked with what he had left, but I was like glue on him. With what I had left, I led through the final corner, and across the finish line, holding my lead on Dugan by about a quarter wheel.

In a big race of attrition, we had two more riders finish in the pack, Jerome and Kevin, 21^st and 33^rd places, respectively.

We ate Sbarro on the way home. It was a far cry from the Oronte pizza.

Housatonic hills next weekend. Stay tuned.

# posted by Robbie King : 11:40 PM