Coleman in green
Sean Coleman had a few days to spare before transferring from his unit at Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater Florida to Coast Guard Air Station Miami. Hailing from Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, Sean decided to take a few days, visit family in the Northeast with his wife and son, and maybe get some racing in at the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic. Racing in the masters category, Coleman was looking to have some fun and get some miles in his legs out from under the Florida sun. What he didn't count on was the injection of speed the Florida race season had put in his legs. Sean raced into the green points jersey on the first stage and never looked back. Defending the jersey after stage two, Coleman faced a tough decision. Knowing he faced significant work challenges as he transferred to Miami, he eleccted to abandon prior to stage three to help his family adjust to the transition. Sean is entering his 24th year in the Coast Guard and knowing the sacrifices his family makes year in-year out, giving up the jersey was a small price to pay for their benefit. "Of course it's hard, it's always hard to leave a race, but when the Coast Guard says "Go", it's not just the Sailor that has to salute and do their duty, the family has to be onboard as well. This was the the right thing to do for my family." Next year...
Zach Represents the us military at nature valley
Zach Garrett earned a spot on the nature Valley Pro Ride team for 2010. The program is designed to give elite amateur racers the opportunity to compete against the best pros in the country at the Nation's preeminnent stage race. No, Zach didn't win or podium, but he garnered a lot of respect from his teammates and pros by the end of the week. "There's a good bit to learn in a week like Nature Valley", Garrett relayed after the racing was over, "I'm happy to take what I've learned and see where my cycling and military careers will take me over the next few years."
Zach is a great example of the challenges military riders face, having been transferred to Osan Airbase, Republic of Korea two weeks after Nature Valley. Zach will be blogging his experiences from Korea in the "Ask the Team" section.
Dan Cassidy Wins Fredericksburg Road Race
US Military rider Dan Cassidy decided he was not in the mood to wait around for the competition. After crashing out out early of the Hills of Somerset County Road Race last week in New Jersey, Dan decided his stitches and sore spots wouldn't stop his prep for the Elite National Championships later this month in Bend Oregon. From the end of the neutral section, Dan attacked the field and didn't relent until he and his two breakaway companions had a 10:00 gap on the peleton. Finally, with such a huge advantage on the field, Dan attacked and dropped his companions, solo'ing to the finish for the second win of his 2010 season. Stitches are due out next week so don't tell any of the Texas competition he was suffering all 80 miles he was "off the front." Dan is finishing his clinical psychology residency next week at Lackland AFB and plans to remain in San Antonio for his next assignment.
Kelly Cup / Base Camp Int'l / Tour of Somerville Results
Photo: Todd Leister
The US Military team made a great impression on race fans, promoters, and the other teams in the peleton racing strong in New Jersey in May. Starting at the Base Camp International, the team had a steep learning curve culminating in the Tour of Somerville on Memorial Day. Chuck Hutcheson led the team with top results through the midweek, and almost had a career best result at Somerville. Had it not been for a finish line pileup, Chuck's fitness would have been rewarded with a podium. Jacob Brewer and Sean Coleman had great rides at the Bound Brook Criterium and Somerville and team workhouse Andy Chocha did a lot of work setting up teammates.
East Coast Racing Action at its Finest
The team is assembled in Maryland and New Jersey this week, racing some of the oldest and fastest races in the US. Starting last weekend at the Kelly Cup / Bike Jam, the team will square off against top pro teams Bahati Foundation, Team Type 1, Jamis Sutter Home, Kelly Benefits Strategies, Mountain Khackis, Kenda Geargrinder, and United Healthcare. Although duty commitments will keep riders Ian Holt, Trevor Johnson, and George Ganoung from attending, Jacob, Dan, Sean, Andy, Zach, Chuck, and Ryan are racing together for the first time as a squad. Wednesday 26 May in Basking Ridge NJ is the Base Camp International Criterium and the legendary Tour of Somerville will round out the week 29-31 May.
For the fast technical criterium, circuit, and road races the team will tackle over the week, the team will employ the super stiff and light American Classic Carbon 38s and 58s and Challenge Criterium Tubulars.
