Friday, May 31, 2002 -- Charleston, WV
17th Annual Charleston Criterium Bicycle Race (iPO Event Id#: 4916)
Story and photos by Ariana Kincaid
[Details]
[Coverage]
[Overall Results]
Pictures:
[Set 1]
[Set 2]
[Set 3]
[Set 4]
[Set 5]
[Set 6]
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The course started on Kanawha Boulevard behind the City Building,
turned right onto Court Street, left onto Virginia between the
Courthouse and the Judicial Annex, left on Goshorn, left on the
Boulevard, then right downhill through Haddad Riverfront Park, then a
180-degree turn out of the Park, back onto the Boulevard to the start
line. Nine-tenths of a mile and eight turns for one lap, with speeds
reaching 37 mph as they passed by the radar at the bottom of
Riverfront Park!
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Team Go-Mart led the way with Paul Martin and Scott
Weiss lapping the field with twenty-two minutes to go in the timed
portion of the race. With two laps to go, Greg Cook of Team
Go-Mart, running in third just ahead of the pack took the 180 out of
Haddad a little to sharply, and wiped out when his pedal hit the
pavement. He recovered nicely and finished third, after Scott Weiss
in first and Paul Martin in second. Team Go-Mart also filled the four
and five slots with Pat O'Donnell and Jeff Braumberger.
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The Category 3-4 racers then lined up, and after 40+ hard fought minutes, Nathan Long, David Cockley and Don Loo came in 1-2-3, with Don Loo winning the bottle of wine premium after the specified sprint lap near the end of the race (bikers were admonished by the announcer not to sprint for this premium if they were under 21!).
The Category 5 riders were explained to me as being the true amateurs
of the field, without the training, but with all the determination, of
the other categories. The trail bike background of Nate Orders
(who was most recently seen at "Race the Trace" Memorial Day
weekend), along with a daring move on the only downhill of the course,
helped him humbly pull out a victory in the final lap of this
competition, with Ben Lorenzo and Kevin Fletcher right
behind.
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Special thanks to Mary Shultz, Ridge Rider, Tyler Mountain Water, McDonalds, Ronald McDonald, Mountain State Wheelers Bicycle Club, and the West Virginia Division of Tourism for the carnival-like atmosphere and fun at the Tour de Charleston!