Tri-State Velo

Sutton, Quebec – 4 - 6 July, 2008- I love and dread this event. This was the nineteenth time in twenty years I have come to the Coupe des Ameriques Stage Race. I’ve come to Sutton one time just to ride and share this beautiful area of Quebec, twice when I was too injured to ride and sixteen times to race. This year I came to compete. I had won this great event on general classification (GC)in 1998, that is, I was the rider with the lowest cumulative time at the end of all stages of the race that year. I had prepared well and hoped to win again this year.

I love the Coupe des Ameriques, because it is by far the best organized race on my calendar every year. This entire corner of Quebec embraces the event as if it were the Tour de France. Riders are accorded every courtesy and respect for the athletes they are. And most of all, the field of riders attracted by this race are the toughest I will meet all year, guaranteeing the fiercest competition. In addition the GC winner in each category will be named North American Champion and be awarded the official Champion Jersey.

I also dread the Coupe des Ameriques because it will pit me against a very tough North American field of riders on four tough stages over the three-day weekend. I have seen many experienced riders come here with high expectations, only to leave with some very damaged egos. I certainly have left many times with questions about my own ability in the sport of cycling.

Friday, July 4, 6:30PM – the Prologue - At the sign-in for the Prologue I was able to make a pre-race assessment of my field. There were only 14 riders, but a couple of them were very tough looking customers. In attendance among this field of Canadians (I was the only rider from the USA) were the Canadian National Road Race Champion, Gary Romkey, and Time Trial Champion, Lev Krivitsky, and Pierre Cloutier, the perennial, Quebec Road Champion. There were also a few other guys who looked custom-made for the type of mountains we would climb during the weekend. Sandy’s eye was caught by a rider, Denis Côté, who I don’t remember having seen at this race before. He was a wiry, 5’-8”, 130 pounder who I must admit, looked every bit the mountain goat. I got my notice before the race, as well. One rider rode up to me and said, “So, this is the legendary Havnoonian (the brand of my bicycle)”. I guess it’s time to replace the bike when people recognize it at the starting line.

The prologue course starts on the slightly rolling, ten kilometer road from the US border into the ski town of Sutton. Just before the center of town the course takes a hard right-hand turn and heads up the seven and a half kilometer climb to the parking lot at the top of the ski hill, Mt. Sutton. This climb is a nightmare for anyone who doesn’t relish a tough climb. It starts out hard and just gets worse. The last two kilometers feature a few switchbacks and at points a gradient of 15%. This is a climber’s prologue.

I decided to sit in this year doing little work until we hit the climb. I had been undone by the long climb to the finish last year (losing 1:22 last year to Jon Sullivan who completed the prologue at 41:19), so I wanted to be as fresh as possible at that point.

Believe it or not, I stuck to my plan and rode second or third wheel all the way to town. I must admit this was relatively easy, as Claudel Desroches set a hard tempo at the front that discouraged any attack on the way to town. As soon as we hit the hill, however, I went around Desroches and set into my own tempo. I went up the first pitch and watched the shadow on my wheel, waiting for him to jump and come around. I also listened to the other followers as I hit the false flat before the first long, tough gradient of about one kilometer. Still no one came around. I settled into a power climb, pushing a heavy gear and while the shadow remained, the noise diminished. After this section there was another false flat and to my surprise the shadow was gone. I have a rule to never look back. If I am delivering a full-on effort it doesn’t matter what those riders behind are doing. I pushed even harder on the next kick to the hill, crested and went into the descent on the other side to a 90 degree left-hand turn before the final two kilometers of the climb. It was here I allowed myself a quick look over the shoulder. To my amazement everyone was gone! Instead of celebration, however, I redoubled my effort. This next 2K was where I had come off the wheels in previous years and I knew the unrelenting gradient (at a point hitting 15%) could still be my undoing. I relaxed, dug deep and pushed the biggest gear I could, but still had to rely on my 39x25, though seated, at the toughest pitch. As I rounded the final curve I shifted to my big chainring and was greeted by Sandy’s (and Spats, our Boston Terrier, in his Tri-State Velo uniform) cheer as I dug deep to put as much time on the chasers as possible.

