Piedmont Orthopaedic Association Cycling Team is bringing back the summer heat! Join us for a great summer of six big nights of racing in beautiful Upstate SC. In 2011 we’ll once again be racing at the BMW Performance Driving Center. Three races a night with six nights scheduled throughout the summer.

Race Schedule

April 21st
May 26th
June 30th
July 21st
August 25th
September 29th

Registration

Registration opens at 5:00 PM and closes 15 minutes prior to event start time. Pre-register to save time. Online registration is available. Access the standard release forms at USACycling.org.

• Juniors race for free in their USA Cycling category
• Ladies may enter races – USAC rules for men’s categories apply

Registration Fees:

• Each race entry will be $15.00
• Pre-register at http://www.pre-reg.com
• Pre-register for a second race on-line for only $10.00
• Enter the whole series for $80.00

Prizes

CASH PRIZES AND CATEGORY POINTS IN EACH RACE!!
Summer Series races may have smaller payouts, but are loaded with primes!

Overall prizes will be awarded for the series.

Category 4/5
Masters
Category Pro 1/2/3

Nightly Sponsors

Nightly sponsorships are available. Contact Blair LaMarche* for more information.

Directions

BMW Performance Center – 1155 Highway 101 S, Greer 29651

View Larger Map

Notice

Race contact: Blair LaMarche – 864.243.1528 / blair1000s@yahoo.com

Promoter reserves the right to change course or race format.

All USCF Rules and regulations apply. Races held rain or shine. No aero bars. US DOT, ANSI, or other approved helmets required for all races, including warm up and cool down. One-day and annual license applications will be available at registration. Water bottles, banana peels, gel wrappers, etc. may NOT be discarded on the courses or parking lots (relegation or DQ will result). Wheels in / Wheels out, if available.

Master’s 35+
Jae Bowen
Rodney Dender
J. Thomas Smith

Master’s 45+
Hank McCullough

Cat 4
Billy White

Week 1 – BMW

Master’s 35+
J. Thomas Smith
Darin Marhanka
Jae Bowen

Master’s 45+
Hank McCullough
Steve Sperry

Spring Series Week 2 – Fork shoals

Master’s 35+
2. J. Thomas Smith
4. Rodney Dender
6. Darin Marhanka

Master’s 45+
Steve Sperry
10. Hank McCullough

Week 2 – Donaldson Center

Master’s 35+
J. Thomas Smith
Phil Ball
Rodney Dender
Jae Bowen

Master’s 45+
6th Steve Sperry

The first race of the night was the scratch race.  The boys sat on the front all eight laps. Darin, in the right position as always, took the lead out from Eric and Gen for the win with Gen coming in 2nd and Eric 3rd.

Next up was the Miss n’ out.  This is a race that after the neutral lap and three race laps on the fourth race lap the last one across the line is out.  Eric drove it most of the laps with Darin and Gen taking over on the front to take the load off.

The three were not challenged until only four remained. Eric was on the front and coming to the line just wasn’t able to hold off Darin and Gen as well as the other guy on his bamboo track bike.  With the bell lap underway, Darin put the hammer down and stayed away for the win.  Gen just missed coming around bamboo bike guy and settled for 3rd.

Finally came the 50 lap points race.  Moves were attempted from the get go.  Nothing was able to stay away and POA took points in both of the first two sprints.  Darin got away solo mid-way through the race for about 16 laps.  He took 3 sprint wins and lapped the field.

After that Eric took over and won the remaining sprints.  They went 1,2,3 in most of the sprints.  In the end, Darin and Eric were tied at 38 with the win going to Darin for lapping the field. Gen finished up comfortable in 3rd.

There is no surprise for the Omnium with Darin taking the title, Eric 2nd, and Gen 3rd.  Two nights in a row with POA taking everything,  Check back soon for of what’s going with POA Cycling Team

The first race of the night was the Scratch race and Gen showed he is returning to great form with a big win. Gen attacked coming into turn 3 and powered home to the win.

Next up was the Snowball which is a race where each lap you get more points i.e. lap 1 = 1 pt, Lap 2 = 2 pts, Lap 3 = 3 pts all the way to 10 pts on the 10th lap. Darin, coming of an incredible spring campaign and a brutal hand injury sat on the back and did some coaching in all of the races. Eric, in his first A track race and Paul coming back out and getting his feet wet after a long absence from the track took the advice from Darin and ran with it. Eric sat in for the first few laps and then took off on the 4th and never looked back. Chris Emory was able to bridge up to Eric and took a couple laps but in the end Eric takes race number 2 — two races and two wins for POA.

The final race of the night is always the big points race. 50 Laps for the A’s with sprint points available every 5 laps with 5, 3, 2, and 1 points available and double points on the last sprint. Eric didn’t get points in the first 2 sprints but then went on to win the next 8 and take the title by a big margin. He didn’t do it alone as Paul and Gen covered several break attempts to allow Eric to take a breath or two before drilling it to win a sprint — three races, three wins for POA Cycling. With 2 wins and a 3rd in the scratch race Eric took home the Omnium title as well. That’s what you call domination.

