Meijer Grand Cycling Classic
June 18, 2009
The Grand Cycling Classic is back on!
Meijer has stepped up to the plate as title sponsor of the third annual Grand Cycling Classic. Scheduled for August 8th on the brick streets in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, MI. Over $12,000 in prize money is up for grabs. A full day of racing starts at 10:45 and wraps up with the Pro race at 4:15. Register online at Active.com. For more information go to www.grcyclingclassic.com.
Meijer has stepped up to the plate as title sponsor of the third annual Grand Cycling Classic. Scheduled for August 8th on the brick streets in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, MI. Over $12,000 in prize money is up for grabs. A full day of racing starts at 10:45 and wraps up with the Pro race at 4:15. Register online at Active.com. For more information go to www.grcyclingclassic.com.
The cource is 1.1km, very slight elevation gain south to north. Three brick sections on Weston, Grandville and Ionia.
Le Tour de Mont Pleasant
June 16, 2009
Race Report by Graham Howard:
The Tour de Mont Pleasant featured a Saturday criterium in downtown Mt. Pleasant as well as a Sunday road race through Isabella County. Saturday's race was fast and aggressive. The Kenda Pro cycling team along with the Panther / RGF cycling team and the Jet Fuel team came for the weekend of racing in Mt. Pleasant, so the Michigan field had the opportunity to sample racing with a little more horsepower. Despite a fairly aggressive criterium, the field stayed all together and came down to a field sprint. I miscounted the laps and went for the finish one lap too early, so I didn't place. Jason and Derek however managed to get into the sprint and both managed to place in the top ten.
Sunday's Road Race, at 105 miles, was a longer affair than is often encountered in Michigan. The Bissell team decided that we didn't want to do any more work than we had to for the first 70-80 miles. Other teams had different tactics, however, and a break of eight formed about 10 miles into the race after a hard cross wind section. I found my way into the group, along with Greg Christian and David Campbell (Panther / RGF), Ben Renkema and Jake Rytlewski (Kenda), Tom Burke (Lathrup / Giant), Mark Olson (Priority Health) and a rider from the Mad Anthony Brewery team. Jake, Greg and Tom immediately got to work. Mark Olson and I, having full teams sitting in the field, and no interest in flogging ourselves for 95 miles, sat on the back of the group. Undeterred by our disinterest, the other six pressed on with full strength. Slowly but surely the peloton disappeared behind us until they were no longer visible. Time gaps were hard to come across, but from what we were able to gather from feed zone hollering, we were roughly six minutes up on the peloton and more than likely would stay clear to the finish. The two Panther / RGF riders proved strongest and most aggressive as they began attacking the group, still 20 miles from the finish. I had fresh legs from sitting on all day and followed two or three efforts before one finally stuck with Greg and Mark. Greg and I rolled hard until the last kilometer when I dropped behind him and forced him to lead out the sprint. He put in a couple of good digs, but I managed to come around in the last 100m to take the win. The rest of the Bissell boys all came in strong at the front of the field kick a few minutes later.
This was a first year event, but a really spectacular one. The courses were terrific, the community support was wonderful and everything ran smoothly. Thanks to all those who helped put it on, I hope it happens again next year.
The Tour de Mont Pleasant featured a Saturday criterium in downtown Mt. Pleasant as well as a Sunday road race through Isabella County. Saturday's race was fast and aggressive. The Kenda Pro cycling team along with the Panther / RGF cycling team and the Jet Fuel team came for the weekend of racing in Mt. Pleasant, so the Michigan field had the opportunity to sample racing with a little more horsepower. Despite a fairly aggressive criterium, the field stayed all together and came down to a field sprint. I miscounted the laps and went for the finish one lap too early, so I didn't place. Jason and Derek however managed to get into the sprint and both managed to place in the top ten.
Sunday's Road Race, at 105 miles, was a longer affair than is often encountered in Michigan. The Bissell team decided that we didn't want to do any more work than we had to for the first 70-80 miles. Other teams had different tactics, however, and a break of eight formed about 10 miles into the race after a hard cross wind section. I found my way into the group, along with Greg Christian and David Campbell (Panther / RGF), Ben Renkema and Jake Rytlewski (Kenda), Tom Burke (Lathrup / Giant), Mark Olson (Priority Health) and a rider from the Mad Anthony Brewery team. Jake, Greg and Tom immediately got to work. Mark Olson and I, having full teams sitting in the field, and no interest in flogging ourselves for 95 miles, sat on the back of the group. Undeterred by our disinterest, the other six pressed on with full strength. Slowly but surely the peloton disappeared behind us until they were no longer visible. Time gaps were hard to come across, but from what we were able to gather from feed zone hollering, we were roughly six minutes up on the peloton and more than likely would stay clear to the finish. The two Panther / RGF riders proved strongest and most aggressive as they began attacking the group, still 20 miles from the finish. I had fresh legs from sitting on all day and followed two or three efforts before one finally stuck with Greg and Mark. Greg and I rolled hard until the last kilometer when I dropped behind him and forced him to lead out the sprint. He put in a couple of good digs, but I managed to come around in the last 100m to take the win. The rest of the Bissell boys all came in strong at the front of the field kick a few minutes later.
This was a first year event, but a really spectacular one. The courses were terrific, the community support was wonderful and everything ran smoothly. Thanks to all those who helped put it on, I hope it happens again next year.