I flew through the finish shoot, spun around and waited for the next riders. I couldn’t believe it when a minute passed and the second rider had yet to arrive. As Sandy had predicted, it was Denis Côté, though 1:11 behind. It was another minute until Lev Krivitsky finished with the field scattered behind him. I have won the prologue before on one occasion, but never with the inclusion of the final two kilometers and never with this much of a margin. Furthermore, this was the 25th anniversary of this great event and since our category (60+ riders) was the first to start I was the first rider to crest the hill. What a rush of emotion. Tom Grim was among the first to congratulate me and topped the evening off by saying to me, “To bad you suck at the time trial.” I got to tell you, I was psyched.

PROLOGUE (17.6 km) RESULTS
1 LEHMAN STEVEN USA 00.35.00 00.00.00
2 CÔTÉ DENIS CAN 00.36.11 00.01.11
3 KRIVITSKY LEV CAN 00.37.11 00.02.11
4 BOULANGER GAETAN CAN 00.37.26 00.02.26
5 CLOUTIER PIERRE CAN00.37.48 00.02.48
6 DESROCHES CLAUDEL CAN00.37.55 00.02.55
7 TERSIGNI JOE CAN00.38.25 00.03.25
8 LION JEAN-PASCAL CAN00.38.36 00.03.36
9 ZANELLA ELIO CAN00.38.46 00.03.46
10 ROMKEY GARY CAN00.39.20 00.04.20
11 LECLERC JEAN-CLAUDE CAN00.39.32 00.04.32
12 PARKINSON JOHN CAN 00.39.51 00.04.51
13 MICHIE STAFFORD CAN 00.41.13 00.06.13
14 FERNANDEZ SANTIAGO CAN 00.46.53 00.11.53

Saturday, July 5, 8:35AM – The Time Trial - Good news, I’m in the yellow jersey. Bad news, I can’t wear my favorite long-sleeved, Tri-State Velo skinsuit for the time trial. I guess I’ll be able to manage.

I don’t usually have the opportunity to use discipline and my name in the same sentence, but if I have a special discipline it could arguably be the time trial. Here at the Coupe des Ameriques I have had most of my success at this stage and today I was still on a high from the prologue result last evening. As the GC leader my start time was at the end of our category. Start order was determined by the reverse order of our finish in the Prologue. Riders would depart on this point-to-point, undulating, 12.8 kilometer course every 30 seconds. Lev Krivitsky, the Canadian National Champ and my one minute man (meaning he would depart from the start house one minute before me). Before we cued up Lev approached Sandy and I and said, “Hey Steve, please take it easy on us today.” We all laughed, but many a truth is said in jest. In winning this stage last year, I had bettered him by 1:14. However, this was another year and he was fresh off a victory in the Time Trial at the Canadian

I am still continually amazed by the fantastic time trial equipment I see at these events. I took particular note of Krivitsky’s bike, a Cervelo P-3 outfitted with all the right stuff, including a Zipp disk and 80mm deep, aero front wheel. I pride myself with the work I have done on my “engine”, but when I see these exotic bikes it’s still a bit intimidating. I also pride myself with my ability to focus and that I did as I entrusted myself to the bike holder in the start house. National Championships just the week before. No doubt he was ready.

