Cherry Blossom Tour, Pro 1-2
Branch Brook Park - Newark, New Jersey

Saturday, April 19, 2003


Results Courtesy of http://www.premierecycling.com/

These results are provided for informational purposes only.� Please note that
the protest period for this event has expired and no changes can or will be made
to these results.



Race Report - by Joe Papp

When Olympic and World Champion Marty Nothstein (Navigators) takes to the line at any flat
criterium or circuit race, he must be considered a likely candidate for victory. The odds are
even more in favor of �The Blade� when the Navigators� Russian Concussions � Vassili Davidenko
and Oleg Grichkine � accompany him as back-up. So it was today at the 100km Cherry Blossom Tour,
contested at Branch Brook Park in Newark, NJ, and won by Nothstein ahead of Joe Papp (UPMC)
and Irishman David O�Laughlin (ofoto).

A prime-hunting Nothstein attacked early in the event before being joined by a group that
included Todd Herriott, winner of the Vuelta a Cuba and recently signed to the Healthnet
professional team, Chad Davis (CRCA/Breitling) and Jim Carey (Northeastern Hardware).
Colavita-Bolla and GS Mengoni also placed riders in the break, but notably absent were
Papp (who just returned the night before from his latest Latin American campaign) and a
representative from Ofoto, the other UCI team in the race.

While Nothstein continued to drive the escape with strong help from Herriott, O�Laughlin
launched himself from the field in pursuit of the leaders. His move on the backstretch
caught-out most of the field, and only Papp and a handful of others, including Adam
Pantastico of Ideal Tile, could follow the Irishman. Interestingly enough, Papp holds
dual citizenship with the USA and Ireland, though he continues to compete with a USCF
license. As such, two Irishmen led the chase: O�Laughlin providing the horsepower with
his compatriot Papp sharing the work.

The chase caught the breakaway after a 6km pursuit, forming a lead group of almost 20
riders. Though all of the major teams were represented in this selection (with several,
including GS Mengoni, Northeastern Hardware and Ideal Tile placing two men in the move),
the sheer size of the group bogged-down its progress and limited the lead to less than
50 seconds.

With the Navigators� men in the field starting a chase in hopes of reshuffling the lead to
put more of their men up the road, Herriott, O�Laughlin and Papp took turns attacking the
break to force another selection. O�Laughlin finally escaped on his own and gained almost
40 seconds in one lap before a response came from the others.

Papp attacked on the backstretch and was followed by Nothstein, Herriott, Eugene Boronow
(GS Mengoni), Adam Pantastico (Ideal Tile), Craig �Smiley� Lipton (CRCA/Breitling) and John
Clifton-Moore (CRCA/Mija Shoji). Herriott, recovered after the Tour of Chile, and an ever-fast
Nothstein drove the pursuit with Papp doing his share of the work. New Zealander Lipton pulled
through regularly, though Boronow, Pantastico and Clifton-Moore could not match the fitness
of the quartet. O�Laughlin was soon caught, though he quickly reintegrated himself with the
leaders and shared in the pace making.

Having shed the dead weight that hampered the earlier breakaway, this select group rapidly
extended its lead on the field. The winner would definitely be one of the eight, though
Nothstein, O�Laughlin and Papp were the heavy favorites.

With one lap to go, the Ofoto rider attacked on the backstretch and shattered the break.
Papp covered his move, but would not work since Nothstein also managed to hang-on. A brief
lull saw the group reform, minus Clifton-Moore who was dropped after O�Laughlin�s surge.

Mengoni�s Boronow next played his hand, but was quickly covered by the rest. As the leaders
entered the homestretch, O�Laughlin attacked again but Papp and then Nothstein immediately
followed.

Having made two strong but unsuccessful moves, the Irishman seemed too spent to challenge
either Nothstein or Papp as the Americans eyed each other in the final straight. Without
the help of a lead-out to bring up the pace, Papp stood little chance against the incredible
acceleration of the Olympic gold medalist, and the sprint seemed to be but a formality.

