John Murphy

May 2006 - Posts

• Hasselt-Spa-Hasselt

  The weather for race was pretty bad. It was 50 degrees and raining. The race was 166k with a 10k finishing circuit that we did 3 times. After a cold start, I warmed up quick. I made a split in the beginning of the race with maybe 30 riders. It was eventually brought back but not before 5 guys could escape. They stayed away until the finish. On the local laps 18 riders broke away from the main peleton, and stayed away. I finished up like 40th. I was happy with the race especially because I just got off the plane on tuesday. I think it is a good sign for Sunday. [link] [link] Posted May 26 2006, 08:26 PM by jpmurphy with no comments

• Day before Hasselt-Spa-Hasselt

  So now I'm back in belgium and the racing commences tomorrow. The race is Hasselt Spa Hasselt which is a 1.2 top competition. The race covers lots of the same roads and climbs as Liege Baston Liege if that tells you anything. I think the race is around 160k with many climbs, probably 2-5k long. After being back home testing myself against the best crit riders around, this will be my last big race effort before the U23 Paris Roubaix on Sunday. I don't have any more to say really cause that's all I know. Until next time... [link] Posted May 24 2006, 12:08 PM by jpmurphy with no comments

• Hasselt-Spa-Hasselt

  So now I'm back in belgium and the racing commences tomorrow. The race is Hasselt Spa Hasselt which is a 1.2 top competition. The race covers lots of the same roads and climbs as Liege Baston Liege if that tells you anything. I think the race is around 160k with many climbs, probably 2-5k long. After being back home testing myself against the best crit riders around, this will be my last big race effort before the U23 Paris Roubaix on Sunday. I don't have any more to say really cause that's all I know. Until next time... [link] Posted May 24 2006, 12:08 PM by jpmurphy with no comments

• Nalley Historic Roswell Crit

  USA Crit #2 After an easy 1hr spin in Athens Sunday morning, I made the haul back towards Atlanta for the Roswell crit. After Saturday nights Twilight Crit, I was a bit hesitant to race today. But shit, what else do I have to do? It was a dreary day, with the cloud cover threatening rains and storms most the day. Everyone seemed a bit tired before the race. Maybe it was from all the racing Saturday, or all the drinking afterwards; probably both. Showers were apparently holding off. At around 6pm, the race started with Health Net’s Nathan O’Neill setting tempo on the front, daring anyone to attack. No one did. After about 15 minutes or so on the front, he finally pulled off and things started happening. Having no teammates in the race, it was another just sit in and follow kind of day. I figured with the presents of all the pro teams there wasn’t much for me to do anyways. Just follow the good guys. Simple enough right? The race was pretty uneventful with any break coming back within laps until about 20 minutes to go. Four guys got off the front including Tour de Georgia stage 6 winner J. J. Haedo (Toyota-United,) Viktor Rapinski (Colavita-Sutter Home,) Alex Candelario (Jelly Belly) and the winner of Saturday's Athens Twilight race Vassili Davidenko (Navigators Insurance.). In my book that’s a dangerous move, but it wasn’t my job to chase, so I just watched. Priority health and Health Net did a superb job to bring the break back just before the last lap. That’s timing if I have ever seen it. I jockeyed for position on the back stretch hill, and came into the last two corners 15th wheel. Too far back, but what can you do. I sprinted up to 11th, just meters behind the winner Gord Fraser. The leg speed is starting to come back… [link] Posted May 02 2006, 02:53 PM by jpmurphy with no comments

• Nalley Historic Roswell Crit

  Nalley Historic Roswell Crit USA Crit #2 After an easy 1hr spin in Athens Sunday morning, I made the haul back towards Atlanta for the Roswell crit.  After Saturday nights Twilight Crit, I was a bit hesitant to race today.  But shit, what else do I have to do? It was a dreary day, with the cloud cover threatening rains and storms most the day.   Everyone seemed a bit tired before the race.  Maybe it was from all the racing Saturday, or all the drinking afterwards; probably both.  Showers were apparently holding off. At around 6pm, the race started with Health Net’s Nathan O’Neill setting tempo on the front, daring anyone to attack.  No one did.  After about 15 minutes or so on the front, he finally pulled off and things started happening.  Having no teammates in the race, it was another just sit in and follow kind of day.  I figured with the presents of all the pro teams there wasn’t much for me to do anyways.  Just follow the good guys.  Simple enough right? The race was pretty uneventful with any break coming back within laps until about 20 minutes to go.  Four guys got off the front including Tour de Georgia stage 6 winner J. J. Haedo (Toyota-United,) Viktor Rapinski (Colavita-Sutter Home,) Alex Candelario (Jelly Belly) and the winner of Saturday's Athens Twilight race Vassili Davidenko (Navigators Insurance.).  In my book that’s a dangerous move, but it wasn’t my job to chase, so I just watched.  Priority health and Health Net did a superb job to bring the break back just before the last lap.  That’s timing if I have ever seen it.  I jockeyed for position on the back stretch hill, and came into the last two corners 15th wheel.  Too far back, but what can you do.  I sprinted up to 11th, just meters behind the winner Gord Fraser.  The leg speed is starting to come back… [link] Posted May 02 2006, 02:53 PM by jpmurphy with 1 comment(s)