Sunday, October 21, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Tria Delivers a One-Two Punch
The 2007 Tour de Cullman got off to a great start. We had 75 riders which included some old faces and alot of new riders. Conditions could not have been better, the temperature in the low 70s with slight head wind heading out which meant a tailwind on the final climb up Skyball and the ride home.
A special addition to the ride were the guys from California, who rolled in right before the start. This created some nice pre ride drama. From what I understand they had their usual pre ride meeting in the late hours the night before (or early). Leading the group was "Country AL" Mittlesdorf, who has won several Tour de Cullman's.
Brett Barker lead the ride out in the mandatory tourist pace for the first 23 miles. This year he tried to keep a more regulated pace which worked out well. It was "Grouppo Compatto" all the way to the now traditional personal relief zone.
From the break the riders headed down towards Chambless Mill, and the wooden bridge where the KOM competition begins. As the better riders worked their way to the front they crossed the wooden bridge and the pace speeded up. The roads around the bridge are one and a half lane with a couple of good climbs and some twists and turns making it very technical.
As the riders exited the Chamblees Mill sections the green flag was dropped and the gauntlet went down. The riders now on the parkway, there was some panic and jockeying for position. They then turned onto the first true climb on Skyball and the selection was made as they entered the Circle of Death.
In the selection was Rucker Agee, Country Al, Jim Brock, Kevin White, Chris Rossi, Randy Crow, Ronny Smith, Tracy Mckay and Philip Thompson. There were other riders right behind and then a horrific wreck happened as some wheels touched sending Ocie Wade to Urgent Care with some nasty road rash.
Once on the steep grade of the first climb Philip Thompson made a move that would prove to be a supreme tactical move. Looks like the Tria boys had a plan and it was working to Philips advantage. Philip never looked back and motored down Skyball road. When he turned onto Joy road aka "The Meat Grinder" he had 1:00 up on the chasing group as he hammered over the series of four climbs. It appeared that organization was going to be difficult in the chasing peleton. When Philip hit the lower section of the final climb his lead had actually grown.
On the four mile accent up to the finish Philip Thompson increased his lead and crested the KOM with no one in sight. On the final climb, Kevin White, Jim Brock, Rucker Agee and Country Al started the lower slopes together. Jim Brock flatted on the steeper sections of the climb which removed him from the podium. Kevin White crested Skyball 1:42 behind Philip with Country Al at 2:42 back.
In the womens KOM Terri Jones won the overall trophy topping Skyball a very strong 5:50 back. Taking the masters trophy was Amy Gravlee who like Jones finished within the top 20 riders overall. In her first Tour de Cullman Beth Santoro was third.
Terri Jones with her Trophy!
A special addition to the ride were the guys from California, who rolled in right before the start. This created some nice pre ride drama. From what I understand they had their usual pre ride meeting in the late hours the night before (or early). Leading the group was "Country AL" Mittlesdorf, who has won several Tour de Cullman's.
Brett Barker lead the ride out in the mandatory tourist pace for the first 23 miles. This year he tried to keep a more regulated pace which worked out well. It was "Grouppo Compatto" all the way to the now traditional personal relief zone.
From the break the riders headed down towards Chambless Mill, and the wooden bridge where the KOM competition begins. As the better riders worked their way to the front they crossed the wooden bridge and the pace speeded up. The roads around the bridge are one and a half lane with a couple of good climbs and some twists and turns making it very technical.
As the riders exited the Chamblees Mill sections the green flag was dropped and the gauntlet went down. The riders now on the parkway, there was some panic and jockeying for position. They then turned onto the first true climb on Skyball and the selection was made as they entered the Circle of Death.
In the selection was Rucker Agee, Country Al, Jim Brock, Kevin White, Chris Rossi, Randy Crow, Ronny Smith, Tracy Mckay and Philip Thompson. There were other riders right behind and then a horrific wreck happened as some wheels touched sending Ocie Wade to Urgent Care with some nasty road rash.
Once on the steep grade of the first climb Philip Thompson made a move that would prove to be a supreme tactical move. Looks like the Tria boys had a plan and it was working to Philips advantage. Philip never looked back and motored down Skyball road. When he turned onto Joy road aka "The Meat Grinder" he had 1:00 up on the chasing group as he hammered over the series of four climbs. It appeared that organization was going to be difficult in the chasing peleton. When Philip hit the lower section of the final climb his lead had actually grown.
