Avondale Criterium #2

The TriSports.com Cycling/Eclipse racing men’s team had a successful outing this past weekend at the Avondale Criterium.  The course is a quick six-tenths of a mile with only 3 turns, which proved to be a great opportunity for the team to race on their new Orbea team bikes and Zipp Firecrest wheels.  Ben Lair, Andre McNulty and Justin Orkney lined up for the Pro/1/2 race alongside other prominent Arizona teams such as Bicycle Haus, Landis/Trek, Carlos O’Brien and Jet Set.  

From the gun the race was very fast with each team trying to establish a strong break.  The first half of the hour & fifteen minute race included a barrage of attacks, but none were able to establish a clean break away.  With about 35 minutes left in the race, a breakaway of four was away free and clear.  The break included Justin Orkney of TriSports, Brian Forbes of Jet Set, Michael Dziedzic of Landis/Trek and William Westfall from Bicycle Haus.  Since most of the major teams were represented in the break, it looked strong from the beginning.  With Orkney and Forbes riding hard to extend the gap, which grew as large as 40 seconds, the break became just two.

Forbes and Orkney working to extend their gap on the peloton!

McNulty and Lair were happy to discourage any organization in the peloton that would potentially threaten the break away and the two men maintained a healthy lead over the field.  Despite an organized effort by Bicycle Haus and Landis/Trek to reel them in towards the end of the race, it proved too late and the break stayed clear with Forbes winning the final sprint just feet ahead of Orkney.

The final sprint between Forbes and Orkney!

Avondale Criterium #2 Pro/1/2 Podium!

The men’s team is looking forward to carrying this momentum into the Tucson Bicycle Classic, just days away.

-Justin Orkney