Chong, Estevez claim Tour of Somerville titles
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Jenny Chong (Bike Works p/b Fred Beans) and Danny Estevez (Miami Blazers) emerged as the winners of the annual Tour of Somerville presented by Unity Bank on Memorial Day in New Jersey.
The race is one of the longest-running cycling events in US history, having started in 1940 by Fred Kugler. The race remembers Kugler and the 1942 winner Carl Anderson, both of whom were killed in action during World War II.
The event attracts thousands of spectators who line the course for the flat and fast criterium and is also popular with riders who chase after generous cash primes on various laps, and for bragging rights to have their names inked in a race palmares that includes past champions such as Steve Bauer, Davis Phinney, Human Powered Health coach and director Jonas Carney and Eric Wohlberg, Juan and Lucas Haedo, and Hilton Clarke, and women’s winners Tina Pic, Ruth Winder, five-time winner Laura van Gilder and Maggie Coles-Lyster.
Because of blustery conditions, no breakaway could stick in the Mildred Kluger Women’s Race for Pro and category 1-3 riders, despite numerous attempts. However, a crash on the final lap split the bunch and only five riders were left to sprint for the victory.
Chong proved fastest, taking the title over Emily Flynn (LA Sweat) and Leah Goldberg (CRCA).
The men’s race was equally fast and furious, with a single breakaway gaining significant time. Tim Mitchell (CCB), Sam Smith (BikeWorks PA) and Alex Carmona had a lead of 20 seconds before organisers had to neutralize the race due to a large crash with four laps.
After the restart, the Automatic ABUS team came to the front to shut down the trio, but not before Mitchell claimed the $1,000 prime on the third-to-last lap.
Mitchell kept going as the peloton reabsorbed his two companions. He was reeled in with one lap to go as the Miami Blazers’ lead-out train deftly delivered Estevez to the victory over Cesare Marte (Road Kings) and 2017 winner Noah Granigan (Denver Disruptors).
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