Basking Ridge, NJ NCC - Tino Alzate Team Exergy

Base Camp International

The NCC parcourse in Basking Ridge, New Jersey is a challenging and exciting track made of nine tight corners and a small hill late in the loop that guards the finish line.

The nasty kicker stings the legs but also offers a launch pad for the strong racer. From the very first lap, Team Exergy and Kenda Pro Cycling employed the hill to tear at the peloton and force breakaways.

The first significant move contained Logan Loader, Luis Amaran of Jamis-Sutterhome, and Paul Mach of Kenda. The trio reached a maximum advantage of 30 seconds before returning to the peloton.

Tino Alzate and Champion System strongman Clinton Avory countered and made slight progress. A lap later Kenda's James Stemper crossed to the pair.

Stemper is fresh off top ten finishes in the TT and Road Race at US Nationals, and the solid trio set about building a lead that ultimately reached 1 minute.

With a half hour left to race, the UHC and Jamis squads organized a strong chase. The drastic increase in pace consumed 5 to 7 seconds per lap, and put hope in a dwindling peloton. When the lap board hit single digits, it was apparent that the two groups would reunite.

The fading break mustered just enough mustard to hold off the remaining 15 chasers, finishing on same time, but ahead on placings.

1st - Clinton Avory - Champion System
2nd - James Stemper - Kenda Pro
3rd - Tino Alzate - Team Exergy