Stage 4 Victory and History made at Tour of Belize!

From Kenny

Stage Win! Jersey winner X-2! Herring Dominates and sets records!

We won! Today was the first stage win in a grand tour for this team. And it was done in grand fashion, under extremely adverse conditions. We were looking for vindication for yesterday's defeat in the Team Time Trial. Starting from Belize City, we blasted out of town into the mountain region of Belize. I took off immediately from the start heading out of town at about 36 MPH with a couple of Islanders in tow, but the field had other plans. They blew my doors off a minute or so later and I never slowed down a bit. For about 15 miles, my computer read a steady 35 MPH. This pace was done mostly in the gutter. I have to say that this was the fastest 15 miles I have ever ridden that wasn't behind or inside a car. We had a severe cross wind from the left that was pushing us into the right side marbles and the ditch. During this everlasting effort to stay attached, I noticed that all of our team were still present in the front group except for one. Scott Kuppersmith made contact with a large, dislodged brick from the side of the road, then he made contact with the pavement. He's OK, but was unable to continue and we lost him for the rest of the tour. He's resting with some nasty road rash and deep contusions. By the time the ballistic pace let up, we had blown off about half of the field. All left in the dust and probably, for a lot of them, they would finish outside the time limit.

Up front with the Herring boys in blue, Tim Regan was barking over the radio that he needed help keeping Bain Foote and Micheal O' in contact with the front rotation of riders. The first few big hills were coming up at mile 65 and we wanted to be in prime position to make our move. The top three teams were all amassed at the front, Tecos, USA and Herring. Up and over the first little leg breakers, everything looked good. Hitting the first hill giving out King-of-the-Mountain (KOM) points, Micheal O', Woody, Bain, Tim and Frank made the selection. Me and Chris A had been doing water duty at the back of the field and once had to bring Tim Regan back up to the front after he flatted, so we were immediately dispatched off the back. Coming up to the next hill, the foursome moved to the front taking over the lead from the dominating Mexican Tecos team. However soon after the USA national team took the lead and started making trouble. This move by the US youngsters split the field again heading into the first major climb, "The Concrete Road". This was the beginning of the end for everyone but Herring. Michael Olheiser slowly rolled off the front, even waiting for the US team to roll back up to him. Sensing a lull in the motivation from the US and the Mexicans, Mike O' put his head down and set the record on climbing the hill. Michael not only set the record on the super steep climb, but he smashed it by more than 30 seconds. He kept his head down, rocketing through the mountainous Belize jungle toward the finish line in San Ignacio, just 1 mile from the Guatemalan border. Raising his hands, crossing the finish line to thunderous screams from the locals and school children along the finish straight. Following several minutes behind, the uphill sprint opened up with Bain Foote holding on to 10th place, Frank Moak in18th and Tim Regan and Woody Boudreaux rolling in a few minutes in arrears. Woody had to help Tim make it back to the front with about 20KM to go because of a 2nd flat, then Tim got a 3rd flat, where Woody gave Tim his wheel. Woody was able get a wheel from the neutral support vehicle and re-attach to Tim's group. I don't know how that rookie does it.

Podium time! It was a great seeing a Herring rider standing on the top step of the podium for the stage win. Micheal was beaming as his teammates cheered loudly as he received the oversized check from the race organization. As he stepped off the podium into the arms of the team he was called back to the podium to pull on the Polka-dot Climbers Jersey. This was the part of the ceremony we almost forgot about. Michael, murdering all the competition trying to make it over the hills first, gained enough points to remove the jersey from the Santinos rider that was wearing it this morning. This was truly a great day! Talk about a morale booster.

Today was vindication for our narrow defeat yesterday. We are in good position to take the overall. Bain moved into 6th place, Woody is still in the top 20, Michael gained more than 5 minutes and shattered today's course record by more than 20 minutes and should be in 12th. Tim and Frank are also still holding really strong and hopefully Scott will be able to get over what he went through today, with a massive high-speed crash and will be unable to finish the race because of it. He will be missed sorely. Scott is a go to rider, a strong support man and a great teammate. He's healing, but it hurts much deeper.

Tomorrow we have the monster of all stages. Several mountain passes, with extremely steep and cobble stoned climbs. We need to be strong. We don't have to defend a yellow jersey yet... that's Teco's job but we need to be vigilant and on the attack. You can bet we will be.

Team Director Sportif Malcolm, stated "you can bet that we will attack our butts off tomorrow because we came here to win the race." Well said Mal.

Oh and Perry, our overworked medical expert and his wife Tammy are sharing a bottle of wine right now. I wish I could have some. Candy will have to drink mine.

See you later,
Kenny.

Stage 4 winner Michael

Mayan pyramid

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