The starter gave me the countdown, “Dix secondes (breathe) . . .Cinq (tap out the rhythm), quatre (elbows out), trios (breathe), deux (focal point), un, Aller!” My start was right on, good power and straight. I wound the bike up, while banging through the gears and settled into the saddle with my 30 second man, Denis Côté , in sight. I caught him within the first two kilometers. I was feeling pretty good and had the next rider on the radar. While that rider was too far ahead to recognize, he looked too big to be Krivitsky. The next few minutes it took everything for me to remain focused on the mission at hand and not give into the demons inside my head who were asking me if this level of pain was really worth it. I totally shut them out. By the five kilometer point I saw it wasn’t Lev Krivitsky, but Gaetan Boulanger who had finished fourth last evening. Since he started 1:30 ahead of me it was obvious he wasn’t having a good day, but, hey, maybe I was! As I passed him I saw Lev well up the road. I had brought him back by at least 30 seconds, but the gap wasn’t falling as quickly as I would have liked. This ride was not pretty and really hurt. I finally caught him within one kilometer of the finish and knew as a result I had probably won the stage. And win it I did! With a 1:01 winning margin over Krivitsky I was now 3:12 ahead on the general classification after only two stages. . .a good start.

TIME TRIAL (12.8 km) RESULTS
1 LEHMAN STEVEN USA
00.18.13
00.00.00

2 KRIVITSKY LEV CAN
00.19.14
00.01.01

3 ROMKEY GARY CAN
00.19.18
00.01.05

4 CLOUTIER PIERRE CAN
00.19.48
00.01.35

5 DESROCHES CLAUDEL CAN
00.20.03
00.01.50

6 ZANELLA ELIO CAN
00.20.28
00.02.15

7 BOULANGER GAETAN CAN
00.20.36
00.02.23

8 TERSIGNI JOE CAN
00.20.49
00.02.36

9 LION JEAN-PASCAL CAN
00.20.54
00.02.41

10 CÔTÉ DENIS CAN
00.21.30
00.03.17

11 LECLERC JEAN-CLAUDE CAN
00.21.40
00.03.27

12 PARKINSON JOHN CAN
00.22.27
00.04.14

13 FERNANDEZ SANTIAGO CAN
00.22.48
00.04.35

14 MICHIE STAFFORD CAN
00.22.56
00.04.43

Saturday, July 5, 1:30PM – The Short Road Race- This afternoon’s race started downtown shortly after the unveiling and dedication of the newly erected comme- morative arch to the sport of cycling. It is a 6 meter high sculpture celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Coupe des Amériques and the importance of cycling to Sutton. The arch is the creative work of local artist Olivier Burnham and is erected at the gazebo, near the post office.

This year the organizers decided to offer a short road race instead of the criterium that is usually the Saturday after­noon stage. I accepted this change with mixed emotions. On one hand I usually love the criterium venues and for­mats this event has offered over the years. The circuits are always challenging and they have made them more interesting, from time to time, by presenting them in a miss-and­out format. Instead, for 2008 the race organization presented us with a relatively short road race (18 miles), but with plenty of opportunity for breakaways. There were at least two highway gradient climbs and undulations that would tantalize the aggressive rider. A criterium would have been ideal if I were looking for a stage victory, but this year I had a loftier vision, me on the top step of the final podium. This short road race would be easier to control.

Commemorative Arche / Sutton
Upon arrival in Sutton I had reconnoitered this circuit and decided to make the most of this race I will probably have to attack. I figured I’d have to make up time lost in the Prologue and selected a couple of points to launch my breakaway. This year, however, the Prologue went well and I was out to win this event, so I decided to sit in near the front, control the group as best I could and be cautious in the sprint. That was the plan.

Again, as in the Prologue, Claudel Desroches went to the front and set a very strong tempo. When he would tire, and that only happened about one of every five or ten minutes, Gary Romkey, the Canadian National Road Race Champ would go to the front a keep the pace. It was as if they were riding for me! Was I in heaven?

