2012 Paramount Criterium...
This weekends racing action in Southern California was at Dominguez Hills, for the Paramount Criterium, presented by Paramount Racing, and co-sponsored by UC Cyclery / JW Flooring. For the Masters categories it was also the Southern California / Nevada Cycling Association (SCNCA) Criterium Championships. It was hard not to notice the many racers with red/white/blue stripes on their jersey sleeves; I also saw at least one with rainbow stripes. Championship races always bring out the accomplished, and as a result the Masters fields were well stocked with horse power. It also seemed as though everyone was kept on a tight lead; whether there was a single rider off the front, or a small group, no one was given much room with which to play. The races were well controlled at the front, with all the ones I saw ending in sprint finishes.
I missed all the earliest races of the day, Men Cat 3/4, Master Women 35+/45+, Master Men 60+, Master Men 55+, finally arriving while the Women Cat 1-3 race (non-SCNCA championship) was on the course. As already noted the race was pretty much groupo compacto the entire time; the Helens/Cannondale Team looked to be the strongest, again. But, when it came time for the finish, which looked really close from my vantage, it was Priscilla Calderon, the lone representative of the SC Velo/Empower Coaching Women's Team with nearly a bike length over Suzanne Sonye of Helens/Cannondale. Julie Cutts of Velo Club LaGrange took third.
more photos of the Women's Cat 1-3 race
The Masters 50+ for Cat 1-4: I saved myself $30.00 by not racing it, money I can maybe put to good use next weekend at Ontario. That is all I have to say on that matter. The race was fast, once it got underway - with everyone on the start line, Malcolm Hill decided to make a quick wheel change under the watchful eye of an official, and took a good deal of flak from his fellow competitors. Then it was down to business. Under the control of BBI, UC Cyclery, Pinnaclife, and Spy, in particular, everything was kept pretty close, with a big sprint at the end being the obvious result. Stephen Gregorios (Pinnaclife Racing) took the win, with Marvin Hall (UC Cyclery/JW Floors) at 2nd, and Robert Swigart (Sho-air/Rock 'n Road) 3rd.
I missed all the earliest races of the day, Men Cat 3/4, Master Women 35+/45+, Master Men 60+, Master Men 55+, finally arriving while the Women Cat 1-3 race (non-SCNCA championship) was on the course. As already noted the race was pretty much groupo compacto the entire time; the Helens/Cannondale Team looked to be the strongest, again. But, when it came time for the finish, which looked really close from my vantage, it was Priscilla Calderon, the lone representative of the SC Velo/Empower Coaching Women's Team with nearly a bike length over Suzanne Sonye of Helens/Cannondale. Julie Cutts of Velo Club LaGrange took third.
Julie Cutts, Velo Club LaGrange
Neva Day (NOW Cycling) followed by Michelle Ignash (Helens/Cannondale)
The Masters 50+ for Cat 1-4: I saved myself $30.00 by not racing it, money I can maybe put to good use next weekend at Ontario. That is all I have to say on that matter. The race was fast, once it got underway - with everyone on the start line, Malcolm Hill decided to make a quick wheel change under the watchful eye of an official, and took a good deal of flak from his fellow competitors. Then it was down to business. Under the control of BBI, UC Cyclery, Pinnaclife, and Spy, in particular, everything was kept pretty close, with a big sprint at the end being the obvious result. Stephen Gregorios (Pinnaclife Racing) took the win, with Marvin Hall (UC Cyclery/JW Floors) at 2nd, and Robert Swigart (Sho-air/Rock 'n Road) 3rd.
Malcolm Hill at the front, rounding turn one
Stephen Gregorios, Pinnaclife Racing
more photos of the Masters 50+ race, here.
Subtract ten years and you have the Masters 40+ up next. Many of the same suspects and teams were involved in this race as they were in the 50+, just add to the list the Back Abbey, and the California Pools / CFS Mortgage teams, as well as individuals from far too many other teams to name. In the end though, it was Michael Johnson of Breakaway from Cancer taking the top spot, followed closely home by Aron Gadhia (Monster Media/SC Velo) and Armin Rahm of the Time Factory Team.
Finally, look below, and you might see that fast guys spectate too. More random shots while standing around, here.Subtract ten years and you have the Masters 40+ up next. Many of the same suspects and teams were involved in this race as they were in the 50+, just add to the list the Back Abbey, and the California Pools / CFS Mortgage teams, as well as individuals from far too many other teams to name. In the end though, it was Michael Johnson of Breakaway from Cancer taking the top spot, followed closely home by Aron Gadhia (Monster Media/SC Velo) and Armin Rahm of the Time Factory Team.
more photos from the Masters 40+ race here.
Next came the Masters 45+ race, always one of the most competitive groups with a ton of former champions in the field. At the end Richard Meeker (Breakaway from Cancer) took the win, ahead of Mark Noble (Time Factory Team) and Craig Miller (BBI-SIC Cycling). A few photos (with more here):
Masters 35+ was the last of the SCNCA Masters Championship races on the day, and the last race I stayed to watch. Again, I got the finish, but not the results. The biggest gaps seemed to be made in this race, though none stayed away for too long, and the race ended in a group sprint once again. Monster Media were all over this one, if you look at the photos I think you will see what I mean. Even so, Charon Smith of Surf City Cyclery took top honors. Behind Smith were, for Monster Media Racing/SC Velo, Kayle Leo Grande, and Michael Easter of the Time Factory Team.
The rest of the 35+ race photos are here.
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