April 25, 2007 (Toronto, ON) — The second race of the 2007 Midweek Tuesday Night Series was a points race. Points were awarded five deep (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) every seven laps with double points awarded at the halfway point and at the finale. In addition if any riders were to lap the field they would be awarded a 10-point bonus.

As is now customary on Tuesday nights the attacks started from the gun with a group splitting off from the main pack including Cyclissimo strongman James Macdonald, Heath Cockburn (La Bicicletta) and a duo from the powerful Wheels of Bloor squad, John Pucic and Adrian Jackson. Cockburn took the first sprint and though the move was absorbed back into the pack he also took the next two, building up a sizable lead on points by the halfway point.

With ten laps to go Macdonald was once again off the front with Chris Freeland from the upstart Cycle Solutions outfit. The two worked well together to stay away until the subsequent sprint with Freeland edging out J-Mac. With the pack back together in the finale the stage was set for a sprinters showdown. It would be Cockburn, who edged out Josh Hall (KHS) and Wheels of Bloor ace, Kevin Davis, to lock down his first win on the 2007 series.

See you all next week when we will move to a two start format. The Early Race (6:45pm) for Women, Juniors, Cadets, Master 3 and the Late Race (7:15pm) for all categories.

Thanks to Michelle Payne and Denise Kelly at registration, to Bobby Mrvelj and his kids Nikki and Noah for working the lap counter and Alan Forde, Craig Fagan and Dan Rothnie for setup and marshalling during the race.

– Sprint 1: Cockburn, Jackson, Pucic, J.Macdonald, DeJong
– Sprint 2: Cockburn, Hall, K.Davis, Pucic, Veal
– Sprint 3: Cockburn, D.Lefebvre, Jackson, K.Davis, Pucic (double points)
– Sprint 4: Pucic, Hruska, Cockburn, Jackson, Stuart McKay
– Sprint 5: Freeland, J.Macdonald, Hall, Pucic, Cockburn
– Sprint 6: Cockburn, Hall, K.Davis, Jackson, D.Lefebvre (double points)

Midweek Tuesday Night Races #2 – April 24, 2007
42 Laps – 41.6 km in 58:08 – 42.9 kph

1. Heath Cockburn (La Bicicletta) 34
2. Adrian Jackson (Wheels of Bloor) 16
3. Josh Hall (KHS) 15
4. John Pucic (Wheels of Bloor) 14
5. Kevin Davis (Wheels of Bloor) 13
6. Dan Lefebvre (Team RACE) 10
7. James MacDonald (Cyclissimo) 6
8. Chris Freeland (Cycle Solutions) 5
9. Michael Hruska (Mazur Coaching) 4
10. Stuart McKay (Cycle4MS) 1
10. Ed Veal (Cyclissimo) 1
10. Vince DeJong (CoachChris.ca) 1

April 17, 2007 – A cold and blustery day kicked off the first Midweek Tues. Night Races of the season. Sixty eight riders took to the start. From the gun there was no waiting around and the first break, with Ed Veal (Cyclissimo), John Pucic (Wheels of Bloor), Matt Guse (Calyon/Litespeed), Heath “Code Violation” Cockburn (La Bicicletta) and Adrian “Action” Jackson quickly opened up a lead.

The five worked well together until Adrian Jackson just nipped Ed Veal for a mid-race prime, Cockburn took this opportuntity to attack, knowing that the pack would soon be on them. Cockburn meantained a steady 20sec. lead on the chasing group. This looked like the move of the race, but it was not to be and he was brought back with only five laps to go.

With the group all together it looked like another field sprint. But as the sprinters set up for the inevitable bunch finish Mark Hinnen (Kelly Benefit Strategies) caught them off guard with a powerful jump with just over a lap to go and just barely held off the surging pack to take the first race in the series.

Midweek Tuesday Night Races #1
April 17, 2007
38 Laps – 34.2 km – 41.0 kph

1. Mark Hinnen (Kelly Benefits) 50:00
2. Heath Cockburn (La Bicicletta) at 1″
3. Jason Valenti (CoachChris.ca) all s.t.
4. Robert Chiocca (Team Jamis)
5. Adrian Jackson (Wheels of Bloor)
6. Matthew Guse (Calyon Litespeed)
7. Ed Veal (Cyclissimo)
8. Fred Perez (GRG Racing)
9. Attila Hajdu (Mississauga BRC)
10. Dan Lefebvre (Team RACE)
11. Doug Holt (D’Ornellas)
68 Starters

Thanks to Michelle Payne and her son Tim for help at the start line and registration and to Craig Fagan, Dan Rothine and Alan Forde for set-up/take-down and marshalling during the race.

Next week’s event will be one start at 6:45 for a points race. Post race riders and suporters can meet at the Pump on Rathburn for drinks and socializing (www.toronto.com/bars_clubs/listing/132362).