photo by Seth Lightcap

Tucker Gerald out-sprints the competition in Reno Nevada to take the second stage (Pro category) of the Tour de Nez.  The race report and write up by Velo News can be found below.

Congratulations Tucker, great job!!!

Pro Men – stage 2

* 1. Tucker Gerald, Park Place Dealerships
* 2. Cody Stevenson, Adageo Energy Cycling
* 3. Steve Reaney, California Giant Berry Farm

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/06/news/tucker-gerald-janel-holcomb-win-tour-de-nezs-second-stage_122273

Tucker Gerald, Janel Holcomb, win Tour de Nez’s second stage
by VeloNews.com

By Seth Lightcap

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/06/news/tucker-gerald-janel-holcomb-win-tour-de-nezs-second-stage_122273

Transported from the sedate streets of Sparks to the rowdy downtown corridors of Reno, the Tour de Nez fired up again Friday night for a stage 2 circuit race. Under-23 hard man Tucker Gerald (Park Place Dealerships) nosed out the win for the men while U.S. National team rider Janel Holcomb was awarded the top step for the women after a crash-marred final sprint.

What a difference a day made as the Tour de Nez was pulsing with a whole new energy as the racers took to the task of stage 2. The downtown event concourse was alive and bustling and the racing vibes seriously ramped up for the elbow-to-elbow action.

The 1.5-mile circuit course cut a figure 8 across and back over the Truckee River before rolling into a long straight away that passed the event expo and start/finish line. Fans found a brew pub and a pleasant riverfront park along the race route making for top notch spectating no matter your pleasure.

A steady wind greeted the contenders of both pro races, making for a vicious back half of the course and an absolutely ripping final stretch. The women battled the breeze for 50 minutes and the men for an even hour.

Men: Gerald wins with a lunge

The men took the course with the sun low and the wind abating just a bit. The calmer conditions allowed a couple two-man breakaways to pull off the front early on, but their lead was short lived as the head wind on the back stretch was still a bear.

Sprint laps for extra points kept the pace quick, with three different racers winning bonuses, including U23 Danny Heeley. Weaving through the lane changes of the eight-cornered course proved to be less dramatic for the men as the race ran crash free.

Crushing into the last lap, the men were just as tight as the women with a dozen guys vying for the win on the final sprint. When the tires met the line it was Gerald who nosed it out, throwing a well-timed bike lunge to beat Cody Stevenson of Adageo Energy Cycling. The 39-year-old third place finisher, Steve Reaney (California Giant Berry Farm), rounded out an exceptional day, as he had just won the 35+ masters race, two hours earlier!

Gerald had good things to say about the course and competition.

“The course was technical and fast and there were a lot of strong guys here. I feel really fortunate to get the win,” said Gerald.

Last weekends Tulsa Tough was the 11th stop on the National Road Calendar (NRC), the countries premiere Pro-Am cycling series.  With the second-biggest prize list on offer at nearly $115,000, the three-day omnium of criteriums, Tulsa Tough was one of the highlights of Park Place’s season.  Joining Park Place Dealerships were some of the nations top domestic professional teams including Jelly Belly, Team Mountain Khakis, Bhati Foundation, and Kelly Benefits Strategies.

The racing was fierce and Park Place was everywhere, logging more and more time on the announcers PA throughout the weekend.  Finishing just off the podium in the overall Pro-Cat 1 Omnium, Chad Cagle had a spectacular weekend with all of the help of the Elite team.  In addition, Tucker Gerald swept the weekend races, taking 1st on both Saturday and Sunday, to go along with 7th on Friday, to secure the overall victor in Cat1-2 Omnium.

You can see all of the action at:

Top 20 results and team results are posted below.

Overall Omnium:
Pro-Cat1    Chad Cagle 4th
Jason Waddell 7th
Bryan Fawley 12th

Category 1-2    Tucker Gerald 1st
Evan Bybee    18th

Friday
Pro-Cat1    Jason Waddell 4th
Bryan Fawley 7th
Chad Cable 12th

Category 1-2    Tucker Gerald 7th
Shaun Bonavita 14th

Saturday
Pro-Cat1    Chad Cagle 5th
Jason Waddell 8th

Category 1-2    Tucker Gerald   1st

Sunday
Pro-Cat1    Chad Cagle 7th
Brian Fawley 8th

Category 1-2    Tucker Gerald 1st
Evan Bybee 10th

Photo by: Jere Arnold

Brian Fawley, Jason Waddell, and Chad Cagle go 1,2,3 to sweep the podium at the Sunday Matrix Crit.  It was a big weekend for the team as Park Place made every signficant break and took almost all of the Primes in route the their podium sweep.

