Waywayanda Spring Cleaning 2010

By Joe (Utah) Petrarca:

This past weekend was the first race of the 2010 H2H series. Waywayanda Spring Cleaning is not only the first, but usually the toughest of all of the H2H Races. The longest of the series, Waywayanda’s 9 mile lap twists its way through countless rock gardens, technical features and brutally rough terrain. In addition to the usual challenge that this course presents, the weather dealt a punishing blow in the form of temperatures of 90deg. While racers in the previous week’s Cohoutta 100 and SSAP were tested with heavy rain, mud and cold temperatures, this week‘s blazing heat would make this race one to remember.

Heading out first, the Cat 3 racers we spared some of the brutal heat. Congratulations to Michael Sciancalepore jr, who had a great showing in the age 15 to 18 class and took home the win. He was also joined by his father, Michael Sciancalepore Sr who finished 16^th of 35 on the 40-49 group. Doug Alpers was a strong 4^th of 9 in the 19 to 29 group.

A good majority of the Team Marty’s members raced in Cat2 during the hottest portion of the day. Most riders rode the last few miles without any liquids as camelbacks and water bottles ran dry. Strong performances by Cat2 riders were seen throughout the day. Paul Meier 2^nd of 10 in the 19-29 group. Kevin (The Beard Man) Kurie 6^th of 18 in the 30-34 group. Craig Guerrini 3^rd of 21 in the 35-39 group. Bill Dove was secretly sabotaged as he was given a camelback full of salt water on his second loop. He ran the second loop in the scorching heat without any liquids, 14th of 21 in the 35-39 group.

Victor Schepisi has his usual strong race, 3^rd of 25 in the 40-44 group. Micheal Grant has another crampless race, 18th of 25 in the 40-44 group. Greg Heller 23^rd of 25 in the 40-44 group.

The single speeders in cat2 went out and battled one of the most technical course in the series aboard a 1x1 drivetrain. Phil Gerhardt roughed it out and gets the tough man award for doing the race on his full rigid Karate Monkey, 19^th of 25 in the Cat2 Single Speed Open group.

Joaquin Canizales made the best of his race even though he had a major mechanical that would have forced most riders to DNF. He snapped his carbon seatpost about 4 miles into the 1^st loop. He rode the remainder of the loop standing on his bike for the climbs and the flats, and sitting on his down tube for the downhills. He managed to find another seatpost/saddle at the start line for the remainder of lap2, in which he played catch up and put in a strong finish, 18^th of 25 in the Cat2 Single Speed Open group

The cat 1 field started off their race in the most brutal heat of the day. 3 laps of this course took its toll on the field and more than a third would not finish. The Marty’s team had a strong showing in the expert field. Marcin (Machine) Gembicki managed a very strong 7^th of 27 in the 30-39 class. In the 40-49 class, Claude Labarge had an impressive 4^th place finish in a 27 rider field. The heat seemed to have little effect on Cat 1 SS winner Leo Cardona 1^st of 14. He passed most of the cat 1 field and looked as if he was riding in 70 degree weather. Eddie finished a respectable 9^th of 14 in Cat 1 SS as he battled through leg cramps and lack of fluids. In my first h2h cat 1 race, I managed a 15^th of 27^th in the cat 1 30-39 class. Joe Monga finished a strong race, 8^th of 12 in the 50+ group.

I can’t speak for my fellow cat 1 teammates, but this was the hardest race I have ever done. The heat and the terrain made this race a painful death march by lap # 3. After 3 hours, I was very glad that it was over and im looking forward to the next H2H race at Tymor.