Jefferson Cup 2010: The Contenders

I won't attempt to write a lead-in to appropriately frame Jeff Cup, or to build any anticipation for the race. Its 20 years of history and a cancellation-shortened pre-season have done that for me. We all know what this race is. We anticipate it. Our legs yearn for it, our embrocation burns for it. Come Sunday, the game is, as they say, on.

But whose game will it be this year? This year more than in recent memory, we need to look at the contenders not as individuals, but as teams. No fewer than 5 squads are sending 10 or more racers to the Men's Pro/1/2/3 event at Jeff Cup. Whose odds on asphalt are as good as on paper?

• Haymarket / Homevisit has made no secret of their intention of winning just about everything in 2010, and they're off to an astonishingly good start. Steven Gordon's form would make him a clear favorite, if it weren't for the formidable condition of young Joe Dombrowski. Jared Nieters is also hungrier than ever, and is always fast in the early season. Bryan Vaughan had a breakout success in North Carolina in February, and even if he cut his training volume by 50% since then he'd still be turning 25 hours per week. If it stays together until the end, the team has fast finishers in Chip Hoover and Andrew Bridges. Lance Lacy must be mentioned, because he is Lance Lacy. 1-2 punch? This team is like boxing an octopus.
• Battley Harley-Davidson / Sonoma is sending a full roster of 12 racers to Jeff Cup. While other teams were riding in circles in the sun at Vint Hill, they were suffering in the hills of Lost River. Other teams bring proven form and early results; Harley brings the element of surprise. We have no idea who is on form. Dave Fuentes is always a threat, as is Chuck "Norris" Hutcheson. Jose Escobar, Keck Baker and new addition Ramon Benitez are dangerous as well, and Brian Butts was second here last year. I'm not being very helpful here, am I? That's kind of the point.
• NCVC / United Health Group is not just the biggest team in the region; with 13 riders they're the biggest team in the race. Who to watch? Elite category juniors are never to be under-estimated. They can train more than you do and when they're not riding are usually expected to be playing XBox with their feet up. So watch out for Steven Kendall. Bert Garcia was on the Cat 3 podium at Vint Hill and will be looking to make a mark for himself. Paul Lengerman looked strong at Vint Hill, as did Jeff Dickey. Greg Abbott finished 6th at Vint Hill, but does not want a target on his back so is not considered a favorite at Jeff Cup.
• Kelly Benefit Strategies / LSV Amateur has a dozen for Jeff Cup as well. Their talent runs deep, with Vint Hill's impressive winner Evan Fader and perennially strong R Muoio, as well as young racers with pro trajectories: Blair Berbert, Nathan Wilson and Steven Black. 
• Team Nature's Path / 3 Sports is the next largest squad on the line, with an even 10. Dan King and Marc Warner have been going well in the early season, and Dominik Meier is a threat if it all stays together at the end. 
• Pete Custer and Mike Githens anchor the new Your Ad Here p/b Bicycle Pro Shop squad. If you want to know what the lack of a title sponsor does for motivation and performance, look no further than Milram, who lose their sponsor at the end of the year and are on fire right now (likely as a result).
• ABRT has five toeing the line in Charlottesville, including Stephen Wahl and Mike Hefner.
• Artemis has no official elite team in 2010, though they are not lacking in elite talent. SuperDave Osborne is el Patron of the team (and all of Mid-Atlantic racing, really). He is joined by fast finishers DJ Brew and Jorge Marccenaro. 
• Clean Currents p/b Don Beyer Volvo is leaner than in years past. But whenever Jason Meidhof is in the game, they're a team to watch.
• Richmond Pro's Craig Dodson was a top 10 at Jeff Cup last year. He's back in 2010 to improve, and is bringing teammate Matt Spohn.

Predictions? Corrections? Additions? Smack? Put it in the comments, or leave it out on the road.

Comments

[Big Ralph]

Hey how would you guys feel if I just ordered up some pizzas once we got closer to home? How would that make you feel?

