Richmond Pro Cycling: The Battley Harley of VA?

The top 2 podium spots in the elite race at the Tour de Beach over the weekend went to Richmond Pro Cycling teammates Gerarra Castro and Ryan Mele. For any team, that's not just a strong result - it's a dominant outing. But Richmond Pro wasn't done. Jeff Buckles snagged 4th for the squad, and Esteban Jukich was hot on his wheels for 5th. For good measure, teammate Craig Dodson rounded out the top 10.

The kicker? They're still honing their form. Says Craig Dodson, "Yeah, we're are pleased with the weekend, but our focus was just as prep work for Athens.  We haven't raced since Jefferson Cup a month ago, and our goal is on Athens, 2 speedweek races, and of course the Air Force Cycling Classic on May 4th."

Good luck in Athens, gents. Do us local folks proud.

Thanks to Tidewater Bicycle Racing Club and Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation for promoting the Tour de Beach. Here are complete results, very poorly formatted:

Men Pro/1/2/3 Results           
Place    Last Name    First Name    Team
1    Castro    Gerarra    Richmond Pro Cycling Team
2    Mele    Ryan    Richmond Pro Cycling Team
3    Collins    William    Virginia Beach Velo / East Coast Bikes
4    Buckles    Jeff    Richmond Pro Cycling Team
5    Jukich    Esteban    Richmond Pro Cycling Team
6    Cossa    Nick    Unattached
7    King    Daniel    Team Nature's Path / 3-Sports
8    Locklear    Steven    Tri-Power
9    Holland    Cameron    JRVS/Casey Auto Group
10    Dodson    Craig    Richmond Pro Cycling Team
11    Sanchez    Luis    Unattached
12    Edwards    Mark    Tri-Power
13    Berezny    Chip    Bike Line / LWA
14    Malone    Bill    Team Nature's Path / 3-Sports
15    Fowler    Gene    Team LeBleu / Nature's Pearl
16    Greco    Marc    Tri-power
17    Goble    Chip    Team Nature's Path / 3-Sports
18    Nisbet    Jonathan    Virginia Beach Wheelmen
19    Hopkins    Ted    Cycles Veloce Simple Green
20    Sorrell    Bryan    Team LeBleu / Nature's Pearl
21    Gann    Mike    TOSHIBA-Santo presented by Herbalife
22    Gunn    Jerry    Carytown Bicycle
23    Craft    Daniel    Fat Frogs Racing
24    Bender    James    Team LeBleu / Nature's Pearl
25    Caravella    Sarah    Richmond Pro Cycling Team
26    King    Mark    Charlottesville Racing Club
27    Lee    Matt    Capri Foundation
28    Hall    Tony    InsideOutSports/Zaytoun&Miller
29    Harville    Lucas    Seigler Sports
30    Schaefer    James    JRVS/Casey Auto Group
31    Robb    Phillip    Team Nature's Path / 3-Sports
32    Delisle    Stephen    Richmond Pro Cycling Team
33    Craddock    Elliott    Seigler Sports
34    Deal    Frank    JRVS/Casey Auto Group
35    Erickson    David    JRVS/Casey Auto Group

Women CAT 4 Results           
Place    Last Name    First Name    Team
1    Lestyan    Julie    Coastal Racing
2    Williams    Noni    Fat Frogs Racing
3    Seymour    Jane    Fat Frogs Racing
4    Russell    Tiffany    Coastal Racing
5    Scheel    Susan    Fat Frogs Racing
6    Craddock    Glenda    Fat Frogs Racing
7    Bray    Natalie    Coastal Racing
8    Segal    Sheri    Coastal Racing
9    Mullis    Sabra    Coastal Racing

Women CAT 1/2/3 Results            
Place    Last Name    First Name    Team
1    Tempest    Sally    Tri-Power
2    Cook    Laura    Tri-Power
3    Kuliecza    Julie    Team 19 Cycling
4    Helmboldt    Emily    Team Marshall Mechanical/RCWR
5    Santoro    Brenna    Tri-Power
6    Joyner    Emily    Team Marshall Mechanical/RCWR


