The weekend started well for the Mountain Khakis squad at the second annual Tour of the Valley. Joey earned the inaugural Tour of the Valley’s yellow jersey last year and he came out roaring in the opening 9.6 mile time trial on Friday. The torrential rain in the area eased up a lot by the time the Pro,1,2’s started the 9.6 mile test but it was still a wet and windy affair. In the end the team had a near podium sweep with Joey in 1st, Matt in 2nd, and Oscar in 4th. Of his winning time, Rosskopf said: “I was surprised and I think everyone on my team was surprised that I went that fast. I felt really good about it.” To be honest, we were not that surprised.
Saturday was a hilly 75 mile road race. The guys felt good about their overall positions but this road race was going to be the deciding factor in this stage race and with a field containing such notables as multi-time National Champion Paul Martin (Panther Racing) they could take nothing for granted. The race starts quickly and hits the first hill at about 7 miles out. The guys drove it up the hill dropping a few riders but the main field remained in tack. The second major hill (the KOM climb) the guys drove it and the field got a lot smaller. This is a very tough course and as the field went around for a second lap the continuous rolling terrain began to take a bigger toll on the field. In the end a select group of riders mades it way into downtown for 10 one mile finishing loops. With plenty of attacks to cover the guys rode smart but let Kirk Albers of Panther Racing slip away in the final meters for the victory. Cooke stressed that he and Rosskopf and their Mountain Khakis teammates were in control of the race, especially in the finishing loops. “We weren’t worried at all. We didn’t get the win though, which is disappointing.” In the end, Matt took 2nd, Joey came across a gap to finish 3rd and Oscar was 7th. What no one realized is that the team was now 1, 2, and 3 in the overall standings.
The final day was a 90 minute criterium in downtown Youngstown. The goal was to try and get the stage victory and to hold on to 1, 2, 3 overall. A very tough assignment. In the end, Paul Martin was a little too strong in the mid-race sprints which enabled him to overtake Oscar in the final standings. Joey did however secure the stage victory for the team by winning a tight field sprint ahead of Chris Gruber and Paul Martin.
1st, 2nd, and 4th overall and 2 stage victories is a fantastic result.
The second running of the Tour of the Valley was just as well run and organized as the first. It is a first class race with tremendous courses and support of the community. It was an honor for the team to be in attendance and defend Joey’s victory. We hope to be there and be welcomed back in 2011!
The weekend started well for the Mountain Khakis squad at the second annual Tour of the Valley. Joey earned the inaugural Tour of the Valley’s yellow jersey last year and he came out roaring in the opening 9.6 mile time trial on Friday. The torrential rain in the area eased up a lot by the time the Pro,1,2’s started the 9.6 mile test but it was still a wet and windy affair. In the end the team had a near podium sweep with Joey in 1st, Matt in 2nd, and Oscar in 4th. Of his winning time, Rosskopf said: “I was surprised and I think everyone on my team was surprised that I went that fast. I felt really good about it.” To be honest, we were not that surprised.
Saturday was a hilly 75 mile road race. The guys felt good about their overall positions but this road race was going to be the deciding factor in this stage race and with a field containing such notables as multi-time National Champion Paul Martin (Panther Racing) they could take nothing for granted. The race starts quickly and hits the first hill at about 7 miles out. The guys drove it up the hill dropping a few riders but the main field remained in tack. The second major hill (the KOM climb) the guys drove it and the field got a lot smaller. This is a very tough course and as the field went around for a second lap the continuous rolling terrain began to take a bigger toll on the field. In the end a select group of riders mades it way into downtown for 10 one mile finishing loops. With plenty of attacks to cover the guys rode smart but let Kirk Albers of Panther Racing slip away in the final meters for the victory. Cooke stressed that he and Rosskopf and their Mountain Khakis teammates were in control of the race, especially in the finishing loops. “We weren’t worried at all. We didn’t get the win though, which is disappointing.” In the end, Matt took 2nd, Joey came across a gap to finish 3rd and Oscar was 7th. What no one realized is that the team was now 1, 2, and 3 in the overall standings.
The final day was a 90 minute criterium in downtown Youngstown. The goal was to try and get the stage victory and to hold on to 1, 2, 3 overall. A very tough assignment. In the end, Paul Martin was a little too strong in the mid-race sprints which enabled him to overtake Oscar in the final standings. Joey did however secure the stage victory for the team by winning a tight field sprint ahead of Chris Gruber and Paul Martin.
1st, 2nd, and 4th overall and 2 stage victories is a fantastic result.
The second running of the Tour of the Valley was just as well run and organized as the first. It is a first class race with tremendous courses and support of the community. It was an honor for the team to be in attendance and defend Joey’s victory. We hope to be there and be welcomed back in 2011!