As mentioned earlier it was a great show of team work by the guys. Things will only get tougher for the competition on the track as Gen continues to return to form, Eric gets more experience, Paul gets his track legs, and Darin will be back at full strength gearing up for Master’s nationals. We will also see Hank, Reece, and Blair taking to the track in the coming weeks.

Keep the rubber to the “track” and have fun on the bike.

St. Francis Summer Series continues next week Thursday at BMW.

The Master’s cat 4/5 were off first for POA with Billy, Matt and Jonathan riding hard from the gun.  Jonathan was the first to strike when he reeled in a solo break and blew by him for a prime.  He stayed off for a bit but then was back with the Peleton.  Billy and Matt took turns covering moves and it was obvious that 11 days in Belgium and a weeks worth of taper did wonders for Matt’s legs.  Coming into the final couple laps Matt camped out on the front and Billy was sitting 7th wheel.  Matt kept the hammer down coming out of the last and was able to hang on for 4th and Billy came across in 7th.  Nice way to start the weekend.

In the Master’s 1/2/3, Darin, Rodney, Eric, Jae and Paul took to the course and the attacks started immediately.  Eric was first to go and was caught by 1 rider and then Charlie Brown from Carolina Master’s bridged up and it was a solid break.  Then John Patterson of Carolina Master’s went to bridge and Darin covered him and there was powerful break of 8 guys.  All went awry and it came back.

Charlie eased off and was quickly joined by Patterson.  The winning move was made.  Several jumps from various riders tried to go but nothing succeeded until Darin got off with a few guys for a solid chase group.  They didn’t make much of a dent in the lead duo but got good separation from the Peleton.  Coming out of the final turn Darin went for the sprint but his lower back tightened up like a drum and put him right back in the saddle.  He did hang on for 5th.  Just goes to show that even sitting down he is one of the top sprinters.  Nice work guys.

With Sunday came the State Championships.  First race of the day for POA Cycling was the Master’s 35+ race.  We had return and defending state champ Darin along with his fellow podium mates for 2009 Eric and Rodney.  With them were the workhorses of Hank, Jae, Phil, Paul, Mark and John.  Things went bang from the start because everyone knew they had to get away from us for any shot at the win.  We didn’t let that happen.

Darin said before the race the only way for him to repeat was to get in the winning break.  We worked on his back after Saturday’s race with stretching, but he still wasn’t confident in his sprint.  After a couple failed break attempts Darin happened to be the guy covering the right move and he and three others got away.  Darin and company completely disappeared from the peloton building up as much as a 70 second lead.

The POA guys in peloton covered everything that tried to go and of course nothing got away.  As a bonus for the guys, they won every prime as well. Rodney took two primes and Hank and Eric each took one.

Jordan Marhanka stands in for his dad who was racing

With 2 laps to go Darin saw his chance to escape and took it. At the same time Jae took a flyer from the peloton. Darin punched it on the back side and got a nice gap as he came across the line with the bell ringing for the final lap.  Jae came across for the bell lap with nice gap as well.  The 3 behind Darin took up chase but nothing was going to keep him from the state title.  Jae’s attempt came to an end going into turn 4 just before he could make use the strong tailwind.  With the charge to the line Darin was able to hang on by a thread and win back to back state titles.  Way to go Darin and way to go team.

Darin and Hank on the podium for the Masters 45+

In the 45+ race Hank and Darin were back at it and again right after the 35+ race.  After busting tail in the 35+ race and figuring the 45+ would come to a bunch sprint they took their chances just rolling with the field.  Nothing exciting happened until 2 to go when Scott Miner, the SC road race 45+ champ, took off.  Darin and Hank took up chase on the last lap and came close to getting him but not quite.  Darin took 2nd in the state and Hank right behind for 3rd in the state.  Way to go guys with 2 races in a row and getting the job done quite well.

The next race to line was the Pro/1/2.  Rodney, having a 1 race break not doing the 45+ went to the line and then Darin grabbed another bottle and decided he was going to go spin around with Pro/1/2 crowd for a bit.  That would be three races in a row for Darin, WOW.  I had to race over to registration to make sure and get Darin registered to make it official.

Figuring Darin would be out there for a few laps and call it a day we weren’t to worried.  Yeah, that was not the case.  About 5 laps in, the race was not going crazy, so Darin decided to take a flyer. He got off the front with one other guy just for a little show and a nice show it was.  After one lap away they rang the bell for a prime and he dropped the guy he was with and soloed for the prime.

