ABD Elite Team riders Josh Carter and Jeff Schroetlin continued the squad's success at Superweek this weekend hot on the heels of Carter's win at Bensenville last Sunday.
In Saturday's Carl Zach Challenge in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Schroetlin maneuvered himself into the winning break of seven riders late in the race and then attacked with just two laps remaining to isolate himself and one other rider. "I attacked just after a $100 prime and immediately the Rock guy [Rock Racing Pro Sergio Hernandez] and I had about 15 seconds," explained Schroetlin. Unfortunately, his shot at the win slipped away when he skipped his tire through a turn with enough force to unseat his tire. "I wanted to keep all the momentum I could so was pedaling through every turn when I caught one [a pedal] and jumped the tire." Schroetlin rode his hobbled machine as best he could to the line and his gap was big enough that he almost held on for a podium spot, only to be passed in the final meters and eventually finishing 4th.
On Sunday it was teammate Carter's turn to make the break, and with just 12 laps remaining in the 100 kilometer criterium he bridged across to the two leaders with a group of five other riders. The final eight escapees included Navigators pro Viktor Rapinski, Colavita rider Adam Bergman, 2004 Olympic gold Medalist Peter Dawson, New Zealander Josh England and fellow amateurs Tom Holladay, Marco Rios and Chicago rider John Meyers. In the final lap Bergman took the flyer to force the sprinters to chase and the move paid off as he stayed away for the win. Carter just missed second place in a very tight finish with Josh England that saw the pair neck and neck the last 150 meters.
With seven races remaining in the series the team is very excited about the upcoming events, especially Saturday night's Downer Avenue stage.
