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RHC Brooklyn No.8. The Hook’s glory

It was our first time at the Red Hook Crit of Brooklyn. The circuit was fast, lightweight form of L, a technical area with a hairpin and an area of slight rise where the headwind was a significant fatigue. I had a couple of fast chicanes and a spectacular finish line arrival curve. Overall was a good circuit but if you fall back of the bunch, it was clear that you would die in the attempt.

Rankings round began about 12:30, starting with groups of women, a total of 52 women ready to give everything to try to make their best time. After the passage of the two groups, the best time was for Kacey Lloyd team Long Tail Creative.

In the case of the men’s qualify, highlight the dramatic fall of Faz Adhili, a touch with another rider that ended with his face on asphalt, the rider of the Team Cinelli Chrome was a horrible hit that prevented him from race the final. Stefan Vis, also from the same team, managed to set the best time of the circuit but was unlucky and suffered a fall which, as in the case of Faz, left him out of the race.

LAST CHANCE

Characterized as the play-off for those riders who have not reached to sneak into the final, is composed of 75 (76 to 150 of the general classification) riders with pretensions of being among the TOP 10 that allows them that second chance to enter the final.

It is not an easy race, you will find all kinds of riders, the most in good physical shape, with a more aggressive ride, others finest in braking and cornering, authentic sprinters, others with a good fitness, but all, all, with an inhumane interest to do well and achieve the end.

WOMEN’S CRIT

The awaited moment came, the finals began.

The public was ready for that favourite (Kacey Lloyd, Ainara Elbusto, Ash Duban, Jo Celso and the French Fleur Faure) give us a brilliant race and a show like few others.

Ainara of Connor WRC team and winner of the RHC Series 2014, came prepared to win and, from the first moment, showed it. She came out, like one shot, just start, taking the breakfast after an amazing round. Race head stood out very quickly by a group with the strongest that, round to round, the positions were rotating.

There were attempts to escape by some riders to try to get away and break the group but the head bunch managed to neutralize them and be held together.

The riders more fit played very well their cards. Ainara didn’t lose the control of the race at any time, Fleur did a fantastic race as usually and Vittoria Reati was always in a good position studying their rivals and waiting for the perfect moment to attack.

Finally, expectations were accomplished and Ainara Elbusto of Connor WRC won, second Fleur Faure (Poloandbike), and in third place was Kacey Lloyd (Long Tail Creative).

MEN’S CRIT

The high point was already served. The show that we were all waiting for was about to begin.

The darkness of the night, the euphoria of the public, the ceaseless flashes of photographers, David Trimble announcing the traditional countdown and one hundred percent concentrated riders wanting to start.

Three, two… one…! Go! The fight began by the Edition number 8 of the RHC Brooklyn.

As you might expect, Mario Paz Duke (IRIDE Team), succeeded in getting the first round followed by a great bunch.

The head of race, composed of a large number of riders, was ridding at a furious pace.

There were several escape attempts by Paolo Bravini and Thibaud Lenry, both from Team Cinelli Chrome, but all failed. Some others also attempted to break the group’s head, but if we had to highlight the performance of some rider in particular, it is the case of Chas Christiansen (Mash) who gave us a thrilling race for several laps to lead the bunch and making several attacks that left perplex more than one. Chas made it clear that he did not come to New York to visit the city, he came ready to win.

Three laps from the end, there was a significant fall in the last curve before the passage by the finish line which affected quite a few riders of the first group, Mario Paz Duke (IRIDE), Pablo Rodríguez (Poloandbike) and Chas, were three of many who were affected by the incident and ran out of options of podium. Despite this, Chas got finished in position 50 and win the prize TOP Antagonist for his race.

Finally, and deciding on the final sprint, won the Ivan Ravaioli from Bahumer Racing Team, followed by the Spanish Luis Junquera from Poloandbike and, thirdly, Raúl Torres from Leader Bikes.

Once again, Red Hook Crit has shown to be the fixed-gear race with the highest competitive level of the current scene and bringing riders of many different nationalities with the same goal: be the best.

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