Battley Harley lands first NRC Win, 1st Person Narrative by Dave Fuentes

While half the domestic pro peloton was soaked to the bone on their dream date with Hanna at the Univest Grand Prix, the lucky half was racing out in Grand Rapids, MI at the Priority Health Grand Cycling Classic, an NRC event.

Priority Health no longer sponsors a men's Pro squad, but they wanted to have a presence in the peloton at the race the company was sponsoring. Enter the Battley Harley-Davidson squad, who comprised the sponsor's "composite" team for the day. Eli Hengst passed along Dave Fuentes' email to the full squad with a race report, and it's just too good to excerpt or paraphrase. So here's the whole story, from Dave's perspective:

Priority Health Grand Cycling Classic
a Race Report by Dave Fuentes, Battley Harley-Davidson

A 6 rider team that consisted of Langley, Page, Dewald, Hutchison, Fader and myself (Fuentes) were the 'choosen' ones for this task. We flew into Grand Rapids on Friday afternoon, and were greated with  sunny weather, temps in the mid 70s. We were able to kit up and go for a ride before we went to the race reception at the steak house and bar across the street. All the other 'PRO' teams were getting high praise for showing up. Karl Menzies was the main attraction since he was last years winner.  No one even cared about us, except for that pack of  cougars that attempted to drag Chuck off and stuff him in a tree for later (you would have to have been there to witness that story).They particulary liked Dewald's glasses and kept trying to steal them. After we gave the cougars the slip, it was time to hit the hay for the big event. I was feeling pretty good about our chances and knew that all of us were riding well.

Race Day 1: Grand Rapids NRC race.
It was sunny and in the Mid 70's again (sorry univest crew), but very windy.

We all met for breakfast, then for a ride to loosen up for the race at 3.

The field was small by NRC standards, about 60 riders, but it was LOADED with strong riders. Most of the teams were represented by no more that 4 riders. Priority Health p/b Harley Davidson was 'in it to win it' with 6. The race course was long with 7 turns and 2 rough cobble (actually they were bricks, but cobbles sound so euro. Page agreed!) sections. The wind was the major factor. It was killing the field by keeping us pinned to the left on the start/finish stretch. We were very aggressive in the race and were covering everything that went. It was perfect. Fader ended up up the road solo in what looked like a good move about half way into the race, until he had a mishap that put him on the deck (WTF, how do you crash solo?) He was put back in, off the front, but all the wind was taken out of his sails. It didn't help that a Bissell and Successful Living rider bridged across, with Chuck in tow, and started to throttle it. Fader went out the back of the break quick. As I passed him, I was thinking 'poor bastard, he's done'. It was a monster effort to stay away for 10 laps in that wind. Meanwhile chuck is doing what chuck does best...... just being chuck. Most of you don't know this, but Chuck has only 2 speeds...0 and fuck it! He was driving the break so hard that it took Jittery Joes, Heckman and Menzies himself to bring it back. This effort was spitting guys out the back in the cross winds in a big way.

It was all back together with 10 laps to go when Langley and Paul Martin (Texas Roadhouse) escaped off the front. It was a cheeky move since most of the strong guys were taxed from chasing Mr. Chuck. Successful Living  and Jittery Joes started the chase, but Page was sitting in second position the whole time and really pissed them off. The break was still in striking distance, but I assume that everybody thought it would come back since it was just 2 riders. WRONG!!!

It was a done deal. We were all over the front of the field sitting on everyone that tried to bridge. It was getting desperate and they knew it. With two laps to go I was moving up on the outside when a Jitttery Joes rider gave me the 'flick' and hit my front wheel. I swerved over and plowed into Fader, sending us both sprawling across the road right past the start finish line. All I could hear was my carbon bike being torn in half as Fader surfed it across the street, with me on top of the whole mess. Fuck! that's 2 bikes this year!!!!! (Hey Fader, that how you crash! If your going to do it, go big!). Fader and I both laid in the street for about a minute. I thought I broke my elbow, it was swelling up like a balloon. Then water started to leak from my eyes as I looked at what was left of my bike. The only thing holding it together was the cables! My wheels were tacoed as well. Thanks Fader!

The only high point was that I was able to witness a photo finish sprint between the break. It was close, but Langley took out the NRC win, in front of the Priority Health sponsors who had flown us in to the race. It was awesome!!!! It was a real team effort by everyone. We were all standing in the middle of the street jumping around cause we just pulled off the big one. The cougars from the night before tracked us down, cause there they were at the finish (I think they worked for Priority Health). I think the blood trail that Evan and I were leaving behind from the crash was attracting them like sharks. They were trying to separate us from the safety of the herd, but it wasn't happening. I think someone threw them a courtesy hug.......Chuck?. Page, Dewald and Chuck all finished in the top 11 as well. It was a great day and we rode like I always knew we could, like pros!  We celebrated that night.

Comments

[RayMan]

Dave,
Awesome race recap. I felt like I was there. It's really great to hear about our local teams beating the pros. Job well done.

Frickin Russ: what a stud.

RayMan

[Lance Lacy]

Great stuff guy's, job well done

The chuck 2 speed thing was funny as hell.

[HarryF]

Fun recap. Got to love it when the semi-pros outshine the pros. Good team work and it's nice when some of the masters can prove that it's not over yet. By the way.. you guys should just stay in the Pro,1,2 races. Give us old guys a chance to win. Good to see two speed Chuck hurt the other teams, instead of me, on our training rides.
Congrats to Russ! Another great win! You Battley Harley guys are studs.
By the way.. what's the replacement bike and wheel's going to be this next year??

[kml]

I am behind on my reading... what an awesome recap. Russ certainly knows when to move and who to move with, cheeky...maybe...smart...definitely!!