RUUD had a team of four riders for each of our first two local classics races. Jack Kane marched toward his CAT 3 upgrade with two solid podium finishes at both the Hornby Hills Kermis and the Check Your Legs Road Race. Teammate Chris Jones picked up a sixth place finish at Hornby, and Brad Helmetsie battled back for a solid 8th place spot at Check Your Legs.
With an all new course, Hornby added a few hundred extra feet of steep climbing, while sacrificing the extended dirt climb of previous years. In its place, a rolling paved sections followed by a steep paved wall - essentially placing two ridiculously steep walls per lap (the old dirt wall remained) on a four lap circuit. 36 miles, 4500 feet - enough said.
The peloton didn't last long there. Jack Kane battled to a third place finish, and Chris Jones was a solid sixth. Jon Murray managed to cross the line 11th with a huge assist from 12th place rider Brad Helmetsie.
Check Your Legs featured a blistering start, a pothole filled descent, and a seemingly endless headwind. A true Spring Classic. Jack Kane held on for third, and Brad Helmetsie, off the back at the beginning, bridged the gap on the decent and flat with a great effort winding up eighth. Ben Webster and Jon Murray rounded out the RUUD team at the event.
We are expecting a full slate of riders at the Binghamton Circuit Race on April 27, and we are hoping for a solid effort at Hollenbeck's on May 4.
You can also follow all of RUUD's training rides on our Strava team page.
