By Wes Schempf

On the last weekend in June, several members of the visitPA.com Mountain Bike Race Team traveled to New Jersey to qualify for the upcoming mountain bike nationals. Present for the 13th Annual Bulldog Romp were Ryan Leech and Wes Schempf in the semi-pro category and Michelle Stopper in the expert women.

In the women's race, Michelle and Janel Demeter (Guy's Racing) quickly separated themselves from the rest and put it on cruise control for their five laps on the 5.5 mile course. The course was characterized by twisty, rocky singletrack with short punchy climbs and some open grassy sections. Unfortunately for Michelle, an inopportune chain drop cost her the chance to sprint for the win.

In the Pro/Semi-Pro race, a viciously quick start was the impetus for a quick sorting of the field with the usual hard men at the front. After the prologue lap, a group of four containing Flyin' Ryan Leech, Wes Schempf, Harlan Price (IFracing.org), and Aaron Snyder (Scott) escaped and worked to build an unassailable gap. Shortly after this group formed, Price jumped off the front and wasn't seen until the finish. Snyder was in a tough position with two visitPA.com riders on his wheel. Leech and Schempf worked team tactics over the remaining laps. With a half lap to go, Schempf launched out of the group and maintained the gap to finish second. Leech followed Snyder until the final uphill section where he uncorked a ferocious sprint and came around Snyder just before the line!

Upcoming races for the visitPA.com team are July 13 in Fairhill, Maryland and the U.S. Mountain Bike Nationals, July 17-20 at Mt. Snow, Vermont.

Thanks to our sponsors who make this all possible:

• visitPA.com
• Cannondale Bicycles
• SRAM
• Northwave footwear
• Rudy Project helmets and glasses
• Suunto
• Ergon
• Deuter Hydration Packs
• HighSpeed Cycling
• Cadence Coaching