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Roanoke Twilight Crit, Roanoke, VA, April 16, 2011
The team's yearly sponsored race. This was a big one, and the team showed up in force. The day started with a huge storm that was one of the worst recorded. Tornadoes, high winds, rain and widespread flooding. There were thoughts that the race would have to be canceled, but the weather cleared and all of events were under clear skies and comfortable temperatures.
The evening began with the 4/5 race with a full field of over 50 participants. Whit Zirkle, Dan Baur, Paul Low, Jason Mogensen, Spencer Holland, Jay Catlett and Chris Syrrist all started the race. Initially, Whit took off and led the race for a while. Dan and Chris came up in a breakaway for a bit, but eventually were pulled back. Then Chris went on a solo breakaway that none of the other competitors could catch. Dan and Paul helped keep the field back, as one by one other team mates were pulled from the race. In the end it was Chris won it with authority and Dan and Paul finished in the top 7. Chris was our only jersey winner of the night, but it was a great show that the crowd remembered.
Next up were the Masters and Just the Right Gear sponsor, Steve Hetherington, donned the stripes for this race. Steve was doing great but was caught up in a crash and had to drop out. Mary Cerkey raced the Women's 1/2/3/4 and was in the lead at one point, but couldn't hold it and finished in the money in 5th place, in her second race as a Cat 3.
Next up, all of the 4's in the 4/5 race, plus Ken Hewett, raced in the 3/4's. Another large field and we mustered a 6-man team. This was a much tougher race and most our riders were pulled from the event. Dan Baur cramped and had to drop out, leaving Paul Low and Chris to finish out of the money, but in the remaining peloton of about 25 riders.
The race finished with a 90-minute Pro/1/2 event. The team fanned out to do some marshaling on the back of the course. The crowd had grown through the evening and it was packed at the Start/Finish line. Afterward, team mebers stuck around to do their duty with cleanup and left around midnight. A successful night for the team and our sponsor, Stratton Delany of Starlight Bikes. Already planning a bigger event for next year.
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