Magner wins Kennett Square Final
Cyclists race up West State Street in Kennett Square as part of the Chesco Grand Prix. Photo by Carolyn Worthington.
KENNETT SQUARE — After 1 hour and 30 minutes of hard, hot racing, 21 year old Ty Magner of Griffin, Ga. sprinted clear of the three leaders to take the final 30-mile bike race in the inaugural Chesco Grand Prix. Magner, riding for the powerful BMC Development team, recently won the national road cycling championship for young riders (under age 23) and proved his talent Friday night as he helped drive a strong four man breakaway to lap the field with twenty laps to go in the sixty-five lap race. The ever present Canadians, led by four race winner Bruno Langlois, finished third, fourth and fifth to clinch the overall team title for Garneau-Quebecor. Andrew McCullough of Montpelier, Vermont took second place to solidify third overall for his Mt Borah squad.
Temperatures in the nineties didn’t deter the pros from putting on a good show as rider after rider tried to break clear on the uphill finishing straight on West State Street. The crowd lined the barricades, enjoyed sidewalk dining and packed the Victory Beer Garden on turn one, all cheering for the charging cyclists who lapped the course in under two minutes. Just as entertaining was watching the scramble to get VIPs in and out of the Audi chase car that followed the racers and gave occupants a sense of the hair raising cornering and quick accelerations experienced by the cyclists.
The half mile circuit through downtown Kennett Square was the shortest course in the eight race Chesco Grand Prix that started in Oxford on June 28th. The series brought the first ever bicycle race to every venue but Coatesville and was the first opportunity for many local residents to experience the speed and excitement of top level bike racing. A total of 1500 racers took part including fifty pros per race and seven teams entered in the team competition including squads from Canada and Germany. Venues also featured races for amateurs, masters and women all licensed by USA Cycling, the national governing body of the sport.
Despite a week of record-breaking temperatures, the inaugural Chesco Grand Prix was enthusiastically received with good first year crowds at each venue and strong across-the-board interest in continuing and expanding the series in 2013.
“We didn’t know what to expect,” said one restaurant owner who had set up course-side tables just past the finish line at the Kennett Square Criterium. “But our customers loved it and it was a great attraction to bring people downtown on a summer evening.”
Pro ½ Results Kennett Square Criterium, July 6
Place Last Name First Name Team Name Finish Time
1 Magner TY BMC-Hincapie Development Team 1:30:49
2 McCullough Andrew Mt Borah / Minerva Design p/b Basso
3 Langlois Bruno Garneau-Quebecor Cycling Team
4 Hughes Zach Garneau-Quebecor Cycling Team
5 Langlands Mark Garneau-Quebecor Cycling Team
6 Winsor Curtis Kenda 5-Hour Engery
7 Wulfkuhle Andrew TEAM GPOA
8 Repacholi Douglas Australia
9 Chauner Michael Pure Energy Cycling/Pro AIR HFA
10 Godycki Waclaw Mt Borah / Minerva Design p/b Basso
Final Team Standings:
1. Garneau-Quebecor Cycling Team (CAN) 137 Points
2. Rudy Project Racing (GER) 302 Points
3. Mt Borah (USA) 382 Points
4. Pure Energy Cycling/ProAir-HFA (USA) 417 Points
5. Team Alliance Environmental (USA) 446 Points
6. Met Life – NorEast Cycling (USA) 557 Points
7. Boston Bicycle School (USA) 604 Points
For complete information and results: www.chescograndprix.com
