2018 Season Highlights

Ten centuries - Nineteen races

Feb 11 - Tour Latino - a 100 mile gran fondo with two timed segments in the hills near Clermont. The first was up the backside of Sugarloaf from mile 10 to 13 and the second was back near Clermont starting at mile 88. I got 1st in the over 60 category and it was a fun event.

March 18 - Jamestown to Richmond and Back on the VCT - 8 of us, Lisa, Michelle, Margie, Mustafa, Brian, Chris, and John - rolled zone two and averaged 18.6 mph on a gorgeous day. Liquid replenishment at Billsburg after the ride. Sign by Lisa and her daughter Annamarie. My 50th century.

April 7th - Conquer the Canal TT, Cheasapeake, VA - cold rain but not much wind, took first Masters 65+ for my first win in this event after being 2nd the last two years. Rode my best time despite not wonderful conditions. Thanks to David Luscan for the new TT bike position and set up.

April 15th - Jefferson Cup Road Race, Charlottesville, VA - I managed 1st in 65+ by hanging with the front group of 55+ guys for the 40 mile race - average pace 23MPH exactly with 3000+ feet of climbing. I was about 12th in the combined 55/65. My training partners Michelle Krewinghaus and Lisa Pitman took 4th and 12th respectively in the Cat 4 womens 30 miler rolling the same course at over 20. They are getting seriously good.

April 29th - Argyle TT, Charles Town WV, the WV State Time Trial Championships. I took 1st in 65+ beating Jim Harnett who killed me by a minute last year. He's had tough winter weather and a corresponding late start to training compared to us in VA. We're now 3 and 3 lifetime but he'll likely kill me at Church Creek in a month or so. My training partners Lisa Pitman and Michelle Krewinghaus killed it with Lisa 1st in 45+ and Michelle 2nd in Cat 4. 45 degree starting temp, 17.4 miles and NW winds at 18 steady with gusts up to mid 20s. Breezy.

May 2nd - Maryland Senior Games 5kTT, Davidsonville, MD - took 1st in 65+ new Strava record for the course for 65+, 3rd overall. Team mates Mustafa Cayci and Lisa Pitman each won their age groups and Lisa was 1st overall women.

May 5th - Wintergreen TT - 2650 vertical, 7.4 miles Hors Category on Strava - 2nd behind Fred Wittwer in 65+, 90 seconds faster than last year. Team mates Lisa Pitman - 2nd in Women's masters 50+ and Michelle Krewinghaus 3rd - Cat 4 Virginia Women.

May 12th - Cap to Cap - 100 miles, 4:46 total time, 4:32 run time 90 degrees in the afternoon. Michelle and I finished with the Bikes Unlimited crew at a 22 MPH average pace. Tough ride.

May 19th - Virginia Senior Games, Richmond - 5k TT - in the rain on a stupid course with 4 u-turns and 4 90 degree turns. I won the 65-69 age group with Jim Degoey was 2nd and Steve Rosen 3rd.
20k Criterium - the rain stopped and team mate Lisa Pitman and I broke away from our flight (65+ men and 50-54 women) and each won our age group. Massive fun breaking away with a training partner! Steve Rosen was 2nd and Gary Kuchel 3rd for men 65-69.

June 2nd - USO Warrior Week State Masters Championship Criterium - at Camp Pendleton, Virginia Beach - 55+ and 65+ rode together and I got 4th overall and 1st of 5 in 65+. Tight 0.88 mile course with 10 turns. Big fun. My training partners both podiumed with Michelle Krewinghaus winning Women's Cat 4 and Lisa Pitman third in Women's Masters 50+.

June 3rd - USO Warrior Week Smithfield TT - 19.1 miles on a fast flat to rolling (400' climbing) course. I was 1st of 5 65+ and came in at 23.5 MPH despite rain. Awesome fast course, hope this event comes back next year. My teammates each podiumed again with Lisa Pitman winning Women's Masters 45+ and Michelle Krewinghaus taking third in the Cat 4 State Championship.

June 6th - Maryland Senior Olympics 10k TT - Davidsonville, MD - I won my age group and was 4th overall and Lisa Pitman won her age group, the women's overall, and set a new course record (and Strava QOM) averaging over 22 on a punchy rough pavement course with 400 feet of climbing in 6+ miles.

June 15 - USAC Masters National Championship Road Race - 10th place 65-69. 44 miles, 3300 feet of climbing at Fort Gordon, GA. I got dropped by the leaders on the second tough climb of the last lap and worked with a good rider from San Antonio, George Heagley to stay ahead of the rest of the chasers.

June 16 - USAC Masters National Championship Criterium, Augusta, GA - 8th place 65-69, 18 starters, all together on the last lap. Followed Dave Linden's wheel into turn one of the last lap and he wiped out in turn two. Closed the ensuing gap and passed a few at the end but not well enough placed to medal.

