The 1997 Winter Olympic Road Race

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According to local legend the four winds were kept in the freezer at the Albertville Tavern. One night Aeolus was working late and opened the wrong box while looking for more prime rib. The winds escaped and ever since they have shaped the racing at this Olympic venue. It was the North wind that showed up this year, accompanied by cool temperatures but rainless skies. Speeds of 35+ mph on the tailwind section followed by a turn into an uphill into the wind worked to keep riders together. The upper slopes of the Col du Fourrage were sheltered, and it was there that riders had the best luck escaping the field.

Winter has not been kind to the roads this year. We were lucky, some road pavement in the vicinity vaporized under the onslaught. But the roads in Olympus got by with short stretches of gravel in a few wet areas, giving the event a Prairie-Roubaix feel.

• USCF A RACE - 47 miles, 48 riders

  The field is intact in early action.
  Rounding the corner near the start/finish.
  The view from the peloton with Sartain and Holm up the road.

  The A race began with the certainty that this year would be different. Roger "Zeus" Parenteau has never failed to claim a podium spot, but his absence meant that other riders would have to animate the action. The initial bid for his throne went clear on the Col du Fourrage as a group of 7 forged a 30 second lead over the pack. Mark Parman leapt from that group to take a prime as a chase group of 6 formed on the next lap. As the two groups merged it was clear that there wasn't room in the Parthenon for 13. Most of the leaders were recaptured. Erik Hanson made a strong bid for a place in the halls of Olympus, spending 3 laps alone against the wind with a maximum advantage of over a minute.

  It was when Hanson came back that the decisive move of the race occurred. Jeremy Sartain and Paul Holm left the race like Orpheus and Eurydice leaving the underworld, except Sartain and Holm never looked back. Escaping on lap 9 of 14 they quickly built a lead of over a minute. They were up by 1:12 with 3 laps to go.

  With two laps to go the peloton began to take the race more seriously as a group of three launched an assault of the Col du Fourrage. The leaders saw their gap shrink to :50 on the raging peloton and a mere :20 on the chase group of Ken Krawza, Shane Peltonen, and Mark Parman as the bell rang with one lap to go.

  The peloton was much leaner as it started that last lap as about half the starters had been jettisoned. The race tightened but did not rearrange. Tantalus was with the chasers as Sartain opened a gap on Holm, who held out for second but just barely. Krawza outsprinted Peltonen for the last podium spot. The field sprint went to... me! How about that! After years of standing at the finish turning lap cards I get to claim a position on Olympus as a minor deity.

  1. Jeremy Sartain, 23, UCC/Croll-Boehm's, Apple Valley MN 1:55:51
  2. Paul Holm, 27, SPBRC/Grand Performance, Minneapolis MN 1:56:00
  3. Kenny Krawza,26, Squadra Corsa, Eagan MN 1:56:02
  4. Shane Peltonen, 24, GDDC, Ashland WI s.t.
  5. Mark Parman, 35, Firstar, Wausau WI 1:56:08
  6. Bob Schwartz, 36, CVCC/Spring Street, Chippewa Falls WI s.t.
  7. Jay Woller, 23, LSC/Bicycle Chain-Wheel Sports, St. Cloud MN s.t.
  
  
• USCF B RACE - 29 miles, 41 riders
  1. Brent Blyhowski, 29, Team JRA/Rice St. Bikes, Minneapolis MN 1:19:27
  2. Kevin Benning, 22, u/a, Rochester MN s.t.
  3. Dana Olson, 19, SPBRC/Grand Performance, Northfield MN s.t.
  4. Jason Hedstrand, 22, FCCC/Penn Cycle, Shoreview MN s.t.
  5. Ron Raymond, 34, MBRC/Flanders, Roberts WI s.t.
  6. Mat Dowling, 31, LSC/Bicycle Chain-Wheel Sports, Minneapolis MN s.t.
  7. Bruce Beattie, 44, LEN/Fellowship Christian Athletes, Hopkins MN s.t.
  
  
• USCF B WOMEN - 29 miles, 1 rider
  1. Sarah Howard, 31/SPBRC/Grand Performance, St. Paul MN 1:31:43
  
  
• CITIZEN MEN - 18 miles, 32 riders
  Both the sun and Greg Werner are looking for a break out.

  Former USCF license holder Bryan Joas cherry picked the Citizen race in a lively sprint over Pete Schow and Jim VanIwaarden. While his license has lapsed, Bryan retains his ability to accelerate. Rosie Wielenberg topped an improving Women's field.

  1. Bryan Joas, 26, CVCC/Spring Street, Wausau WI 49:03
  2. Pete Schow, 21, Penn Cycle, Minneapolis MN s.t.
  3. Jim VanIwaarden, 21,SPBRC/Grand Performance, Minneapolis MN s.t.
  4. Kevin Potter, 40, CVCC/Spring Street, Eau Claire WI s.t.
  5. Ray Hom, 26, WRBC/Pedals & Spokes, Cameron WI s.t.
  6. Greg Werner, 24, u/a, Chippewa Falls WI s.t.
  7. Kevin Nolan, 35, SPBRC/Grand Performance, St. Paul MN 49:12
  
  
• CITIZEN WOMEN - 18 miles, 4 riders
  1. Rosie Wielenberg, 22, Carleton College, Northfield MN 53:34
  2. Amy Tereick, 25, u/a, Shoreview MN 57:15
  3. Shana Rusco, 20, Carleton College, Northfield MN 1:00:59
  4. Heather Mandtsch, 27, u/a, Plover WI - 1 lap
  
  

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