In this picture we can see James Laberge is about to win the Junior event at the Merco Criterium in Merced, CA on Saturday, March 6. James is wearing his 2009 State of California championship jersey, since he won that event last June. Coming in 2nd place and just off James’ right shoulder is teammate Eamon Lucas who provided the leadout to assist in the team win. Eamon is a bit upright in his position because he is about to celebrate the win. The gap to 3rd place is substantial, depicting the speed at which these two came out of that last corner and headed towards the line. Steven Larson from Sacramento grabbed that last podium spot.
What you don’t see in this picture is the team effort to get James to the line. 9 teammates in the morning junior event. That meant Jack Maddux (12) and Matt Valencia (13) raced with the older kids. It was a twenty five lap race of a .8 mile course. The team controlled the first 20 laps, letting riders go off the front, but one will never beat a team that is coordinated and in pursuit. One by one our competitors shot off the front and grabbed the announcers attention. Dave Towle is an experienced and fun announcer so he was giving props to all the competitors for trying to get away. One by one the attackers came back into the pack led by the Team Specialized chase. When the team saw five laps to go their attacks started. The pace went ballistic. Riders that had been in the pack were losing pace and going it alone behind the pack. With two laps to go teammate David Benkoski soloed off the front and immediately had a gap. It was up to his competitors to bring him back so when they did teammate Peter Taylor attacked with one to go. Again, he had a gap and competitors were forced to chase. Peter was caught, but by the time Eamon and James hit that last corner all of their competitors were gassed.
Larry Nolan, Team Specialized Manager
2010 podium finishes (through March 7, 2010)
- five Early Bird Criterium Training Races – mentoring new racers and controlling seasoned racers
- Cherry Pie Criterium – 8 pies! 1st, 2nd, 3rd Jr 17-18, 3rd Jr 13-14, 3rd category 3’s, 1st and 3rd M45, 2nd M35
- Valley of the Sun Stage Race – time trial - 1st, 2nd 3rd Jr 17-18, 3rd Jr 15-16, 1st, 2nd, 3rd M30
- Valley of the Sun Stage Race – road race - 1st, 2nd Jr 17-18, 2nd, 3rd Jr 15-16, 2nd M30
- Valley of the Sun Stage Race – criterium – 1st, 3rd Jr 17-18, 1st and 3rd M30
- Valley of the Sun Stage Race – General Classification – 1st, 2nd, 3rd Jr 17-18, 2nd Jr 15-16, 1st and 3rd M30
- Berkeley Team Time Trial – 1st Category 3, 1st and 2nd M35
- Snelling Road Race – 1st Category 3, 1st M35
- Merced Criterium – 1st Jr 17-18
- Merco Criterium – 1st and 2nd Jr, 1st and 3rd category 3’s, 3rd M35+
- Merco Road Race – 3rd category 3’s
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