Several Team Giant riders lined up for the second race in the 2010 Michigan Challenge Series; The Tour of Kensington Valley.  Racers were met with a hilly parcours, gale force winds, cool temperatures and intermittent rain squalls.  In the Masters 35+ Category Team Giant missed out on the winning move when two riders got away in the last two laps.  However, our own Terry Ritter made a move with 1/2 lap remaining and was able to get a gap while Jon Morgan and Alan Zoltowski discouraged the field from mounting a serious chase.  Terry rode strong in the windy conditions and held on for 3rd place and a podium spot.  Unfortunately, uber-strong Rick Snow double flatted and had to hang it up. 19 year old Scott Hoffner finished 11th in a deep and competitive Cat 3 field despite a rear derailleur stuck in the big ring the 2nd half of the race.  Dan Yankus, although missing the winning break, finished a respectable 7th in Category 4.  This was Dan’s first race in several years and his first race in this category.  Joe Bernardi suffered a mechanical problem but was able to ride alone and finish his race in Category 4.  Next race, the West Branch Classic the weekend of May 22nd.  Click on the thumnails below to view the full picture.

The Cyclocross State Championships were held this past weekend in Davisburg, Michigan and several TGM’rs were in attendance. Cameron Marshall moved up to the B class and finished 22nd in his first race. He also was the bronze medalist in the 29 and under State Championship for the B class, and finished the USAC State Series in 2nd. Benjamin Christian finished 11th in the B class on the day, and 10th for the State Series. Terry Ritter was 5th in the Master’s 35+ class, 4th in the 40-44 State Championship, and finished 3rd for the State Series for the M-35+.  Anyone who had ridden a MTB when the rain starts knows the course changes as time goes on.  No rain this weekend, but the same effect occured as the frozen ground thawed in the sunlight and rising temps.  As small knobby tire after small knobby tire rode over and over sections, the damage really started.  Conditions and the speed you could ride something changed significantly from the C race to the Master’s events.  Effectively, the former raced on something rather different then the later.  It presented challenges for all, but what makes CX racing so awesome.

Click on the individual thumbnails below to view a larger picture.

Hi-Speed Camera Shot

Zoltowski fist pumps to celebrate

Last week, the team launched Jimmi McMurray into the winning break on a wildly fast climb at mid-race at the brutal Kensington Road Race. The team covered the field and rode tempo to assure a shot at the victory-Jimmy came up just shy at the line.

The new GIANT TCR ADV SL1’s are the best yet!

On April 19th I raced my first Road race. It was the Ann Arbor Training B race. I went in a little tense but felt good after a few laps. We did fourty  laps plus two. Half way through the race Jim Bruce From Lathrup Industries jumped in and rode on the side of me. He gave me a few pointers and tried to help out. On the last two laps Jim told me to get in the the top ten guys and sprint it out. I did so and ended up 8th for my first road race. It was a little chilly.

My next race was the Michigan USAC Race #1 at Pontiac Lake. It was a time trial and it rained enough for the week to make it nice and muddy. It was my first Cat.1/expert race and i ended up with 5th.  Although i am only 18, I have to race 19-29 catagory so i am really trying to push it hard to keep up i noticed. I had a great race and hope to run tubeless soon with a new wheel set!  Thanks to my dad, i have had some good pictures so far this season!