We passed the points where I had planned to attack and knew all I had to do was sit in and I’d still have better than a three minute lead on my closest rival. Those who know me know that I can’t sit in too long, so with 13 kilometers to go I launched a furious attack. Four riders managed to go with me, so I gave it up and we all went back to the group. As soon as we were back I attacked again. This time two riders snagged me and we went back again. Immediately upon my return I attacked a third time and this time I committed fully to the attack with only Pierre Cloutier in tow. After about a kilometer and about ten seconds advantage on the charging field I swung over and told Cloutier to come through. He made a feeble pull and went back on my wheel. I told him to just give me a ten second break every kilometer and we could make this breakaway work. Every time I would lift the pace, however, he would slip off my wheel. To his credit and to the amount of distress his body was telling me he was in, he did come through and do all he could. The last time check we got from the official was twenty seconds advantage, but a quick look back and I could tell they were racing for third. Wanting to put the most distance on the bunch as possible, I told Cloutier that I would lead the sprint out from one kilometer to go. If he was able to come around at the end, the race was his. He did and it was. I felt confident, but saw no need to take a stage win away from a rider who helped me. He was ecstatic with the win and I put another 40 seconds on my closest rivals. At the end of the day on General Classification I had 3:52 on second and Coultier had moved to third, now 4:15 back

SHORT ROAD RACE (30.4 km) RESULTS
1 CLOUTIER PIERRE CAN
00.48.35
00.00.00

2 LEHMAN STEVEN USA
00.48.37
00.00.02

3 ROMKEY GARY CAN
00.49.15
00.00.40

4 TERSIGNI JOE CAN
00.49.15
00.00.40

5 ZANELLA ELIO CAN
00.49.15
00.00.40

6 LION JEAN-PASCAL CAN
00.49.15
00.00.40

7 CÔTÉ DENIS CAN
00.49.15
00.00.40

8 DESROCHES CLAUDEL CAN
00.49.15
00.00.40

9 KRIVITSKY LEV CAN
00.49.15
00.00.40

10 LECLERC JEAN-CLAUDE CAN
00.49.15
00.00.40

11 BOULANGER GAETAN CAN
00.49.15
00.00.40

12 PARKINSON JOHN CAN
00.49.15
00.00.40

13 MICHIE STAFFORD CAN
00.56.22
00.07.47

14 FERNANDEZ SANTIAGO CAN
00.56.22
00.07.47

We awoke to another beautiful day in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. As on the first stage our field numbered fourteen. That’s not a large field, but, hey, we’re over 60. How many of us do you think there are? Today’s final stage started at the Curling Arena in Sutton, traveled over an 82 kilometer loop of undulating terrain with one forbidding climb, passed through downtown Sutton under the newly dedicated Monument to Cycling and up the hill to the municipal park on the north road out of town.

Again, from the gun my “team” of Desrochers and Romkey went to the front and set a sufficient pace to prevent attacks. I decided I would just sit third wheel, gatekeeping and swinging onto the wheel of whomever of the two was recovering. This happened to be the same spot every other rider of our group wanted to be, so there was constant pressure to not get pushed off the wheel. Occasionally, someone would make a half-hearted attack, but Desrochers or Romkey would just slowly bring them back. As we rolled through this magnificent countryside I was constantly reminded of heroic but failed efforts I had made on this demanding circuit over the years. No matter what I have tried, victory on this circuit has eluded me. In fact, in 1998 when I had won the Coupe des Ameriques, it was only at the awards ceremony that I learned that I had won. That year I finished third on this final stage, but well behind a two-man breakaway that I couldn’t control. Lucky for me their effort came up 25 seconds short of the General Classification win. Today I was trying another strategy, sit in until the climb out of Glen Sutton on Scenic Road.

For ten kilometers before that climb we barreled through a valley with mountains on both sides. It’s beautiful, but there just doesn’t seem to be a gap or cut for a road to cross to the town of Abercorn. That’s because there isn’t one! Scenic Road simply defies road engineering logic and just goes up and over. The climb starts with a slam-you-in–the –face, 12% gradient for about 300 to 400 meters. It was here that I went around the dynamic, tempo-setting duo of Desrochers and Romkey. I set the highest pace I could hold on this abrupt and extreme beginning of the four kilometer climb that faced us. Then I hit a very short, false flat that was probably still a 6 % gradient before the next 10 to 12% pitch. As I entered this second kick and sensed no one behind me I broke my rule and looked back. At this point it also looked like I had broken the will of the chasers. Three riders were 50 meters back and the rest were not in sight. With this I redoubled my effort, still riding in fear that I wouldn’t be able to hold the pace. I continued to push hard for the better part of ten minutes and as I crested the hill the only witness I had was the red Miata that was my lead vehicle.

