Northeast Bicycle Club

Cyclonauts 6/17 and Housatonic Hills 6/18, Adam Branfman

Hello. Another fine weekend of fast and fun racing.

Cyclonauts Crit 6/17 Stafford Springs Speedway 20 miles;
Cat 3/4, 50 person field
Adam Branfman (myself), Scott Cole, Scott Brooks, Jesse Chebot, Gary Douville, Dave Chiu

This was a very fun, safe race. We raced 40 laps total. The pace was mostly fast and aggressive with a few attacks going and Gary made an excellent one and stayed in a break for a few laps. We worked very well together to take turns chasing breaks at the front to be sure nothing stuck. Jesse and Scott Cole did some great teamwork at the front to case a few down, as did Scott Brooks and Dave. Cyclonauts put together a train of three for the last 3 ish laps which Scott Brooks and I jumped on the back of. On the second to last lap, a surge came from the outside which I jumped on landing on the third wheel behind Pat Goguen from NCC. I was third wheel Going into the last lap and 1/2 way around the final turn, began a sprint to thwart any sort of lastminute surge from the field behind. I held on for the win. A fun race and good teamwork. Branfman 1st Jesse 8th Brooks 13th Chiu 21 Douville 25 Cole 30

Housatonic Hills 6/18 Southbury, CT. Cat 3; 54 miles; 125 person field

Adam Branfman (myself) Scott Cole Dave Chiu A great race preview of what we will see at Fitchburg. A comparable distance, similar hills and a nice finishing climb. The temps were hot. The pace on teh first lap was not super fast although, people were still puchingn up the hills. Everything as far as I know stayed together through the majority of the race. I stayed no further from 10-15 back from the front to mark Steve Weller, Colin Murphy and others who I knew were threats for the final finishing climb. Positioning was a key factor as the roads were narrow and a good position was needed coming around the final right turn up the hill on the last lap. The race was pretty uneventful until the final climb. I was about 10th wheel coming around the final turn and hammered up the hill with some others. We separated into a lead group of about 5 or six and made it to the flat section at the top with 1.5 k to go. ratcliff from Bether took off up teh hill and held on for the win and 5 or six of us sprinted for 2nd place. It was a great race, fun training and nice to see who will be potential players at Fitchburg next week. Thanks for reading. See you on the road or at Cox. Branfman 5th Cole not sure b/c results arent posted yet Chiu not sure b/c results are not posted yet

Adam