Best of all at CHIN is the support from the local community. Two photographers who spend time at Jet Fuel came out to shoot the race, and all day the folks from the neighbourhood were trickling through having come to support their hometown team in their hometown event.
Now back to the beginning of June where the team participated in one of the best one-day races you can do in North America, the Parx Casino Philly Cycling Classic. This race has a long tradition, with the venerable Manayunk Wall defining the character of the race. This latest addition shook things up though with the finish moved from the flat boulevard where it had been since the race started in the ’80s up to the top of the Manayunk Wall. The change in the finish was reflected in the team rosters. Gone were the usual teams focused around a sprinter, and in were teams full of climbers and all-rounders. The changed finish was a success resulting in an animated, attacking race. Philly was another level up from the events the guys have been doing, just the kind of event were are looking to throw the team into. Overall the Jet Fuel/Norco team held their own, with our two youngest riders Brandon Etzl and Travis Samuel representing the team with respectable finishes.
From Philadelphia the team travelled north to Montreal to participate in the opening Mardis Cyclistes Lachine criterium of the season. For those that don’t know this is a classic criterium series , now in its 36th year, held every Tuesday night throughout the summer. Tino Rossi, the organizer, was ever so gracious in supporting the team’s participation. And the Jet Fuel/Norco riders played the role of ambassadors very well. Anton, perhaps who we’ll call our criterium specialist raced brilliantly to finish 2nd. A great result for his first time at Lachine with its sharp elbowed competition!
The month finished up with the National Championships in Saint-Georges, outside of Quebec City, home of the Tour de Beauce. And if you know Beauce you know that it is all hills. The Nationals course was no exception. The road race was an explosive event, with the break of the day established in the first 20km. Boom! The criterium was more of a success for the team though, with Travis riding in the break of the day. He is turning into something of a criterium specialist having done the same thing the previous two weekends at the EQGP and Preston Street respectively.
With Nationals over I think everyone breathed a sigh of relief, time for a mid-summer break and a week off. But not too much off as they had to be ready for CHIN, which they obviously were, and are this week heading out to BC to participate in BC Superweek. Keep an eye on things and see how they do.