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2007-08-27 17:08:51

Chris Thater Memorial

August 27, 2007 Wamsley=rockstar

Ok...before I get ripped for the title you had to be there in Binghamton, NY. The Chris Thater Memorial cycling race has been going on for 24 year in memory of Chris Thater. Jim May was a friend of Chris's and they were both cyclist. I am not sure on the exact details but Chris and Jim evidently missed the same ride that caused Chris his life in a DWI driver. Tragic, but..think of this. Jim has held a living vigil for Chris's life for 24 years!!!! 

Now....to racing. With Joe Saling and I at the helm and WCSN on the tube..the weather cooperated on day 2 to lead to very nice track conditions. The whose who of Pro Cycling was present...sans a few guns. Health Net was straddled with the loss of Pipp due to broken ribs and other teams were levied deficits due to tired legs and injury.

The 1.3 mile course was....how do you say...sneaky? Sneaky hard? ripe for a breakaway? The course has the riser that saps the legs of everyone and the incentive to chase a strong break nullified. Well, sure as hell, after a drill it for a start by Kyle Wamsley of Navigators Ted King, Borrajo, Elliston, Wamsley (pattern?) Walters of KGSN got a nice tidy gap rolling. Missing out were the teams with numbers and incentive.AEG and Toyota's A team. 

They decided to come to a mutual heads of state agreement to bring it back. Very artistic actually. To see Pro Teams on the front doing a 2 team TT was magnificent. AEG was doing 1 for 3 pulls with Toyota....to be expected.

The gap hovered at 30 seconds until about 10 to go. It Seemed like Toyota United was just willing to let the break dangle from an outsiders view, but frankly my view was it was left to late and they were going to have to waste major bullets to bring it back (bullets needed for a lead out?). With 7 to go TUP just detonated the field with a monster lap. 30 left to contest the final gallop. 3 to go and the break was absorbed. TUP was still on the front...but Healthnet, AEG, Priority Health and KBS/Medfast were all fighting for Dominguez wheel. With a half lap to go Dominguez was dumped to his own fight, a breathe was taken by the field and Wamsley pounced. I mean drilled it. No hesitation. No doubt either. Clear victory and a rock star effort. He got the most aggressive rider and the win.

Next weekend is US PRO and 100K Classic...the season is winding down but the racing surely is not!!!

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