On the four mile accent up to the finish Philip Thompson increased his lead and crested the KOM with no one in sight. On the final climb, Kevin White, Jim Brock, Rucker Agee and Country Al started the lower slopes together. Jim Brock flatted on the steeper sections of the climb which removed him from the podium. Kevin White crested Skyball 1:42 behind Philip with Country Al at 2:42 back.
In the womens KOM Terri Jones won the overall trophy topping Skyball a very strong 5:50 back. Taking the masters trophy was Amy Gravlee who like Jones finished within the top 20 riders overall. In her first Tour de Cullman Beth Santoro was third.
Terri Jones with her Trophy!Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Calm before the storm...
A view of the upper section of the final climb. Pay dirt is right around the corner. Whether you are racing for the Trophy or just wanting to finish the ride, the end is near.
There will be a steady stream of bicycle riders crossing the mountain on Saturday. You can see the old telecommunications towers about half way up and once you hear the accordion music you know you are near the summit.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Everybody Wants One of These!
King of the Mountain. The KOM trophy is handcrafted out of a limestone block and has Campagnolo chain rings attached. Usually something like a 54/42 or another massive gear combination to represent the maximum effort to be the first person to the top of Skyball Mountain.
There have been some epic battles especially over the past few years. The 2005 Tour was the closest I can recall with Kevin White out sprinting Xterra World Champion, Casey Fannin. In the 2006 race Jeff Terry dropped a very strong field to take the trophy. Once on the Circle of Death it became a cat and mouse game between Jim Brock, Adam Goldweber, Jeff Terry, David Farabaugh and Jason Donaldson.
The 2006 women's KOM was dominated by Lee Farabaugh. Arguably the best Tour de Cullman field, Lee rode away from the women's division. 2005 women's KOM Elizabeth Fox suffered a mechanical on the Circle of Death, and still finished strong.
Its not all about the overall winners but its becoming quite a feat to be the first person to the top of Skyball.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Training Secrets Revealed
Looks like the California boys have been training hard in preparations for the Tour de Cullman. Papa Beezer and the Brown Wonder have ridden several Tours and Cullman Spring Classics. They definitely win the longest travel award, living in northern California. This also shows some of the networking magic of the Tour. TJ Tucciarone who lives in the Oakland area brought Papa Beezer and Brown Wonder to the Tour a couple of years ago. Now they are in the mix and definitely add a lot to the ride. They are known for their preparations the night before the Tour. Usually Al, TJ, Beezer and Brown Wonder have a prerace strategy meeting in Nashville which lasts well into the morning of the ride.
.............................Papa Beezer and Brown Wonder
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Three Weeks Out!
This past weekend North Carolina uber master Chris Rossi was in town. Bill St. John and Rossi are old friends from their motorcycle racing days. He is riding a new Pinarello Dogma built up with campy record and zipp wheels. On Saturday Bill headed up our ride which was a modified Spring Classic route. Myself, Rossi, Bill and Cayce Cherry rode. We ended up with close to 60 miles and a lot of climbing. With the heat and humidity I think its still summertime.
Sunday's ride was a modified Tour de Cullman route, which of course included the Circle of Death. I think all of our legs were sore from the day before, I was trying to slow the pace down. As we made the first climb which is at least second toughest of the Tour and I know the steepest, Bill was showing some good form and attacked. As we crested the top of the first climb Chris made contact and that's the last I saw of them. Nobody seems to want to hear my excuses but I am struggling this year and after 25 years of riding its okay.
I got some great video footage of Rossi and St. John on the tougher section of the final climb to the top of Skyball Mountain. Rossi made the move somewhere on the lower slopes and put the hammer down. I think anyone in the masters division needs to take note. He has been a perennial top 10 finisher in all the Tour de Cullmans he has ridden in. With the new bike he seems pretty motivated.
Sunday's ride was a modified Tour de Cullman route, which of course included the Circle of Death. I think all of our legs were sore from the day before, I was trying to slow the pace down. As we made the first climb which is at least second toughest of the Tour and I know the steepest, Bill was showing some good form and attacked. As we crested the top of the first climb Chris made contact and that's the last I saw of them. Nobody seems to want to hear my excuses but I am struggling this year and after 25 years of riding its okay.
I got some great video footage of Rossi and St. John on the tougher section of the final climb to the top of Skyball Mountain. Rossi made the move somewhere on the lower slopes and put the hammer down. I think anyone in the masters division needs to take note. He has been a perennial top 10 finisher in all the Tour de Cullmans he has ridden in. With the new bike he seems pretty motivated.
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