Hot Temps and Fast Racing in the Pro 1/2 Race
With temperatures reaching or nearing the 100 degree mark, the Chuck Pontius Memorial Criterium
was going to make for a more difficult race than norma as this would be become a race of attrition on the fast .7 mile course.
With the riders lining up for the start in the Pro 1/2 field, most teams had 2-3 riders that would play a factor for half of the race until the pressure came from the strong individual participants.
Jacob Longo from the (SoCalCycling.com Team) was very aggressive in the beginning of the race along with Jason Paez (Legion of LA) pushing to spend some time off the front which would favor the non sprinters.
Jacob Longo (SoCalCycling.com Team) and Chris Hildreth (Team Six Project) made a move that would see the pair spend more than half the race off the front. The pair of riders would gain a 40 second gap that would put them out of site from the pack on the short course.
There were several attempts to bridge, however they were unsuccessful as the moves to bridge were that of individuals trying to get across solo and moves like this would see the riders pay for their efforts as the heat would play a factor.
With late efforts in the race, a group of strong riders materialized and was able to somewhat organize after lots of infighting among the among chase group. The gap would yoyo for several laps to the lead group. Then the chase group finally got it together and closed the gap.
This left the two riders from the break to have to hang on to the fresh legs from the chase group closing the gap. There were several attacks and then on the final lap Rex Roberts took a chance to jump away from the pack and solo in for the win just ahead the remaining group of the hard charging chasers.
The top five would be Rex Roberts (Ride Bike Bros), Chris Hildreth (Team Six Project) in 2nd, Sean McElroy (RPT Active cycling p/b Royal Personal Training) in 3rd, Jacob Timmerman (Terun Elite) in 4th and Jacob Longo (SoCalCycling.com Team) in 5th.
Congrats to Pat Caro and the GoFast Team for putting on a great event!
Results
Men P/1/2
1 Rex ROBERTS (Ride Bikes Racing)
2 Chris HILDRETH (Team Six Project)
3 Sean MCELROY (RPT Active cycling p/b Royal Personal Training)
4 Jacob TIMMERMAN (Terun Elite)
5 Jacob LONGO (SoCalCycling.com Team)
Women P/1/2/3
1 Camila ARENAS (Los Angeles Bicycle Academy)
2 Philine ENDRES (incycle Team)
3 Marlaina BEMIS (PAA Cycling Team)
4 Shari STILLMAN-CORBITT (Serious Cycling)
5 Julie SIMS (Major Motion Cycling Club)
Report & Photos by Frank Sarate / SoCalCycling.com
