Raystown Lake and it’s perfectly groomed, undulating, rollercoaster main loop was the site of stage four of the Trans-Sylvania Epic. The day's stage consisted of two 20-mile laps around the lake. Although Jeremiah would later divulge that he was hoping for a "sprinter's stage" which would allow him to sit in the main group relatively stress-free the stage would prove otherwise.
As the bunch roared up the paved, 20-percent grade road off the start towards the singletrack all the contenders were accounted for minus Kona’s Kris Sneddon who missed the selection and later, his teammate Barry Wicks who flatted yet again today. Coming into the first feed zone at mile nine it was the Team Jamis duo of Jason Sager and Adam Snyder, Cannondale’s Jeremiah Bishop and Alex Grant, Justin Lindine (BikeReg.com/Joe’s Garage/Scott) and Drew Edsall (Super Cool Bike Shop/Fastpaceracing). As the group exited the feed Bishop was left behind and while unleashing a frantic chase flatted twice before the finish. For the next lap and a half this selection stayed together until Sager attacked on the gravel road climb, splintering the bunch. From there he rode solo all the way in to take his second stage in a row. Jeremiah recounts the stage to Colt from cyclingdirt.org in the video below.
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Alex Grant had an especially difficult day after trouble recovering from the heat and previous stages. He explains in the video below.
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While Bishop worked hard to minimize his time loss the men’s field has grown exceptionally close with less than five minutes separating the top three.
Check out the video recap of the stage below.
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Also competing in the event was Cannondale Overmountain rider Mark Weir. He recounts his stage to Colt from Cyclingdirt.org below.
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