MIVA Coal City Criterium #11 June 21, 2016

A small field of 11 riders tonight led to the race being cut to 30 laps.  The first prime was 5 laps into the race with Patrick Burnham taking the first sprint.  The group quickly reformed after that for several laps before James sage went off the front for three laps while the main pack slowly reeled him in.  On lap fifteen Chris Cameron took the second of the nights two primes at which point Nick Kupiak made his move followed closely by Aiden Houle.  The pair rode together for the next five laps until a bad gearing choice left Aiden unable to hold Nicks wheel and he drifted back to rejoin the main pack where Lazarus De Fiore was organizing the bunch into a pursuit to try and reel Nick back in.  While unable to catch Nick his efforts kept the pace strong in the main bunch and kept Nick from lapping the field like he usually does.

Lack of a third prime in the second half of the race meant there were more riders fresh and ready to sprint for second and third place with the main pack finishing six wide across the finish line.

1. Nick Kupiak
2. Chris Cameron
3. Mike Sevcov
4. James Sage
5. Mike McCarney
6. David Beggs
7. Lazarus De Fiore
8. Aiden Houle
9. Mark Wieler
10. Patrick Burnham
11. Lee Zavarise -1 lap

Thanks to our new time keeper Miranda Turner for keeping track of the race tonight and to our Volunteers Glen, Antonius and for Mike and David who brought their wives(I’m so sorry I’ve forgotten your names) along to watch a corner and cheer us on.

As a reminder volunteers are necessary for us to continue to run these races.  As well all are welcome to and watch.  If you're not doing anything else on a Tuesday night why not come out and cheer?  There's only 5 races left in the series.

Low turnout due to rain on Tuesday. Those who did attend were rewarded with points towards the final tally. No major shakeups at the top of the heap.

(By Peter) COAL CITY CYCLES BOXWOOD CRITERIUM 160614 30 laps 34.5km 41.1kph

Small turnout for tonight's race, due no doubt to the cold weather and the threat of rain, so distance cut to 30 laps. The pack stayed together for the first 2 laps and then Nick , Ayden and John distanced themselves from the rest. They gained 20 seconds in the next 4 laps and then John drifted back to the bunch, his lesser fitness showing clearly. Meanwhile, Patrick, Lee and Mike dropped back, leaving Chris and James between them and the lead duo. Nick and Ayden then consolidated their lead, with Nick doing the lion's share of the work and, with 12 laps to go lapped the tail-enders. Chris and James were now joined by John and that's the way it stayed until they too caught the 3 stragglers, having held the leaders to 40 seconds until they slowed in the latter part of the race. Ayden did very well to stay with the surging Broad Street Cycles rider until the final sprint and still manage to finish in the same time - a superbe performance for the first year junior. John won the sprint for third place, with John just pipped at the post and Chris grabbing fourth.

RESULTS 1 Nick Kupiak Broad Street Cycles 50'23” S2 12 2 Ayden Houle MIVA s.t. Jun 10 3 Dr. John Lam MIVA At 1'40” MB 9 4 Dr. Chris Cameron MIVA s.t. MC 8 5 James Sage `MIVA s.t. MB 7 6 Mike Sevcov Cycle Therapy s.t. MD 6 7 Patrick Burbham MIVA At 1 lap MB 5 8 Lee Zavarise MIVA At 1 lap MB 4

No major shakeups to the top of the standings, but we do have Chris Cameron (MIVA) and Derek Jonson (MIVA) both clawing their way up in the rankings. Nick Kupiak (Broad Street Cycles), Janna Gillick (Team ATAC) and Ayden Houle (MIVA) are still leading their respective categories. Big thank you to the volunteers who stepped in at the last minute to marshal the corners. These events can't happen without volunteers so please consider taking a night off and lending a hand.

As usual, riders will line up at 7PM at Boxwood Road in Nanaimo. Sign-on is at 6:30PM at the entrance to Longwood Brewery. Nick Kupiak (Broad Street Cycles) is crushing it with James Sage (MIVA) hot on his heels. Last week's race saw Mike Sevcov (Cycle Therapy) starting to close the gap on John Lam (MIVA). Lee Zavarise (MIVA) has been steadily hanging in there and has now moved into fifth position. Neil Bryant (Cycle Therapy) has been using his explosive sprint to power himself into sixth position.