Alto Velo Elite Report by James Badia

James Badia(mechanical engineer) has been a huge help in the development of the 30x wheel system.

Race: Burlingame Downtown CriteriumDate: 24 June 2007
Category: Men's Pro 1/2
Team: James Badia, Dominic Giampaolo, Matt Beebe, Rob MacNeill, Peter Dinolfo
Placing: 4th of 90ish
This was my 2nd year racing the Burlingame Crit in the P1/2. Last year I won a prime and was sitting in a good spot with one to go when a crash occurred right at the start finish line where someone fell onto my rear wheel taking a few spokes out of Ksyrium SL. I really enjoyed the Burlingame course from last year and was excited to race it again. In addition, I try my best not to miss a race that is in anyway associated with Tom from Pilarcitos Sports, Tom and his team are a class act and put on some of the best run races around.
A few weeks ago I declared to my teamates that Burlingame was an A-race for me, meaning a race I wanted to peak for and be the finisher. Director Bruce (while on injury reserve, can't wait to race with you again Bruce) showed up with radios for some of the guys, with Rob and myself already wired this gave all but one person a radio. Bruce was making calls from the sidelines over the radio which helped out a bunch.
The team had a pre-race meeting at my tent and we discussed the plan; I was to conserve as much as possible and only go after breakaways that looked to be threatening. The other guys were going to try to ride more aggressive than we have been so far, not only covering attacks but initiating some as well and trying to create breakaways. A general rule was for everyone to try and stay in the top 30% of the race for safety and tactical reasons. I was still on the no prime diet, so I had to do my best to ignore the ringing bells. Sometimes I just can't help myself and that is what gets me into trouble.
The usual suspects showed up with Cal Giant fielding a huge squad along with Lomardi, BPG, and many others.
The race started out fast and stayed fast throughout. During the early parts of the race there were a few lulls and Dominic was quick to jump on the front and blast into the wind picking up the pace. For a little guy he has some good crit speed. Rob, Peter and Dominc all did their fair share of covering attacks and staying near the front. Peter was returning from a month away from the bike so I know he had to be feeling some pain at the speeds he was going near the front of the race. Both Dominic and Peter were involved in crashes mid race. Peter got some pretty bad road rash and his front wheel was destroyed. He crashed because someone pushed him causing his front wheel to run into someone else's rear derailleur. Dominic got a bump on his head and destroyed his rear Ksyrium SL. These crashes took these guys out of the race. Beebe was still trying to find some speed in his legs and when he does I hope I am there to help him out. He was caught behind a crash at some point and ended up dropping out after much chasing.
As the race started winding down it was just Rob and I left, we communicated some and I told him I was feeling good. With about 10 laps to go there was a breakaway of about 4 guys with a small gap. Bruce radioed that there was not a Cal Giant rider in the break which was useful information because based on my previous race day experience the Cal Giant team wasn't about to let a breakaway get away. The break was reeled in and a solo rider attacked off the front only to be caught with 2 to go. At 2 to go the Cal Giant team formed a massive leadout train. No one was willing to contest the leadout train even though they weren't completely drilling it.
The pack started getting very antsy and Rob and I were not able to stay together. When I heard the bell there were 7 Cal Giant riders at the front, Daniel Holloway, Jamiel Danesh, a few Lombardi and BPG guys and then me in about 12th. The pace increased on the last lap. I entered the final sweeper turn on the inside in about 10th place, passed a few guys in the corner and then started my sprint coming out of the the sweeper. My sprint speed surprised me as I started picking people off one by one up to 4th place. I felt like I was gaining on the 3 guys ahead of me but ran out of road to the finish line.
On the podium were Daniel Holloway 1st (VMG), Devon Vigus 2nd (Cal Giant), Jamiel Danesh 3rd (Sierra Nevada), Me 4th, and a Lombardi rider 5th.
I was super excited about my finish and am looking forward to the upcoming races with the guys on the Elite team. I can't wait to support some of the other guys at their designated A-races.
Thanks to Bruce for coming out and being director for the day.
Thanks for readingJames

Philip Stauner Strong in Kansas

Always fun to get these emails!

"I went to the Baldwin city race in Kansas on June 23 and 24 as a category 4 rider. We did a time trail and crit and road race. In the time trial I Finnish 8th then the crit follow the same day, The crit was over blacktop and rough brick I was able to Finnish 1st and the road race was 59 miles over rolling terrain with a steep up hill Finish . an I was able to Finish 5th
that put me 1st overall in the omnium. The dash 50 wheels really help me.
Thanks they are a great set of wheels."

