Race Weekend Report - Providence/E. Hartford

This was a great weekend for the guys and gals in blue, yellow, and black. Our tally for the weekend was as follows:
A total of 10 top ten finishes, with 7 of them being top five, 3 of which were podium finishes, and one of which was a win ... at one of the biggest races in the Northeast this year (Cox Charities Criterium in Providence, RI)!

At last count, we have 13 team members racing at Exeter on Tues.. 7/1 (9 men and 4 women).

Prime Time TV coverage for Team Sunapee/S&W Sports/Continental Paving!!

The purpose of this post is to make sure you are all aware of a very exciting community outreach activity that many members of the team participated in earlier this year, which has lead directly to prime-time exposure for the team on WMUR (New Hampshire ABC Affiliate) and WPTZ (Vermont NBC Affiliate) over the past few weeks. The story begins back in April, when the organizers of the Prouty Bike Ride (an annual fundraising ride for the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth Medical Center in Hanover, New Hampshire) were looking to expand the ride into a double century on July 11th and July 12th. Before they opened up registration for this event, they wanted a group of experienced cyclists to pre-ride the new section of the course and provide feedback. On April 28th, nine members of our team along with five close cycling friends and four additional cyclists set out to ride the 100 miles from Manchester, NH to Hanover, NH. Along the way, we stopped at the rest stops the promoters had planned and provided feedback on the trip. Everyone had an excellent time and the ride organizers really appreciated our input.

Along the way, video footage was shot at a number of locations. This footage was compiled into a 30 second promotional spot that has aired on WMUR and WPTZ over the past few weeks. Just in case you have not seen the spot yourself, please look at the video that the Prouty folks have put online at the following web address:

http://www.kintera.org/htmlcontent.asp?cid=81784

You will find four things of interest at that web address:

1. the 30 second clip that has appeared on TV

2. a longer montage that shows a bit more of the route and the team

3. portions of an interview with Debony Diehl

4. portions of an interview with Chris Naimie

Sunapee Women go 1-2 at Auburn Road Race

Congrats to Debony Diehl for winning the Women's Pro-1-2-3 race at Auburn, Maine by an impressive 5 minute gap. And to Kat and Sam for taking 2nd and 8th respectively.

Stafford Springs & Hartford mini-report - PLUS PICS!

Saturday saw Keith Ford win the 45+ at Stafford Springs in a field sprint while Craig Harrison won primes in both the 45+ and 1-2-3 races. It was a lot like racing the oval at Loudon - but clockwise, and with fewer spectators. Very windy day.

Sunday in Hartford, Patrick won a prime (true to form for this race, it's believed that it was an empty water bottle and a pair of socks), and Sunapee had a good showing - showing the team colors in at least 4 of the events. Preliminary results show that Debony took 5th in the women's pro race, and a photo gallery is posted. Just click here to go to it.

A few of the Sunapee women are currently at the Tour of Sommerville for Memorial Day. Hopefully a report will be forthcoming.

Not to be outdone, some of the masters riders are considering the unsanctioned Cape Able crashfest for Monday afternoon.

Grand Tour Report from Gary Evans

What a classic ride today, The Grand Tour.

Even with the headwind in the morning going north from Plymouth and the headwind going south to Plymouth (only in NH) it was a great ride.

It is always good to have Sunapee / S&W presence at races but after talking with some of the locals and core participants of the Grand Tour our presence is also important plus showing up in "Team Kits" makes us stand out.

Comment from one of the Grand Tour regulars after the ride section from Twin Mountain to the bike path in Franconia Notch through the Goverment Reserve:

" I have never riden that hard and pace through that section of road. I was so pumped seeing the "Sunapee Train" pushing the pace at the front as a team. I felt like I was at the Tour de France with the USPS controling the front of the peleton driving Lance to the finish". Corny, but a cool comment about us.

I also notice alot of general conversations with whoever anyone was lined up with in the pacelines. Makes for good PR for our group. The "image" we show at these rides is sometimes more important than at races.

Everyone should try to get this ride on their calendars at some time. Great course.