FAYETTEVILLE - Brad Huff of Springfield, Mo., got to enjoy the final stretch of his Sunday ride in the final event of the Joe Martin Stage Races this time.
Huff flashed across the finish line first and raised his hands in triumph for the first time in 15 years of running in the event, one year after leaving the competition with a sour taste in his mouth.
“Last year I had the lead with about 75 yards to go from the finish line, and I got out of line and the pack blew by me and I finished like 30th,” Huff said.
“That’s just kind of how this sport goes. One bad move and you can go from first to nothing. You have to put yourself in the right spot at just the right time and hope you have enough left to get across the line first. I guess I hit just the right gear and was able to get it done today.”
Huff has put together a strong professional career over the past decade, but he was never able to get the victory here in the biggest race closest to his home town.
“I think I got a top three here, but it’s been years ago,” Huff said.
“This is a great race with a lot of great competitors and the course is so technical and so tough. You really have to be on your game to do well here.”
Sunday’s Criterium wrapped up four days of racing, and considering the dire weather forecasts hanging over the event on Sunday morning, race organizers were more than pleased that everything got in as scheduled.
“As a race director, you are kind of like a farmer,” Bruce Dunn said. “You spend hours and hours planning and trying to see every contingency and then you kind of have to put it in the Good Lord’s hands and hope for the best.”
Dunn said minor adjustments had to be made for the event.
“We couldn’t put up some of our displays and inflatables because of the wind,” Dunn said. “But overal we can’t complain.
“The weather is just a factor in cycling. I thought the wind was a big factor that affected the strategies on Saturday in our Road Race stages and as a result we got some really exciting races out of it. The teams that made the best adjustments are the ones that did the best.”
Huff said weather was a factor, but he noted it might have helped him.
“It was very windy and you kind of had to figure out where you had your headwind and where you had your tailwind and adjust,” Huff said.
Joe Martin Stage Race
MEN PRO 1 CATEGORY NAME, TEAM TIME
Brad Huff, Optum .......................... 1:25:58
Jure Kocjan, Smartshop ................ 1:25:58
Ian Crane, Jamis Hagens............... 1:25:58
Erick Slack, Canyon Bicyles........... 1:25:58
Ryan Roth, Jet Fuel Coffee ............ 1:25:58
Robert Sweeting, 5Hr Energy ........ 1:25:58
Brecht Dhaene, Astellas ................. 1:25:58
M. Sheehan, Boneshaker ............... 1:25:58
Chris Winn, Horizon Organic ......... 1:25:58
Scott Zwizanski, Optum............... 1:25:58
OVERALL NAME, TEAM TIME
Ian Crane, Jamis Hagens.............10:08:55
Ryan Rhoth, J.Fuel Coffee ...........10:09:08
B. J. Maynes, J. Hagens ..............10:09:19
E. Oronte, Horizon Organic..........10:09:21
Travis McCabe, Smartstop ..........10:09:22
WOMEN PRO 1-2 CATEGORY NAME, TEAM TIME
Lauren Stephens, TIBCO .................. 54:35
Laura Brown, Colavita ...................... 54:37
Joanne Kiesanowski, TIBCO ............. 54:38
E. Scotti Wilborne, TIBCO ................ 54:46
Erika Varela, Mexican National ......... 55:00
Erica Allar, Colavita ........................... 55:00
Mandy Heintz, Guru Cycle ................ 55:00
Mayra Rocha, Mexican Ntl. .............. 55:00
Mary Zider, Colavita .......................... 55:00
Kathryn Hunter, ATC Racing ........... 55:00
OVERALL NAME, TEAM TIME
Lauren Stephens, TIBCO ............... 6:32:20
Laura Brown, Colavita ................... 6:33:03
Joanne Kiesanowski, TIBCO .......... 6:33:17
Jessica Cutler, FCS ........................ 6:33:28
Jasmin Glaesser, TIBCO ................ 6:33:33
Sports, Pages 17 on 04/28/2014