Nick Boulle won the mens Cat 3 after rebounding from a 5th place on Saturday.

Congrats guys on a great weekent of racing!

Fawley also took Series 1 of the 4 series TNC.  He won 3 out of 5 races which sets him up perfectly to take the year long series.

Alex Welch and Chris Hamilton - photo By Jere Arnold

The Dallas Racing team showed up big at the Park Place Crits this
weekend.

Saturday April 3rd brought beautiful weather and a great course to show
off the Elite team.  The guys from Oklahoma came down to join the Dallas
party, and party they did…

Having made the final selection, Jason Wadell held on for 3rd place in
the P/1/2 race while Bryan Fawley took the field sprint for 9th.

Bryan Fawley - Photo By: Jere Arnold

Nick Boulle controlled the Cat 3/4 race from start to finish, just
nipping his closest rival for 1st place at the line.

Jorge Merle also took 1st in the Masters 40+ race, just a sign of
things to come this weekend.

Justin Reddell took 2nd in the Cat 5 race, showing a lot of promise for
the future.

Easter Sunday, April 4th.

Chad Cagle Park Place Crit - photo by Jere Arnold

Park Place Crits Day 2 - P12 Podium

Chad Cagle took 2nd from a hard fought two-man break while Bryan Fawley
took the field sprint for 3rd and Chris Hamilton finished 7th in the
P/1/2 race.

Earlier in the day, Dallas Racing put their stamp on the Park Place
Crits.

Justin Reddell took 1st in the Cat 5.

Frank Cusimano recovered from a hard crash on Saturday to pull out a
1st place victory in the Cat 4 race.

Jorge Merle made it a two-peat for the weekend, claiming 1st place in
the Masters 40+ event.  Jimmy Olsen took 3rd while Shawn Bonavita
claimed 4th.

Nick Boulle continued his great early season form with another victory,
1st place in the Cat 3/4.

Overall it was a fantastic weekend thanks to all of the volunteers,
sponsors and participants.  Thanks everyone, and we will see you at the
next race!!!

P12 Results – Day 1:

1. Heath Blackgrove – Team Hotel San Jose
2. Christian Helmig -   Metro Volkswagen
3. Jason Waddell – Park Place Dealerships

P12 Results – Day2:

1. Christian Helmig – Metro Volkswagen
2. Chad Cagle – Park Place Dealerships
3. Bryan Fawley – Park Place Dealerships

3/4 Results -Day 1

1. Nick Boulle – Park Place Dealerships
2. Will Radar
3. Flash Cross

3/4 Results -Day 2

1. Nicholas Boulle – Park Place Dealerships
2. William Radar
3. Adam Allen

The race set off with around 40 riders and everyone was cautious and
reserved for the first 5 miles or so because of the cold and wind.  After
the fireworks started, Chad the ever persistent hard man was pulling,
attacking and generally doing his best to get in the hardest ride he could.
While Jason was doing his share by following breaks and chasing groups when
we missed out was holding off for the last lap because this race almost
always is decided on the last lap.

During the second lap Chad was able to escape solo and I encouraged another
rider to bridge solo to him and those two guys spent about 10 miles
suffering out there in the wind.  Sometime early in the last lap a group of
9 got away and Chad and Jason BOTH missed it.  There was only one person in
the group that worried us but 9 riders is a big group.  Chad and Jason both
rode on the front for about 5 miles in a block headwind to pull back this
group and once we caught them Will Gault from Tulsa launched a
counter-attack and Jason followed him.  These two worked flawlessly together
and in the ensuing final 12 miles opened up an over 4 minute gap on the
chasing field.

Jason won the two man sprint for 1st with Chad holding on for 6th place.

CHANGES!!! Please look at the course map and racers will be entering in Gate 5. GATE 5. Gate 5 there will be volunteers pointing you.

The course Map is close, but not exact. There are no bad pinch points, and plenty of room to pass. The map makes it look tighter than it is. I did a few laps at around 25 avg. Everything felt great!

Please! pick up after yourself, do not throw gel wrappers, bottles or anything down. Even while racing.
Also, the $10 gate fee is waved for cyclist and cycling spectators. GATE 5.