June 30 - Church Creek TT #1 outside Cambridge, MD - 2nd of 16 geezers over 65. I won 65-69 age group and ran the 20k at 24.1 mph on a hot and windy day. My training partner Lisa Pitman took second in her 45+ Women's masters race and did her 40k at 22.8 mph a new speed record for her.

July 15 - Virginia State Masters Road Race Championship, Franklin, VA. I was in the 55+ group with 25 starters and finished 10th overall and 2nd in the 65-69 age group behind Steve Leoisis of NC. However I got the 'Gold' as only Virginians could medal despite Steve beating me by a ton as he was in an early break and pulled away all 43 miles. My training partners Lisa Pitman finished 4th overall and 1st in her age group and Michelle Krewinghaus did the Senior Championships the next day taking 2nd in Category 4 Women.

July 22, That Dam TT, Parkton, MD - I managed first of 11 starters in 65+ on a 15.5 mile loop with 1500 feet of climbing. The roads were wet and I was chicken shit on the descents but still rolled in at 19.4 mph average speed.

Aug. 12 - PGTTT Virginia State Masters Championship TT, Chesapeake, VA - I took 1st of 11 65+ starters to win the 21 mile long State Title and managed to take 2 minutes and 20 seconds off last years time. Training partners Lisa Pitman and Michelle Krewinghaus each won their categories (Women's Masters 45+ and Womens Cat 4 respectively) as well so it was a great day for the team.

Aug. 18 - Church Creek #2 MABRA Masters Championship TT, Church Creek, MD - I took 2nd of 15 65+ in the 20k championship event but the guy that beat me (Steven Petrouvis of NJ) was 70 so I was the 65-69 'champ.' Lisa Pitman took 4th in a very tough field of 45+ Masters Women and did her 40k at 23 mph, her first TT over 23. Both of us finished the week ranked 15th in our five year age groups in the USAC National rankings.

Sept. 8, 2018 - Surry Century - finished 108 miles at 19.8 MPH on a hot day with Lisa Pitman, Amanda Deverich and JJ and Jim (on a Richard Sachs) from Virginia Beach. Nice ride!

Sept. 9, 2018 - Loy and I took Michelle down to Greensboro, NC to race her first Cat 3 Womens criterium, the United Health Care Carolina Cup. She had received her Cat 3 upgrade the week prior and this was her first Cat 3 race. She drilled it with a 1st place won in an 8 up field sprint against a veteran field. Probably the highlight of the year for me watching her win.

Sept. 30, 2018 - Jeremiah Bishop's Alpine Loop GF - 110 miles, 10200 feet of climbing, 2nd 65+ behind Richard McIntyre of Bedford, VA. Rode with Michelle Krewinghaus and Julio Botero. Exhausting but big fun.

Oct. 7, 2018 - Cap to Cap and Back Century, 108 miles, Jamestown-Richmond-Jamesiown with a coffee stop at Whisk in Richmond. Amanda, Lisa, Michelle, Luis, Kevin, Cole and I - 18mph zone 2 ride.

Oct. 17 - Delaware Senior Games Time Trials, Dover, DE - held on the
'Monster Mile' NASCAR track. I took second in the 10k behind Jim Harnett but nipped him for the win in the 5k rolling at 25MPH on a windy day.

Oct. 20, 2018 - Shenandoah Fall Foliage Festival Century - Kevin Clancy and I were the first two in averaging 18.1 MPH on 103 with 6000 feet of climbing and a 16 MPH wind from the south (against us after the half). Hard day for sure.

Oct. 27, 2018 - CBES Between the Waters Century, Onancock, VA - Lisa Pitman and I averaged 18.7 mph on a rainy windy day (18 mph steady with heavy gusts) and upper 50s temp. Cole Casey rode with us then zoomed off to get fastest finisher at just over 20 mph. A long and hard but fun day.

Nov. 3, 2018 - Brian Utne Memorial Ride, Yorktown, VA - Brian Utne was killed by a hit and run scumbag on Thursday October 25th on Lakeside Drive in Grafton. 375 riders came out with the support of the York-Poquoson Sherrif's office to remember Brian on roads he led dozens of group rides on. I didn't know Brian personally but he helped Lisa and Michelle when they first bought road bikes and helped dozens of others get started in the sport. He left a wife and two children .
Nov. 25, 2018 - 111 miles and the 9th century rolling from Williamsburg to Richmond and back on the VCT with Lisa, Amanda and Natalie. A beautiful late fall day with a coffee stop at Whisk in Richmond. Just a fantastic ride!

Dec. 29, 2018 - Big group at the start Cole Casey crashes on a slick bridge, 6 or 7 down with Tarcela Mitchell breaking her shoulder. Amanda, Natalie, David L guide her to the road and half the group breaks off on a shorter half century. Finished but no joy.