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Moses Ascends
Mt. Nebo... Again - Sunday, July 25, 2004 at
23:50 |
Held in
Lancaster County, PA, the Mt. Nebo Road Race is one of the most severe
courses in the Eastern United States, due to its unrelenting and steep
mountainous terrain. Put on by RedRoseRaces.com, this brute of a course
was a must for cyclists who wished to divulge their true climbing
prowess. Surely, today's winner would need both courage and strength, to
win the steep uphill finish atop Mt. Nebo.
Lancaster County, a beautiful south eastern Pennsylvanian landscape, is
no stranger to bicycle racing. In addition to hosting some of the most
challenging, yet exciting races in the North east, Lancaster has
produced some extraordinary champions as well. One of Lance Armstrong's
key Lieutenants in this year's Tour de France, Floyd Landis, grew up in
this area, famous for its Amish folk. Landis rode countless miles in
this area, perfecting his skills on these quiet, hilly farm roads,
before reaping the rewards of his hard-work, and racing in the grandest
showcase in cycling.
Today, however, racers would face 6-laps of this 9-mile painful terrain.
In addition to the steep climb to the finish line, there were numerous
other climbs as well, leaving very little flat road for respite. As the
featured event of the day, the Pro, 1, 2 field, made its departure, 4
riders attacked immediately, while the main bunch hesitated. These
breakaway riders consisted of Eric Murphy (Areo Space Engineering), Rob
Hacker (Land Rover), Brian Trdina (MonkeyHill) and Dustin Sweet (Nevada
Wheelman). The leading escape's lead spiked to 1:05, when climbing
specialist John Funk (FiordiFrutta/Ridgefield Bank), attacked just
before finishing climb, bringing along Eugene Boronow of GS Mengoni with
4 to-go. This duo also rode away from the faltering peloton, but didn't
quite catch the leaders.
That's when perhaps today's most impressive rider made his move. Just
before the second encounter with the finishing climb, Kyle Wamsley (Team
Fuji), attacked powerfully, with Jason Schneider (GS Mengoni), following
this move. As Wamsley crested the steep climb, he closed a 30 second gap
in 1-mile. Meanwhile, the group up the rode, led by Murphy and Hacker,
was beginning to lose steam. On the contrary, the now 4-man group
behind, led by Wamsley, was gaining steam.
Just as the second break was about to connect with the 4-leaders,
Murphy, the compact, wily Floridian, puntured. after given a wheel
change (Courtesy of SpokesWagon.com), Murphy latched on to the Wamsley
group, which promptly caught the leaders. Eight riders now defined the
lead group, as Wamsley continued to keep the pressure on, descending the
steep Pennsylvania slopes at remarkable speeds.
One-lap later, Erik Saunders, of the professional Ofoto cycling team,
stunned the leading group, when he bridged the gap to the leaders with
only himself for comforting. With 9 riders up front, and the addition of
the fierce sprinter Saunders, some in the lead group started weighing
their options, "The finish was on a really hard climb, but being only
about 800 meters, powerful guys like Saunders and Wamsley have good
chances," Murphy later noted. Murphy would remain in the rear of the
group, bluffing signs of fatigue, as Wamsley and co. profusely tried to
weaken their opponents.
Then, with 1.5-laps remaining, the crafty Floridian shot out of the lead
group on one of the steeper pitches of the course, whilst using an
extremely high pedaling cadence, on a climb which required a 39/25 gear
combination. "I could tell they weren't going that well on the hills, so
I attacked with 1.5 to-go. I figured that would be my best chance,"
Murphy later stated.
On the finishing climb with 1 to-go, Wamsley set a torrid tempo, which
only the 36-year-old Boronow could follow, as Saunders and Schneider
crested 10 seconds adrift. With Murphy soloing at the head of the race,
Saunders dropped Schneider on the decent, and latched on to Wamsley and
Boronow. It was now three against one, and that one was having an
excellent race. Murphy could see the chasers, "I could see 3 or so
riders behind me on some stretches, one of which was Kyle who had been
flying on the descents. I began to worry and could feel the day's
efforts taking its toll on my legs." Murphy did indeed hold off the
rest, notching up a fine and notable victory atop Mt. Nebo.
Meanwhile, in the next group, Wamsley attacked the final time up the
finishing climb, to earn second place, ahead of Boronow, who rounded out
the podium, followed by Saunders. RaceListings.com was extremely
impressed with the sheer strength of the 24-year-old Pennsylvanian,
Wamsley, who is a renowned track racer, as well as rode racer. When
asked as to how he combines the two disciplines so successfully, Wamsley
reasoned, "I have naturally good leg speed, which helps me save my legs
for a course like this."
Race director, Rich Ruoff, was rather satisfied with today's
festivities, which he assumed would be the perfect tune-up for the
prestigious and challenging 2-day, 3-stage, Tour de Christiana just 2
weekends from now, held right here in Lancaster.
Many racers ponder what it actually feels like to win a race solo, on
such a difficult and demanding course. Said Murphy, "It feels great, I
made it across the finish line and immediately stopped, where my
beautiful soigneur, was waiting for me with a mustard covered pretzel,
something I rarely turn down, but I couldn't possibly think about
stomaching at that moment."
Mt. Nebo Road Race
July 24, 2004
Pro, 1, 2
12 Places, $1,000 Purse
1. Eric Murphy - Aero Space Engineering
2. Kyle Wamsley - Team Fuji
3. Eugene Boronow - GS Mengoni
4. Erik Saunders - Ofoto Cycling Team
5. Brian Trdina - Monkeyhill
6. John Funk - FiordiFrutta/Ridgefield Bank
7. Dustin Sweet - Nevada Wheelman
8. Jason Schneider - GS Mengoni
9. Rob Hacker - Land Rover
10. Scott Zwizanski - Ofoto Cycling Team
11. Ian Ayers - Colavita/Bolla
12. Chris Samuel - ProPedalsBikeShop
Editor's Note: RaceListings.com recently named Eric Murphy as a "Rider
to Watch".
Click Here
to read an interview with Eric.
This report was written by:
Jason Schneider / RaceListings.com
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