Greenbelt Training Race, B

With the Brownstown RR on the horizon, LCBC's two Cat 4s, Andrew Stroup and Joe Siegel, made their way down to the Greenbelt Training Series to get some hard riding in before the weekend and the series of races over the next couple of months. Joe had raced in the C group earlier in the season, but this was both racers first time in the B group, since their upgrades to Cat 4.

Joe and Andrew at the Greenbelt Training Series, B Race (c/o Julie Elliot)

The B group was relatively large, with ~35 racers, which rolled out a couple minutes after the A group. As the race started, Andrew quickly found his way towards the front of the group, leading the charge and setting a fast, steady pace. During lap 8, Joe decided to make his move and jumped out in front of the group, creating a 10 second gap up the climb, hoping to coax a couple of riders to move up and form a substantive breakaway. Simultaneously, Andrew, implementing some team tactics, eased up at the front to maintain Joe's gap, which also encouraged the riders Joe was looking for to bridge the gap.

Joe crossing the finish line for 1st at the Greenbelt Training Race, B Group (c/o Julie Elliot)

Working with the two riders who bridged up to Joe and the latecomer who joined the breakaway with one lap to go, they were ready and set for a sprint finish. One of the racers threw down a hard effort halfway up the climb and created a 20 meter gap. Joe maintained his position in 4th and waited until 50 meters out, dumped watts towards the line, and finished the race 1st by half a bike length.

It was a great showing for LCBC and we're glad to see Joe and Andrew implement some team tactics. We look forward to Joe's performance in the Brownstown RR  and the Hagerstown Crit as Andrew joins him in the Cat 4/5 field.