Morgantown Road Race Report/Results
The first big road race of the season, the Morgantown Road Race, took place on Saturday April 3 . Contrary to popular belief, the race never once entered West Virginia. But the spirit of West Virginia road racing was very much alive thanks to the spectacular organizing efforts of JR Petsko and the Appalachian Bike Racing Association (ABRA). Over 250 people turned out for the 45-mile course featuring at least 6 sustained climbs (twice as many as last year) and just as many crazy descents. Though many people had pre-ridden the course in the weeks prior, nothing could prepare them for race day, which featured uncharacteristically summer-like (record-breaking) temperatures tipping toward 90 degrees along with momentum-stopping/soul-crushing 20mph gusts of wind.
From all accounts (including/especially the author’s), the fields were devastated by the first few climbs. People were lying on the side of the road from exhaustion and cramps. Others were crawling along at paces that were matched by others that had abandoned their bikes and set off by foot. Yet some managed to scrap together enough energy/will-power to attempt what appeared to be a real bike race. All fields did the same course and several Pittsburgh racers were in the mix.
Patricia George (Steel City Endurance) won the Women’s 4 race and would have taken 3rd in the Women’s 1/2/3 race as well, just behind Betsy Shogren (Dynamic Physical Therapy Cycling) of Morgantown. In the maxed-out 75-man Men’s Cat 4/5 field won by Brad Dodson of WVU, locals Jason Draper (Global Ride Racing), Rob Lochner (Iron City Bikes) and Drew Chidester (Trek of Pittsburgh) put in solid top 10s. In the Master’s race, Gerry Pflug (Salsa/SPK/Pro Bikes) clawed his way to 4th place.
[Photo from Patricia George]
The full results not only show signs of the day’s carnage, but also evidence of a pretty fierce battle for the lantern rouge. In fact it appears all the Pittsburgh racers in the 1/2/3 field were more interested in this competition. ”Winner” for the 1/2/3 field was Jake Lifson (Indiana Regional Medical Center) who just edged out teammate Ed Krall and a few other Pittsburgh racers. Benjamin Stephens (Steel City Endurance/me), crushed the competition in the 4/5 field and posted the slowest finishing time of the day of 3:23:25.
Congratulations to all the winners and survivors. The next race in the ABRA road series is the New Martinsville Road Race on May 8th. Until then, local racers will be competing in the Mingo Creek Road Race series starting next Sunday and ACA weekday criterium races starting Wednesday.
[other links/pictures will be posted here as we find them.]
Related posts:
- West Virginia Road Race # 1.
- Weekend Race Recap. MINGO, WVMBA, BATTENKILL
- Mingo Creek Spring Road Race Series
Tags: ABRA | race | road
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6 Responses to “Morgantown Road Race Report/Results”.
[...] you look at the full results, you can see A LOT of time gaps. It was a rough day for all. Check out my writeup on pghracing.org for more [...]
[...] How excited were you for the Morgantown Road Race, the first race of the new road [...]
howdy – thanks for an awesome race! honestly one of my favorite races ever. painful to say the least but a blast to ride and good people. just wondering if anyone has pics of the podiums or finishes? my team from up north doubts that i did this race
thanks! anna b
There is a photo of the Women’s 1/2/3 podium here http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1194792&id=1295584445
Ben, whose page are those photos on? The link is prohibited for me. I think I may need to friend that person. Thanks for your help!
That’s Patricia George, she won the Women’s 4 race
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