NCA Training Crit #2 – Norfolk Racing is Hot!

Full results attached. (Finally)

Photos here

Norfolk, Neb. – The second in the NCA Spring Training Criterium Series was held in Norfolk March 29 on the grounds of Northeast Community College. A technical course and a brisk wind on the top of the course made race tactics imperative to finishing well.

“The weather and the turnout could have been better but we were happy with how the day went.” commented race director Dan Spray of the Elkhorn Valley Cycling Club powered by Monster. “We had good support from some teams but would have liked a little more from others.”

In Master’s racing, Duane Blair (Elkhorn Valley Cycling powered by Monster) went off the front early and never looked back. Troy Krause (Lincoln Industries/Lemond) bridged the gap but couldn’t pull past Blair and finished second. Joe Savoie (Elkhorn Valley Cycling powered by Monster) powered in for third.

Category 5 racing was all Elkhorn Valley Cycling from start to finish. The race was marred by one crash sending Dennis Smith of EVCpM to the hospital for stitches. Richard Hake (EVCpM) set a strong pace for most of the race but in the end it was Dave Ertz (Elkhorn Valley Cycling – The Bike Way) in first, Nick Zeimet (Elkhorn Valley Cycling – The Bike Way) second, and Cody Cleveland  (Elkhorn Valley Cycling powered by Monster) third.

Jamie Bachmann (Elkhorn Valley Cycling powered by Monster) soloed in as the only female racer of the day.

In Cat Four, Chet Henry (Lincoln Industries/Lemond) built a lead on the pack but was reeled in eventually by Joe Savoie (EVCpM). A late break on the pack by Henry was unsuccessful as Savoie and Duane Blair (EVCpM) again reeled him in using their momentum to get past him. Blair took his second win of the day, Savoie was second, and Henry third.

Racing returns to Northeast Nebraska next week with the opener of the Nebraska Lottery Psycowpath series at Maskenthine Lake on April 5. Road racing continues on April 6th with the final NCA Training Crit in Omaha. The road racing season begins in earnest on April 12 with the Spring Cycling Classic at Branched Oak Lake.