captured the 25th annual Skyscraper-Harlem Cycling Classic on a hot and humid Sunday afternoon in Harlem.
Aitken's combination of strength and finishing speed, put him a few lengths clear of second placed Kevin Monahan
as they crossed the finishing line fifteen seconds ahead of the field.
The threesome had broken clear some twenty laps into the thirty-five mile race, which saw them circle the one mile route of Marcus Garvey Park at 121st and Fifth Avenue. They extended the gap to over thirty seconds but saw it narrow over the last couple of laps as they jockeyed for position before the final sprint. Aitken's win kept the title in Australasia, as last year's winner, New Zealand's Graham Miller, finished fourth.
The race was the culmination of an exciting day's cycling and skating and was a fitting climax to New York City's oldest bicycle race which according to race founder David Walker,
The event began some five hours earlier with a series of community-based races sponsored by Con-Edison, ranging from midget and junior races to Masters, Women's, Intermediate and for the first time, in-line skating.
"Con-Ed has a commitment to the youth and community in this neighborhood, which is why we have sponsored this event every year since it began 25 years ago," commented Phyllis Thorn, Con-Ed's Manager for Community Relations.
"Now we are tieing in local businesses, so that the community will benefit from events such as this."
Many of the earlier winners benefited to the tune of a new mountain bike, as the junior sprints proceeded the main races. The bleachers were packed to watch a total of twelve races at distances varying from a few hundred yards to the thirty-five mile championship event.
Following the junior events, the crowd was treated to a series of inline skating events organized by Team Unity Transpack, whose
Doug Crane and
Barrie Hartman won the
master's and
women's events, while Arland Macasieb and Rob Meyer won the Open/Intermediate and Men's Elite races, respectively.
In the US Cycling Federation Pro-Amateur Races,
Pollydore Godfrey won the
Category 3&4 race,
James Joseph won the Masters, while another Australian, Sandra Smith won the Women's race. However, it was the main event which many of the spectators had stayed to see, with an international field that would reach speeds of 35 miles per hour over the Harlem asphalt.
"I was told that this would be a hard race to win," said Aitkin after receiving his award,
"now I understand why and I just want to thank everyone who made it possible!"
The list of winners is as follows:
Juniors - Race 1
1. Dexter Martin
2. Joey Jimenez
3. Cherrel Carr
Juniors - Race 2
1. Anthony Walker
2. Shakita Page
3. Rayvon Martin
Juniors - Race 3
(pictured above)
1. William Gonzalez
2. Osaze Williams
3. Colite Ware
Juniors - Race 4
1. Terence Fife
2. Clarissa Waterson
3. Odel Tait
Juniors Classic
1. Andres Piedrahita
2. Robert Gonzalez
3. Santiado Santana
Masters Classic
1. James Joseph - Team Unity
2. Jan Piper - Somerset Wheelmen
3. Aubrey Gordon - Team Squiggle
Category II & IV
1. Pollydore Godfrey - Kauter Cycle
2. John Ya - CRCA
3. Gilbert Halton - Team Redlands
Women's Classic Classic
1.Sandra Smith - Aust. Cycling Fed.
2.Rebecca Quinn - Tri-State Velo
3. Ashley McCulloch CRCC
Skyscraper Classic
1. Brett Aitken - Avanti
2. Kevin Monahan - Breakaway
3. Jose Ramon Pineda - Gotham Bikes
In-Line Skating
Masters
(1) Doug Crane - Unity/Transpack
(2) John Morales - Unity/Transpack
(3) Kevin Larson
(4) Jim Wright - Unity/Transpack
(5) Masahiro Nakao
Open Intemediate
(1) Arland Macasieb - MBNA/Brielle Cyclery
(2) David Borda - Long Island Speed
(3) Mohammed Ansari
(4) John ****
(5) Ruli Shi
Pro Elite Women
(1) Barrie Hartman - Unity/Transpack
(2) Marci Francis - Run Jane Run
(3) Cyderae Daly - K2/Ski Pro
(4) Melody Rivera - JT Skates
(5) Alison Sawyer - Unity/Transpack
Pro Elite Men
(1) Rob Mayer - Miller Racing
(2) Eddie Wilcox - Hyper
(3) John Ristine - Belfont
(4) Ryan Wilcox - Kryptonics
(5) Brian McDonough - K2/Powerbar
For details of next years race, call David Walker on (212) 865-9606
NY Sports On Line
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Copyright © 2000 NYSOL Inc.
Harlem, NY - In sweltering temperatures of up to 96 degrees Marcus Garvey Park was the venue of the 26th Annual Harlem Skyscraper Classic Professional and Amateur Cycling and In - Line Skating competition on Sunday. The national and international line-up included racers from as far a field as Florida and Australia competing for the prestige of the event and a share of over $8000 in prize money.
