Armed Forces Basic: Mayr & Mejias Take Clarendon Cup Victories

By Rebecca Reza

DCC Alpecine Steals Clarendon Cup Victory, Summerhill Wins Armed Forces Omnium

DCC Alpecine’s Andreas Mayr launched his dash from the left facet of the ending straight, stunning America’s Biking Group’s Danny Summerhill to win the Clarendon Cup on Sunday. Summerhill was second for the second day, with Alec Cowan rounding the rostrum in third.

“I used to be fairly certain I might make it, it doesn’t matter what place I used to be within the final nook. I believe I used to be 5^th, after which I simply fired it up. It was fantastic, I had 2 gears left,” Mayr stated after celebrating the victory together with his group. “To not say something in opposition to the Armed Forces Biking Basic, however in fact Tulsa Robust is one in every of our huge targets. This was simply the cherry; the cake comes subsequent week in Tulsa. We’re extremely motivated.”

The largely German squad spent their first weekend of racing animating the race, forcing their new rivals from American Biking Group and L39ion of Los Angeles to vary up their techniques. The energy of the DCC Alpecine squad made for an thrilling weekend of racing for the followers in Arlington.

The tight 1km, 5-corner circuit lent itself to a breakaway. 9 riders managed to flee roughly 20 laps into the 100km on faucet for the day. The group included heavy hitters like L39ion of LA’s Justin Williams, Danny Summerhill, Sebastian Cano, Alex Cowan (L39ion), Will Hardin (Mission Echelon), Evan McQuirk (ButcherBox), Will Gleason (CSVelo), with Mayr and Manuel Porzner for DCC Alpecine.

Because the riders started eyeing each other, McQuirk took benefit of the second, attacking his breakaway companions. The Butcherbox rider managed to achieve a niche as much as 20 seconds, staying away for greater than 20 laps. He was awarded essentially the most heroic jersey for his efforts.

“I attempted to rise up the highway as a lot as potential to take the strain off of our sprinters,” McQuirk stated. “We had Dusan[Kalaba] in second place popping out of the Crystal Metropolis Cup.

“Solely about half of the blokes have been working within the break, so I simply determined to attempt to rise up the highway. Contemplating the caliber of riders that have been in that breakaway, there was quite a lot of horsepower. Hat’s off to the remainder of the blokes, they rode phenomenally.”

With lower than 20 laps to go, McQuirk had been reigned in, and each Justin Williams together with Manuel Porzner have been trailing off the again and would ultimately lose contact. Alec Cowan tried his hand attacking with 8 laps to go. The L39ion rider had crashed early on, getting again up shortly however was caught in his 13^th gear.

“I had been taking that nook tremendous properly however I believe I simply slipped out, it wasn’t my best second,” Cowan stated after ending third. “I received a bunch of highway rash, however nothing damaged, the bike is a little bit beat up. I couldn’t shift anymore, so I used to be caught on this huge gear. You’ll be able to solely achieve this a lot with that.”

Ultimately, it was a day for the veterans on the highway. Mayr is 39 years of age, whereas Summerhill is racing his 12^th skilled season on the highway.

“I can’t complain, it was a hell of a weekend and my first time doing Armed Forces,” Summerhill stated after being awarded the omnium jersey. “A few podiums – not a win – nevertheless it’s alright.

“I’m very lucky, I’ve some household well being points. My dad has Alzheimer’s and he lives with me; to have the ability to practice sufficient to be a contender in these races and to have the ability to battle for the win is fairly particular. I believe that was at all times a query mark whether or not or not I’d be capable of maintain doing each. At the very least up till this level this yr, it’s been figuring out okay thus far.”

Subsequent up for the season would be the Saint Francis Tulsa Robust beginning on Friday, as groups head to Oklahoma.

 

Rider Quotes

Andreas – I used to be very comfortable to have Guide with me within the breakaway, I informed him it’s a must to undergo, seeing the L39ion man [Justin Williams] at all times within the again. I made it by means of however I used to be at all times conscious that I had a very good dash. You’ll be able to watch your rivals how they speed up out of the corners and in these earlier laps, I noticed how they have been accelerating, ‘okay, I received this one. I’m fairly certain I’m quicker than this one,’ and so ultimately, we had I believe six or seven guys. I used to be fairly certain I might make it, it doesn’t matter what place I used to be within the final nook. I believe I used to be 5^th, after which I simply fired it up. It was fantastic; I had 2 gears left. To not say something in opposition to the Armed Forces Biking Basic, however in fact Tulsa Robust is one in every of our huge targets. This was simply the cherry, the cake comes subsequent week in Tulsa. We’re extremely motivated.

