This past weekend brought the team's second win in as
many weeks as Dylan Cipkowski broke away with one lap to go in a repeat solo
win! This past week highlighted the unity of the team as HD Coaching's training,
team strategy, and equipment all helped to orchestrate success.
The team lined up Saturday with several of the region's
teams to contest a great event in Charleston, SC in the I'ON Village in Mt.
Pleasant. The team looked forward to representing Earth Fare in this event as
they have a location only 8 miles from the race course! We passed out Earth Fare
coupons before the race and planned on not only winning, but getting the team
name announced as much as possible. The plan was to have Matt D, Dylan, and
myself attack and counter attack and have Evan W. and Matt G. sit in the field
and wait for the sprint. We lined up for a 55 minute race on a tight course that
started with a chicane, leading into a long right hand sweeping turn into
another 90 degree right hander. This led to the backside of the course that was
up and over a small bridge before heading through a tight right hand cobble
stone turn into the last straight-away before the final turn into the finishing
straight. The tight course meant that it was fairly easy to control from the
front, but the race stayed strung out as riders battled for position through the
wide straights before hitting the tight turns. This was complicated by a light
rain that fell on and off during the race. Combined with temperatures in the
80s, it felt like a sauna to those of us that live in the
mountains!
As we waited for the start, we let a little air out of
our Specialized tires to better grip the wet turns. After the gun went off the
team started off right away with attacks as myself and another rider went up the
road on the second lap. Matt D. and Dylan counter attacked until finally Dylan
got away with another rider. This made it easy for the team as we were able to
"follow wheels" as riders tried to bridge up to the leading duo. As Dylan grew
his gap up front, a crash in the field behind took out Matt Dinsmore and he
headed to the pit for a front wheel change. Fortunately I9 provided spare wheels
for the event and Matt was able to swap out his wheel in the pit and hop back in
the field. Unfortunately a staunch headwind made it tough for Dylan and his
compatriot as Dylan ended up battling the wind by himself with about 15 laps to
go. He decided that it would be silly to stay out there by himself and dropped
back to the pack to recover for a few laps. I took an opportunity for a prime
(mid-race prize) with 10 laps to go as riders sprinted for the next 2 laps as
the promoters handed out prizes. Dylan decided that the strung out field had
enough and took off for the second time of the day, getting a solid gap and
taking a rider from Bitter Dose Racing with him. Their gap grew to 30 seconds as
Matt and I covered moves behind. Matt decided that he would hit the front with 2
laps to go and he and I would lead out Evan for the sprint to the finish (behind
Dylan of course!). However it was touch and go during the final 3 laps as the
gap shrunk to about 10 seconds. Matt and I had front-row seats as Dylan attacked
with about 1 km to go, dropping his partner, and Matt drilled it on the front,
lining it out through the turns and making sure that no one would be able to get
near the front in the sprint for second. We came through the 3rd turn, but I
hesitated for just a second, and Charlie Brown (real name, and a local
power-house) jumped around me before the final turn. I tried to close the gap
between him and another rider but had to settle for 4th and a front row seat to
see Dylan take his second win in a week! Evan rounded out the results with 14th
and the team was able to show off a local sponsor yet again!
Sunday's results were almost as good, as the team scored
2nd (with Dylan in the winning breakaway) and Evan Wynn winning the filed
sprint! Check out the race report, photos and more on our website and facebook
pages:
A big thanks to all our sponsors: Earth Fare, Industry Nine, Specialized provide by Cycle
Sport Concepts, Highland Brewing, Blue Sky M.D., DNA, Defeet, HD Coaching, PEAK
10, Omnium Bodyworks, and Carbo Rocket
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