PRIMES: The Pizza Lounge. Which is basically on the course Parry Ave/ Exposition will be giving out tons of primes for their taste food! After race Saturday get together!

Click Here for Race Flyer

Cycling is gloriously simple – that’s why five years olds can learn to ride a bike. But cycling is also fabulously complicated. There are hundreds of minor details, from the right clothing and body position to the proper tire pressure and seat height, that can make your ride smoother, safer, more comfortable, less painful and, best of all, more fun. The trouble is that most just beyond basic knowledge is either passed down in whispered advice from experienced cyclists, or is left to be learned in the school of hard knocks. Here are solutions to six all too common blunders. Pass them on to your favorite newbie rider, or consider them your secret handshake – and a welcome to the club

1. OOPS: You have a panty line AHA! Bike shorts should come with a flashing tag that says, ” Do not wear underpants.” The extra layer of fabric can cause chafing and irritation, and also trap enough moisture to fuel a bacterial wildfire. Do yourself a favor and go commando. Bike shorts are designed to be in direct contact with your skin, and the wicking fabrics pull away excess moisture to keep things cozy. Similar no-nos: cotton T-shirts (no wicking, no pockets, no zippers, no good) and white athletics socks (no wicking, can cause blisters)

2. OOPS: Your seat looks awfully low AHA! On most bikes, you can’t stay in the saddle and have your feet flat on the ground. (There are some notable exceptions – Electra cruisers, recumbents, etc. – but only because their long, slack geometries allow proper leg extensions from a low slung saddle.) Sure, it’s possible to lower your seat so your perch feels less precarious, but it’s a slippery slope. With a lower position, you don’t get enough leg extension, which can lead to knee injuries and quad cramps. Correct saddle height allows for proper leg extension with a slight bend in the knee at the bottom of the pedal stroke.

3. OOPS: Your helmet straps are dangling AHA! Next time you strap on your helmet, do this test: Grab your lid with both hands, and try to move it back and forth on your noggin. Don’t be gentle. If the helmet moves more than an inch in any direction, tighten the straps. Why? A helmet protects your head only if it stays put during a crash. A loose fitting helmet can lead to injury if it’s pushed over your face when you hit the ground or if it bounces down and covers your eyes on a technical descent.

4. OOPS: You haven’t moved your upper body since the ride began AHA! Obvious tension is the hallmark of a beginner. Every cyclist fears scary terrain now and again, but experienced bikers know that riding with locked elbows and a white knuckle grip on the bar transforms your body into a block of wood, and blocks of wood cannot use body English the subtle shifts, leans and hitches that keep you in control when things get hairy. Stay loose and avoid a stiff back by varying hand position, wiggling your fingers, taking deep breaths and relaxing your shoulders.

5. OOPS: You continue to lock up your rear wheel when braking AHA! The problem here isn’t with the back wheel. The front brake is the issue. Or, rather, a fear of it. The majority of your stopping power comes from the front brake – just shift your weight back when you give the front lever a squeeze. Remember: You scrub speed with your rear brake, but you stop with your front.

6. OOPS: You’re getting frustrated, and it’s holding you back AHA! Trying something new takes guts. Bad days happen to everybody. You won’t always stay with the group on the climbs, or clear every obstacle on the trail. And that’s okay – as long as you don’t complain and give up. Instead, congratulate your riding buddy on a climb well done, or for the spectacular move the new fallen tree. Ask for advice, then vow to try again next time. Maybe you’ll make it, and maybe you won’t. The fun is in the attempt.

TRAIN ON THE EDGE. On long endurance training rides, aim for 50 percent of your effort being easy and 50 percent being at the upper end of your aerobic zone – just hard enough that you need to concentrate to keep from drifting back into easy, says Applegate. “This drill will help you stay fast on the flats.”

PEDAL NONSTOP. When training on undulating terrain, avoid coasting on slight declines. “Keeping the pedals turning will train your legs to match the effort needed to cruise on flat roads,” he says.

SWITCH GEARS. When on a long, flat stretch, periodically click up and then down a gear. The variation in cadence will keep your legs feeling fresher.

CHANGE POSITION. Keep your supporting muscles from getting sore by shifting your weight, riding the hoods and the drops or by standing up and stretching.

WORK THE WIND. Head wind is your enemy. Resist the temptation to shift into a big gear to gain power and speed. “You’ll wear yourself out,” says Applegate. Instead gear down, spin fast and enjoy the ride.