Ballard Twilight Criterium Results
Saturday - June 13th

First of all thanks to the sponsors who made this event happen: Olympic Athletic Club, Wedgwood Cycles, Maritime Pacific Brewing Co., Carter VW SAAB, Swedish Medical Center and Bad Alberts Pub - All of which are local Ballard Business - Make sure to thank them yourself if you get a chance!

Women - Category 1 - 4 - 15 riders - 40 mins.

1. Stacey Spencer - Giant Bicycles, Canada

2. Mandy Poitras - Escape Velocity, Canada

3. Laura Reed - Wedgewood Cycles/Big Time Pizza, WA

4. Jennan Ghazal - Whole Foods of Austin, TX

5. Laura Felicetti - Badlands, WA

Masters Men age 35+ - 30 riders - 50 mins.

1. Glenn Bunselmeyer - Control Tech, WA

2. Steve Poulter - Thomas Kemper, WA

3. Matt Murnaghan - Escape Velocity, Canada

4. Brian Cole - Ti Cycles, WA

5. Paul Johnson - Thomas Kemper, WA

Category 3 & 4 Men - 82 riders - 55 mins.

1. Greg Zadow - Tacoma Bicycle, WA

2. Ryan Perlman - Saturn of Bellevue, WA

3. John Kettman - Exodus Cycling, WA

4. Jeff Tindall - Old Town Cycles, WA

5. Carl Strasser - No team, WA

Category Pro 1 & 2 Men - 67 riders - 65 minutes.

1. Kenny Williams - Saturn of Bellevue,WA

2. Todd Littlehales - Navigators, OR

3. Ian Tubbs - Seattle Massage School, WA

4. Ed French - Lemond/Bike Gallery, OR

5. Rusty Beall - Wedgewood Cycles/Big Time, ID

6. Terry Buchanan Pacific Financial Services.,WA

7. George Steirer - The Valley, WA

8. John Strombaugh - Safeway/Saturn, OR

9. Paul Dahlke - Nutrafig, OR

10. Paul Reed - Ritchardson Bike Mart, TX

The final and fastest race of the day brought racers from Canada and Oregon to the streets of Ballard. Defending champion - Todd Littlehales (Navigators) took time off the Pro circuit to return to Ballard and defend his title.

The racing on the .4 mile rectangle shaped circuit started under perfect conditions - 65 degrees and clear. All the big names stayed near the front for the first 20 laps of the 65 lap race. The early primes kept the racing fast and strung out dropping the weaker riders of the back. The decisive move came half way into the race when Paul Dahlke (Nutrafig) attacked with four other riders and quickly gained 10 seconds on the field. Knowing that this was a danger move Todd Littlehale (Navigators) and Kenny Williams (Saturn of Bellevue) went after the leaders. The only other riders in the bunch to respond were Ian Tubbs (Seattle Massage School) and John Strombaugh (Safeway Saturn). After 3 laps of hard chasing these four riders reached the leaders. This group of nine now started to word together putting an average of 2 seconds a lap into the chasing group. Most of the 17 primes in the race were spilt between these nine riders.

With 5 laps to go the prime bell rang again with a $40 cash prime donated by a spectator plugging his Internet site rocka.com - Kenny Williams - wanting more cash jumped clear of the field with John Strombaugh - Williams won the $40 and then decided to keep going - He said later "I knew if it ended up in a sprint the Littlehales would kick my butt - he was just looking too comfortable in the break" Williams quickly shed Strombaugh who feel back to the lead pack and with two laps to go Williams had the back of the main field in site - he caught the main field with 1 lap to go and went to the front of this group for the win. Littlehales easily won the sprint for second with Ian Tubbs (Seattle Massage School) finishing third.

David Douglas
Pazzo Velo Promotions
(206)932-5921