Escape from Granogue

Granogue Estate of the DuPont Family
Montchanin, DE
by Wes Schempf
May 3, 2009

Videos from Granogue

Race #2 of the MASS series started and ended under grey rainy skies. The several days leading up to the event gave some hope of a dryer race, but waking to torrential rain early Sunday morning, racers knew that it would be a long hard day. Escape from Granogue is memorial race to honor the memory of Andrew Mein, a racer and bike enthusiast, who was killed commuting home from work. Promoter Marc Vettori and the Velo Amis group put together the same approximately 7 mile loop as years previous but with a few new sections of single track. All racing classes had to battle the elements and consistently changing conditions. Sections of the course were completely unrideable. Many of the short steep hills, both up and down, were impossible to ride due to the slippery mud.

VisitPA.com had three elite riders to contest the three lap race: Mike Yozell, Rob Lichtenwalner, and Wes Schempf. The long paved start allowed for positioning which is important but far more so when conditions are terrible. Kyle Hammaker took the hole shot with Wes, Rob, Mike, and Brandon Draugelis right behind. Wes was able to get his brand new Cannondale Caffeine 29er around Kyle almost immediately and never looked back for the duration of the race. A great race for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th developed between Rob, Draugelis, and local phenom, 16 year old Jeff Bahnson. After 2 laps the threesome was still together but Bahnson was showing signs of tiring. Rob and Draugelis were able to escape, and then Draguleis was able to take advantage on the last long uphill to distance himself from Rob. In the end, VisitPA.com gained two podium spots, with all three riding Cannondales.

Big thanks to our sponsors:

• VisitPA.com
• Rudy Project helmets and glasses
• Cannondale Bicycles
• Deuter Hydration Packs
• Suunto
• Northwave footwear