This weekend Pittsburgh Racing took a short drive to the north to the city of Butler, PA for the Butler County Stage Race. Over 100 riders showed up for a very difficult two days of racing. We followed the action (and provided LIVE coverage) all weekend long. Below is a brief recap of the race, presented in the form of a photog battle between local enthusiasts Fred Jordan and Benjamin Stephens.
The residents of Butler woke up Saturday morning to the sight of racers barreling down the city streets and whirling around Memorial Park for a 6.5-mile time trial. Max Korus (Penn State Hershey Cancer) set the fastest time at 14:35 (26.7mph)

Max Korus set the fastest time in the TT - Fred Jordan
Alaina Gurski (CAWES p/b Specialized) set the fastest time amongst the women with a 16:49.

Alaina Gurski won the women's TT - Fred Jordan
The afternoon saw an increase in both action and temperature during the Main St criterium, which featured both a long drag up and down Main St Butler and a loop over some brick roads under the Butler County courthouse. Before the two-wheelers took off, though, the crowd was treated to the very unique sight of a unicycle crit.

Unicyclist during the Butler crit - Benjamin Stephens
The 4/5 race was lit up by James Thompson who attacked during the first lap and stayed off the front until the finish.

James Thompson impressively wins the 4/5 race - Benjamin Stephens
The 1/2/3 race saw Andreas Fliessgarten off the front for the majority of the race.

Andreas Fliessgarten off the front and on the bricks - Benjamin Stephens
Max Korus heroically bridged up to Fliessgarten and the two eventually made their way around the course and caught the main field.

Max Korus bridged up to Fliessgarten - Fred Jordan
Fliessgarten added insult to injury by then winning the bunch sprint.
The Renfrew Ras road race returned Sunday to finish off the weekend of racing. Early in the morning during the 4/5 race, James Thompson once again solo’d off on the first climb and the chase pack could never organize enough to catch him.

Some of the Men's 4/5 chase on the climb - Benjamin Stephens
Ray Russell also launched a solo attack in the Master’s race to stay away for the road race win.

Ray Russell attacked solo to win the Master's RR - Fred Jordan
Alaina Gurski fought hard to maintain her lead in the Women’s GC and succeeded even after Patricia George (Steel City Endurance) won the sprint from the select women’s field.

The women on the climb - Benjamin Stephens
The 1/2/3s set off for 10 laps of the 8.5 mile course in the 90-degree sunshine. Only half would finish. The front group eventually shrunk to 5 men including Korus, Fliesgarten, Zamastil, and two local favorites on the IRMC squad, Bob Stumpf and Stephen Cummings.

The feed zone was busy every lap in the heat - Benjamin Stephens
After 3 hours and 59 mintes, Max Korus crossed the finish line first to take the victory in the men’s 1/2/3 road race and the top spot in the general classification.

The men's 1/2/3 podium - photo by Fred Jordan
Men’s 1/2/3
1. Max Korus (Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute)
2. Andreas Fliessgarten
3. Stephen Cummings (Indiana Regional Medical Center)
Women Open
1. Alaina Gurski (CAWES p/b Specialized)
2. Emily MacKay (Amoroso’s Cycling Team)
3. Patricia George (Steel City Endurance)
Men’s 40+
1. Ray Russell (Sette Nove)
2. Craig Cozza (UPMC)
3. Bob Gottlieb (Amstel Light)
Men’s 3
1. Patrick Kineston
2. Rob Abramo
3. John Cotter (Freddie Fu)
Men’s 4/5
1. James Thompson
2. Joe Lydic
3. Mike Quigley (Steel City Endurance)
Full results can be found on the race website:
http://butlercountystagerace.blogspot.com/2010/07/final-gcresults.html
Big props to Henry Dimmick who helped organize the race and also served as a moto marshal all weekend.

Henry Dimmick helped organize the race and provided moto support - photo by Benjamin Stephens
-
-
Max Korus set the fastest time in the TT – Fred Jordan
-
-
Andreas Fliessgarten off the front and on the bricks – Benjamin Stephens
-
-
James Thompson impressively wins the 4/5 race – Benjamin Stephens
-
-
Henry Dimmick helped organize the race and provided moto support – Benjamin Stephens
-
-
Alaina Gurski won the women’s TT – Fred Jordan
-
-
Max Korus bridged up to Fliessgarten – Fred Jordan
-
-
Unicyclist during the Butler crit – Benjamin Stephens
-
-
Alaina Gurski was the fastest woman in the crit – Fred Jordan
-
-
The men’s 1/2/3 podium – Fred Jordan
-
-
The Men’s 3 field passing by a barn – Benjamin Stephens
-
-
Some of the Men’s 4/5 chase on the climb – Benjamin Stephens
-
-
Ray Russell attacked solo to win the Master’s RR – Fred Jordan
-
-
James Thompson circles the bricks – Benjamin Stephens
-
-
The feed zone was busy every lap in the heat – Benjamin Stephens
-
-
The women on the climb – Benjamin Stephens
Links
More Photos by Fred Jordan
More Photos by Benjamin Stephens
Photos by Deb Rittelmann