Race Report- Wednesday Worlds #3- 446 Circuit

We anticipated a small group tonight at the Wednesday Worlds, our 3^rd event and the second at the venerable 446 circuit. The IUSF ITT was in full swing at the same time so most of the young guns were working it out at Armstrong Stadium. About fifteen riders showed up for the ride in unseasonably cold conditions. The 4 mile circuit had a couple of challenges in store for us tonight with a fresh breeze blowing out of the North and East tempering us up the 2 climbs on 446 and following us down Knightridge. The first lap was relatively uneventful with all taking strong turns at the front in order; Rose, Shanahan, Hamilton, Shei, Pilling, Preske, Saccone, Prange, Levy, Joes Bikes, Ibold, Prange, Feigenbaum, and women Caproon and Cobb. The fireworks began in earnest at the top of the first climb with a succession of serious attacks by Shanahan, Hamilton, Shei and Rose which caused a fissure to develop leaving Saccone, Levy, Feigenbaum, Ibold and Caproon and Cobb wondering what happened. The leaders were sorting out their paceline while the chase group, though underpowered against the formidable group ahead was working well and holding its own. Saccone was able to bridge to the leaders in the second lap before they got organized and the 7 ratcheted up the speed to 28+ miles an hour on the back side in anticipation of the Scholars Inn Granola prime! When the dust settled, it was Hamilton and Cobb who will be eating a nutritious breakfast tomorrow! A series of solo attempts sparked by Hamilton, Rose, Shanahan and Shei caught Pilling off guard at the top corner with 2 to go leaving five in the final selection. Additional, well timed attacks again put pressure on the small group leaving Saccone, Shanahan and Preske dangling dangerously 50 meters off the back. Shanahan’s epic time trialing ability brought the chasers within 20 meters and Saccone and Preske aided the effort with a final pull to get the trio within striking distance by the cemetery. The effort proved too much for Saccone who was dropped again but managed to bridge back on the first small climb with less than a lap to go. Shanahan rolled off the front and made the top corner alone. Saccone dragged the group to within 350 meters to the line when Hamilton, Rose, Shei and Preske took matters into their own hands and made a bid for the line, passing the time trial champion just meters from victory! Shei was able to claim the Scholars Inn prize in a hard-fought battle, with perfect timing and impeccable finesse. Caproon was able to nick Cobb at the line in the women's finale.