Team Mountain Khakis

Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium

cyclemk — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 22:12:15 +0000

Coming off his win the previous night, Mark was highly motivated and ready for the big event. The teams strategy was ideally to have Mark get into small breakaway and save Isaac for any potential field sprints. Going into the race Isaac was only 26 points behind Clayton Barrows in the USA Crits series and making sure Isaac was fresh at the end would ensure he had a shot at the podium and a chance to take back the lead in the Series. On the 11th of 40 laps the evening’s first threatening breakaway formed comprised of 12 riders and pr plan Hekman was there. With representatives of all the powerhouse squads up the road, a concerted chase effort was slow to develop which enabled the 12-man break to reach its maximum advantage of 52 seconds six laps later. A $1,000 prime inspired attacks within the break for the race’s largest lap prize. Daniel Holloway claimed the cash at the conclusion of the 24th lap and drew out six members of the escape and once again Hekman was there. Mark was willing to commit a lot of energy to these efforts because having him in a small breakaway was one of our best paths to the podium. The peloton was not so willing to let this group get too much freedom and a chase from behind ensued. You could see Mark driving this group as others sat on as passengers. As the peloton began to fracture under the intense chase a 22 rider split developed containing the original 7 and now a slightly fading Hekman. At six laps to go the escape held a 36 second lead over the peloton and the winner was destined to come from this large group. Mark took a position at the back and tried to conserve as much energy as possible for the final kick. Bissell Pro Cycling came to the front and led through the final four corners and back onto the finish but Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia) timed his surge to perfection. Mark gave it everything and for the 3rd year ensure the team had a spot in the top 10. 23 seconds behind the sprint for the win a small subplot ensued. Isaac began his sprint for the line in an effort to gain back valuable points in the USA Crits Series. Isaac took 3rd in the field sprint and hope that currently leader Barrows was not close behind. Another few seconds and there was another sprint occurring with Joey and Guttenplan sprinting Barrows to the line for 30th place. It was a very smart play by the young riders and one that could have put Isaac back in the leader’s jersey. It took several minutes to calculate but Barrows remained atop the standings by just 4 points! With only 2 races left in the Series it will be an exciting race to the end.

All Photos Credit Weldon Weaver.

Crossroads Cycling Classic

cyclemk — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:23:49 +0000

The Crossroads Classic is a 5 race series in the week leading up to the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium. Each race course is fast, technical, and serves as good opening for the race on Saturday evening. The series started off on great foot when Isaac and Neil went 1-2 in the Downtown Mocksville Criterium. The next night in the Cabarrus Creamery Criterium the team rode smart and aggressive but Isaac saw misfortune come when he was taken out with only one lap remaining. On Wednesday on a rainy an cold night at the Downtown Salisbury Criterium Will Hoffarth finally wrested the Sprints leader jersey from former team rider Logan Loader. Mark and Adam came out Friday in Statesville to stretch their legs and Mark really showed his form by holding off the field for the victory with Adam taking 5th. On Saturday Morning Thomas took another podium spot with his second place in a very close sprint finish while Will secured the overall lead in the Sprint leaders competition.

Once again the Giordana Crossroads Cycling Classic proved to be an exciting, well organized, and fun set of races. In the end the team won 2 of the 5 races and the overall in the Sprints competition.

Isaac Lends a Helping Hand

cyclemk — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:58:31 +0000

With an off week before Elk Grove started Isaac ventured to Blacksburg VA for a 3 day omnium in hopes of staying sharp for the bigger races still out there. We do not typically make a big deal about the smaller races. In summary, Isaac won the criterium, got 4th in the Time trial and was 3rd in the overall. But there was more to Isaac’s weekend than just his performance.

On the last lap of the road race as attacks were happening and as the decisive move was about to be launched there was an incident in the field and two riders bumped which sent a third rider crashing to his left and he slid off the road. Unfortunately for him, there was no shoulder, just a sheer, 40 -50 foot drop to what looked like a dry creek bed. Isaac quickly stopped, dismounted, and without hesitation managed to catch the fallen rider by the ankle. This was all that prevented the rider from falling. He secured the rider and waited as the motorcycle officials came onto the scene and then proceeded to catch back up to the field. Of course when he did, the winning move was gone.

Most people at the race did not even realize that these events had occurred. Isaac surely did not make a big deal about it and it was only in the following days that the gravity of what could have happened made itself evident. The conclusion of all those that did see it was that Isaac truly did save that rider’s life.

Sometimes as bike racers and a bike racing team we forget why we are there and what we are doing it for. We are glad Isaac did not. Like the many who learned of this and have given thanks to Isaac we too can only give him our sincere respect and appreciation. He acted quickly, with purpose, and placed the needs of others above his own. Wow!

This is why we do this and why we hope to continue to. Isaac could and probably will win lots of bike races, but we would never be as proud of him as we were after learning the details of that weekend.

THANK YOU!

Isaac Howe

Capital Criterium

cyclemk — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:07:32 +0000

The professional men’s field was treated to a challenging 1.3-kilometer circuit that included seven corners with the start-finish line located on the famed Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC. The race had some stellar backdrops and many points of interest but the guys did not have much of a chance to enjoy them.

After an aggressive race, a breakaway containing six riders snapped off the front with six-laps to go and included both Jackie Simes and Booby Lea. Lea attacked over the circuit’s short hill with three laps to go and Simes was the only one able to follow. The pair maintained a slim 10-second margin ahead of the field for the remaining two laps. Isaac was held in position by the team and was once again up there with some of the fastest men in the country earning a well deserved 6th. Mark and Thomas held onto places in the top 15 after protecting Isaac on the run into the finish.

Although Isaac was not able to overtake Clayton Barrows for the overall USACrits series lead he did make a dent into the points difference and made a statement that he was not intending to just let the jersey go without a fight.

A sincere congratulations to CapCrit winner and former team Mountain Khakis team member Jackie Simes on a great and well deserved victory.

1 Jackie Simes (USA) Jamis Sutter Home 1:47:05

2 Bobby Lea (USA) Start Cycling-Bahati Composite- 0:00:01

3 Frank Travieso (USA) Jamis Sutter Home 0:00:05

4 Yosvany Falcon (USA) Start Cycling-Bahati Composite-

5 Anibal Borrajo (Arg) Jamis Sutter Home

6 Isaac Howe (USA) Mountain Khakis

7 Mauricio Frazer (Arg) Start Cycling-Bahati Composite-

8 Scott Zwizanski (USA) Kelley Benefits Strategies

9 Nick Bennette (USA) Metlife P/B Grosolar 0:00:06

10 Diego Garavito (Col) Aerocat

14 Mark Hekman (USA) Mountain Khakis

15 Thomas Brown (USA) Mountain Khakis