Joseph Sheehan Road Race
April 29, 2012
Terrific
race Sunday despite the horrible weather. We had thunderstorms and 50
degree temperatures at 7 AM. Our volunteers did an awesome job completing
the registration of over 135 racers who crowded into the Metropolitan
Steakhouse to escape the cold rain. We lined up the dozen automobiles
which would lead and follow each peleton and prepared for the race.
Riders bravely donned their rain capes and with grim determination prepared for
a 52 mile ride across the hilly and windy terrain between Leavenworth and
Atchison. The riders started. Great categories including the men's
category 5 which had 49 riders. Rules preclude category 5 fields from
having more than 50 riders for safety reasons.
Our phenomenal volunteers went straight to their road guard positions.
They stood in the cold rain preventing traffic from running over the
racers. They made sure that the racers knew precisely where and when to
turn. They provided waterbottle hand ups at the 25 mile mark. They
made certain that the Leavenworth and Atchison Sherrif's Department knew where
and when to expect the racers and coordinated their efforts.
The racers quickly made their way to Atchison along Santa Fe Trail Road,
Millwood Road, Wise Road, Rawlins Road, and at Patriot Street in Atchison they
turned to return to Leavenworth. The category 1/2/3s had a three man
break away that started very early and seemed to survive to the final
climb. The masters had a solo break away. The men's category 5 saw
Art Mathisen escape the field on the very first climb. He decimated the
field, overtook the men's category 4 field and went on solo for the
victory. The women's category 1/2/3 saw another Santa Fe Trail's Racer
escape. Shawn Morelli attacked in Atchison, crashed at the turn and still
went on to solo for the victory on Government Hill.
I am very proud of our team. Erica Haas took second in the women's
1/2/3. The super large men's category 5 field saw Sean Smith in 6th, Doug
Harding in 7th, Marc Welde in 9th, James Lee in 25th, Matt Doolan in
26th, and Jose Mendez in 31st. The men's category 4 field saw Spencer Wallace
take 7th, Mark Ramsden in 9th, and Kris Howell in 15th. The ladies
category 4 field; Ann Parthmore took second and Jennifer Smith took 5th.
Great job by all these riders just to race, and placing this well was
fantastic! This is the first JSRR that we have won both a men's category
and a women's category!
Special thanks to Metropolitan Steak House who fed and sheltered cold, wet, and
tired bicyclists, their families and volunteers. Special thanks to Roger
Harrison for course set up, marking, supplies and generally being Roger.
Thanks to Paula Cole for her terrific organization, her determined effort to
dot every I and cross every T. Thanks to my wife Barb who was the
"Angel of Registration". Thanks to everyone who volunteered, put
up with stressed out riders and a stressed out promoter. Thanks to our
sponsors at Country Club Bank in Leavenworth for their generous prize
donations. Thanks to Ally Zeck of State Farm Insurance on Delaware Street
in Leavenworth, Ally also graciously donated prize money for this race.
Race Results
Lanterne Rouge Time Trial
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What an awesome turn out to
Roger Harrison's Lanterne Rouge Time Trial! He had over 95 participants!
Great job by Roger Harrison! Course was well marked. The
registration was well prepared. The Sheriff's Department was an excellent
addition. I am very proud of all the Santa Fe Trails Team Members that
showed for the race! Here are their results:Women's Category 3
1. Shawn Morelli (Fastest Women's Time!) 16:15
Women's Category 4
1. Ann Parthemore 16:22
4. Danielle Lansford 19:46
6. Jennifer Smith 20:44
10. Patricha Schnieder 25:09
11. Anita Gonzales 26:22
Junior Women
1. Sedona Posch 27:50
Junior Men
4. Blare
Men's 4
1. Mark Ramsden 15:08
2. Spencer Wallace 15:17
3. Brendan Sheehan 15:42
Men's 5
1. Art Mathisen 14:31
4. Sean Smith 16:09
8. Bill Hamac 20:30
Men's 70 +
2. Al Mueller 23:26
3. Jim Mathis 28:55
Men's 50 +
6. Doug Harding 18:21
Tour of Hermann
The Tour of Hermann was as advertised. Tons of climbing. The first climb in the road race was over 400 vertical feet. Great event. Well supported by volunteers and staff. Wonderful town with great bed and breakfasts, wineries, and breweries. Temperatures were quite a bit cooler this year than last. We rolled up to the time trial with temperatures in the high 30s. The day warmed quickly though. We were in vests and arm warmers by the start.
The time trial course was rolling smooth pavement with two big climbs. Shawn Morelli was the first rider off for our team, she was followed by Erica Haas, myself and then Sean Smith. Brendan's time 37:37.262, Sean's time 37:38.237, Shawn's time 38:01.079 (metaled for third), Erica's time 38:21.301. Great job! We were all in the points for the Omnium (all three events).
The criterium course was over 150 foot vertical climb followed by a descent of 150 feet. Brutal climbing and a scary descent. Sean Smith and I raced first. Fast group. I think our leader put 1 minute and 30 seconds on the second placed rider. Sean finished strong in 13th and I was 18th. Erica and Shawn raced next. There category was women's open. Which meant super fast! Pro ladies were mixed in with beginners and everything in between. Both ladies rode exceptionally well. Erica was 10th and Shawn was 16th.
