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Greetings!

The Charleston races were special in several ways for the Bicycle Sport/Carolina Cyclone this year. This was the last weekend that Strad Helms (17) and Blair Turner (16) would race as category 4's, and the first time that Kevin Burgess (15), Will Richter (14) and Hunter Stephenson (13) would race as category 4's in their new kits with the Cyclone. Charleston is also the site for the South Carolina Criterium championships every year and we have a history of taking medals to live up to and this year was no different.

We traveled from Greenville and Charlotte and Rock Hill on Friday night to all gather on Saturday morning at the I'ON village criterium. This race is a warm-up for the Crit championships the next day and a favorite of our squad. It is fast and technical with tight turns, a roundabout and some cobbled corners that make the strong aggressive and the meek chase. We had our lads race category 4/5, rather than juniors, looking for larger and faster races to get ready for the Sunday races.

Our 5 man squad was on the line at 9:20 and they were off. Early attacks were launched and brought back and all the lads were off the front tat one time or another but we knew the race was coming down to a bunch sprint so Blair and Stread took 4th and 5th wheel through the last 2 laps as the pace quickened and the tension grew. On the back of the course a lone rider jumped and there was a seconds hesitation by the group and the rider, (who had just won the 35+ cat 4/5 race got a small gap that ended up winning the race, but Blair and Strad held their position and finished off 1 and 3 in the bunch sprint taking 2nd and 4th in the race. The newbie cat 4's were outstanding getting used to the faster, more aggressive group and even took some flyers to see where they fit in this new dynamic level of racing.

Later Saturday, Tom Smith (18) our lone cat 3 (not for long!) rode a solid race, but he lost some position on the back of the course and he finished in the middle of the field, but it was apparent that he was ready for the Sunday contests.

Sunday, Hampton Park. The junior racers lined up at 8:00 AM in two separate fields; 15-18 and 14 and under. The races have competitors from several states, but only SC residents can take medals, making it important to know who is who in the breaks. Tom and Strad (Both SC), Blair, and Kevin Burgess lined up in the older lads race and Will Richter (SC) and Hunter were in the 12-14 field which started a minute later. BANG! Strad goes up the road at the gun as a rabbit for the hounds to chase and our race plan began. Two laps later they were brought back and tom and some wheel suckers that were marking him went next. All the other strong riders were forced to chase again and when Tom's little group was brought back Blair took his turn. Kevin was next and then Strad again and we saw the fear in the eyes of the chasers so we launched Tom solo on to victory. Strad took 4th in the field for the Bronzemedal.

Unfortunately, Kevin was taken out in the last turn as a rider slid out on the shady wet turn, hooking him falling hard. A broken collar bone was the result, but Kevin showed his courage and inner strength as he was attended to, first by the EMS and then at Roper Hospital. He came back to the race and watched some races before heading home with his Dad. The prognosis is very good and we expect him back on a trainer in 2 or 3 weeks and he'll be back on the road soon after that. Kudos to his resolve and toughness.

Meanwhile, The under 14 race was like a carbon copy of the older lads race, with Will and Hunter swapping flyers until Hunter just rode away. Will was the designated rider for us as he is the SC resident, but Will knew that Hunter could win the race and he could still take the GOLD. with 3 laps to go Will went from the back of the pack and launched an attack that had everything needed for success. Speed, Surprise and Commitment. He was gone! Hunter soloed in and I swear it was like he grew an inch as he crossed the line. 30 seconds later Will came in to take the SC state Medal with the field another 30 seconds back. Look for this success to continue as Strad and Blair join Tom in the cat 3's and the younger riders get settled into the cat 4's. Later in the day Tom came back to race the cat 3's and finished a very respectable 6th. Last I heard he was taking his parents to dinner with his winnings.

Next week we are participating in a Wheels for Meals in Greenville, SC. It is a fundraiser for the Meals on wheels program. If anyone is interested in a beautiful metric century in the foothills of the Appalachians, visit www.mealsonwheelsgreenville.org; or stop in the Bicycle Sport shop in Pineville for an event flyer.

We'll bring our community involvement back to Charlotte on May 4th where after racing on Saturday at the Dilwporth crit, we'll ride the Brain ride supporting the Brain Tumor Fund, being organized by the Outdoor Lighting Team. We are expecting all of our sponsors to come ride with the team and get to know the lads that they are helping guide into the future. Information for that is available on Neal Boyd's as well as Ilan's weekly newsletters.

A little about one of the Cyclones alumni; Alder Martz (17) who is in his second year with the HOTTUBES Junior development team, will be leaving for Europe on April 28 for 2 weeks of Belgium and French racing. He was notified last week that he will also be racing with the JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM on May 4th! Lets wish him well as he actually lives what all of us dream!

As always I thank all of you for the moral and financial support which keeps us going.

Yours in Cycling,
Eric Peterson
Bicycle Sport/Carolina Cyclone

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And the memory of our teammate Dylan Mitchell 1984-2005