Press Release 07.04.2005
The Reston Town Center Grand Prix - Reston, VA
by Tom Houff
Any success Richmond bicycle racers had at the Reston Town Center Grand Prix, last Sunday, will be overshadowed by Gov. Mark Warner’s crash at the Bike Virginia event in Rockbridge County.
Gov. Warner, an avid cyclist and a presidential hopeful for 2008, broke two bones in his right hand according to The Roanoke Times. In the article, a governor’s spokesman said Warner was taking a drink from his water bottle with his right hand when he squeezed the front brakes too hard with his left hand, causing him to flip over the handlebars as he crossed railroad tracks.
Obviously, the reporter wasn’t a cyclist since there’s no word on the amount of damage to the bike. Also, since Warner’s a Democratic governor in the historically conservative Virginia, there’s no word on which way he was leaning when he crashed. It’s nice to have a cyclist in a high office, just don’t get on his wheel.
The highlight of the day for Richmond cyclists racing in Reston was when Richmond Ciclismo’s Jon Gaudio placed second in the 60 minute category 3 / 4 race.
Caption: Beginning 75 minutes of misery, Reston Town Center Grand Prix starts its premier race, the pro, 1, 2, and 3 race. (photo courtesy of Richmondciclismo.com)
The course made all the races tough. It wound its way up a hill, through the shops. The pack would be forced to thin as it raced back down the hill in a fast right turn, left turn and another left turn before starting the climb to the start / finish line.
“Gaudio was the iron man,” said Ciclismo’s Matt Marchal. Of the seven Ciclismo riders who started the race only Gaudio, Matt Kleiman and Tony Hall finished. Kleiman finished fourth.
“I remember when we crossed the announcer’s stand and I heard 51 minutes to go,” Kleiman said. “I thought, ’51 more minutes of this!’”
“The heat was a major factor along with being able to handle your bike,” Gaudio said. “The key was to stay near the front and out of trouble. Tony Hall put in some great efforts to close down moves and he also got in a small breakaway for several laps. The final laps were fast as we chased down a couple of guys off the front.”
Gaudio jockeyed to a great position for the sprint, when a rider in front of him scraped his pedal as they hammered through the last corner. Gaudio missed the win by just inches.
“I have been able to place myself well, near the end of races this year,” Gaudio added. Advice from Ciclismo’s Terry Ashby has come in handy for the sprints Gaudio said.
Mark Saunders, Jr. placed second overall in the combined junior category in the other highlight of the day’s racing. He lost to Charlottesville’s Ben King, who’s becoming a rival.
“Rematch at Noel Wick Grand Prix,” said Mark’s dad, Mark Saunders, Sr. He joked how the two racers have raced four times. “The score is even 2 -2.”
Saunders said he is happy with his second place effort but added he wished he hadn’t made the mistake of letting King breakaway during the race.
In the premier race, the category pro, 1, 2 and 3, Ciclismo’s Andrew Olson placed ninth.
In the men’s 50+ race, Team CSK / Central Virginia Cycling Club’s Dennis Rainear placed third.
Noel Wick Grand Prix will be July 9 in Virginia’s Hampton Roads.
This article is presented by Richmondciclismo.com