The road race course was scary. Especially for those of us who tip the scales over 185 pounds. Skies were cloudy and overcast. Temperatures were in the 50s, yet winds out of the north made it seem colder. The first climb ascended to the heavens. I was breathing so hard I couldn't hear anyone else. I thought maybe they weren't? We started out neutral through the town, although riders were still jockeying for position anticipating the first climb. We hit the climb and the field shattered. More or less you just rode with whoever was still around when your reached the top of the climb. The men rode first. Matt Doolan and James Lee joined us for the road race. In the 4/5 category we had Matt, James, Sean and myself. Sean rode like a beast. Sean was trying to close the gap on the lead group. He stayed at the front of our field. Sean finished 28th and I finished 35th. Erica Haas was also tremendous. She finished right behind the lead women's group in 13th place. Shawn Morelli was not far back in 19th place. We all enjoyed the race. This was the last Tour of Hermann. Can't wait for this weekend's time trial and road race in Leavenworth!
1. Men's 4/5 Road Race Matt Doolan was 50th and James Lee was 52nd.
2. Omnium Results:
Ladies' Open - 7 Erica Haas, 9 Shawn Morelli
Men's 4/5 - 10 Sean Smith, 11 Brendan Sheehan
The time trial course was rolling smooth pavement with two big climbs. Shawn Morelli was the first rider off for our team, she was followed by Erica Haas, myself and then Sean Smith. Brendan's time 37:37.262, Sean's time 37:38.237, Shawn's time 38:01.079 (metaled for third), Erica's time 38:21.301. Great job! We were all in the points for the Omnium (all three events).
The criterium course was over 150 foot vertical climb followed by a descent of 150 feet. Brutal climbing and a scary descent. Sean Smith and I raced first. Fast group. I think our leader put 1 minute and 30 seconds on the second placed rider. Sean finished strong in 13th and I was 18th. Erica and Shawn raced next. There category was women's open. Which meant super fast! Pro ladies were mixed in with beginners and everything in between. Both ladies rode exceptionally well. Erica was 10th and Shawn was 16th.
The road race course was scary. Especially for those of us who tip the scales over 185 pounds. Skies were cloudy and overcast. Temperatures were in the 50s, yet winds out of the north made it seem colder. The first climb ascended to the heavens. I was breathing so hard I couldn't hear anyone else. I thought maybe they weren't? We started out neutral through the town, although riders were still jockeying for position anticipating the first climb. We hit the climb and the field shattered. More or less you just rode with whoever was still around when your reached the top of the climb. The men rode first. Matt Doolan and James Lee joined us for the road race. In the 4/5 category we had Matt, James, Sean and myself. Sean rode like a beast. Sean was trying to close the gap on the lead group. He stayed at the front of our field. Sean finished 28th and I finished 35th. Erica Haas was also tremendous. She finished right behind the lead women's group in 13th place. Shawn Morelli was not far back in 19th place. We all enjoyed the race. This was the last Tour of Hermann. Can't wait for this weekend's time trial and road race in Leavenworth!
1. Men's 4/5 Road Race Matt Doolan was 50th and James Lee was 52nd.
2. Omnium Results:
Ladies' Open - 7 Erica Haas, 9 Shawn Morelli
Men's 4/5 - 10 Sean Smith, 11 Brendan Sheehan
Sunflower State Games Time Trial
The
skies threatened as we drove away from Leavenworth this morning. As we
entered Topeka the skies erupted in hard rain and lightening. We had some
trepidation as the race today was a team time trial. A time trial is on
special bicycles with aerobars, aero wheels, and aero helmets. The
distance is 20 kilometer or 12.4 miles. Teams of three riders would
compete against other teams to get the best time on the course. All teams
would have a two minute split between them.
Fortunately we had Erica Haas with us. She is the Air Force Weather Officer at Fort Leavenworth. Erica assured us that the skies would clear and we would have good weather. She was correct!
Mark Ramsden, Kris Howell and Phil Griffith took second in the Eddie Mercx division with a time of 30:27. This is an interesting category inspired by the greatest Cyclist who ever lived. Eddie Mercx won the world hour record on a conventional road bike without the benefit of aerobars or time trial helmets.
The category 4/5 men were next. Carl Fischer, Spencer Wallace and Art Mathisen won this category with a time of 29:34. Doug Harding, Sean Smith and Brendan Sheehan took second with a time of 30:25.
Our vaunted ladies squad rode next. They were all on time trial bicycles by Specialized. This category was won by Erica Haas, Ann Parthemore, and Shawn Morelli with a time of 31:34.
In the mixed category Jeremiah, and Mary Still with Matt Doolan took second place with a time of 35:46. All three of these riders were on conventional road bikes.
One of our sponsors, Dave Spangler owner of Marfields Restaurant, joined us at the race. He wanted to see the team he was sponsoring in action. Everyone of our teams placed in their respective categories. Dave joked that he would continue the sponsorship for one more year!
Fortunately we had Erica Haas with us. She is the Air Force Weather Officer at Fort Leavenworth. Erica assured us that the skies would clear and we would have good weather. She was correct!
Mark Ramsden, Kris Howell and Phil Griffith took second in the Eddie Mercx division with a time of 30:27. This is an interesting category inspired by the greatest Cyclist who ever lived. Eddie Mercx won the world hour record on a conventional road bike without the benefit of aerobars or time trial helmets.
The category 4/5 men were next. Carl Fischer, Spencer Wallace and Art Mathisen won this category with a time of 29:34. Doug Harding, Sean Smith and Brendan Sheehan took second with a time of 30:25.
Our vaunted ladies squad rode next. They were all on time trial bicycles by Specialized. This category was won by Erica Haas, Ann Parthemore, and Shawn Morelli with a time of 31:34.
In the mixed category Jeremiah, and Mary Still with Matt Doolan took second place with a time of 35:46. All three of these riders were on conventional road bikes.
One of our sponsors, Dave Spangler owner of Marfields Restaurant, joined us at the race. He wanted to see the team he was sponsoring in action. Everyone of our teams placed in their respective categories. Dave joked that he would continue the sponsorship for one more year!