A Colorado-based pro and a talented youngster provided Memorial Day fireworks in downtown Roanoke Monday, spinning to wins in the Saturn Cup criterium bike race.
Julie Hanson of Superior, Colo., completed a sweep of Tour d' Festival events, winning the women's Category 1, 2 race. Zach Baker was a surprise winner in the men's Pro/Category 1, 2 race.
On a warm and breezy day that featured 10 races on a challenging, six-turn course, Hanson showed why she deserves a spot on the elite Saturn national team. Hanson, who won Saturday's Roanoke Orthopaedic Center Hillclimb and Sunday's mountainous road race, bided her time during the 30-kilometer criterium. Racing without any teammates, she hung with the pack until the final lap, launching an attack going into the course's only hill. Hanson quickly created a 50-yard gap on the field and held on to win easily.
Hanson, 30, said she decided to race conservatively because she was still feeling the effects of Sunday's 55-mile road race, which she won by more than eight minutes. Still, she wanted to get away from the pack before the final straightaway. "I didn't want it to come down to a sprint," said Hanson, who earned $362 for the win. Emily Wilson of Richmond won a field sprint to take second. Annette Kamm and Kathleen Gleason were third and fourth, respectively. Julie Taylor of Roanoke finished fifth, continuing her impressive transition from mountain bike racing to road racing.
The men's Pro/Category 1, 2 race was highlighted by constant attacks. Throughout the 45-kilometer race, small groups of riders would break away from the 80-rider field, only to be quickly swallowed up by the pack.
With just five laps remaining in the race, Baker, 21, made a surprise attack. With fellow riders from Team Go Mart/West Virginia doing their best to slow the chase, Baker quickly stretched the gap to more than 100 yards. He finished about 50 yards ahead of the field. "I wasn't trying to win this race at all," said Baker, who said his main goal was to help teammate Scottie Weiss get into position for the win. "I don't know how I was able to dig so deep to keep it going," he said. "That was crazy. I can't believe it." Baker earned $528 for the win. He planned to split the prize with his teammates, which is customary in bike racing.
Andy Crater of Durham, N.C., and Corey Fisher of Charlotte were second and third, respectively. Peter Mazur, 16, from Dundas, Ont., who was second in Sunday's 110-mile road race, finished fourth. Eric Lemaire of Athens, Ga., was fifth.
Monday's races were virtually crash-free, a rarity in criterium races, but were not without a touch of controversy. In the men's Category 3 race, Roanoke's Ron Glowczynski appeared to finish second in the 75-rider field. He later was relegated to sixth place because officials determined he took his hands off his handlebars during the sprint finish. Another rider launched the protest. Glowczynski still was the top Virginia finisher in the race, earning the District 42 Virginia state criterium championship.
MARK TAYLOR markta[at]roanoke.com can be reached at 981-3395.