Sure enough, Nothstein jumped first and gapped Papp, who struggled to match the speed of his
rival. With victory assured, Nothstein raised his arms in triumph as Papp smiled and lifted
his arms in resignation, almost as if to say, �What could I do?� O�Laughlin, by far the most
aggressive rider on the day, crossed the line a respectable third with Boronow fourth and
Pantastico fifth. Herriott, who will join his Healthnet teammates on Monday, finished sixth
and �Smiley� came 7th. Clifton-Moore outlasted the second group to claim 8th, while Northeastern
Hardware�s first finisher was another Irishman, Jim Carey, in 9th. Jason Snyder of G.S.
Mengoni rounded out the top-10.


RESULTS (courtesy of http://www.premierecycling.com):


Place Rider - Team

Pro 1/2/3

1 Marty Nothstein - Nagvigators
2 Joe Papp - UPMC
3 David O'Laughlin - O-Foto
4 Eugene Boronow - G.S. Mengoni
5 Adam Pantastico - Ideal Tile
6 Todd Herriott - Wheelworks
7 Craig Lipton - CRCA/Breitling
8 John Clifton-Moore - CRCA/Mija Shoji
9 Jim Carey - Northeastern Hardware
10 Jason Snyder - G.S. Mengoni
11 Jurandir DeAlmeida - Ready-Pac
12 Chris Rodzdilsky - CRCA/Remax
13 Kevin Malloy - CRCA/Sakonette
14 Waclaw Godycki - Ideal Tile
15 Edwin Bull - Colavita-Bolla
16 Lou Schimmel - Northeastern Hardware
17 Marc Silberman - Watchung Wheelman
18 John Verheul - Ideal Tile
19 Ed Beaman - Navigators
20 Rick Ball - Monroe Wheelman


Cat 3 Cup

1 Robert Quincy Liberty Cycle
2 Kert Donahue 3D
3 Patrick Gellineau Team Squiggle
4 Wayne Lumkong Jersey Rock and Road
5 Neal Stoeckel Colavita-Bolla
6 Ken Barreto 508/MBS
7 Ati Bekes 3D
8 Andrew Singson Hermes
9 Jeffery Oliver Northeastern Hardware
10 Michael Ginghina CRCA/Remax
11 Todd Kassan -
12 John Conroy Colavita-Bolla
13 Gary Keblisa CRCA
14 Craig Callan Hermes
15 Christopher Pile Tokeneke Road Club
16 Tim Carpenter Northeastern Hardware
17 Robert Way 3D
18 James Bernstein Somerset
19 Ron Short Propedals
20 Alex Binder 3D


35+

1 Patrick Gellineau Team Squiggle
2 Craig Hamilton Colavita-Bolla
3 Eric Schlaugh Somerset
4 Larry Towner Liberty
5 Kevin Joyce Colavita-Bolla
6 Robert Kowal Somerset
7 Edward Trolarello Watchung
8 John Olsen CRCA
9 Daniel Caeman Colavita-Bolla
10 Tom McMenamin Somerset


Women 3/4

1 Brooke Wilson Somerset
2 Kimberly Rowe Olde Mill
3 Mariko Toi Bicycle Workshop
4 Carola Berger -
5 Elizabeth Koch Team Bikery/Montclair
6 Margaret Fontana Team Bikery/Montclair
7 Betty Tyrell Somerset
8 Stephanie Bleecher Liberty


Cat 4/5

1 Rick Klatt Colavita-Bolla
2 John Primerano CRCA/Strictly
3 Ricky Viapiana CRCA/Strictly
4 Sean Pacadini Team Bulldog
5 Christian Mambelli -
6 Terrence Budhram Park Ridge
7 Diego Rodriguez 508/MBS
8 Rob Atendito Team Bikery/Montclair
9 Doug Hover 3D
10 Bento Pinto 508/MBS
11 Robert Kowal Somerset
12 Rafael Tovar CRCA
13 Nate Buyon -
14 Kenneth Smith Pro Pedals
15 Vincent Tennariello Liberty
16 Brian Gristick Skylands
17 Bladdymir Coronel Westwood
18 Harry Keefe Liberty
19 Michael Shapanka CRCoA
20 Michael Gisler Westwood