Goldy's dictates Women's race while Zabriskie motors away

Story By Robert L. Truelsen

Editor

photos by Christine Iltis & Robert L. Truelsen





Dave Zabriskie Leads the Break
Dave "Z" and Johny "O"
Women sprint
Dave "Z's" Victory
Dave Wood Sprints home
Dave Wood and Christian Johnson during the race
Christian Johnson and Chris Humbert during the race
John Iltis

Different scenarios with similar results. That best describes what happened in the elite men's and women's road races at Antelope Island Saturday, April 8.

The women displayed dominating team tactics whilein the men's event a single individual proved that the strongest win, at least this time.

Cat. 1-3 Women

The Antelope Island Road Race is further confirmation that women's racing is back. An infusion of new talent and new teams insures that the racing will only get better.

Team Goldy's left it's home base of Boise, Idaho with a game plan. They would use Antelope Island as a base of experience to be used in future races this season with a strong emphasis on the Hewlett Packard Women's Challenge.

And their plan worked to perfection, with a little help from the island venue. Brooke Blackwelder capitalized on the team effort to snag the win followed by teammate Alison Bergeson in second and Daphne Wilhelm (Spin Cycle) in third.

"Our team goal was to have Alison win,"Blackwelder said. "Our goal was to keep the pack together. We wanted to get the feel for pack finishes," she added.

The weather was conducive to good racing. The temperatures were cool, with many racers sporting arm and leg warmers, and the lake winds were present but not overpowering. In fact, the nature of the wind helped Goldy's accomplish it's goal.

"This is an easy course to breakaway on," Blackwelder said. "The wind was kind of a factor. It worked in our favor. There weren't too many willing to work hard against the wind."

There was a little break of three riderson the third lap that included Blackwelder, Wilhelm and Jill Wilkerson-Smith. Then Laura Tavares bridged to the leaders. Blackwelder saw two more teammates trying to bridge so she quit working.

With two more teammates in the break, the race was in their hands. And the result is proof of that.

Goldy's is a newer team that is coaching five women. Also, they are currently building a team to contest in the Women's Challenge mid-season in the Boise area. Goldy's Restaurant is the title sponsor. Could their success be attributed to the food? Maybe there's a slogan somewhere.

Cat. 1-2 Men

Dave Zabriskie has had quite a year so far in 2000. Second-place at Redlands by hundredths of a second (or was that thousandths?). It was close nonetheless.

As the elite men's race progressed, chatter along the finish stretch was something along the lines of "so when's he going to breakaway for the win?"

Doing laps in his 7Up/Colorado Cyclist duds might fool those unfamiliar with the local race scene. Let it be known that Zabriskie was not alone out there.

When the leaders were chosen by natural selection, Zabriskie was flanked by two Rhodes (former) teammates, John Osguthorpe and Alan Butler. Nissan provided Ward Halley and the X-Men were present with Tim Brown. Was Halley feeling a little old out there?

These five racers would stay clear to the end, leaving the table scraps for the rest of the finishers.

On the penultimate lap, the five remained close with all eyes on Zabriskie as he effortlessly showed the way up the hill. Serious poker players would die for Zabriskie's emotionless expression while riding hard. Or was he riding hard? Who could tell.

As the leaders came into view climbing towards the final lap bell, all questions were answered as Zabriskie cleared the crest comfortably in the lead. He had made his winning move.

Zabriskie crossed the finish line, arms raised for a photo opp just for his sister. It was a satisfying win since much of 1999 was marred by injury. Zabriskie suffered from tendinitis in his Achilles since May. "I'm glad to be back racing," he admitted.

"I went hard to bridge across midway in the race," Zabriskie said. "Then I kept the pace high to wear them down."

"There's a good cycling scene in Utah," he added, "and this is a good course with cross winds, downhills and uphills."

Zabriskie used Antelope Island to stay fit for Willamette, a national race in Oregon the following week. Then it was off to Europe with the national team.

"It's part of the agreement with 7Up, that I be allowed to ride with the national team," Zabriskie said. He returns from Europe June 19.


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