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Aviano Opens Mountain Bike and Road Cycling Seasons The Aviano Super Cycling Weekend opened both the Flyte1.com U.S. Forces Road Cycling Series and the U.S. Forces Europe Mountain Bike Series. More than 50 cyclists raced their way to precious series points in both cycling disciplines. James Sharp, Hanau, former Armed Forces Team member but new to the US Forces Europe race scene, made his mark on both events with an overall first in the mountain bike race and second in the road race. The mountain bike event was held on Saturday under sunny skies. Coming from the masters (age 40+) category, Sharp soundly beat the competition finishing nearly three minutes ahead of Aviano's Mark Naglack who was competing as a senior (ages 30-39). Sharp finished the technical and challenging 34.4km course that traversed the Piancavallo foothills, in one hour, eleven minutes and fifteen seconds. Naglack captured the senior title. From the start, Sharp and Naglack set the pace creating a big gap to the rest of the field in the first two laps of the four lap event. From there, Sharp pulled away creating a gap that would ensure victory. The men's open category was won by Merle Richard of Ramstein in 1:23:29. Jodie Bonham of Bamberg captured the women's category finishing the 17.2km course in 57 minutes and 59 seconds with Kathy Shatto of Garmisch coming in second. Richard came back in Sunday's road race to edge Sharp by half a wheel in a five-man sprint finish. Others in the main group were David Ortiz, Aviano, who ended up third; Leslie Handy, Ramstein in fourth; and Aviano's Mark Naglack in fifth. David Haines of Wuerzburg dropped off this group late in the race and rolled in sixth. The leading group finished the 43.5km course in one hour, six minutes and forty seconds. Richard, Ortiz and Handy were competing against one another in the senior category while Sharp and Haines were first and second in the masters. In the open category, Aviano's Christopher Fritzsche out sprinted fellow Aviano cyclist Bradley Von Haugg for the win. JoDeen Brown of Garmisch out sprinted Aviano's Jennifer McElroy after 26.1km for the women's category win. Awards were presented to overall Aviano Super Cycling Weekend winners -- those who competed in both the mountain bike and road race were given points toward an overall title. Aviano took both the men's open and senior categories with Von Haugg and Naglack taking the honors while Hanau's Sharp captured the master's title. No women competed in both events. Road series sponsor Flyte Bicycles (www.flyte1.com) provided a Flyte SRS-3 frame and fork which was one by Oberammergau's Bryan Schulte in a post-race drawing. In addition to sponsorship of the road series, Flyte sponsors the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team offers a 30% discount to all active duty military, reserve, national guard and retirees. Thanks to the Aviano Fitness Center Staff for hosting this event! Thanks also to sponsors Flyte1.com, Coca Cola, FitLinxx and Exchange New Car Sales. The next event in the Flyte1.com U.S. Forces Europe Road Cycling Series will be hosted by Spangdahlem, 17-18 June. Details and online registration will be posted at www.armedforcescycling.org. The next event in the U.S. Forces Europe Mountain Bike Series will be held at Vilseck on 30 April. Mountain bike series details can be found at www.mwr-europe.com.
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