Stafford Springs Criterium June 27,1992 Masters 45+
The competition came to Stafford Springs, Conn. from Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and New England. The field was deep and talented. The attacks were early and often with Rob Lea, World Team 93, Jimmy Fraser, Zephyr and Chet Warman, Virginia CC making serious attempts to leave the rest of the field behind. Early in the race Steve took advantage of one such chase to attack for a preme. As the bell rang Steve stepped it up a notch and sped away. Only two were able to struggle by Barry, who was perfectly placed on the front, but were unable to catch the streaking Steve Jean. After the preme Rob Lea jumped to the front for another attack. Barry swiftly countered the move and kept the field intact much to the relief of a recovering Steve. The field seemed content to serge and slow for the middle laps with no clear breakaways working. With under 10 laps to go Dick Lortie, Worc. RC, went off the front and nearly stole the race. As the field sat and watched Dick and chaser Rit Gorman moved away. With the laps counting down and the lead up to a quarter lap the field decided to chase. The pace got to 30 MPH quickly and stayed there until the break was caught. The pace slowed until the bell sounded and it was then that Jimmy Fraser flew passed a sleeping field to open a small gap. Only Earl Page was able to get Jimmy's wheel and the rest of the field strung out in pursuit. Barry was well placed at the front and got a good wheel after almost hitting the tires in the S-curve with half a lap to go. "I held my breath and accelerated through a tight gap, then I was set up for the sprint perfectly. The big guy from Pennsylvania was flying and led me into the final 300 meters, I let a small gap open and flew back into his slip-stream and bolted past. It was this momentum that got me to the line ahead of a hard charging Luigi" said a tired "Bullet" after the race. The sprint almost caught Jimmy but Earl was gone. "I was amazed by the strength of the riders 10th-15th, Rob, Chet, Clive, and more" said Steve after a strong race.