BRC Crit

The 45+ squad’s crazy roller coaster year continued through this weekend. So far this season the team has overcome injuries, illnesses, and several untimely flats to maintain a tenuous lead over the Great Divide Cycling Team in this year’s Best All-around Team competition. For a brief moment early last week, it appeared that the team was turning the proverbial misfortune corner. On Sunday, Jeff Ofsanko returned to racing after battling bronchitis all summer to earn a respectable 5^th place at the Candellas’ Circuit Race and Jimi Gibson announced that he was returning to race the Mount Evans Hill Climb, a race that he has won the past two years. However, on Friday as the team was planning for another weekend of racing they were informed that Jimi and Chris Leggere were both involved in accidents with distracted drivers while out on training rides. Although both riders are mostly OK and recovering well, the accidents effectively ended their seasons.

Nonetheless, the team’s depth led to another successful BAR/BAT outing at the BRC Criterium in Highlands Ranch. The team brought six riders to the event and rode an aggressive race throughout. Jeff was in two promising breakaways that unfortunately didn’t work out and the rest of the team (Peter Ismert, Pete Lucke, Larry Cornman, Henrik Pederson, and Steve Birnbuam) worked to reel in several other moves that favored the other teams.

In the finale the plan was for Jeff to mark any late moves and if no moves went, work to set up Peter Ismert and Pete Lucke for the bunch sprint. With about a half mile to go Peter Ismert found Jeff at the front of the field and Jeff led Peter through the courses’ final two technical turns before dropping Ismert off on the front with 400 meters to go. Unfortunately, Pete Lucke lost a few places in the group prior to those final two corners and couldn’t get into team’s leadout train. Despite having 400 meters to sprint, Ismert rode admirably conceding only two places to hold onto third place. Meanwhile, Henrik’s 11^th, Larry’s 13^th, and Lucke’s 14^th places helped the team to build on their BAT lead.

Congratulations to Peter Ismert for his 9^th podium placing of the season and the team for building on their lead in the BAT standings. And best wishes to Jimi and Chris for a speedy and full recovery. We will miss you guys.

The 35's had a small team of only 3 guys (Dan, CJ & Matt Gates), so for a change they were one of the smaller team and had to be careful with burning their matches.  Matt was not too worried about his matches and got into the main break of 3 that was away for most of the race with a RIO and a BRC rider.  Westside missed the move and did some work, while CJ and Dan covered the front.  The break never got too far away and it all came back together with 5 to go.  Matt & CJ pulled the last few attack back on the last few laps and at one to go lined up for the field sprint, with Dan on CJ's wheel.  Unfortunately for the mix1 guys Westisde owner, and strong man, Michael Gibson made a great move, with his massive acceleration into the hill, and got away with half a lap to go.  CJ hit out after Michael, with Dan 2 wheel back, and they got a nice gap on the field, it was enough to get Dan second place, but he ran out of real estate to catch Michael.  Nice move Mr. Gibson and nice win.  You made us mad and we want revenge at North Boulder Park.