The squad with expectations confirmed Saturday in better than expected conditions.
With the forecast looking threatening the whole week through, the reality of the 2013 Peak2Peak was nearly perfect. If the rain from the night before made the course a touch slick, the lack of rain made the shivers stop. After last year’s muddy, impossibly wet and cold race, this year was nearly tropic.
Entering as winner and favorite and backed by Jorden Wakeley and Mike Simonson, Cole House took yet another win in Thompsonville, but this was one never easy. Some of the best racers in the state toed the line, with special efforts from the likes of Alex Vanias, Scott Hoffner Dan Korienek and and Ron Catlin. Even those riders were unable to smash their way onto the podium, with House coming home a minute ahead of Mike Simonson and two minutes up on Wakeley. It was Hoffner with the best resistance, slotting in fourth and BISSELL’s Alex Vanias slotting in fifth. RBS’ Catlin was good enough for sixth, a great showing from a rider on a great year. Vanias’ BISSELL teammate Derek Graham was seventh, with Korienek, Jason Lowetz and Rober Neidlinger rounding out the top ten.
The Women’s Race wasn’t a formality, but with nearly two minutes after the first lap, Mackenzie Woodring single-handedly saved the Einstein Racing weekend. Sue Stephens chased bravely and flexed her muscles with Iceman on the horizon, but she hasn’t hit her top form quite yet. In her first race in nearly a month, Hagerty Cycling’s Lauri Brockmiller came back in style with third place. While the field had only seven racers, it couldn’t have been much stronger. Erin Vicary was fourth, with Wendy Zamzow-Blumerick fifth ahead of Laurel Peak and the legendary Dori Leib.
We’ll look closer later this week, but perhaps no race has featured as many Top Banana racers all near the top of the standings. Wakeley, Brockmiller, Hoffner and Vanias have all kept themselves in contention, with just the Iceman Cometh and Pumpkin Pie SuperPrestige left to decide it all.