May 2, 2010
FONSECA TAKES 4th AT DISTRICT CRITERIUM CHAMPIONSHIPS
May 2, 2010
Zenn Racing Team: Mike Kelly, Rob Cady, Rich Mader, Chris Ott and Scott Fonseca
Pleasanton, CA - In a highly contested race that highlighted some of the best cyclist in Northern California, Zenn Racing Team’s Scott Fonseca missed the podium by a half a wheel in the closing meters.
A race that is usually contested in July, this year was moved up on the calendar and to a new course. This year’s race would be hosted by the little town of Pleasanton California, moving from its original home in Minden Nevada. This year’s race brought out many of California’s best teams; Morgan Stanley, Specialized, Safeway and team Zenn, who brought out 5 riders looking for the win.
For the most part, this year’s race started out the same as most this time of year. With the calendar change, it left some riders looking for gears and speed they didn’t have. Chris Lyman, last year national time trial champion, was in the mix early looking to hold things together for Specialized ace sprinter Dean LaBerge. Dean, last year’s winner in this event, was looking for back-to-back jerseys. Safeway’s Canadian national champion, Dan Martin, not known for his sprinting ability, was looking for the early break as he set out on several attempts, but due to the strong field and the wind conditions, it looked like a main field sprint would be looming. The dynamic duo of Chris Baker and Alex Holtz patrolled the front the peloton and Zenn Racing’s Rob Cady, Rich Mader and Mike Kelly all took turns in making sure that nothing went up the road that they would not bring back.
With 8 laps to go, Zenn Racing’s Chris Ott took over control in setting things up for selected leader for the day, Scott Fonseca. Last year, Fonseca missed out on the win and podium finish when a crash took him out on the final lap as he was sitting third wheel perfectly set up for the win. This year would hopefully be different. As the closing laps approached, Ott rode tirelessly in the wind to protect Fonseca from losing positions and staying out of trouble. On the bell lap, alarm bells for every team trying to set up their sprinters went off. Ott, once again put Fonseca in the fastest line set off to lead it out. Approaching turn two, a 90 degree corner, the front 10 slowed and allowed a number of riders from the rear of the group to surge forward. The sprinters, now having to reshuffle their positions, caused mayhem on exiting the turn and leaving a number of riders scrambling to get back to the front seven. One of those rider’s was Fonseca, who entered that corner in 10th and exited in 19th , way too far out to contest for the win. With the final two corners approaching, Fonseca took matters into his own hands and launched an attack that put him into third position, entering turn three, which sets up turn four, the last turn. As the riders exited turn three, the front two, Chris Baker and Dean LaBerge shot out of the corner like a cannon, leaving Fonseca disparately trying to crawl his way to their wheels, after his effort’s to reach them. With the final corner insight, Baker and LaBerge poured on the speed and were not going to be caught, as they went head to head for the Championship. With Dean’s power, he was able to come around Baker in the final 50 meters to win the 2010 District Championship.
“I’m really happy the way the team rode, as they were in the mix the entire race and made sure the nothing got up the road without us represented. Ott did an awesome job riding me to the front and keeping me protected for the final 8 laps. We needed to have a little luck today to beat the likes of LaBerge, but we’ll take fourth, although we would have really liked that last podium spot. Oh well, maybe next year.” Fonseca commented after the race.
- 2010 District Criterium Championship Results
2. Christopher Baker - Morgan Stanley
3. Jeffrey Galland - Chico Corsa/Sierra Nevada
4. Scott Fonseca - Zenn Racing Team
5. Steve Heaton - Team Bicycle Trip
6. William Howard - Mrberkeley.com
7. Shaun Bagley - Sierra Pacific Racing
8. Alex Holtz - Morgan Stanley
9. Chris Wire - SJBC
10. Lucas Paz - East Bay Velo
16. Rich Mader - Zenn Racing Team
