Chong and Estevez Crowned in their First Somerville Wins

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Somerville Weekend in the Mid-Atlantic returned with sold-out fields across the weekend and a huge spectator turnout. The Easton Twilight Crit pb Lehigh Valley Health Network set the tone with a lively downtown setting under the lights. Crowd and sponsor primes kept the racing intense in the women’s and men’s races yet yielded very different race dynamics between them. The women’s race came down to a field sprint with Stephanie Halamek (Unattached, Brooklyn, NY) out kicking the field, while the men’s race saw Cormac McGough (Good Guys Racing) solo for the win. 

The 78th Tour of Somerville, presented by Unity Bank, saw some of the largest fields and crowds in recent history on Memorial Day. The race boasted sold-out fields in the morning races, 62 starters in the Pro Women and 147 in the Pro Men’s race. The racing was animated and stoked on by sponsor and crowd primes that kept everyone on their toes. 

The Pro Women rounding turn 2. p. Trevor Raab

Mildred Kugler Pro Women Race Report

‍The women’s race was barraged by blustery winds that kept any attack at bay. Multiple riders throughout the 25-mile race attempted a breakaway but even with hundred dollar primes, nothing was staying away. After an incident on the backstraight on the final lap, a reduced field sprint saw riders who traditionally are not considered sprinters vying for the coveted title of Tour of Somerville champion. It was Jessica Chong (Bikeworks PA) of Allentown, PA, outsprinting Emily Flynn (LA Sweat) and Leah Goldberg (CRCA/ToBeDetermined.cc), who sprinted to the podium at America’s Longest Running Bike Race.  

Jessica Chong crossing the line to take her first Somerville win. p. Steve Kovarik

Mildred Kugler Pro Women Results

1) Jessia Chong (BikeWorks PA)
2)Emily Flynn (LA Sweat)
3)Leah Goldberg (CRCA/ToBeDetermined.cc)

https://my.raceresult.com/240780/results#10_3C2D41

Kugler-Anderson Memorial Pro Men’s Race Report

The men’s race saw early antics by solo riders trying to escape, but nothing could stay away due to the same blustery wind conditions. It became a straight headwind on S. Main Street and a tailwind on High Street. Automatic ABUS was aggressively shutting down moves all day as single or groups would try to get away.

One of the many attempts to get a move to stick in the Pro Men’s race. p. Trevor Raab

Automatic Abus working to keep bring back the breakaway. p.. Trevor Raab

Around 15 laps to go, splits started to occur that had riders such as Adam Myerson riding near the front, indicating that the race was harder than expected. It wasn’t until 8 laps to go that a dangerous move got up track with Tim Mitchell (CCB), Sam Smith (BikeWorks PA) and Alex Carmona. They got 15-20 second gap but a crash with 4 to go neutralized the field. A restart with 4 left on the counter observed the gap for the breakaway, but Automatic ABUS sensed the danger, went to the front and shut it down for an on-form Thomas Gibbons. A $1000 crowd prime rung at 3 laps to go kept the break motivated to hold on one more lap and saw Tim Mitchell take the prize. During the catch, the breakaway disintegrated, and Tim Mitchell was the last man standing. Even with getting the prime, Mitchell did not get caught until 1 lap to go. It was then game on for a chaotic final lap that saw the Blazers hold off a field of 100 remaining riders to deliver Danny Estevez perfectly to the line. 

Danny Esteves edges out Cesar Marte for the win. p. Steve Kovarik

Fans cheer on the winners of the 78th Tour of Somerville. p. Trevor Raab

Kugler-Anderson Memorial Pro Men results

1) Danny Estevez (Miami Blazers)
2) Cesar Marte (Road Kings)
3) Noah Granigan (Denver Disruptors, NCL)

https://my.raceresult.com/240780/results#11_930D8E