Joe Martin Stage Race preview
The 37th Joe Martin Stage Race begins Thursday in Fayetteville, Ark. As a part of the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar (NRC) in the U.S., the race attracts many of the domestic scene’s top teams and racers, which includes many Canadians. In the pro men’s race, Canada’s current men’s national champion Zach Bell will line up beside fellow Canadian Kris Dahl along with their SmartStop teammates. Team SmartStop has been on a hot streak lately after winning a stage at the Redlands Bicycle Classic in California and following that up with a win at the Winston-Salem Classic.
In addition to Bell, Ryan Aitcheson of Astellas Cycling will line up. In the past, Aitcheson has finished in the top-10 in multiple stages at Joe Martin. Bruno Langlois of 5-hour Energy presented by Kenda is slated to race as well. With his aggressive style, Langlois is always a favourite to do something in a race of this sort. Finally, the 2012 Canadian national road champion Ryan Roth will lead a crew of Canadians racing for the Jet Fuel-Norco Team.
In the pro women’s field, Canadians Jasmin Glaesser and Anika Todd of Team Tibco/To the Top will line up beside Laura Brown of Colavita/Fine Cooking.
The opening time trial will be a 4-km uphill prologue. Both the men’s and women’s field will compete over the same course. Given the nature of the race, the TT has in the past created many splits on the GC and often determined the overall winner right from the beginning.
Friday’s second stage will be a 176-km road race for the men beginning and finishing in Fayetteville. The women will race begin in Cedarville, racing 102 km to Fayetteville. Both courses are rolling and in all likelihood will finish in a sprint.
Saturday the men will cover 174 km and complete a 38-km circuit three times. Each lap features 1,500′ of climbing and will prove to be selective. The women will loop around twice over the same course, completing a little more than 100 km. The final stage of the race will be a 85-minute criterium for the men and 55 minutes for the women. The criterium is relatively short, yet extremely punchy. Each lap will be absolutely punishing after three days of racing. In the past, the overall race has been turned on its head on the final day of racing.