Lucky for me Tom Grim had told me how dangerous the descent was from Scenic down to the town of Abercorn. This drop was capable of propelling a cyclist to 80 kilometers per hour, but was riddle with serious pot holes. There was even a poorly patched trench across the lane just before, of all things, a railroad crossing. Despite all this I used caution and made it into Abercorn safely. At Abercorn I made a right turn onto Route 139 north just 10 kilometers from the finish line. At this point I realized, barring a mechanical or crash, I was going to win this race. I knew I was the superior time trialist and anyone who was close enough over the climb, wasn’t. I settled into a 90% effort and as I crested a rise would look back, but never saw another rider.

As I approached Sutton the State Police escort came up to the Miata and sent it back to the chasing riders. He took over the lead vehicle chores with siren blasting as we entered Sutton. Believe me, as a bicycle racer, you haven’t lived until you have been paced by a police car all lit up with siren whaling. I zipped up and started my celebration early (still at least one kilometer from the finish), as the street was lined with a very enthusiastic crowd. I also took note of the splendid Commemorative Arch and realized with great joy that I was the first racer of the Coupe des Ameriques (for which it honored) to pass under it in competition.

As I exited the downtown I started up the hill, now just 300 meters from the finish when the church bells tolled. It was 10:15 and I guess they were calling the congregation to services. I’d like to think they were announcing my arrival. . . and victory. I told Sandy I’d be doing a two-handed salute as I crossed the line before this stage and here I was. After seventeen attempts I was finally victorious on a Scenic mountain stage. It made my second overall win at the Coupe des Ameriques that much better.

RESULTS LONG ROAD RACE (82 km) RESULTS

1 LEHMAN STEVEN USA 02.17.17 00.00.00
2 CÔTÉ DENIS CAN 02.18.45 00.01.28
3 CLOUTIER PIERRE CAN 02.18.54 00.01.37
4 TERSIGNI JOE CAN 02.19.19 00.02.02
5 BOULANGER GAETAN CAN 02.20.17 00.03.00
6 KRIVITSKY LEV CAN 02.20.17 00.03.00
7 DESROCHES CLAUDEL CAN 02.20.41 00.03.24
8 ZANELLA ELIO CAN 02.22.42 00.05.25
9 LECLERC JEAN-CLAUDE CAN 02.22.48 00.05.31
10 LION JEAN-PASCAL CAN 02.23.13 00.05.56
11 ROMKEY GARY CAN 02.24.55 00.07.38
12 PARKINSON JOHN CAN 02.26.25 00.09.08
13 MICHIE STAFFORD CAN 02.46.56 00.29.39
14 FERNANDEZ SANTIAGO CAN 02.51.06 00.33.49

FINAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION RESULTS
1 LEHMAN STEVEN USA
03.59.07
00.00.00

2 CLOUTIER PIERRE CAN
04.05.05
00.05.58

3 CÔTÉ DENIS CAN
04.05.41
00.06.34

4 KRIVITSKY LEV CAN
04.05.57
00.06.50

5 BOULANGER GAETAN CAN
04.07.34
00.08.27

6 TERSIGNI JOE CAN
04.07.48
00.08.41

7 DESROCHES CLAUDEL CAN
04.07.54
00.08.47

8 ZANELLA ELIO CAN
04.11.11
00.12.04

9 LION JEAN-PASCAL CAN
04.11.58
00.12.51

10 ROMKEY GARY CAN
04.12.48
00.13.41

11 LECLERC JEAN-CLAUDE CAN
04.13.15
00.14.08

12 PARKINSON JOHN CAN
04.17.58
00.18.51

13 MICHIE STAFFORD CAN
04.47.27
00.48.20

14 FERNANDEZ SANTIAGO CAN
04.57.09
00.58.02