08/11/02 by Team Summit
TOUR OF LOVELAND IS TRUE RACE OF ATTRITION. Team Summit sees one rider in top 20. Only 17 racers complete the final and brutal course of the Tour of Ohio.
OVERALL SERIES STANDINGS AFTER GROVEPORT: Tied for 12th place: Jim Gilmore and Denis Osowski Jim Mullins: ??
Tour of Loveland was run on a .8 mile dumbbell shaped course with eight corners and a grade over the bridge crossing the Little Miami River. The start led into a tight left hand turn followed by two more tight lefts and a tight right uphill and into the wind onto the bridge spanning the Little Miami. Off the bridge riders had a 300 yard straight away before making three left hand turns through a residential area and a right hand turn back down onto the bridge with a downhill straight sprint into the start/finish line. Sixty three cat 3 / 4 men took their places to race 25 laps (20 miles).
Team Summit fielded Shawn Adams, Angelo Catalano, Jim Gilmore, Jim Mullins, and Denis Osowski for the final leg of the Tour of Ohio.
Off the start Osowski positioned himself in the top 10 riders which he managed to hold until he flatted going up the hill in the third lap. A quick change of wheels and moving back into the field, Osowski jumped on Jim Mullins' wheel then worked to regain position in the front of the field. Due to tight corners and the hill, sitting in the mid to back of the peleton was sure death. Mullins was sitting in mid-field with Jim Gilmore while Angelo Catalano and Shawn Adams unfortunately near the back. The bell for the first prime stretched the field out with many gaps forming in the field. The pace at the front picked up as several riders tried to attack off the front. Two distinct breaks in the field formed and split the cat 3 / 4 men into three fields. Jim Gilmore and Jim Mullins were in the second group. Mullins, suffering a respiratory infection, put in a huge effort and bridged to the lead group. Several primes for the lead and second group put the pressure on. With the lead group sprinting for $25 and the second field sprinting for a case of beer more racers fell by the wayside. The case of beer was serious incentive as the second group was exploded by their quest of the brew. The third group was pulled from the course by race officials with gas left in the tank. With 14 laps to go, Osowski was Team Summit's only survivor on the course. The goal was to stay to the front and try to snag a top 10 place. There were 26 racers left at this point. Attacks and counter attacks were not successful, but along with primes, kept the pace high. By 8 laps to go only 18 riders remained. Riders 19 and 20 were pulled from the course off the back of the field. With two laps to go Osowski moved as close to the front as he could get. When the bell sounded he was placed well in the top five riders. On the small grade over the bridge, Osowski jumped, greedy for another victory, but the field was having none of it. Osowski heard a rider call out "don't let that guy go" and the field responded instantly. Moving too early, Osowski was blown by the effort and didn't have enough gas left for the final sprint. He managed to snag 13th place out of the 17 who crossed the finish line at the Tour of Loveland but unfortunately it wasn't enough to capture enough points for a top 10 overall.
Tour of Ohio was the second focus series for Team Summit in 2002. Riding for Team Summit were Shawn Adams, Chad Brown, Angelo Catalano, Jim Gilmore, Bryan Huntley, Jim Mullins, Alan Paszt and Denis Osowski. As in the Tour of West Deer, the Team had their winning moments and disappointments. The team has used both series to strengthen team skills and certainly gained greater respect for one another. Team Summit appreciates the support of Race Director Ted Ingraham and the Summit Freewheelers. We could not have accomplished what we have without you! Go to www.teamcolumbus.org for final results of the Tour of Ohio! For photos of some of the Tour of Ohio go to www.bobsactionphoto.com.