CRAIG FULK TAKES THE WIN @ MANDA ( AUSTIN, TX )

I think it was the second lap, in the tailwind section, I looked back to Thomas Luton with Lone Star Racing ( LSRC ) and said lets go. We were 53/12 uphill drilling it and immediately opened a sizable gap. We were joined by Brent Wells from Bicycle-Heaven. The three of us hit it and stayed away just shy of one full lap. As we were about to be caught by the field, I attacked again.

I stayed away quite a while before being caught by Brent. He thought I needed company. After 3-4 miles we were caught by another rider. Now we had three in the break. I looked back and saw the pack was closing in and was nothing of the size it was when we started. That made me feel even better to have missed the gutter fest that had to be going on with the high winds that day. Eventually, we were caught. With 1.5 laps to go, Matthew Kessing went to the front and just drilled it in the gutter during the crosswind run. OUCH. People were popping left and right. I was sitting 6th wheel, when 2 riders right in front of me popped and left a sizable gap. I had to close it knowing that the race could very well be decided right there.

We are now down to one lap to go and things started to settle down. I had marked the riders I felt could do the job...either bringing someone back or in the sprint. I think we were down to 15 in the field now. For the last 5 miles or so of the race, I was running through how I was going to win this thing. I decided it was going to be the sprint and not another solo attempt. I thought about how it would go down...how it looked and how would I make it there first. Everything played out exactly as I thought it would. An attack from Kessing on the last corner came. Luton and myself covered it. Coming into the final 1000m I was sitting in sheltered from the wind to the left of 4 riders and very close to the yellow line.




At 400m the road opened up for sprinting. Accelerations came up the left ( legally over the line ) as I had expected. I was immediately able to attach and roll with the accelerations to 300m. At 300m, it was on.


Out of the saddle and driving it hard all the way to the line. With about 25m to go, all the cards were played and I was left holding the winning hand.



It was a hard fought race with a very sweet ending.

Wheels choice for the day was Williams Wheels Full Carbon 58 tubies with Vittoria Evo Tech tires.

Thanks to Velossimo Racing from Austin Texas for putting on another great racing weekend in Central Texas. Thanks Karl for the great pics.

RICK REITMAN - FAYETTEVILLE STAGE WIN - 3rd GC

Rick Reitman pulls off a long solo run in the final stage of Fayetteville, TX Stage Race last weekend and secures the win.

In Rick's words:

Two quarts of cottage cheese, one box of Fiber One, one box of Kashi Golean, and a 2 liter plastic bottle of cherry 7-up – What? So I have a healthy appetite. Ok, so maybe that is a little over kill for a 10K ITT.


So, after my snack ( meal for a large family ), I managed onto my TT bike and time trialed to a 4th place finish in the ITT. This left me 45 seconds down in GC.


On Sunday, I was somewhat content with hoping for a pack finish and settling for 4th over all with the payouts go to the top 6. Our field had to traverse 3 laps on Sunday’s road stage. The hotspot had a 3 second time bonus and the 2nd and 3rd GC men were tied. So they both attacked very early for the intermediate time bonus. Along with 5 other riders, I went with them. At the top of the hill, we had about 30 second on the pack. I was just about to open my fat mouth and yell “let’s go, we’ve got a gap”, when everyone sat up and seemed content to go back to the pack.


That’s when I buried my head and floored it. After 10 minutes I looked back and I was out of sight. I said to myself “what the @#$%! are you doing?” Well the die has been cast, and I have to stick with it for better or worse. The official gave me time splits around every 5 minutes or so, and the largest gap was 2:45 at the bell lap. I thought “whoa, maybe I can do this?” I was the virtual GC leader.


The time gap began to shrink down to 1:15 at the feed zone still no sight of them. But along comes a Charma rider. He looked totally destroyed. He said, let me recover and I’ll help you stay away. Sounded good to me. At one Kilometer, I could see the field coming up behind us. I could see the 500 meter sign straight ahead. At the 500M to go sign, I attacked. That move was enough to take the stage win and 3rd in GC.


My wheel choice for the day was a set of Williams Cycling 85MM Full Carbon Clinchers.

Williams Cycling Takes Another Win!

Saturday = clockwise (15% grade down); Sunday = counter-clockwise (15% grade up)

Dillon:


Another exciting weekend of racing down in Lago Vista this past weekend. Saturday started with a chilly 42 degree temp for Dillon's morning race, not to be outdone by the ensuing rain and hail making the 40+mph downhill that much more "exciting". Why not attack on lap 1? So he does, and he and two others immediately open a gap on the climb and that was the race. A few more laps and the three man break is down to two. The elements of the day were treacherous and Dillon was able to hold on for a much deserved 2nd place result.

Not wanting to ride around solo on Sunday, Dillon entered the 3/4 race and looked incredibly comfortable in the group. He was able to pick his way through the field of 75 guys, learned how to take a feed, was at the front when he needed to be, and draft when he needed that also. Unfortunately while in the lead group with one to go, he flatted out of the race and had to settle for an early finish. Incredible first taste of Cat3 racing.

