TOUR OF CONNECTICUTMAY 24-
TOUR OF CONNECTICUTMAY 24-
By Eddie Arnet
A few mountain bikers who had been riding for three months between NORBA cross country events were still able to squeeze in one more U.S. tour. Mathieu Toulouse and Maxxis colleagues Geoff Kabush, as well as GT-Hyundais Todd Wells all turned out to fight in the Constitution State. Geoff Kabush, a Canadian trader, is also a member the Jittery Joes Kalahari trade team. Toulouse, a law graduate and well-known cyclist, rode on the Capital Velo Club Pig Iron and Volkswagen Trak composite teams. Mathieu, like Geoff, is Canadian.
STAGE 1 NEW HAVEN GREEN CRITERIUM
It was a wide open race over a half-mile flat course. Vassili Davidenko, 1StNavigators Insurance rider, won the sprint to the finish from the 146 riders. 10THTodd Wells won the race with the fastest time
21STGeoff Kabush
84THMathieu Toulouseall at same time
STAGE 2 WATERBURY CLIMBERS CUP CIRCUIT
The race course is 4.1 miles long with 141.7m of climbing per lap. The race lasted 15 laps. 1STVassili won the fourth rider sprint again, this time in a timed of
STAGE 3 LITCHFIELD ILLS/TORRINGTON POINT – TO-POINT
The Tour of Connecticut was a 136.7-mile road race that featured steep climbs and long descents. It was steep! The promoter suggested that riders use a gearing ratio of 3925 for steep grades. Low gearing is usually 39×21 or 23 on a roadbike. Last year’s winner Mark McCormack, and Todd Wells, a mountain biker, rode away from their respective fields at 1STTThirty minutes. They kept their feet on the gas until they were ahead by a good one minute. It was a matter of survival or death when it came to the finish line. Both riders were in time for Stage 3. The winner of the Tour of Connecticut would be determined by who crossed the finish line first. Mark won the sprint to win it once again. Todd was the last to finish.
OTHER MTBERSGeoff Kabush placed 15th
FINAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1STBy winning Stage 3 Mark McCormack received the 4th time bonus. This was in addition to beating Todd Wells. You can see that Marks and Todds raced 242.3 miles, with 12,281.9m of climbing at an average speed 40 km/h. Mark rides for Colavita Olive oil-Sutter Home.
OTHER MTBERSGeoff Kabush placed 14th overall in Toulouse 19th.
SPRINT & KOM POINTS ALL OVER
Kabush accounted for both these categories. With 5 points, he placed third in Sprint GC. Sebastian Alexandre, Argentina rider from Colavita Olive Oil – Sutter Home won this point category with 15 points. Mountain GC Kabush came in second place with 25 points. Bryan Smith, a member of the TIAA/CREF team, won with 30 points.
