Team Liberty Cycle stamped its authority on the 2007 NJ State Criterium Championship held on August 26 in Marlton, NJ. The team took top honors in the elite men's category 1/2/3, with Steve Ward and Mark Light crossing the line 1-2 for gold and silver. Team Liberty nearly repeated the impressive feat in the 45+ category race with John Bertolini taking gold and Liberty Cycle owner Greg Cordasco brining home the bronze.
Other results from the day included 5th place in the 35+ category by Dave Walker, 4th place by Chris Stern in the category 4 race, Anthony Diaz grabbing 8th in the category 5, as well as Andy Gallagher and Stern taking 1st in the Juniors 15-16 and 17-18 respectively.
How The Races Unfolded
The 1/2/3 race was extremely fast, with constant attacking. Several Liberty riders contributed in covering attacks, including Larry Towner, Stephen Slotten, Mark Fontanilla and juniors Chris Stern and Andy Gallagher. The final set up came from John Durso, who launched the eventual gold and silver medal winners Ward and Light into the winning move with 3 laps to go.
A game of cat and mouse too kplace on the final lap, with rider jockeying for position for the sprint. Not leaving things to chance, Steve Ward jumped first and opened a gap that he would never relinquish. Mark Light showed the other 6 riders in the breakaway a clean set of wheels for second place. The 1-2 sweep for a first for Liberty Cycle at the state crit. The team also won the team competition for the day for the Pro,1,2,3 Garden State Cup.
The junior races, ages 17-18 and 15-16, both came down to field sprints - an ideal situation for for Andy Gallagher and category 1 track rider Chris Stern. Both won their respective field sprints handily for the gold. Andy will continue to move up the ranks very quickly and Chris will be racing against the worlds best on the veledrome next year at Trexlertown at age 18.
The 45+ team continued its in-state domination. With State Road Race and Time Trial wins already on their resume from June, they made it a clean sweep with convincing first and third places at the State Critereum.
Pat Kennedy, Dana Fallon and Larry Towner (State RR winner) covered moves and kept the pace up when, with about four laps to go, John Bertolini monitored a move by two opponents. The duo stayed away momentarily, but they were close and Bertollini anticipated the catch. At the right moment, he attacked on an incline before the last turn and screamed across the finish line in first by about 50 meters. The field sprint, clocked in at 40+ miler per hour, saw Liberty owner Greg Cordasco nab second in the field sprint for the bronze. Curt Hurst maintained his lead in the season overall Garden State Cup in this 45+ category with a solid finish in the field.
Other notables on the day were Dave Walker in fifth in the 35+, Al Christensen and Brent Knudsen with solid performances in the 55+ and seven Liberty racers in the beginners category 5 event. "The entire team continues to improve each week, and we're having a blast doing it," Cordasco stated after the race. "Great job everyone."
Check the USA Cycling site for Full Results.