Jonas – It was wonderful, we weren’t getting a lot data from the entrance however we knew Andy is essentially the most skilled man on our group. He was so assured yesterday, we’re simply so comfortable that he made it. We simply needed to place each piece of energy into this race, so I’m so comfortable.

Alec Cowan – Unfortunatley, I took a crash within the first nook with 30 laps to go, I believe I slipped on one thing. I had been taking that nook tremendous properly however I believe I simply slipped out and it wasn’t my best second.  I simply caught myself sliding and caught the fence. I received a bunch of highway rash, however nothing damaged, the bike is a little bit beat up. I couldn’t shift anymore, so I used to be caught within the 13^th gear, on this huge gear. You’ll be able to solely achieve this a lot with that.

I believe it’s good. Our objective was simply to get ready for subsequent week and subsequent weekend is the largest weekend for our group. We now have quite a lot of positives we will take away from this weekend, and be taught. This wasn’t our primary objective, so something we gained right here was simply bonus. Going into subsequent weekend ought to be nice.

Evan McQuirk – I attempted to remain lively early within the race and tried to rise up the highway as a lot as potential to take the strain off of our sprinters. We had Dusan in second place popping out of the Crystal Metropolis Cup yesterday. Being up the highway takes some strain off of him. Solely about half of the blokes have been working within the break, simply determined to attempt to rise up the highway. It might have been ideally suited if I had one different rider include me however nonetheless an awesome effort. I attempted to see how lengthy I might keep away, it ended up getting reelled again. I ended up giving all of it I might. Contemplating the caliber of riders that have been in that breakaway, there was quite a lot of horsepower. The time I made a decision to assault got here at a time when everybody was simply trying round at one another. I used to be capable of get a niche pretty shortly. Hat’s off to the remainder of the blokes, they rode phenomenally. We will likely be at Tulsa Robust, we’re trying ahead to seeing everybody on the market.

Danny Summerhill – I positively thought I had that. I made a little bit blunder in that ultimate dash, form of like my teammate from final yr Alfredo Rodriguez did at Sunny King the opposite day. I believe I in all probability thought that I had gained and stopped pedaling perhaps a meter or two, too early and simply received handed on the precise. I can’t complain, it was a hell of a weekend and my first time doing Armed Forces. A few podiums, not a win, nevertheless it’s alright.

I’m very lucky, I’ve some household well being points, my dad has Alzheimer’s and he lives with me. To have the ability to practice sufficient to be a contender in these races and to podium and be capable of battle for the win is fairly particular. A pleasant solution to honor him completely. I believe that was at all times a query mark whether or not or not I’d be capable of maintain doing each. At say a minimum of up till this level this yr, it’s been figuring out okay thus far.

Sebastian and I clearly labored our manner into the breakaway. And not using a group meating, that might at all times be the plan. Making an attempt to stack the break, we managed to try this. I believe the break occurred sooner than I used to be anticiplating from all the things I had heard and seen from earlier years. I knew I wanted to be attentive, Sebastian kenw the identical factor. He performed the final word teammate position. HE in all probability might have beat me in that dash too. He helped lead me out, which was fairly a bummer not to have the ability to end it off for him and all his laborious work. It was nice to have him within the break and to have two of us as a substitute of 1.

 

• Mejias Dominates Armed Forces Biking Basic, Taking the Clarendon Cup Victory

Virginia BlueRidge Twenty24 Marlies Mejias bolted to the road to earn a second consecutive victory on the Clarendon Cup, successful the general omnium. Twenty24 has been utterly dialed in for the reason that begin of the season, persevering with their successful streak into the subsequent block of summer season racing for the group. Mejias had launched her dash popping out of the streamline of her teammate, Emily Ehrlich in a six-rider breakaway combating to the road. It might be a repeat of Saturday’s podium with L39ion of Las Angeles Kendall Ryan in second and DNA Professional Biking’s Sara Van Dam in third.

“This isn’t my victory alone, it belongs to the group after the unbelievable work they did,” Mejias stated. “I actually imagine we have now one of the best group on the earth – Emily [Ehrlich], Jennifer [Valente], Sofia [Arreola] – all of them did unbelievable work. I’m so grateful for them and to win this race.”

This season has been a whirlwind for the Cuban sprinter, notching wins at almost each race she has competed in, beginning with the primary stage race on the Redlands Bicycle Basic. It’s a household affair, touring along with her younger daughter proper beside her all through.