Men 30+/40+ Combined Results            
Place    Last Name    First Name    Team
1    Collins    William    Virginia Beach Velo
2    Hosang    Michael    Tri-Power
3    Dinterman    Robert    Team LeBleu/Natures Pearl
4    Malone    Bill    Team Nature's Path / 3Sports
5    Roehrman    Ryan    Hilton Cycling Club
6    Simet    Steve    James River Velo Sports
7    Gilmer    William    Tri-Power
8    Wallace    Andrew    Tri-Power
9    Greco    Marc    Tri-power
10    Soles    Steve    Colavita
11    Owen    Kelvin    Kazane Racing
12    Goyet    Joshua    Virginia Beach Wheelman
13    Schaefer    James    Rostello p/b Fiorucci /CyCor
14    Demarchena    Andres    Fat Frog's Racing
16    King    Mark    Charlottesville Racing Club
17    Gibson    Daniel    VBV/ECB
18    Starkey    Tim    Tri-power
19    Fournier    Tom    Coastal Racing
20    Phillips    Adam    Virginia Beach Velo


Men 30+ Results            
Place    Last Name    First Name    Team
1    Hosang    Michael    Tri-Power
2    Dinterman    Robert    Team LeBleu / Nature's Pearl
3    Malone    Bill    Team Nature's Path / 3-Sports
4    Roehrman    Ryan    Hilton Cycling Club
5    Wallace    Andrew    Tri-Power
6    Goyet    Joshua    Virginia Beach Wheelmen
7    Demarchena    Andres    Fat Frogs Racing
8    Goble    Chip    Team Nature's Path / 3-Sports
9    Gibson    Daniel    Virginia Beach Velo / East Coast Bikes
10    Cook    Laura    Tri-Power
11    Burns    Christopher    Team Nature's Path / 3-Sports
12    Horvath    Kevin    Tri-Power
13    Delany    Stratt    Kazane Racing


Men 40+ Results           
Place    Last Name    First Name    Team
1    Collins    William    Virginia Beach Velo / East Coast Bikes
2    Simet    Steve    JRVS/Casey Auto Group
3    Gilmer    William    Tri-Power
4    Greco    Marc    Tri-power
5    Soles    Steve    Colavita
6    Owen    Kelvin    Kazane Racing
7    Schaefer    James    JRVS/Casey Auto Group
8    King    Mark    Charlottesville Racing Club
9    Starkey    Tim    Tri-power
10    Fournier    Tom    Coastal Racing
11    Phillips    Adam    Virginia Beach Velo / East Coast Bikes
12    Berezny    Chip    Bike Line / LWA
13    Helvilin    Vincent    Unattached
14    Blend    Nick    Team Nature's Path / 3-Sports
15    Hutcherson    Rick    Virginia Beach Velo / East Coast Bikes
16    Lovell    Terry     Team LeBleu / Nature's Pearl
17    Fletcher    Eric    Charlottesville Racing Club
18    Helmboldt    Jakob    Team Marshall Mechanical/RCWR
19    Frank    Robert    Team LeBleu / Nature's Pearl
20    Musante    John    Tri-power
21    Parker    Jeff    Virginia Beach Velo / East Coast Bikes


