Concord Criterium August 15,1992 Masters 45+
For second week in a row the weather was cold and damp. For the second week in a row Barry Boyce was the breakaway winner of the race. The hill at Concord seems to attract the climbers but it was the crit. rider that ultimately prevailed. Barry being nipped for the first preme needed help from Steve and Neil to contain the field while he recovered. Once recovered NEMRT got more aggressive trying to take control of the race. The last preme rang with 4 laps to go and offered some very tactical move/counter-move racing. Barry countered an attach and got a wheel up the hill. While the moves were on the right Steve blasted up the left side with no one close to him. With a good gap Bill Hartwell, Portland Velo and Art LeBlanc, Sunapee took up the chase. Down the hill Steve couldn't be caught and won the preme. Art LeBlanc launched a counter-attacked and left the two tired preme sprinters behind. Neither Bill nor Steve had recovered and fell back to the pack. The race was less than 3 laps from the finish when Barry took over for a recovering Steve and flew up the hill in pursuit of the hammering Art LeBlanc. "The plan was for Steve to stay away with Art and Bill after the preme but both Bill and Steve pushed each other so hard they needed time to recover. That's when I went hard. I've never gone that fast 'up a hill'" noted a happy Barry after the race. Once together the two were joined by another rider from Art's club. The three spend away as Neil and Steve totally shut down the field. The break out of sight Steve tried to repeat his preme attack and went from the top of the hill. This time however Clive Woakes, Worc. RC, covered the move and came around Steve to win the field sprint. Steve hammered in for 6th with Neil a very close 7th.

NOTES: This proved to be a great day for NEMRT in more than one way. First was the victory but the preme, the teamwork, and the lesson all served the effort. Neil having let inexperience cost him time in last years Rutland Crit. got some good practical experience that should serve him well at Killington this year. Steve showed the Crit. power to be a major factor in the points sprinting at Killington. A nicely done effort by NEMRT for the victory.