We would like to thank Serge Desrosiers for these photos:

Stefano opens the weekend by taking the top step at the Metro State RoadRunner Time Trial on Saturday and Pete Lopinto closes Sunday on the top step at the DU City Park Criterium!

TT RECAP:

So after some big changes to the Time Trial bike I decided it would be a good idea to try the new position at a local race called the Roadrunner Time Trial since there is no better way to simulate racing than by racing! Once there I was glad to see that there were  quiet a few good riders and that I was going to have to work for it. The course was an out and back in one direction and then out and back again in a different direction, sort of like a dog bone shape starting in the middle with some pretty technical corners in the first part and two nicely sized rollers on the second half. Also, the description of the course on the flier read “between 8 and 9 miles”. That one mile can make a pretty big difference in a Time Trial like that but I talked to a couple people and knew that the best times for the other categories was right around 20 minutes, so that was good enough.

Anyways, on with the racing. Started out pretty hard till I set into the pace but managed to take some seconds on my 30 second man, who happened to be one of my former team mates last year and pretty much held it there for the rest of the time. At the end I finished with a time of 18:57 which was good enough to win over my former team mate and 30 second man Justin England who was 6 seconds behind me.

After picking up my “huge winnings” I made my way back home for some rest before Sunday’s criterium at City Park.

Thanks for reading

Stefano      

Under beautiful Arizona skies Brian Alfremann and Pete Lopinto captured the first win of the season for the THF Cycling Team.

In typical Arizona fashion the race got off to a fast start and nobody wanted to let any of the early moves gain any serious ground. Brian Spent the early part of the race covering the moves that looked good and patrolled the front so Pete could save his legs for the second half of the race. This also gave Pete a chance test out his legs and figure out the tricky downhill finish by grabbing some primes in the early going. At the halfway mark a serious move of 6 guys got away with all the major teams represented. The seasoned criterium racer Lopinto sensed this may have been the move of the day and before the group got too much of an advantage he leaped from the field to join them. Unfortunately the combination wasn’t right and their disorganization allowed the entire field to reel them back with about 20 minutes left in the race. Once the field was together with only a handful of laps remaining all the signs pointed to a field sprint. The Waste Management Team had lined up at the front and Pete got himself into position behind their lead out with just a few laps remaining. a half lap to go. With half a lap to go Brian found Pete at the front and the tandem went over the top of the lead out. As Brian started to run out of gas Pete made a quick jump for the corner and found a nice outside line then gobbled up the last 300 meters on his own to cross the line first.

First race of the season for the THF Racing team. The roster was Stefano Barberi, Brian Alferman and Pete Lopinto for the 3 day stage race in and around the Phoenix area.

Stage 1 time trial for 22k on an out-and-back flat course in Buckeye under some unusual cold and rainy weather. Stefano had only been on his Orbea Ordu TT bike once but still managed 8th place in what was his first race of the year. He finish only 33 seconds off the winner and was excited to get the season under way with a top ten result. Without TT bikes Pete and Brian used the TT to wake up their legs and finished in 77th and 88th.

Stage 2 road race in Casa Grande, 5.5 laps for a total of 90 miles After an hour of racing a break got off with 14 guys and quickly shot up to over 2 minutes. The THF boys weren’t on their toes and missed the moved. Fortunately the teams worried about the overall classification worked on the front and brought the break back with less then a lap to go. With about 10 miles a break of 2 rolled off and the Jittery Joe’s team began the chase. The gap didn’t come down quick enough so Brian and Pete threw their efforts in to help after Stefano gave the word he had good legs and wanted a shot at the finish. Brian and Pete worked hard and the break came back with about 2 miles to go. Stefano went for it with the last mile on the hill and got off the front with another rider and blew the field to bits. The attack came just a tad too early as he was passed in the last 200 meters and came in 6th place.

Stage 3 criterium in downtown Phoenix for 70 minutes. The race started off fast and pretty much stayed that way the whole day. Stefano, Pete and Brian kept their eye on the important moves with Stefano giving his all the second half to get a break going. Nothing would stick and a crazy field sprint was on tap. Pete battled away with the Rock Racing train and did his best to hold his ground among all the madness in the last 2 laps. He came into the last corner a few spots too far back but still  managed a 9th place finish on the stage.

Overall the team was happy with their first race of the season with top 10 finishes in each stage and Stefano at 9th place overall. Brian gained more experience during this weekend than he ever had before and looks forward to keeping the ball rolling. 

The race started off fast with no moves getting more than 5 seconds off the front for the first 20 minutes. I was able to attack at the first lull and get away with 3 other guys for 3 laps and picked up the first prime of the day. We were reeled in shortly after and I just decided to bide my time. That was until they rang the bell for a $100 prime. My old team mate Jesse Anthony heard the bell as well, and we step back into our old routine of him leading me out. He did the perfect hit-out and I was able to scoop up the $100 with no problems.

With about 15 laps left a move of 8 or so guys got off with a 10 second gap. I saw that most of the teams were up there in the move, so I hit out on the opposite side of the field and bridged up to the break. We all rolled through in the break and things looked good until 3 to go. The field was cruising in on us and I attacked with 2 to go to try and split the break and keep us away. Well, that didn’t work and we got caught with 600 meters to go. I was able to grab a good wheel into the last corner in the midst of some craziness and followed Cody O’Reileiy in the sprint. Cody took it strong to the line for the win and I ended up a close third place.

I was pretty happy for the first race of the season and know that if I hadn’t attacked with 2 to go I might have pulled off a better sprint. The first race on the Orbea was great, the bike was stiff and fast with the Rol wheels feeling smooth. As always, the SRAM work perfect and I never missed a shift. I look forward to Valley of the Sun with some stiffer competition doing some racing with my new team mates.