Men CAT 4 Results            
Place    Last Name    First Name    Team
1    Drake    Steven    Hilton Cycling Club
2    Buddenhagen    Shawn    All About Bikes Racing
3    Treece    David    Virginia Beach Velo / East Coast Bikes
4    O'Brien    Kyle    Virginia Beach Wheelmen
5    Smith    Kyle    Cranford Bike Team
6    Rosen    Chris    Hilton Cycling Club
7    Dujua    Oliver    Team Nature's Path / 3-Sports
8    Dinsmore    Christopher    Tri-Power
9    Gray    John    Virginia Beach Wheelmen
10    Acree    Melvin    Virginia Beach Velo / East Coast Bikes
11    Tremblay    Jacob    Fiorucci/Cycor Cycling Club
12    Younkin    Joe    all about bikes racing
13    O'Brien    Elliott    Team Traveller
14    Deal    Shawn    Fiorucci/Cycor Cycling Club
15    Shipp    Michael    Virginia Beach Velo / East Coast Bikes
16    Kendall    Steven    NCVC/Inova Health System
17    Lovell    Terry    Team LeBleu / Nature's Pearl
18    Scheel    George    Fat Frogs Racing
19    McMahon    Michael    Tri-Power
20    Marks    Arthur    Tri-Power
21    Musante    John    Tri-Power
22    Tempest    Peter    Tri-Power
23    Bruwelheide    Mike    all about bikes racing
24    Mercure    Keith    Fat Frogs Racing
25    McKeegan    Pat    MVC/Blue Wheel
26    Hershberger    Quinn    Blackwater Bike Shop
27    Magnussen    David    
28    Cullom    Doug    JRVS/Casey Auto Group


Men CAT 5 Results            
Place    Last Name    First Name    Team
1    Orff    Jarrad    Virginia Beach Velo / East Coast Bikes
2    Langley    Richie    Fat Frogs Racing
3    Hughes    David    Tri-Power
4    Salisbury    James Barrett    Team Traveller
5    Miller    Joel    Team Nature's Path / 3-Sports
6    Proffitt    Colby    unattached
7    Cisak    Jayson    All About Bikes Racing
8    Lee    Walter    Fat Frogs Racing
9    Magnant    David    JRVS/Casey Auto Group
10    Kyler    Zachary    Tri-Power
11    Croft    Paul    JRVS/Casey Auto Group
12    Williams    Matthew    Fat Frogs Racing
13    Lively    Malcolm    Tri-Power
14    Adamchuk    Brian    Fat Frogs Racing
15    Bowen    Michael    unattached
16    Bond    William    Fat Frogs Racing
17    Underhill    Michael    Fat Frogs Racing
18    Holm    Chad    Tri-Power
19    Brown    Michael    All About Bikes Racing
20    Witt    Christopher    International Christian Cyclist Club
21    Poling    David    Hilton Cycling Club
22    Smith Iii    Wick    Virginia Beach Velo / East Coast Bikes
23    Pecina    Michael    unattached
24    Petzing    Erik    unattached
25    Ribble    Patrick    JRVS/Casey Auto Group
26    Ribble    Tom     JRVS/Casey Auto Group

Comments

[Brian]

That 123 race was good! Richmond Pro had a string turnout on Sunday as well. Heres a link to the pictures I got on Sat at the Tour De Beach..... http://stormyworld.net/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=26004

[540]

Calling Richmond Pro Cycling the Harley Davidson of VA is somewhat insulting to both teams. Both teams are elite level, doing their own thing. It's unfair to say either one is like the other. I'm sure the members of the team would agree with my thoughts.

[202]

plus..harley already showed richmond pro cycling who is boss at jeff cup.

[Mike May]

Man, for such skilled sufferers, you bike racers sure are a sensitive lot.

My point was simply that when VA racers see the Richmond Pro guys show up at a race, they know the pace is going to be hot, same way the MABRA guys feel when the white Battley Harley kits roll up to the line. It's pretty clear from just about everything I've written about either squad here that I've got respect for both.

[Just to clarify...]

I like both teams the same but lets just look at the facts: one team is premised on youth outreach and community involvement (as stated on their website) and another team is full of middle aged "has beens" who look like they belong in prison rather then at a bike race, not to mention the shadow of a doubt D. Fuentes cast upon himself by having a positive test.
I know my shit. I raced Jeff Cup, I was on neither team but I was able to see the sheer numbers Harley had over Richmond Cycling. They put 3 in the break, Richmond had 2. Harley had a responsabilty to win.
Besides, thats Jeff Cup... lets wait until some real races.
Now if you want to bust on Richmond PRO Cycling for the "PRO" label in their name, thats more fair...until then, I think I know what team looks better...