AHS - Albor, Updike, Bascio win @ RMO
Cottini, Sanchez looking Strong
June 1, 2006
There were no big surprises at the 2006 Rocky Mountain Omnium, but the racing was as spectacular as ever and top U.S. handcycle racers — including a few newcomers and a blast from the past — firmly planted themselves at the top of the ranking list for the American Handcycle Series.
. Oscar Sanchez @ the Criterium in Golden. Photo: Adaptive Adventures.
California’s Alejandro Albor showed why he’s the best in the world by dominating every race, and making the [Paralympic Team] elite standard at the time trial. His absolute dominance at the hill climb (a new event) was nothing short of awe-inspiring, and he basically toyed with the field during the circuit race and criterium stages. Matt Updike (HCB) and Monica Bascio — both Denver locals as well as international ‘players’ — clearly asserted themselves as well by winning every stage in their respective classes. Updike — who is headed to race in Italy this week — moved in to 2nd place in the overall AHS standings and is poised to take over the lead from Todd Richardson at the Tour de Nez (Reno, NV) later this month. Bascio and Updike both posted very fast times during the time trial and made the National Standard along with Seth Arseneau, who took second behind Albor in a spiffy new bike from Schmicking.
There are some new faces at the front of the field this year, including Oscar Sanchez of San Diego. Although Sanchez has been handcycling for years, it is only recently that he has been competitive. “I hope to make the team headed to World Championships this year!” said Sanchez. He looks well on his way, as he was easily the fastest “C1″ at the event, which moves him in to the lead in that category for the AHS series. Rumor has it that he recently switched to a kneeling bike and may race the “C2″ class in the future.
Another new face — who is actually a face from the past — was Patrick Cottini, who won the HCA class. Cottini has returned from 4 years of health problems after winning the USHF Road Race title in 2000. He also aims to make the World’s team this year, and it will be interesting to see him race against James Watson, who was conspicously absent at this year’s RMO.
The weather at this year’s RMO was stellar (in contrast to 2005), and the event included some 676 athletes. As for the American Handcycle Series, the RMO was a very important event. Todd Richardson is clinging to the lead in the HCB category after finishing 2nd to Updike all weekend (he earned points at the Tour de Georgia, a race Updike skipped), and you’ll see the gang from Kansas City high (Jake O’connor and Brian Mitchell) on the ranking because they’ve attended every event this season. Check your radar for David Randall and Jacob Heilveil as well. Randall — in his first race — was an unknown before the RMO, and showed tremendous promise. Heilveil — a wheelchair racer — seems to have taken an interest in handcycling and could be a name to watch. Kim Prussia now leads the *new* women’s HCB category and even made the emerging standard at the time trial, and veteran Sherry Schulz (formerly Ramsey) looks as fast as ever.
PHOTOS and RESULTS from the RMO can be found at the Adaptive Adventures website, and the current ranking list for the AHS can be found here.
Note: The points for the RMO time trial were given based on % in front or behind the elite standard. This new method of assigning TT points is very “honest” in terms of rewarding the fastest competitor. Check out Alejandro Albor’s TT points…he killed it!
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