The first half of the afternoon was dedicated to the in-line skating events with races for Category 3 and 4 skaters (men and women), Masters (40+), Cat. 1&2 women and Cat. 1&2 men.
However, as the afternoon sun beat down relentlessly, it was the cyclists who drew the big fields, the big crowds and the big money. The cyclists were in view for most of the crowd for a quarter of the one mile circuit as they whizzed down the home straight at speeds of up to 40mph with only inches between their wheels and certain disaster. Although the home straight seemed accident free, collisions on the remaining 3/4 of the track sent a few competitors home limping and bloodied.
NYSOL spoke to
Laurie Wituchi from Princeton about the women's event and her chances in it.
"It's a tough field which includes National and World champions, pros through to category fours," she said. "It's my first time at this event . I've had four months racing experience with the Princeton program and I competed in the Collegiate Nationals, but as a category four I hope to just try and learn something today."
The women's race over 15 miles was won convincingly by
Laura Van Gilder from Pocono Pines, PA by a margin of about a quarter of a mile after establishing an early breakaway from the chasing pack and constantly extending her lead.
Eric Gerolstein, a category two rider from Florida, competed in last years Pro. Men's Cat 1/2/3 but did not finish after getting caught up in a pile-up " I hope to do better this year ! I think I can finish in the top twenty although I've raced against a lot of these riders before and I know it's going to be fast, especially some of the Australians and of course Jonas Carney."
Indeed, it was Carney who won the event. Representing Team Shaklee, Carney, who will be competing in this summer's Goodwill Games, was in amongst the chasing pack for most of the race, some sixteen seconds down at one stage on a breakaway group of four riders which included eventual second placed Jason Snow and third placed Oscar Pineda. However, the pack was gradually pegged back and in an exciting sprint finish Carney nudged it by half a length and became the first American rider to win the Classic in a number of years.
So a Father's Day of high temperatures ended in high excitement, the crowd having happily sunned themselves whilst enjoying the sounds of an in house DJ and the spectacle of high quality racing from top class amateurs and professionals alike.
CYCLING RESULTS
Male (35 miles)
1. Jonas Carney Shaklee NJ
2. Jason Snow Breakaway Courier MA
3. Oscar Pineda Menguni Guatamala
Female (35 miles)
1. Laura Van Gilder Navigators PA
2. Barbara Gradley Fat Dog NY
3. Ashley McCulloch Sony
Con Edison Club Rider III & IV (20 miles)
1. Patrick Gellineau Trinidad Squiggle
2. Juan Orlando Pimentel Brooklyn Velo Force
3. Barney O'Brown CRCA
Veteran's Classic (20 miles)
1. Chris Chong-Tenn Jamaica Navigators
2. Stephen Pate Carnegie/Caulfield
3. Aubrey Gordon Guyana Squiggle
Midget Sprint #1, 10-12yrs (3 blocks)
1. John Tempro Brooklyn
2. Scarlett McCollar Harlem
3. Nirlia Jimenez Bronx
Midget Sprint #2, 10-12yrs (3 blocks)
1. Omar Senior Bronx
2. Stephanie Lopez Manhattan
3. Jose Jimenez
Midget Sprint #3, 10-12yrs (3 blocks)
1. Dexter Watters Manhattan
2. Osante Williams Teaneck, NJ
3. Durrell Joseph Brooklyn
IN-LINE SKATING RESULTS
Kids
1. Luke Percival Sk8deal MA
2. Sam Percival Sk8deal MA
3. Ramsi Harrison Unattached NY
Cat 3/4
1. Ron Yu TEAM Summit NY
2. Chris Whekzyk Unattched NY
3. Manuel Gil Empire Speed NY
4. Micheal Shafran Empire Speed NY
5. Mohammed Ansal Empire Speed NY
Masters
1. Anderson Herbert Unity/Transpack NY
2. Joe Frazetta Unattached NY
3. John **** TEAM Summit NY
Pro Elite Women (Cat 1/2)
1. Nancy Frampton High Voltage NY
2. Betsy Atwater Empire Speed NY
3. Barrie Hartman Unity/Transpack NY
Pro Elite Men (Cat 1/2)
1. Shane Keene Sk8deal MA
2. Nick Esposito Miller NY
3. Mark Stankowski Sk8deal MA
4. John Percival Sk8deal MA
5. Dillon Beqouac Unity/Transpack NY
6. Franciso Ramirez Unattached MA
7. Arlend Maeasieh Empire Speed NY
For details of next years race, call David Walker on (212) 865-9606
NY Sports On Line
EMAIL
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Copyright © 2000 NYSOL Inc.
jim greene
head communications inc (retired)
(212) 360-5583
[email protected]