This weekend the Liquid Fitness/Adago Energy Elite Team contested The Ventura County Stage race, a new and up and coming event on the So Cal calendar. Here’s a short re-cap.
On the hilly, technical 1.7 mile downtown prologue, Justin Kerr (Liquid Fitness/Adageo Energy) made a perfect run, taking first place and the leader’s yellow jersey.
That evening in the downtown twilight criterium (also hilly and technical), top US pro rider Neil Shirley (Kelly Benefits), wearer of the red climbers jersey put the hurt on. In the end only Rudy (Liquid/Adageo) could stay with him. An unfortunate chain slip with two laps go gave Neil the advantage. Rudy finished second (to thunderous applause) with JK coming across with the pack in 4th.
Going into the final stage, we held 2nd and 3rd in the GC and wore both the green sprinter’s jersey (Rudy) and the red climber’s jersey (JK). The guys once again rode beautifully but the might of Neil and Roman Killun (Ouch) could not be matched. Matt and JK mounted an inspired chase and in the end came across in third and 5th with JK holding on to third in the GC, the only amateur on the podium.
So all in all, in 3 days of racing we held the yellow, red and green jerseys, had a first second and third place finish and as famed cycling announcer Dave Towle said during the podium ceremony, we are the next team to watch.
