Team Raleigh’s plans for an American racing sorte became a reality recently as the team flew out to compete in the Boise Twilight Criterium and the Cascade Stage Race.
The team was Cherie Pridham DS, mechanic Pete Mooney, soigneur Andrew Hilman and riders Liam Holohan, Richard Handley, Gael Le Bellec, Dan Fleeman, Matt Cronshaw, Canadian Jamie Sparling and home rider and resident expert for the trip Phil Mooney.
On Wednesday 13th July the team flew from Heathrow to Minneapolis and then on to Boise, Idaho with humid temperatures greeting them on their arrival at midnight. The following morning the team were greeted by Dean Wilikie a lifetime Raleigh fan who transferred the riders to host housing which is the way its run in the US, the riders then had a leg stretch ride up the beautiful Bogus Basin a long climb that took about an hour loved by the climbers endured by those not so good at climbing.
Saturday 16th was Team Raleigh’s first taste of American Criterium style racing at the Boise Twilight. With 75 minutes and 5 laps of a wide road course and 4 big sweeping corners this was going to be fast. With the team made up of stage race riders the strategy was to put everyone behind Matt Cronshaw and Liam Holohan.
The Crit was fast and the strategy as in the UK was to attack, and Team Raleigh jerseys were always present but nothing stuck until Matt and Liam hit the main break of the day with a gap of 37sec this looked good but as the finish neared the big American teams closed it down to set up their sprinters. A crash bulked Matt’s near perfect position and he was out of contention, Liam pushed his lightweight 53kg to the front for an eventual 11th place, LeBellec 21st and Mooney 32nd. Links; Boise Twilight Crit: www.boisetwilightcriterium.com
Now it was time to pack up and drive 7 hours to Bend, Oregon for the BMC Cascade Classic the one we had come here for.
Prologue – a 2 mile prologue time trial.
Mooney was our first rider off with Fleeman last man for Team Raleigh with the others spread throughout the field. Our man for the TT was Jamie Sparling a prolific time trialist up in the top 10 at the intermediate checks Jamie was pushing it to the limit but overshot a corner and crashed heavily limping home at the end of the field after 4 hours in A&E he was set for stage 1.
Prologue results; http://www.cascade-classic.org/results/pro_nrc/prologue/Stg00r00Rpt01RacerStg.pdf
Stage 1 – Big Springs Snow Park to Three Creeks Snow Park 74 miles.
After a disastrous prologue Team Raleigh were on the back foot and hoping our luck would change but a massive crash 17 miles into the race took down 30+ riders sadly Matt Cronshaw came down heavy and broke his wrist he finished the stage, but clearly in pain and after another stint in A&A he didn’t start the next day. Dan set himself up nicely with a storming ride to stay in contention with the climbers finishing 12th all the lads rode very well with the team lying 5th on the team GC.
Stage 1 results; http://www.cascade-classic.org/results/pro_nrc/stage1/men/Stg01r01Rpt01RacerStg.pdf
Stage 2 – 14 mile individual time trial
Moral was low and with Sparling our top time trial rider sidelined and limping through the stage focus was on Fleeman to try and consolidate his overall position not a noted rider against the clock and with the course being basically a long drag a dead turn and a descent all the way back to the finish, Dan gave best but dropped places overall.
Stage 2 results; http://www.cascade-classic.org/results/pro_nrc/stage2/men/Stg02r00Rpt01RacerStg.pdf
Stage 3 – Cascade Lakes 84 miles
A trouble free stage for Team Raleigh and a very fine 6th place for Dan Fleeman who proved his form riding with the top climbers into the finish. Richard Handley also did a great ride by getting into a dangerous breakaway with 10km to go this was chased down and caught with 4km to go, but Handley had enough in reserve to finish 22nd on the stage. With the stage average speed of 27.34mph our riders packed well to move us back up to 5th on team GC.
Stage 3 results; http://www.cascade-classic.org/results/pro_nrc/stage3/men/Stg03r01Rpt01RacerStg.pdf
Stage 4 – Down Town Bend Criterium 39.58miles
The objective was to keep Fleeman out of trouble and try to get some of the guys involved in the moves, Handley got clear early on in the race taking the first prime of the night but just as Boise it was down to a big gallop for the line and an average stage speed of 31.24mph.
Stage 4 results; http://www.cascade-classic.org/results/pro_nrc/stage4/men/Stg04r00Rpt01RacerStg.pdf
Stage 5 – Awbrey Butte Circuit 83miles
The final stage after an arduous race for the team the objective was to get some guys into moves but protect Dan as best we could, with another stage run off at 27.57mph he came home inside the top 40 for an eventual 20th overall 4mins 22 down on the winner Francisco Mancebo.
Stage 5 results; http://www.cascade-classic.org/results/pro_nrc/stage5/men/Stg05r00Rpt01RacerStg.pdf
Full results; http://www.cascade-classic.org/2011-pro-nrc-results/
After a good result in Canada we had high expectations for this trip but with untimely crashes wasting our efforts and affecting moral the team gathered themselves and showed their true team spirit, we will be back stronger next year without a doubt said Cherie Pridham Team Manager
Team Raleigh News 