8/15/2007

ABD Places 3rd at Elk Grove Criterium

ABD rider Josh Carter sprinted to third in the Elite Men's race at the 2nd Annual Tour of Elk Grove on August 11th.

The windy conditions on the "L" shaped course with two, 180 degree turns proved too much for any breakaways of the day as team members Carter, Jeff Schroetlin and Mike Ebert all took their chances off the front. At one point Carter and three other riders gained 15 seconds almost instantly, but were reeled in after one of many $500 primes caused severe infighting amongst the members of the break.

In the final lap the field spread across the road leading into the first 180 degree turn and both Carter and Schroetlin found themselves boxed in against the curb. Fortunately, the group strung out again after the acceleration out of the turn and the two made it to the front, but now with almost a mile and half to go! Schroetlin once again proved himself as the team's leadout man, taking a one kilometer pull to keep Josh out of trouble before the field finally jumped with 400 meters to go. Carter's third place was within a wheel of race winner Graham Howard and second place Marco Aledia.

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