Mar. 13-14 , 2010
MADERA STAGE RACE - A STAGE WIN FOR TEAM ZENN!!
Masters 1/2/3
Zenn Racing Team: Scott Fonseca, Chris Ott, Tom Skiles, Rob Cady, Rich Mader
Stage 1
The Zenn Racing Team found success last weekend at the Madera Stage Race. Tom Skiles kicked things off with an unexpected but well deserved win in the opening criterium. The team functioned cohesively and took turns attacking the field, softening the legs of their rivals for the final gallop to the line. Scott Fonseca was gunning for the win, but in the final laps of the race he was afflicted by a flat front tire. Fonseca’s flat disrupted the plan, but the team adapted and in the end, everything worked out better than could’ve been expected. Tom Skiles chose an inside line coming out of the final corner and took advantage of Rocknasium’s lead out train, which proved to be the right decision. The sprint ended in a thrilling three-man lunge for the line, which was contested by Tom, Team Specialized’s Dean LeBerge and Safeway’s Jan Weissenberger. It was anyone’s guess who took the win, but the officials declared Skiles the victor, by mere inches. The team was exuberant in what turned out to be the highlight of the weekend.
Stage 2
Tom went into the time trial with the GC lead and a 20 second time bonus for cushion, but to no avail. Time trialing is not one of Tom’s specialties and he lost 2 minutes to the winner and along with it, any chance for a GC victory. Fonseca, Chris Ott, Rich Mader and Rob Cady all put in respectable efforts, but another victory would have to wait.
Stage 3
Sunday morning came around way too early and the temperature was less than pleasant. Stage 3’s road race was 72 miles of rolling terrain with one stretch of poor pavement that lead to the short power climb to the finish line. After the previous days win, Tom went into the race as Zenn’s chosen sprinter for the finish. Chris and Scott went with multiple moves and when Dan Martin and handful of other guys went clear from the peloton, it was those two guys plus the truly selfless work of Rob Cady who were instrumental at reeling in the threatening break. The break was brought back on the final lap of the race and was quickly countered by Ott who left all his mojo out on the course in one last thrust out of the peloton. It was effective and took all the pressure off of Skiles and Fonseca who sat placidly in the field. Heading onto the backside of the course and into the broken asphalt section of road, the Folsom Bike Team set tempo at the front, protecting their man in the GC hotseat. The race was in the cross winds and the gutter, as the pace picked up. Fonseca kept Skiles well protected from the wind before launching himself off the front of the field with four miles to go in a gutsy quest for the line, solo. He nearly pulled it off and wasn’t brought back until the final roller of the race. What a coup that would have been, but it was not to be. Many guys were shed from the field as the run to the line hastened. Tom misjudged the length of the final ascent to the finish and inadvertently led out the ultimate race winner, while Skiles blew-up early and had to settle for tenth place. Chris Ott and Scott Fonseca both rolled in with remnants of the field.
Overall, Zenn walked away with one win and great camaraderie. The weekend was a great success for a small team with a big engine.
