Melissa “Freeway” Fritz “wurde ein Team von einer” (“was a team of one”) in the women’s Cat 4 race, where she was the sole Hagerty racer in a field of 27 women.  But for Melissa, not having teammates present is apparently “nichts zu kümmern” (“nothing to worry about”)!  She fought hard all day to be in the breaks, positioned herself well as the pack neared the finish line, and earned second place in the sprint.  To get on the podium in any race is “prima” (“awesome”) but to do it after putting in so much effort and without teammates to help was “erstaunliche” (“amazing”)!  

 

Lars Welton was equally “erstaunliche” in his Masters 55+ race, in which he was again the sole Hagerty member participating.  Without much fuss or fanfare, Lars has consistently been holding down the fort solo for Hagerty in the Masters 55+ field so far this year; to which we at Hagerty can only say, “Ich danke Ihnen und gut gemacht!“ (“Thank you and well done!”). 

 

Hagerty’s Steve Andriese, Hal BeVier, Scott Diment, Dan Hofstra, Norm Licht, Craig Webb, Myles Weitzman, and Peter Worden competed in the Masters 45+ race, where they  employed their usual “teilen und conquer” (“divide and conquer”) tactics.  Tactically this proved to be a very exciting race.  First, the Hagerty men repeatedly hit the field with a never ending barrage of two-man attacks: first Myles Weitzman and Dan Hofstra, then Steve Andriese and Peter Worden, then Craig Webb and Hal BeVier, and so on.  Hal and Craig were eventually able to get off the front in a three-man break with MCB Racing’s Joe Lekovish.  Priority Health’s Rob Iser bridged to the break and passed it (no wonder he was last year’s state road champion!), and Craig joined with him – resulting in a two-man break followed by a two-man chase, and with Hagerty represented in both.  Eventually others, including Dan Hofstra, bridged up to the leaders and with them formed a six-man break.

 

This six-man break just absolutely smoked the course, actually catching and passing the Masters 35+ field.  Meanwhile Steve, Scott, Norm, Myles, and Peter worked to neutralize the main field and ensure that the break was successful.  Once it was clear the break was safely away Steve and Norm, joined by West Coast’s Dave Heittiko, rode away to join Hal in the chase group.  It was at this point that back in the main field Peter turned to Myles and asked, “Am I just hypoxic, but do we actually have five guys up the road?”  And Myles just smiled . . . 

 

Coming into the finish the break was whittled from six to five, then to four, due largely to Dan Hofstra’s efforts.  At the finish Priority’s Mike Jones launched an impressive sprint for first place, with Racing Greyhounds’ Jeff Wittbrodt coming in second, and Craig Webb securing 3rd and Dan 4th.  Once the chase group came in, it developed that Hagerty had secured a spot on the podium and altogether five of the top eleven positions in the Masters 45+ race!  

 

Next up, the Hagerty Cycling Team is going to where the corn is as high as an elephant's eye for the Tour de Mount Pleasant.  Until then, auf wiedersehen!