Jittery Joes U25 p/b Kudzu.com Cycling Team: Season in review (Tour of Atlanta)

After we finished up Speed Week, we took a much needed rest week to prepare for the upcoming Tour of Atlanta, part of the Georgia Cup. New to the racing calendar this year, the Tour of Atlanta promised to deliver exciting stage racing to metro-Atlanta, something which was desperately needed. The race started in Buford, Ga with an opening 7 mile time trial which was an out and back course which was mostly flat. Joey lead the team with a 4th place, followed by Jafer in 11th, Oscar in 21st and Thomas in 22nd. We may have been absent from the podium for stage 1 but we were steadfast on making sure we would control the rest of the race.

Stage 1: Time Trial
First: Zach Lake
Second: Ben Gabardi @ 6 secs
Third: Bob Baxley @ 23 seconds
Fourth: Joey Rosskopf @ 24 seconds

Stage 2 followed later that evening with 800 meter street sprints also in Buford. Ten riders were randomly chosen on the line with only the top 3 advancing to the next round. In the first round Thomas got 1st, Joey got 1st, Oscar got 2nd, and Jafer got 3rd (all in different heats). In round two, Joey, Jafer, and Oscar got 2nd, and Thomas was 3rd assuring we all made it to the final round. Oscar decided that he would attack off of the line which would give the rest of us a free ride. Oscar held his gap to the line even though he had a slight mechanical at the start when his chain skipped. Thomas took third, which was a good sign of things to come.

Stage 2: Street Sprints
First: Oscar Clark
Second: Whit Clifford
Third: Thomas Brown

Friday's course was a 0.9 mile circuit race at John's Creek and was 45 minutes plus 3 laps. It was a fast course that favored a break. Minutes before we were called to the line we were greeted with a heavy downpour and wind which instantly dropped the temperature 20 degrees. As we sat shivering on the line the only thought running through our heads was that we have to use our Speed Week experience to our advantage and attack on every lap. Oscar bolted off the line, showing what makes him such a good cyclo-cross racer. The team wasted no time as Joey countered his attack when he got caught then Jafer went followed by Thomas. Within the first 10 laps we had split the race apart and now there were multiple groups off the back as the peleton dwindled. About 30 minutes into the race Robb Phillip of Team Athens attacked on the backside of the course and no one marked his move. Jafer who was riding at the front did not think it was a serious move but a few laps later Robb still had a ten second advantage so Jafer bridged up to his wheel. Together they maintained the break as the field desperately tried to reel them in. Robb pulled for the majority of the lap as Jafer sat on knowing that Thomas would be waiting to take the field sprint if they were caught. On the last lap Robb attacked with three turns to go but Jafer just sat on his wheel until he went sprinting by with 250 meters to go to take the win. Thomas easily won the field sprint to take third, with Joey in 5th, and Oscar in 11th.

Stage 3: John's Creek Circuit Race
First: Jafer Beizer
Second: Robb Phillip
Third: Thomas Brown

Stages four and five took place in Monroe, GA a small country town not far from Athens and close to Jafer's house. Luckily, Thomas, Oscar, and Jafer knew the area since they trained in that area years ago. Stage four was supposed to be a ten mile team time trial but we found out during the race that it was more like 13 miles. We were allowed to form composite teams so the Fulton Flyers junior riders, Nick Savadelis and Micheal Stone, rode the time trial with us. The time trial went as we planned, as we crossed the finish line we were totally blown from the effort and posted the fastest time in the 2/3 field by 38 seconds!

Stage 4: Team Time Trial
First: Kudzu.com U23 Team
Second: Lake Training.com
Third: Cannondale / Allset

Once again as we took the line for the road race storm clouds were moving in as the wind was picking up. As we neared the first KOM of the day the attacks started as everybody wanted the time bonuses that went 3 places deep. The team had strict orders to prevent anyone on GC from getting the bonuses and everyone delivered with Joey, Oscar, and Jafer all netting time. About twenty minutes into the 70 mile race strong side winds accompanied with heavy rain splintered the peleton as we rode across railroad tracks. As the race went single file someone clipped wheels and fell causing the pack to split even more. The rain was intermittent for the next half hour and then it finally dissipated to clear blue skies. On the final lap Oscar marked a move that went up the road going clear of the field with only one other rider to make it across after him. He eventually dropped one of the riders but his lead remained steady at about 15 seconds. His move put a lot of pressure on Lake Training.com the next team up on GC and they expended themselves one by one until his move was finally brought back with about 15 miles to go. Shortly after Jafer countered on a slight roller catching the peleton off guard and immediately opened up a gap of ten seconds. Luckily, two other riders bridged up to him and they hovered in front of the peleton for the next 15 miles. The break earned a maximum lead of about 20 seconds but around 5k the gap dwindled down to 5 seconds. Jafer looked back and almost pulled the brakes to drift back to the peleton but he changed his mind and decided to give it one last try. To his amazement the peleton hesitated and the break regained its lead and narrowly held off to the finish with only 6 seconds to spare. Once again, Thomas swept the field sprint for fourth with Jafer taking the win.

Stage 5: Monroe Road Race
First: Jafer Beizer
Second: Chris Perham
Third: Colby Millen
Fourth: Thomas Brown

Sunday saw us head back north to Gainseville, the same crit course that we raced earlier this year. We knew that we didn't have to be the animator in today's race as we had already taken 1-4 in the GC, so we anticipated nonstop attacks from the other riders. The race started off fast with Zach Lake of Laketraining.com, attacking repeatedly trying to establish a break with other riders, but the team rode a smart race and kept everything together. Midway through the race Joey took himself out when his chain skipped sending him sprawling on the ground but he immediately jumped back in the race after taking a free lap in the pit. Everyone took turns pulling moves back or marking moves that had the potential to stick. In the last few laps Joey was in a small break that had a few seconds on the field but was caught meters from the line by a chasing Locos rider. However, it was nothing that Thomas couldn't handle coming around Whit Clifford to take the win as Joey held on for third.

Stage 6: Gainesville Crit
First: Thomas Brown
Second: Whit Clifford
Third: Joey Rosskopf

The final race took place on Memorial Day in downtown Buford on a super fast course that suited Thomas well. Like yesterday, we weren't planning on attacking but instead wanted to mark any dangerous moves. Zach Lake again tried lap after lap to establish a break but we all took turns chasing his moves down. The team once again did an amazing job of controlling the race, not allowing anyone to get up the road without us. Joey once again tried for a break but was caught in the final couple of laps. Thomas was once again was the go to guy as it was going to end in a field sprint. Jafer lead him out with all he could on the back straight and into the final turn Thomas launched his attack like a jet igniting its burners. He easily won the field sprint by a few bike lengths to close a spectacular Tour of Atlanta for the team.