So much for sitting in and taking it easy.  He was brought back to the field a short while later.  He and Rodney sat near the back cruising along and chatting away.  Nice Sunday stroll, at 30 mph.  With 5 laps to go Darin’s back started tightening up so he pulled the plug.  Rodney stayed out there and in the closing laps worked his way up and was able to come home with a respectable 17th place. Good job guys and great showing for POA Cycling.

Jae makes the podium for the Category 3 race

The Cat 3’s were up next with Jae, Mark and Phil coming to the line for their second race of the day.  It was decided before the race that Jae was the man and Mark and Phil turned themselves inside out making sure no breaks got away without Jae in it. Phil was involved in all the early moves and Mark took over late in the race. Jae was in a couple of big moves that had potential, but they were all brought back.

Coming down the home straight leading into the bell lap Mark throttled it up the outside and took Jae near the front coming out of turn 2.  Jae struggled to get in a draft and dealt with all kinds of dirty air coming down the back side into 3 and 4.  He stuck it out and charged hard to line just missing second place in the state by inches coming home in 3rd.  Awesome work guys putting up with a lot of suffering for the second time.

Jonathan makes the podium in the Category 4 race

The final race of the day both for POA as well the weekend was the Cat 4’s. Billy, Matt and Jonathan headed out and it was almost a carbon copy of the Cat 3 race.  Jonathan was being set up for the win with Billy and Matt covering moves.  Quite a few moves tried to go but nothing stuck.  Coming down the home straight leading into the bell lap Billy drilled it up the outside and took Jonathn near the front coming out of turn 2 and Matt was up there and took over leading Jonathan out of 4 and setting him with a great lead out.  With 150 to go Matt edged over and Jonathan jumped.  Clark Gaillivan and Ben Bratton jumped at the same time and it was a 3 man drag race to the line.  In the end Jonathan came across in the 3rd with Matt right behind in 4th.

All in all is was a great weekend for POA Cycling. Good results on Saturday and on Sunday coming back to Greenville with a total 8 podiums, 5 state podium medals as well as 6 primes.  Quite a hall for one team that’s just racing to have a little fun.  Needless to say, we had a lot of fun on Sunday.

Keep the rubber to the road.

Blair

Eric Christophersen rolled off for the Masters 35+ 1/2/3 category of the Patriot’s Trail Road Race. Over the nearly 90 miles of the rolling course Eric was on his own as the Carolina Masters boys worked to break the field apart. With no help, there wasn’t much for him to do and four of the Carolina Masters riders crossed the line side-by-side. Eric came in safely in the field. Never fear, Mr. Christophersen, the SC Criterium Championships are coming up next.

Then it was time for Billy White and Jonathan Pait to take the course in the Category 4 race with Randy McCreight joining them in the combined Masters 50+. The chances were much better for the team in this event. The goal was to get all three in the top 5 of the finish.

The two categories of riders stayed together throughout. Only only breakaway got up the road for any amount of time as Dave LeDuc went off to get in some miles for later in the season. One junior racer went with him and hung valiantly for a bit, but was swallowed up by the field. With about eight miles to go, LeDuc was also arrested and everyone was back together heading toward the finish.

On the way, Jonathan was able to grab the King of the Mountain as he rode away from the field passing the leading Masters 50+ riders to cross the line a good 20 meters ahead of the field. The KOM was intended for adding points to the Omnium, but he wasn’t contesting the Omnium. Still, it was another feather to stick in the cap of the team.

With three kilometers to go Jonathan and Billy started to work to get into position for the final sprint. Randy, unfortunately, had developed cramps and was dropped from the field. Seems he has been enjoying life a little too much skiing! So, it was left to the two Category 4 riders to give it a go.

Two kilometers from the line, the field made a right turn that placed Jonathan and Billy on the inside of the turn. They were beginning the lead in to the sprint along the white line with the field staying to the right of the yellow line until 200 meters when both lanes would open. The field surged on the left while Jonathan followed by Billy were blocked in.

Looking for an opening, Jonathan squeezed along the rough road and sand along the edge to get around the blocking rider. The move created a gap as Billy tried to make his own way around into the clear. Unaware of the gap, Jonathan moved to the front and launched with the eventual winner from 210 meters out.

Three riders went for the line with a gap back to the the fourth and fifth riders followed by the field. Jonathan crossed the line on the rear wheel of the leader with a photo finish for second and third. Unfortunately, he had to settle for third. Billy came through the block to take a solid fifth place.

Billy followed up his success of Saturday on Sunday when he competed in the Category 4 portion of the Old Town Criterium. The fifteen laps came down to a long field sprint once again. Billy made a move around a number of other riders to grab fifth place.

Jae Bowen also represented the team in both the Category 3 and Masters 35+ Criteriums. Jae didn’t have things go his way in the earlier race and finished in the field. In the second crit he came home with a solid 10th place.

The team should be back full force for the Pivotal Fitness Race Weekend in Charleston. POA will be returning the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers of the Masters 35+ category. Check back here for the report.