It was an exciting morning for Team Organic! Christoffel Prinsloo took 2nd place after pushing the pace in a long breakaway! In the days before we talked about the few opportunities remaining this season for trying something special. Everyone agreed that our goal would be to initiate or jump into a break and work as a team to make it stick.
From early on in this 30 mile circuit race (five times around Central Park's loop drive) we made sure to keep guys close to the action. Team member Jim Mernin recalled how the race developed: "During the first 2 laps, we had good representation up front with average of 2 guys in top 5-10 most of the time. We also made small moves and chased down the moves of others over the first few laps..."
"Just prior to Stoffel's move, Paul and I had plans to launch an attack up the right hand side. At this time Stoffel was at the very front on the left. Paul and I were 10+ back on the right. Just as Paul spun it up with me in tow, Stoffel jumped. Great move by the way... pause, look back...bye bye. Our break attempt led Paul and I right to the front of the peloton to block" said Jim.
It turned out that at this point Christoffel, along with four others, each from different teams, had the perfect number to work efficiently together. All along, back in the chasing pack, teamwork really kicked into full gear. Jim further described: "It was a great feeling to watch Stoffel go, with Paul, Masa, Phil, Brian, and I all blocking...Once the break was established, it really felt great marking all moves off the front by other teams and working with the teams who also had their men in the break... at times you really have to wind it up while blocking to make sure you stay in the front and can disrupt chase groups."
The break maintained their pace fast enough to keep a 30-40 second advantage. They powered each hill and roller to gain even more time on the chasing field. Coming into the finish stretch the break also didn't waste any time with Christoffel initiating the sprint at what seemed like 300 yards to go. He maintained his lead and even made distance on two others but within the last yards a rider from team Merrill edged out a win with Christoffel taking close second by about the length of a wheel!
Christoffel said modestly: "I really do need to work on my
sprints. A first would have been so great but this was the best park
race I've ever had. Thanks to everyone for blocking. You did a
fantastic job..." Jim also summed up everyone's effort as "our best strategic race" and we all send big congrats to Christoffel on another powerful performance!!!
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