VITAMIN COTTAGE BEST TEAM
The Vitamin Cottage Men’s Elite Team (Category Pro-1-2) has clinched Colorado’s Best All Around Team (BAT) Competition for 2004. The competition is put on by the American Cycling Association and is fiercely contested each year. To win this competition is a big accomplishment and a credit to the commitment and dedication of each rider on the elite team.
Following are the current BAT standings:
Not enough races remain for another team to overtake first place. The Vitamin Cottage men’s elite team consists of the following riders:
· Sean Bragstad
· Chuck Coyle
· Dirk Friel
· Brian Hludzinski
· Rob Holland
· Ben Huff
· Christian McCarthly
· Alan McCormack
· Joe Pinkerton
· Joe Taddeucci
· Jon Tarkington
· Chad Taylor
Jon Tarkington and Dirk Friel currently sit in 2nd and 4th place respectively in the Best All Around Rider (BAR) Competition. Following are the Current BAR Standings:
COYLE FEATURED IN BICYCLING
Chuck Coyle is the subject of a feature story in the latest edition of Bicycling Magazine. The article gave readers a way to gauge their overall fitness against a pro (Chuck), an enthusiast, and a couch potato.
TARKINGTON WINS
Jon Tarkington and breakway compatriot Jon Baker (Pro Peleton Velo) lapped the field at the August 22nd Swanky’s Classic Circuit Race. Amid constant attacks from pro riders Mike Jone and Andy Bajadali, Tarkington and Baker finally countered and broke free midway through the race. With a strong Vitamin Cottage contingent policing the field, the two breakaway riders came around with 5 laps to go. With only one other teammate, Baker was unable to overcome the Mike Schilling led Vitamin Cottage leadout train set up for Tarkington on the last lap. Tarkington sailed across the line for a well-earned victory.
COYLE 3RD IN ROCHESTER, NY
The following article was published on international cycling website www.dailypeloton.com.
First Annual Rochester Twilight Criterium
By Vaughn Trevi
Date: 6/27/2004
First Annual Rochester Twilight Criterium
Rochester’s New York: The first Annual Rochester Twilight Criterium drew 4, 500 people, to watch it’s first Criterium under the lights.
The North American Peloton was well represented with: Toronto’s Jet Fuel team, with Jeff Hanson, Josh Hall and Tim Lefebvre. Tim is 2x Canadian National Criterium Champion. Gears Team from Ontario Canada. Vitamin Cottage from Denver ,Colorado will ride including former Rochester native, Chuck Coyle. Intermountain Color Cycling Team from Boulder Colorado with Australian Pro, Craig McCartney.
Chuck Coyle, Jose Alejandro and Craig McCartney lapped the competition in a hard driving 2 hour sufferfest where speeds raged in the 30-40 mph around the .95 mile downtown course.
In a three way sprint at the finish the breakaway companions shared the podium with Jose Alejandro a from Argentina, celebrating by saluting the spectators with raised arms ahead of second Craig McCartney of Australia and third-place finisher Chuck Coyle, an Irondequoit (Rochester area) native.
First night of Criterium racing was a big success for Rochester leaving the locals waiting in anticipation for next year.
1 Jose Alejandro
2 Craig Mccartney
3 Chuck Coyle
4 Avaro Tardaquila
5 Don Zuck
6 Marty Nothstein
7 Tim Lefebvre
8 Dan Lefebvre
9 Gerado Castro
10 Ryan Roth
RESPECT AND RESULTS AT ESTES
The Vitamin Cottage men’s elite team received kudos from rival pro teams at the Colorado Cyclist Classic in Estes Park, CO, August 25-29 2004. The team rode well in all stages of the National Race Calendar event amongst the top professional teams in the US.
Many pros commented that the Vitamin Cottage Team rides as well as many national Division III pro teams. The team repeatedly receives this comment.
Jon Tarkington and Dirk Friel finished in the top 20 of the general classification and were among the protagonists all day in the final North Boulder Park Criterium. In front of a large crowd, Tarkington initiated the move of the day. Friel eventually bridged up to Tarkington’s group and the two finished 8th and 9th respectively on the day. Tarkington finished in the top 20 of every road stage, including 10th in the brutal Horsetooth Road Stage. Friel and Chuck Coyle also had top 20 stage results.
TAYLOR JOINS ELITE TEAM
After a stellar season on the Category 3 team, Chad Taylor earned an upgrade to the elite ranks and immediately showed all he belonged by working tirelessly and selflessly while contributing to many team results.