Merced, 2009-03-02

Three guys riding like a squad of eight

While the Swiss members of the team were racing around southern Switzerland this weekend, three US-based BMC riders joined General Manager Gavin Chilcott at the Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic in Merced, California. With most BMC team members racing someplace else, preparing to race someplace else or injured, only Chad Beyer, Jackson Stewart and Taylor Tolleson were available to fly the BMC colours at the US domestic event.

However, it would be forgivable to think Chilcott fielded a full squad of eight riders due to their continual presence in every break of significance, and their top finishes on both days. In the Saturday criterium, Jackson Stewart sprinted to a 4th place finish behind current US Criterium Champion Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing). And on Sunday, Taylor Tolleson took second in the 200km Foothills Road Race after he was pipped at the line by a young sprinter, Ignacio Silva (Rock Racing).

Working the breaks to avoid field sprint

For Saturday’s Downtown Grand Prix criterium, BMC knew that they would have to do their best to avoid having the pack come into the finish together. “We had a pretty active day for the crit, and since we came to the race without a true sprinter, we knew we probably wouldn’t have that good of a chance if it came down to a field sprint,” Chilcott explained. “So we made sure that at least one of our three riders was in every break of consequence.” Believing that Bahati was the fastest sprinter in the field, Chilcott was not surprised when he was the rider to pull off the victory at the end of the day. “We did what we should have done, and since breaks have succeeded in the past on this course, it was by no means a futile tactic,” Chilcott said. “Taylor was caught up in a crash that last lap, but we had both Jackson (4th) and Chad (7th) finishing well in the sprint, so we should be happy with that result.”

Chomping at the bit, ready to turn the pedal in anger

In a race that saw continuously aggressive riding filled with a lot of small breakaways trying to form, the team worked hard together to be certain not to miss any potentially winning breaks. “After not having raced since Qatar, I was really motivated to come out and make this race hard,” Chad Beyer reported. “Though there were only three of us, we were represented in every break, and then Jackson and I were still able to figure in the sprint.” That the three BMC members won the majority of mid-race primes also shows just how tactically aggressive they were. “I’m really pleased with how they raced in the crit because they were aggressive but not wasteful at all,” Chilcott concluded for Saturday.

Trying to capitalize on aggressive riding during road race

Though Sunday’s road race at 120 miles or nearly 200 kilometers was long by American standards, the fairly flat course would promote another day of a fast, aggressive racing. Still only with three members, BMC was game for whatever was thrown their way. “Again the day saw a lot of breaks, and we were represented in every one,” Chilcott said. “There were some pretty good breaks out there and to be honest, I’m a little surprised one of them didn’t stick to the finish.” Chad Beyer was very active in a number of the breaks, including a large break that was caught only a handful of kilometers from the finish. “I was in a group of about 25 guys including 5 Bissell riders, but I was getting frustrated because no one was working,” Beyer explained. “So I peppered them with attacks until there were only about 5 of us left with just a few K to go.” When this group containing Beyer was finally swept up with 4 or 5 kilometers left to race, the race tactics had to shift again. “I thought Chad’s small group might make it to the line, but when they were caught with so few kilometers to go, we had to change tact,” Chilcott explained. “It was too close to the finish to put together another break so we had to start focusing on preparing for the field sprint.”

Making the most of a field sprint

In spite of all the work the whole team had put into making the breaks happen throughout the day, they were still able to get together a pretty neat lead out. Jackson Stewart led out Taylor Tolleson who just may have gone a touch too early, and was consequently nipped at the line. “I wasn’t on a great day and after being in two breaks in the first three laps, I was pretty haggard,” Tolleson said. “But by the time we knew Chad was going to be brought back I was feeling pretty good.” Though he was barely overtaken at the line, Tolleson is not the least discourage by that result. “I went pretty early which is probably why I was passed at the end there, but I just got really excited and all fired up to make it happen,” Tolleson admitted. “I have been working on my sprint, not only technically but also mentally to realize and accept that you have to be ready to lose in order to win; sometimes you just have to go for it!” With bigger objectives not too far off for the squad, Chilcott was pleased to see the BMC riders fit and taking smart decisions. The team members were just happy to be working together and making some waves in a competitive field. “With so few riders, there was a lot of pressure to make sure we got into every break,” Beyer admitted. “But I love going up the road with the breaks and it feels great when you realize you and your team mates are riding like you are seven or eight and not just three.”