Todd:


Saturday afternoon weather turned sunny, windy, and warm for our race. An early break with Wooly Mammoth, 787, and Garmin goes up the road. They shut down the field and the group quickly puts 1:30 on us. I tried numerous times to get away, all unsuccessful. A handful of us start working the front of the group and keeping a much higher tempo than the first 8 laps. We hear the break is getting weaker and we pounce on the opportunity to bring them back. Coming across the S/F line for the last lap, we pick them up and nothing else gets away up the climb. At the top, Michael Pincus rolls off the front. I thought for sure we would bring him back... we didn't. We drilled it down the hill and into the sprint and I just had nothing left at that point and rolled in 15th.

Sunday was a much better day. That downhill was now an uphill. With no warm-up, I decided to play it safe and sit in for a few laps. Errr. lap 2 the climb starts and off goes a Garmin guy and a 787 guy. Then a Wooly guy goes. So, I go. Then a Tulsa Wheelmen, 918x, and Park Place guys come after us. Wooly and I bridge up to 787 and Garmin, and shortly after the other three attach to the back of us. With all the big teams represented, this may be the move...except there are 50+ more miles of racing. :( Next lap, off goes Park Place. Next lap, off goes Garmin. Now there is just 5. A few more laps, and off goes 787. With our lead at over 2:00 now, it will be hard to catch except for Garmin and 787 are now chasing. Our 2+ min lead is down to 1:10 in one lap, but we only have one lap (5.5 mi) to go. Up the hill one more time, hit the u-turn at the top, and we now can see the pack as we're looking over at them coming into the same u-turn. We drill it down the hill, the P1/2 break drills it harder and catch us... they neutralize us. We are literally coasting downhill with 2 miles to go. About 1 mile left, we are given the green and we go again. 918x jumps in the last corner which is downhill and about 600m out. I tag along and we shed the other two guys. We hit the uphill and I jump, he goes left of the motorcycle, I go right and fortunately had enough in the tank to take the win for Williams Cycling!

PODIUM AT LAGO

Dillon Fowler takes 2nd at Lago Vista Road Race on Saturday.

Williams Cycling Rocks Mineral Wells Stage Race!

We had a great showing at the Mineral Wells Stage Race this past weekend! Our youngest rider ( Dillon Fowler ) had his best race ever and seized 1st place in GC. With only two riders, our CAT 2 team secured many placings in the top 10 and a team podium spot. It was a blast to see the Williams name plastered all over the results.

Team Results:
Cat 2 - 3rd place team points! (with just Marc and Todd in the race!)
Cat 4 - 3rd place team points! (with just Dillon in the race!)

Individual Results:
Cat4
D-train Fowler
Crit - 5th
TT - 1st (stroked a sub-18 minute time)
RR - 4th - placed in KOM points sprint also!
GC - 1st Place!!!!

Cat2
Marc Mont-amazing
Crit - 4th
TT - 26th
RR - 12th
GC - 15th

Todd Farrell
Crit - 8th
TT - 9th
RR - 6th
GC - 4th

DILLON FOWLER takes 1st in GC - Mineral Wells Stage Race

Williams Texas rider, Dillon Fowler, takes 1st in GC at the Mineral Wells Stage Race.

On Saturday, after placing 4th in the morning criterium, Dillon went on to win the time trial later in the afternoon. Dillon successfully executed a nice road race finish to secure 1st place overall on Sunday.

Congratulation Dillon on your first Stage Race Victory. May there be many more.

Way to ride!

Dillons weekend wheel choice:

Crit / RR - Williams Wheels 38 Tubies
TT - Williams 85mm Tubies.

Marc Montemayor takes an early season upgrade to Cat 2

Following a very nice result at Walburg, Marc Montemayor has moved on to the 2s.

After getting caught in a mishap mid way through the 72 mile Walburg Road Race, Marc regained his position in the pack after a grueling chase. Marc maintained his position near the front for the remainder of the race. The field was down from over 80 riders to less than 25 in the finish field. Marc secured 4th place in a close uphill sprint.

Congratulations Marc on your upgrade.

The 2011 Season Is Rolling in Texas

The Texas Team has grown from 6 riders in 2010 to support 12 riders in 2011.

The 2011 Team additions include:

Gary Glanger
Derek Carder
Steven Crawford
Kevin Porter
Dillon Fowler
Rick Reitman

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2011 Sponsors include:

Title Sponsor
Williams Cycling

Presenting Sponsors
Texas Truxx
Sun and Ski Sports

Platinum Sponsors
BH Ultralight Bicycles
Powervibe

Gold Sponsors
North Texas Dynamic Bike Fit
Precor

Support Sponsors
Rhinowraps
Alphagraphics Downtown Dallas

Industry Sponsors
3T
Vittoria Tires
Hammer Nutrition

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Race Promotion in 2011

We are excited to be co-promoting the Denton Rhapsody Criterium March 12th. The crit is part of the 2011 TXBRA North Texas Cup. More to come on this one.