The Trexlertown-based Young Medalists/Team Dual Temp was the dominant team at USA Cycling’s recent Junior National Road Championship races held in Bend, Ore.
Four riders from the local junior development team stood on the five-place podium during three days of racing among the fastest teens in the nation.
The Young Medalists strongest showing was in the 50-kilometer criterium race on Friday, June 25. In that race, Juan Carmona, an 18-year-old from Breinigsville proved again that he is one of the fastest sprinters in the nation. Carmona edged out other racers to win a field sprint to the finish line and take the second place medal.
Wes Kline, 17, of Emmaus, was almost as fast. His strong sprint at the end of the 31-mile race earned him the fourth-place spot on the podium.
Robin Carpenter, 18, of Philadelphia, finished 13th and Zack Noonan, 17, of Kutztown, crossed the line in 16th place to give the Young Medalists four riders in the top 20 – a showing unmatched by any other team in the nation.
Jeff Alpert, 18, of Coopersburg, finished 53rd of 118 who started that race.
Carpenter again made a strong showing two days later in Sunday’s 113-kilometer road race. He broke away with seven other riders early in the race. They stayed out in front until the last lap of the 70-mile race and Carpenter hung on for a fourth-place finish.
Noonan was second in the field sprint to earn eighth place. Carmona was 13th and Kline finished 67 of 128 riders.
Again, it was the strongest showing of any team in the nation.
Noonan had begun the team’s podium appearances earlier in the competition with his fourth-place finish on Thursday, June 24, in the 24-kilometer time trial.
Next, the team will return to the East Coast for the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic in Massachusetts this weekend. Then, the Young Medalists will be on the home concrete of the Valley Preferred Cycling Center for the Junior U.S. National Track Championship, July 8-11. It is there that Noonan and Carmona will be attempting to qualify for the Junior World Team.
The Young Medalists will be staying close to home for the Nicole Reinhart Memorial Tour de FCCC, July 17-18. On July 19-25, select team riders will be traveling to Canada for the international Tour de l’ Abitibi stage race where they hope to continue their winning ways.
Posted on July 8, 2010
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