West Branch Classic
May 29, 2009
Race Report by Jason Swiatlowski:
Based on the promoters course description of the first running of the West Branch Classic and the drive to the course start in the morning that gave everyone a good look at the finishing climb, I think most of the pro I II starters might have been a little intimidated by the 90 miles that were to looming. Those factors did not deter the Bissell/ABG team however. Tim Farnham was the first of the teams squad to launch a series of attacks into the first headwind section on lap one of four. He was successful in breaking a small group of three free with only 20 miles in the books. On the ensuing lap, some solo attempts were put on by other strong regional team members of Waste Management and the Panthers squad but to no avail. Late in lap two, the rest of the Bissell/ABG team felt confident in letting another small group of three slip away which contained BISSELL's strongman Derek Graham. As the remainder of the Bissell/ABG team covered several small chases that ensued in lap three, Ben Whitehead was able to go clear with one of the Panther team riders in the headwind section which was becoming more of a factor as the race wore on. With one lap to go and three very capable riders up the road, the remainder of the team including Jimi Minnema and Nate Williams who were still nursing early season injuries were content to control the field's attempts to organize a chase. In the final lap all but five of the eight riders up the road where picked up by the remainder of the field. Tim Farnham stayed off all day to take the win while Derek Graham rode a good portion of the last two laps solo and finished third. Ben Whitehead was able to hold off all but one rider from the field who broke free just before the final climb to finish fifth and Jason Swiatlowski was feeling well enough to finish second in the ensuing field sprint to finish seventh overall. With four riders in the top seven the Bissell/ABG squad were very content with the days efforts.
Based on the promoters course description of the first running of the West Branch Classic and the drive to the course start in the morning that gave everyone a good look at the finishing climb, I think most of the pro I II starters might have been a little intimidated by the 90 miles that were to looming. Those factors did not deter the Bissell/ABG team however. Tim Farnham was the first of the teams squad to launch a series of attacks into the first headwind section on lap one of four. He was successful in breaking a small group of three free with only 20 miles in the books. On the ensuing lap, some solo attempts were put on by other strong regional team members of Waste Management and the Panthers squad but to no avail. Late in lap two, the rest of the Bissell/ABG team felt confident in letting another small group of three slip away which contained BISSELL's strongman Derek Graham. As the remainder of the Bissell/ABG team covered several small chases that ensued in lap three, Ben Whitehead was able to go clear with one of the Panther team riders in the headwind section which was becoming more of a factor as the race wore on. With one lap to go and three very capable riders up the road, the remainder of the team including Jimi Minnema and Nate Williams who were still nursing early season injuries were content to control the field's attempts to organize a chase. In the final lap all but five of the eight riders up the road where picked up by the remainder of the field. Tim Farnham stayed off all day to take the win while Derek Graham rode a good portion of the last two laps solo and finished third. Ben Whitehead was able to hold off all but one rider from the field who broke free just before the final climb to finish fifth and Jason Swiatlowski was feeling well enough to finish second in the ensuing field sprint to finish seventh overall. With four riders in the top seven the Bissell/ABG squad were very content with the days efforts.
The Pro/I/II podium
Dan Dubes 3rd in masters 35+
Tour of Kensington Valley Road Race
May 16, 2009
Derek Graham Wins at Kensington
The BISSELL Elite Team controlled Saturday's Tour of Kensington where Derek Graham powered past former elite national road champion, Paul Martin (Panther/RGF), for the win. BISSELL's elite squad was joined by two members of the pro team, Sheldon Deeny and Tim Farnham which added depth and strength to the numbers. BISSELL sat in the driver's seat from the start of the 85 mile road race when Ben Whitehead attacked a fairly docile group. An Essex Brass rider and BISSELL's Farnham bridged across to form a lead group of 3. The threesome worked well together and was able to build up a 2 minute gap at the mid-race point. A strong chase group eventually formed that contained three 3 BISSELL riders, Derek Graham, Sheldon Deeny and Nate Willams. The leaders were finally caught with 15 miles to go. BISSELL continued to put the pressure on and released a barrage of attacks. The move that defined the day was an attack by Sheldon. A select group of 4 including Sheldon and Derek and 2 Panther riders blasted toward the finish. Derek threw down the final effort with 150 meters to go and surged across the finish in first. Paul Martin took second and Sheldon came across for third.
The BISSELL Elite Team controlled Saturday's Tour of Kensington where Derek Graham powered past former elite national road champion, Paul Martin (Panther/RGF), for the win. BISSELL's elite squad was joined by two members of the pro team, Sheldon Deeny and Tim Farnham which added depth and strength to the numbers. BISSELL sat in the driver's seat from the start of the 85 mile road race when Ben Whitehead attacked a fairly docile group. An Essex Brass rider and BISSELL's Farnham bridged across to form a lead group of 3. The threesome worked well together and was able to build up a 2 minute gap at the mid-race point. A strong chase group eventually formed that contained three 3 BISSELL riders, Derek Graham, Sheldon Deeny and Nate Willams. The leaders were finally caught with 15 miles to go. BISSELL continued to put the pressure on and released a barrage of attacks. The move that defined the day was an attack by Sheldon. A select group of 4 including Sheldon and Derek and 2 Panther riders blasted toward the finish. Derek threw down the final effort with 150 meters to go and surged across the finish in first. Paul Martin took second and Sheldon came across for third.
Photo by The Timing Guys
2009 Training Camp
April 13, 2009
The BISSELL/ABG Masters and Elite teams escaped the foul Michigan weather for a training camp in Los Olivos, California. Lots of sunshine and quality training. Big thanks to Bob for renting us an awesome house and Cody O'Reilly for showing us all the best roads.
More image in the photo gallery.
The view from the top of Mt. Figueroa
More image in the photo gallery.