Team Montclair Bikery takes Cat 3 Team GC at the Giro

Stephen Spiller led the Team Montclair Bikery to a Cat 3 Team General Classification win at the Giro del Cielo. The hilly circuit Time Trial, the first of three stages, brought no points to the band of four. The Criterium later that day was furiously fought with breaks forming right from the gun. Team Montclair worked hard to keep the group together for the final push. A single rider, Dominick Maietta, slipped away in the closing lap in front of the speeding peloton. Peaks coach Bill Brunner set the lead-out for Stephen, keeping him within striking range. A shift in the group separated Stephen, but Montclair teammate Didi Forero was in place to continue the lead-out. Up and over the last bump Stephan was clear to fire, winning the field sprint just short of the win. Montclair rider Javi Mereles pick up 9th and Didi 14th to but the team in 4th on the GC.

The final stage, a 50 mile Road Race in the hills started out easy enough but it wasn’t long before a break of six was formed with Javi in place. Didi and Bill worked at the front with a DNK rider to help the break’s lead grow. After 20 or so miles the break began to fade and the chasing peloton got hungry, eventually pulling the group back. A number of unsuccessful attacks were launched until the move of Victor Gras and Paul Yeates took hold. At 15 miles to go and heavy pressure from the peloton it was time for Stephen to work his way to safety towards the front of what was left of the group. The miles ticked away and the break was nowhere in sight, it was time for Javi to provide Stephen with an escort to the final rush. Barreling over the rolling decent on the way to a 200 meter uphill finish Stephen found open air and unleashed a winning sprint to take 3rd with Javi close behind at 9th and Bill at 15th.

When the points were calculated Team Montclair Bikery had won the team competition with Stephen taking 3rd in the individual General Classification. Stephen is on the Montclair Bikery Colavita Development Team and is using restricted junior gears.