Team Panther sent three riders to the Sylvania Classic Criterium just outside Toledo, Ohio over the weekend, this first year crit sported a $4000 purse and a tight, technical 6 turn 0.7 mile course.  I was on the return from a vacation out West with my family and scheduled the drive to coincide with this race, much to the chagrin of my lovely wife and kids.

The tight course made it imperative to stay at the front as the field lined out single file very quickly and gaps were hard to close.  Kirk and Andy started off the attacks right from the gun and put the field under pressure.  I followed an attack from Vince Roberge (MCG/Trails Edge), a strong rider and former Panther teammate, and we worked together smoothly and established a good gap as the skies darkened and a storm approached.

It’s always good to be off the front in a crit before the rain comes down. The rain started to fall about 45 minutes in, causing a number of crashes in the field. Within the last 5 laps, Vince and I lapped what was left of the field where Andy kept me out of trouble and in a good position to jump before the last turn and sprint for the win.  Kirk had escaped from the field and finished a strong 4th, with Andy coming in 12th.

Kudos to race promoter Jon Card who not only put together a great first year event but also finished 3rd in the Pro,1,2 field.

-Paul Martin

It’s been referred to as Christmas in March. The time of the year when all the bits and pieces from you team fall into place and are delivered in one nice package. In the past I have received such packages from SoBe/Cannondale, BearNaked/Cannondale and then LaGrange. This year, I was lucky enough to have received the package I was also on the team that built all 12 packages for the riders. I have a whole new appreciation for the efforts involved. Team members Kris French, Zach Spinhirne-Martin and myself, along with two volunteer mechanics Dave Fike and Mike Marrow stayed late into the night (past midnight) to get everything built, sorted and palletized for the Panther Expedite pickup the next morning.

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