Hutcheson wins and McFeely Nets another Podium
US Military Cycling’s own “Spartacus” Chuck Hutcheson bridged to, and eventually shattered a 9 man break to win the Fort Ritchie Criterium Saturday in Maryland. In windy conditions, the break held the field back at about 30 seconds gap for most of the day as the tempo and conditions eventually whittled the break to five then three. With two laps to go, the three remaining riders, Joe Dombroski (winner of the Jeff Cup), Russ Langley (former RiteAid Professional), and Chuck began to trade blows. Dombroski was the first to attack, with Langley countering just before the final turn. Chuck covered both, then blew by Langley to win by half a bike length. Power, power, power.
File Photo
Meanwhile in San Antonio, Trevor Johnson and Ryan McFeely were pounding on Texas riders at the University Oaks Criterium on Sunday. Trading attacks right from the gun, Trevor and Ryan initiated split after split until finally the field cracked with Ryan in a move that the peleton would never catch. McFeely’s group stayed away for nearly an hour staying together until the final turn when one rider jumped early and Ryan grabbed his wheel. Unable to come around, but dropping the others, Ryan rolled in for 2nd. A great effort and result for Ryan as his schedule in the last few weeks has been busy finishing US Navy Flight School. Thanks FRS for helping combat the stress of work, training, and racing.
Hutcheson does it again
US Military Rider Chuck Hutcheson rolled up another podium over the weekend, crossing the line second in the Michael Murad Memorial Road Race in Poolesville Maryland Saturday, and setting up a teammate for the win the following day. Chuck splintered the field at the Murad Road Race, continually attacking in the early stages until the field behind cracked. Eventually crossing the line with a local teammate, Chuck gave the younger rider the victory in a show of great sportsmanship. Chuck had been off the front all day, attacking and being caught twice before bridging to what turned out to be the winning move.
Sunday Chuck did it again in the Bunny Hop Criterium, leading out a local teammate for the win. US Military Development team director and Team4Mil rider Jim Weinstein was in the field and commented on Chuck’s strength saying, “there wasn’t anybody in the field that could hang with Chuck, he is just phenomenal.” Humbly, Chuck’s only comments were lavishing praise on his American Classic Carbon 58s, saying he couldn’t believe the difference from his old carbon wheelset.
Corporal Hutcheson is assigned to the 3rd Infantry Battalion (The Old Guard), providing ceremonial support for Arlington National Cemetary.
Website launch
Our great supporters at infront Webworks have done a great job helping us get this page launched. We approached Andy Meng in Colorado Springs because of the numerous design and business awards infront has earned here in the Colorado Front Range area. When we found out Andy was a former naval Aviator, we were sure infront was the firm for us. From layout design, to helping us provide the military community with a user-friendly website for everything "military cycling," Andy and his team have been there with us in locked step. Special thanks to Amanda, Andrew, Joan, and Andy. Visit their online design site at www.infront.com.
Ian Holt 4th in gc at la vuelta de bisbee
US Military Cycling rider Ian Holt turned in an amazing performance over the weekend to finish 4th in General Classification at the La Vuelta De Bisbee Stage Race in southern Arizona. “Bisbee” has become a major race for many pro teams in the past few years due to its proximity on the map and the calendar to the Tour of the Gila which begins the following Wednesday in Silver City, New Mexico. Against riders from the strongest teams in the country including full squads from United Healthcare and Fly V Australia, Holt held his own, aggressively working himself into a 7-man breakaway in stage two that all but eliminated the rest of the field. Eventually putting 11 minutes into the peleton, Ian’s break worked like a well oiled machine until close to the finish where the riders began to work for position on the day’s stage. Solid rides in the opening prologue and stage 3 time trial left Holt only to mark his GC rivals in the final day’s Tombstone RR to secure the outstanding GC result. Read the full story at: http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-vuelta-de-bisbee
Next up, Ian will go toe-to-toe with all the best teams in the country beginning Wednesday at the Tour of the Gila.
Captain Holt is a Minuteman III Missile Crew Commander at FE Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming.
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