Crystal City Classic Race Report by Joe Coddington

NRC Race -
So I get in the race. I am riding like a champ. I do not feel a thing. I am cornering on rails. I am at the front. This euphoria goes on for about 4 laps. Then I feel the discomfort begin to creep in. I realize that it was adrenaline. Then ouch it all catches up. I am now heavy and tired. And only 50k to go. “Light gears hold momentum, find a rhythm.” Luckily for me a break goes and the pace settles for a few laps. I can move back up. Jon Hamblen was next to me I asked him if he wanted to go across. He said “No not yet.” We rode near the front and then the chase began to go into high gear. We go lined out for a while. I do not know how long it is a bit of a blur. It was hard enough I stopped looking at the lap board because I did not want to know. The break is brought back and the counters go. Jon is in the first one. It is short lived. I help bring back a second. Jon goes again. I am in awe how is he doing that. Again the math is wrong and it comes back. The pace settles again. Whew. I begin to relax and some jerks go again. It is a larger group rolling away. I am hesitant and trying to talk myself into going. I keep waiting. “Just go come on” I tell myself. It almost like I am scared. “What the **** are you doing?” I hear from my right as Jon attacks to try and go across. I am in shock. Then the guilt begins to roll over me. The field is closing down on Jon. “How can you let your team mates down? Get it in gear.” I scream at myself as I muster enough courage to attack. I barely get off the front but I keep my head down. I try to hold 550 watts down the front stretch. Things begin to go tunnel vision so I swing off and get clipped by a Harley rider attacking up by my right. “Come on are you kidding me?” I whimper. The backward slide begins as I try to recover. The field closes to the break. I guess every one is tired and I am able to go forward again. I look up and see 12 laps to go. “Wow that was fast!” I think. Some guys go again and it is dangerous. Out of the first turn the guilt still fresh I jump and jump hard. I am going clear. It takes most of the lap but I make it. We stay gone for another lap and are caught. The field sits up hard as they try to decide field sprint or no field sprint. I look forward and see Jon way up the road. He had countered me perfectly. No one knew what happened. Also somehow I stayed near the front. The guilt faded to pride that I had done my job and done it well. I sit at the front discouraging attacks. A group of guys jump I take inventory and decide that they should go right teams. The go halfway. I am in disbelief that Jon is still solo. I am being push all around the very technical course. “Fight stay here discourage the chase.” I am in a mental war with myself. I look up 7 to go. Those 4 laps have taken longer then the whole race. The chase group shatters Kyle w. from Navigators shoots up to Jon. They keep rolling. Pride fades to worry and hope. “Come on, the wait is killing me. How many more?” I am having an internal argument. Willing the end and hear the bell. I realize they are gone unless something happens. “We did it!!!” My mind yells though pain and fatigue. I roll across the line to see Kane holding up 2 fingers. We made the podium and place other riders in the money. I see Jon on stage after the cool down lap. Wow it is cool to see your jersey up there. Come on boys lets hit the barn for a well deserved Burger and Beer. Manulife Financial Pro Cycling races on WIlliams Wheels.

Hernandez, Gil, Dibble, Hamblin and McRae

Tour de Nez Booth Picture
10,000 fans line the streets for this downtown Reno Crit

What a weekend of racing.

Mike Hernandez - the legend grows

Mike was testing the 30's for me this weekend.
Folsom 35's: 1st
Folsom p1/2: 2nd
Nev City 35's: 1st

Andres Gil: For those not familiar with the Tour de Nez, let me say this. It is one of the hardest criterium races in the country. Typically, the field will reduce from 100+ to less than 30 within 15 minutes and less than 20 by then end. It is that hard....single file with not one place to recover. One word: BRUTAL. Andres put on one of the most inspiring solo attacks I have seen. At the half way point, Andres attacked the front group of 11 to solo away for 20 minutes only to go again when caught for two more laps. Multi World and National Masters racers in the 10 man break could not bring him back. I was in awe! Andres was on the Williams 30's.

Tyler Dibble: Tour de Nez Pro race. Tyler, racing for DBC Elite mixed it up with the top Pro's at Nez to the end. Once again, Tyler showed is tough man spring classic style riding. .I guess I don't have to tell you how hard this race is...ask anyone who has done it! Tyler was on the Williams 30x's.

Jon Hamblin: Jon races for Manulife/Jack Kane Pro

Cycling and took 2nd place Crystal City Classic NRC race.
Jon was on a combo Williams 30 front/19 rear.

Jen McRae: Another big win at the AT&T Austin crit. Can you say "Superstar"

Ron Casita climbs the cobbles in Iowa

Ron Casita, racing for EMC/Vellum puts the hammer down on the cobbled climb in Iowa.