“These final two years have been powerful, getting back from having my child nevertheless it was an enormous motivation for me to return,” Mejias added. “I labored laborious to get right here, nevertheless it’s been wonderful. I wish to inform all of the mother’s on the market – come again to biking!”

The group continued the place they left off in Crystal Metropolis on Saturday. They got here in with a plan to have decoys for his or her rivals to chase earlier than establishing Mejias for the win. About halfway into the 50-lap, 1km circuit, Emily Ehrlich attacked. The time trial specialist made her escape, sustaining roughly a 10-second hole for almost 20 laps earlier than being reeled again in. Ehrlich would earn essentially the most heroic jersey on the finish of the day.

The opposite riders within the break included Natalie Quinn of CCB Alpine Racing, Sarah Van Dam of BlueHalo – DNA Professional Biking, Twenty24’s Jennifer Valente, and L39ion of Los Angeles Kendall Ryan. Each Van Dam and Ryan have been remoted with none group members to assist them, making it that a lot tougher to battle off the trio of Twenty24 rivals alongside them.

“It was laborious to race and be aggressive in a smaller group, we had 3 riders,” Ryan stated. “Everybody was racing so laborious right now, it was strung out actually all the race. There have been actually sturdy riders from the opposite groups, that’s how I’d have favored to race if I had a full squad; kudos to them for holding the gasoline on the entire time.

“Ultimately we have been simply playing, attempting to see who would chase it again so I might get throughout the hole. I used to be ready for the precise second if I might time it and get to the entrance group.  I launched throughout, attempting to breathe and collect myself to prepare for the end.  It was a very enjoyable race, I’m simply comfortable to see how laborious everyone seems to be racing.”

BlueHalo-DNA left wanting extra, after ending in third as soon as once more.

“Twenty24 was tremendous sturdy,” Harriett Owen stated, Van Dam’s teammate. “We sadly missed Emily [Ehrlich] going. Chasing the entire race was tremendous laborious, however we have been all in for Sarah [Van Dam] right now. I believe she did a very good job. We’re going to get the win ultimately.  We’re going to take the positives out of the weekend, and prepare to go for Tulsa [Tough].”

The omnium podium was the identical as properly, with Ryan in second and Van Dam in third, to wrap the 25^th version of the Armed Forces Biking Basic.

Rider Quotes

Marlies Mejias – This isn’t my victory alone, it belongs to the group after the unbelievable work they did – Emily [Ehrlich], Jennifer [Valente], Sofia [Arreola] – all of them did unbelievable work. I actually imagine we have now one of the best group on the earth. I’m so grateful for them and to win this race. I’m at all times nervous earlier than a race, typically that’s a very good factor.

Sarah Van Dam – It’s a brand new course for me, however I’m excited for it. It was fairly aggressive coming into that final nook yesterday, we misplaced a wheel and had a niche open. It was a bit disappointing to not be sprinting for the win yesterday however we’ll attempt to be there right now. Right now is extra fitted to a break, individuals can out of sight manner quicker.

Harriett Owen – It was completely pinned the entire, 2024 was tremendous sturdy. We sadly missed Emily going, Chasing the entire race was tremendous laborious, however we have been all in for Sarah right now. I believe she did a very good job. We’re going to get the win ultimately.  We’re going to take the positives out of the weekend, and able to go for Tulsa.

Emily Ehrlich – It felt so good giving again to the group. Once you’re working to your group like that and you’ve got a teammate proper behind you, you discover a new pair of legs. I raced this course 3 different occasions, that is the form of racing I received into once I began.

Jennifer Valente – I used to be on the entrance fairly a bit main into the tip, after which Emily and Marlies completed it off so it labored off nice. We now have a fairly sturdy group, working fairly properly collectively. With our benefit we’re capable of play a few totally different playing cards. Right now, we confirmed that we have been capable of make the race fairly laborious.

Marlies Mejias – This isn’t my victory alone, it belongs to the group after the unbelievable work they did – Emily [Ehrlich], Jennifer [Valente], Sofia [Arreola] – all of them did unbelievable work. I actually imagine we have now one of the best group on the earth. I’m so grateful for them and to win this race. I’m at all times nervous earlier than a race, typically that’s a very good factor. These final two years have been powerful, getting back from having my child nevertheless it was an enormous motivation for me to return to biking. I labored laborious to get right here, nevertheless it’s been wonderful. I wish to inform all of the mother’s on the market – come again to biking!