[Va Cyclist]

Early season crap-shoot would be a better title knowing how well last years predictions went.

[Chuck Hutch]

3 man break with 3 to go containing Bryan Vaughan , Evan Fader and Mike Githens. Fader gets it at the line. Joe Dombrowski solos the last 2 laps to come in 4th holding the field the whole time at 20 seconds.

[Lance Lacy]

And YOU GOT DROPPED & Lance Lacy taking pictures and cheering them on from the sidelines

[Big Ralph]

nathans in redlands

[The Truth]

Is this a joke? My guess is that Haymarket will once again not win anything this year. Greg Abbott not wanting a target are you kidding me give him a 1 lap headstart and he will still get caught and dropped. Here is how it will go down. Harley 1,2,3,4 probably 5th and 6th as well. With DC Velo gone there will be no team left to challenge Harley and it will be a very boring year to watch. The mens Pro 1/2 CAT will make the womes races look like the TDF.

[Greg]

Hey "Truth", wtf?

The target reference was from my making a comment on the vint hill cat 3 predictions, saying how making prediction posts puts targets on people's backs. The guy who posted it about me was making a joke, but thanks for singling me out for an insult.

Is this a sign that we will once again be subjected to your ill conceived, homophobic, and juvenile commentary?

[Chuck Hutch]

Haymarket has all ready won races this year and are most likely stronger over all than Harley. Kelly is stronger than both of these teams with guys like Steve Black, Evan Fader and Nate Wilson. Harley lost 4 good cat 1s, to include Russ Langley and Ryan DeWald and picked up 3 cat 2s and a cat 3. We will be happy with a guy in the top 5 - in fact, the last 2 race we did that's all we got. On top of that, my ankle hurts, Dave Fuentes is over weight and Keck is from New Kent.

[Mike May]

Chuck, you can ride pretty fast. But you really suck at talking smack.

[The other Chuck]

Haymarket will win despite chasing down there own guys (as seen on the RIR video).

[Lance Lacy]

Chuck sorry to hear bout the Injury,I'll send u some good mankle excercises I learned from Freddie

[Big Ralph]

BIG RALPH LAPPN THE FIELD

[Chuck Hutch]

Like a dog lappin water?

[Pete Whitlock]

I find it ironic that "truth" has to hide behind an anonymous moniker. Seriously WTF. Why would you lurk on a regional bike racing site flaming people? I have no issue giving you my name, but it is obvious that you need to hide yours for fear you will get your ass kicked on the next group ride. Probably some jealous narcissist CAT3 who takes his "career" way too seriously. Get a life.

[Jim W]

Kelly has become the grad school, it seems, for NCVC's and coach Hefler's rocking college boys -- Wilson, Black, Russ Brown, Gottleib (x-Coppi). Eyes up for Redlands, 106 mile stretch today. Fastest for Jeff Cup? Her name is Soot.

[Steven Gordon]

Instead of Jeff Cup this year, I'll be doing Zele, 10 ronden van 11,5 km- 670 EUR, 14:00

...so yea I am not a favorite.

Let's go Haymarket!!

[The Real Truth]

The real truth is that Joe Dombrowski won Jeff Cup!!

[Jan de Bouff]

abbott dropped? i think not. FWIW he came in ahead of WTF Chuck at jeff cup. maybe you need to shut the hell up now troll.

[Pete C]

lol, bike racers are terrible at interneting

[dropped]

hahaha @ this. lol rotfl gumd @ YGD and bike racers. we hope ygd will have banter like this one day. hmm..what to say? greg abbott is gonna get dropped..off at the truth's momma's house.... and all the flat races now that he is skinny. chuck's ankle is crazy fat. ryan dewald has crabs from a cougar. haymarket's van smells like rabid racoon farts and dc velo is now once it once was and should be, a team full of lawyers and rich dudes. pete c said interneting.

conspiracy theory. did greg abbott transfer fat to chuck's ankle? discuss

this banter brought to you by levi liephiemmer's giant head.