Ron, engineer head, has been a big help with the development of our new hubs and hybrid ceramic bearings.

Need to find Ron? Just look for the guy drilling it at the front of the ultra competitive masters racing scene in Nor Cal.

Jen McRae - Liberty Classic Race Report

"I'll be there". My response when asked by my team director how I wasfeeling about a sprint finish in Philly. Arriving at the Liberty Classic International Women’s Road Race as the team's sprinter, there's really no other acceptable response. I knew my form was good, I knewwe had the team and resources there to pull off a good result, so I had every reason to be confident. To actually execute it, was thrilling satisfaction. My sole responsibility during the race was to conserve. Simply said - anyone with experience in this race knows it's not so simple to accomplish. During the liberty classic, there's tremendous mental energy negotiating the peloton, the mental chatter required to keep focused, 'there's a good hole to sneak through, watch her handling, get up there, danger left, cone on the right, high crash potential here, darkness in the tunnel, gutter on the left, drink, eat, jump on that lead-out for the wall, defend, downshift," for 2.5 hours. The mental energy is more exhausting than the 'wall'. The 3 kilometers leading to the wall are just like the final kilometers in a criterium, massive speed and jockeying of position. Lead-out trains form by the big teams towing their sprinters to the front. My tactic was to start at the front so that I could minimize my effort on the hill and afford some drift – I never managed that top position, entering wall each time in about 15-20th position – So I didn’t have to go hard on the climb, but I couldn’t afford to drift either. The climb is outrageously fun, it’s not long, the roar of the spectators accels you up and before you know it, you’re making that right turn seeking the descent. The last approach to the wall, t-mobile was reeling in Alison Powers who had a minute lead on the field. They caught her right at the base and I anticipated my first hard effort up the wall. I entered the bottom in the same position as the first 3 laps, but with all the aggressiveness on the last lap, I was soon anaerobic and at the top as I took my first look forward – I saw the field strung out and splitting. I took a gamble just sitting on the chasers and thankfully, we caught at the bottom of the descent. Now it was show-time for the sprinters and I was getting psyched. The last time through the start finish, following killer-teammateHeather, I had visualized where I would initiate my sprint to the line. Heather protected my position the last time up lemon hill and I was in the sprinter zone, really excited that this opportunity was moments away. Soon after lemon hill and the 2k to go mark, I moved passed Heather to the top 10 and found myself easily on Ina’s wheel & right there with me was natl crit champ, Teresa Cliff-ryan, at first glance, this seemed ideal, but then I got a gut feeling that it felt too cramped and I needed more mobility, we were about 700 meters from the finish, 200 from the round-a ‘bout. I saw an opportunity to move when Brooke Miller moved out left. I hopped on for the ride and appreciated being on the outside on such a good wheel. BOOM, bad crash right behind me that took out 2 sprinters, Cliff ryan and Shontelle Gauthier(6th in 2006). That's where luck and good instincts are very good things in the finale. As we hammered through 500 meters and around the round-a’ bout coming to the straight away, I was in 7th position, nothing but pure speed in front of me, Brooke on my left , Van gilder on my right, Inain front of Van gilder and Regina & a T-mobile lead-out in front ofIna & to other girls on the right. Everyone was sooo patient. It seemed almost surreal, I looked up & saw the finish banner, realized I had a great position and the world seemed to be standing still. At 300 meters there were 2 jumps, Brooke went left, the rest going right, I went to the right thinking there was more horsepower in that move and then the 2nd jump went again at about 150 when the t-mobile lead-out pulled off - I jumped left passing 2 riders. While my goal was a podium position, I was happy with 5th and to grab the unspoken title of top American in the international field. 1st thru 5th:Germany, Germany, Canada, New Zealand, USA. I called my friends to let them know my name would be the first they could pronounce.

Jen McRae 5th at Philadelphia International Championship

World-class riders line up at Philly this year hoping to put their stamp on one of the most prestigious one day races in the world. Jen McRae took 5th place in a straight up blistering sprint finish.

Way to go Jen!

Jen McRae on fire at Tulsa Tough

Jen McRae took 2 stages and the overall at Tulsa Tough last weekend.

Jen rides for williamscycling.com and is one of the best sprinters in the world.

Congrats to her and the family. Keep it up!

(Notice the "W" hand sign from Jen.)

Jones 12th overall at Mt Hood

The big boys came out in force at Mt Hood this year. It was very impressive to see the talent lined up at this very difficult stage race.

Our guy, Chris Jones placed 12th overall which is an excellent finish on GC. Congrats to him and #1 back home holding down the fort.