Barkhamsted, CT

The Tokeneke Classic Road Race is perfect preparation for the upcoming Green Mountain Road Race, as it features similar terrain. With 2,000 feet of climbing per 22-mile lap and three total laps, the race is taxing but not stupid hard. Colin, Adam, Jason Beerman, Eric, and Toby were the Kenda/Raleigh culprits today.

The race started hot as Jason went for broke on mile 5 and got away with a Targetraining guy. The two quickly got out of sight and rolled the flat sections, eased the climbs, and drilled the descents to get out of sight again. At mile 20, the first iteration of the finishing climb occurred and Jason’s companion dropped off the pace. Jason rode hard over the top, hoping that a nice group would form and the race would be on. That did indeed happen, as Toby made it across with 2 Targetraining and 2 Fiordifrutta. Perfect, it seemed, as the 6 leaders pulled hard through the KOM and began lap 2. Turning around though, it appeared that Targetraining wasn’t happy with the combination, as they chased down the move. Things reshuffled, and at the end of the subsequent volleys, a solo Targetraining guy got away solo and hammered. Toby got into a bridge move with another Targetraining and a couple other guys, but was at a tactical disadvantage, as the Targetraining guy had the right to sit on, which he did.

Toby rode valiantly, but was caught by what remained of the peloton with 5 miles to go. Adam and Eric quickly countered, and Adam drilled it up the 2.2-mile 5% climb for 6th place. Full results are here.