Miller Prevails, Clarke Returns – 2010 Air Force Cycling Classic, Clarendon Cup
Arlington, VA - By most accounts, Hilton Clarke was not even supposed to be racing in Arlington, Virginia this past weekend let alone winning a race he referred to as "the race of 500 corners." But there he was, participating, getting into a six-man break, lapping the field, taking the sprint and standing atop the podium despite missing a week of racing.
Clarke, a veteran of the US domestic cycling scene who once raced for the likes of Navigators Insurance and Toyota-United, was yet the latest victim in the fallout from the Bahati Foundation's association with Floyd Landis and OUCH Medical Center. Although the 30-year old Australian told Velonews late in May that he had been paid in full to date, Clarke chose to leave the once promising Los Angeles based team because of the it's tenuous financial situation.
“Right now no one has been cut, but if anybody wants to make other arrangements, they are free to fly, if they so choose,” stated Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling teammate Nathan O’Neill.
While Clarke would ultimately have to sit out one of the biggest races on the domestic calendar, the Philadelphia International Championship, his hiatus from the professional ranks was extremely short lived as United Healthcare presented by Maxxis picked up the sprinting ace.
“Hilton is one of the top sprinters racing in North America,” said Team Director Mike Tamayo. “When the opportunity arose to add him to the squad, it was an easy decision. He is a Pro Tour-level talent, and he adds even greater depth to our sprint squad.”
Clarke made his debut this past weekend at the 2010 Air Force Cycling Classic and paid immediate dividends back to his new, but familiar squad. “I’ve been racing against this team for a number of years and they’ve always conducted themselves professionally. It will be good to race alongside guys like Karl, Jake and Pinner rather than against them, said Clarke. "And I’m also quite excited to be racing with Jonny once again.”
Involved in what proved to be the final selection, Clarke, teammate Bradley White, Valodymyr Starchick (Amore e Vita), Daniel Holt (Team Type 1), Scott Zwizanski (Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Luis Amaran (Jamis Sutter Home presented by Colavita) broke away from a stacked field midway through the race. Content to let the breakaway succeed, the peloton was eventually lapped by the six-man group.
Safely tucked into the main field, the race turned into a waiting game as teams shielded their lead riders and kept any attempts by riders looking to get back on the lead lap from succeeding. In the end, Clarke displayed his sprinting prowess and easily took the win in front of Starchick and Holt, who finished in second and third, respectively.
Afterward, as Clarke was being interviewed on the podium, his former employer, Rahsaan Bahati would amble by and shout "we miss you Hilton Clarke."
Men's Results - Clarendon Cup
1. Hilton Clarke (United Healthcare presented by Maxxis)
2. Valodymyr Starchick (Amore e Vita)
3. Daniel Holt (Team Type 1)
Homecooking for Hutcheson
While Clarke won the race, local rider Chuck Hutcheson (Battley Harley-Davidson) certainly won the crowd. Off-the-front on several occasions early during the 100-lap race, Hutcheson and breakaway companion Sergey Grechin (Amore e Vita) valiantly attempted to get back on the lead lap once the lead group of six lapped and reincorporated themselves back into the field. Hutcheson and Grechin almost accomplished the improbable, but in the closing laps Hutcheson over-cooked the fifth and final corner. Though he would be given a free lap, a mechanical finally derailed any chance that Hutcheson would pull himself all the way back. Nonetheless, Hutcheson held his own against some of the top riders in the US peloton and through his heroic efforts garnered the adulation of his hometown crowd.
Both Lucky and Good
It has often been said that it is better to be lucky than good. And in the finale of the women's race, Brooke Miller (TIBCO/To The Top) proved to have the killer combo.
While the women's race was less complicated to sort out than the men's, the women's race ended up with the more memorable finish. Unfortunately for Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Colavita/Baci presented by Cooking Light), it came at her expense.
As the sprinters jockeyed for position in the final 100m, a touch of handlebars between Miller and Cliff-Ryan ended up with Cliff-Ryan belly-flopping and skidding along the pavement. In spite of being clearly shaken, cut and bruised, the tough Cliff-Ryan, who has been on quite a winning streak this year, would make her way to the medical tent under her own power.
Undaunted by the crash, Miller cruised to victory ahead of the ageless Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) and Erica Allar (Team Vera Bradley Foundation), who won the event last year with BMW-Bianchi.
"It is a really unfortunate way to win a race," Miller told the crowd. "I have immense respect for Theresa because she is an awesome rider and has been racing really strong all season. "
Women's Results - Clarendon Cup
1. Brooke Miller (TIBCO/To The Top)
2. Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom)
3. Erica Allar (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
Photos: © Leonard Basobas/LB Photos
See more photos from the Clarendon Cup in our Photo Gallery.
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