By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Among some cyclists, there is no particular strategy for competing in the city’s fourth annual Downtown Criterium ó except to race hard.
“It’s by chance. You ride aggressively,” said Salisbury’s Bret Busby.
Busby is a member of Carolina Masters, a Salisbury cycling team whose members competed Thursday in the Salisbury leg of the Giordana Crossroads Classic, a nine-stage criterium held over 10 days.
Police blocked off North Main Street after 5 p.m. and spectators lined the sidewalks to watch cyclists speed by.
Busby competed in the Masters 35+, a 40-minute race.
“We have a lot of talented riders. Anyone could win. We just let the race unfold,” he said.
Busby, a Salisbury orthodontist, has been involved in racing since the age of 6, when he raced BMX bikes. He moved on to mountain biking in college and competing in triathlons while in dental school. Busby began road racing in 2002.
He typically bikes 10-15 hours a week and incorporates some longer, slower rides, also called base training. As the racing season draws closer, the team’s workout changes.
“The intensity builds up and you ride harder,” he said.
The crowd is what keeps him going when the physical pain of racing is ever present.
“It’s nice to have the local people come out,” he said.
This competition was the second year for Paul Hardison of St. Augustine, Fla.
He competed Thursday in the Masters 45+, a 40-minute race and the Cat 4/5 (Category 4/5), a 30-minute race.
Hardison has been racing competitively for three years. He began six years ago as a way to shed some weight. He had a number of medical problems and was 80 pounds heavier.
“I started for exercise and over two to three years, I got faster and faster,” he said.
He competes in races mostly on the east coast, specifically the Carolinas, Florida and Georgia. He competes with fellow team members from Colavita Florida Cycling Team, the Florida branch of the professional Team Colavita.
Hardison trains 365 days of the year. There are few days where he doesn’t work out.
“Every day for an hour, I do spin or easy riding,” he said.
Hardison’s long-term goal is to win the Florida state championship for his age division, which is 50-54. That race takes place in December. The Giordana Classic, Hardison said, is the build-up to the Florida race. He’ll rest up for a bit and then compete in several more races until December.
“My goal is to race 12 races and finish as many as I can,” he said.
Every other day, Neill Rowland, of Concord, is out on his bike, and every Tuesday he and his team members, Sledgehammer Charlie’s Racing, race for an hour-long distance. Those are just two of the things Rowland does to prepare for a cycling race.
A friend started him riding about three years ago. Rowland played soccer in college and cycling was something to keep him in the competitive spirit.
When it’s all finished, Rowland will have competed in six races in eight days. He came in fourth in a race Wednesday night. He competed in Thursday’s race in the Cat 4/5 (Category 4/5).
He was aiming to place in the top 10. He admits he didn’t place like he wanted, but realized his misstep.
“I probably worked too much in front,” he said.
Rowland will compete again in Saturday’s race.
His wife, Melissa, and their children came to cheer him on.
Daughter, Taylor, 7, who probably screamed the loudest, said it’s exciting watching her dad race, but she gets “nervous when they crash.”
Shannon Hammond, of Salisbury, showed her support for boyfriend, Anthony Rizzo of Mooresville, who biked Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
“It’s an exciting experience and it’s what he loves to do,” Hammond said.
She said he’s done well at the other races, coming in second and third. Rizzo has been biking for 13 years and competitively for about two years.
Proceeds from the race go to Prevent Child Abuse Rowan.
For results from the Crossroads Classics races, visit http://www.pre-reg.com

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Pro Race main event winners

1st place, Luca Damiani, NJ
2nd place, Davide Frattini, NJ
3rd place, Thomas Soladay, MD

Top N.C. finisher, Mark Hekman, Winston-Salem