Stage 3 of Trans-Sylvania offered racers a complete reversal of conditions from yesterday with a course based on doubletrack and dirt roads with just a bit of singletrack spice thrown in at the start, finish and mid-point of the course and cooler temps with rain. The change in conditions brought on a change in tactics and in results.
In the men's race some early efforts by Brandon Draugelis (PAValleys.com) on first climb of the day and began to pull a group off the front of the field. In this group were all the riders at the top of the GC and they quickly settled into a working group that solidified with Mike Festa (Cadence Cycling) showing improving form as the last rider to make the split.
This group, Bishop, Plews, Tanguy, Edsall, Draugelis, Grant, Harlan, Prosser, Festa, Grant and Biese rolled through the checkpoint in Coburn, the home of the original 100 mile mountain bike race, at high speed with most forgoing feeds so as not to lose touch the head of the race. A small climb in the middle of the course and the treacherous Fisherman's Path saw several riders come off the back. The wedge that separated the group came in the form of the Poe Paddy Drive, a rough doubletrack climb to one of the most outstanding views in central PA and checkpoint #2. On the climb to CP#2 Bishop, Grant, Tanguy and Draugelis attacked leaving Plews and Edsall at even 0:30s intervals behind Prosser trailing at 1:30 back and Festa at 2:15 with Biese and Harlan further back.
The four leaders exchanged the lead at the front with Draugelis looking smooth and Tanguy marking him well. Grant worked for team mate Bishop to keep Plews behind while Plews and Edsall cooperated in an effort to match the pace of the front. Two lesser climbs in the final miles of race provided a launching pad for the Cannondale Factory Team riders and Bishop edged out Grant in the final sprint. Draugelis jumped away from Tanguay bringing back a few seconds on the third place rider in GC and in the process also jumped into 4th on GC over Edsall, who finished fifth on stage riding the last several miles on front flat. Plews finished the day in between and while he conceded time to Tanguy held onto his second overall placement in GC.
The Women's race lead changed hands back to prologue winner Yeager who worked together with allies on the road and trail to vault over Potter. Meanwhile Rusch, perhaps helped in part to the change in weather conditions, overcame yesterday's difficulties that left her struggling to breath in the PA humidity and finished a strong second about 8 minutes behind Selene and a similar time gap in front of Potter.
Gavin and Thiemann brought home the duo win while Greg Martin grabbed the victory in Singlespeed and took over the GC lead in SS. Prosser came home 6th overall on the day and added time to his GC lead. The Lichtenwalners had perhaps the most interesting day as Rob soloed in on the tandem for the last 10 miles after losing partner Sarah to dehydration at CP#2.
More tomorrow as the Trans-Sylvania Epic heads to the Allegrippis Trail network at Raystown Lake for yet another completely different sort of trail and conditions.
Race report written by Zack Beltran
Photos courtesy of A.E.Landes Photography Lisa Power
The four leaders exchanged the lead at the front with Draugelis looking smooth and Tanguy marking him well. Grant worked for team mate Bishop to keep Plews behind while Plews and Edsall cooperated in an effort to match the pace of the front. Two lesser climbs in the final miles of race provided a launching pad for the Cannondale Factory Team riders and Bishop edged out Grant in the final sprint. Draugelis jumped away from Tanguay bringing back a few seconds on the third place rider in GC and in the process also jumped into 4th on GC over Edsall, who finished fifth on stage riding the last several miles on front flat. Plews finished the day in between and while he conceded time to Tanguy held onto his second overall placement in GC.
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