Article added Monday, April 16, 2001
UPMC Cycling Visits Cuba
Story and Photos contributed by Joe Papp

The sunny slopes of the Velodrome

[Article] [Pic Set 1] [Pic Set 2] [Pic Set 3] [Pic Set 4]

Cuba-Castro Country. The land of Cohiba's, sugar cane and fantastic rum. Maybe your parents honeymooned there before 1959. Certainly not the place you would go to race a bike, however. That is, unless you were a young gun from the United States looking to accumulate early-season miles in the tropics, while racing against some of Latin America's toughest riders.

On Sunday, April 1, a contingent of American Junior and under-23 riders led by world-renowned coach Mike Fraysse arrived in Habana, Cuba to prepare for the Vuelta Ciclistica a Habana del Este. The Vuelta is a five-day stage race held in the province surrounding Cuba's capital, and is second only to the Tour of Cuba in its importance to the home riders. The U.S. cyclists who made the trip were chosen in February from a group of 40 athletes who attended the New England Cycling Support Association's (NECSA) selection camp held at Fraysse's training center in upstate New York. There, he and Eddie "B" Borysewicz (Mercury-Viatel domestic director) evaluated the candidates and chose a squad equally mixed between riders with international experience and those for whom Cuba was their first trip beyond the borders of the U.S.

The pack races away from the blue carribean

Josh Gerwitz, Robbie Ketchel, Bobby Lea, Ryan Mele and Darby Thomas made up the U.S. Junior team. Mike Friedman, Boyd Johnson, Mike McCarthy, Shawn Milne, Mike Norton and Matt Wilson comprised the under-23 squad. Joe Papp and Bill Speckman were the elite entries. Mike Fraysse directed the squad, Carlos Laborde was assistant director, Steve Dudley served as mechanic and Marka Wise provided administrative assistance.

The U.S. contingent lodged at the Villa Panamericana, a hotel 10km east of Habana located near the Reinaldo Paseiro Velodrome. The facility was built in 1991 for the Pan American Games, and regularly hosts athletes from a variety of nations.

The riders spent Monday through Wednesday acclimating to the sun and heat while also training on several of the courses. By Thursday's start, thanks to their reconnaissance and information provided by Cuba veterans Friedman and Ketchel, the U.S. squad was prepared to race. Shawn Milne finished eighth overall and third in the under-23's on the first stage, a 120km circuit race in Guayaba. Fierce crosswinds and rough roads characterized the race, though the Americans suffered far fewer mechanicals than the previous year. One notable exception was team leader Joe Papp, whose SRM crank arm loosened with 10km to go to the finish. The quick work of mechanic Dudley, however, allowed Papp to regain the field well before the finish. "Last year, the entire team would have been forced to abandon the race because of flat tires, had it not been for our mechanic's ability to patch tubes," explained Wise. "I'm surprised the damage has been so light this year!"

Cyclocross? Over the sand?

Stage two was another circuit race, this one along the Caribbean coast in Guanabo. The riders completed 18 laps for 110km. Each lap included a gradual 1km climb before a sharp descent back into the finishing straight. Strong winds split the bunch into several groups, with some riders-including several on the U.S. team-losing over one hour! Milne was again the top American finisher on the stage, though Matt Wilson also completed the race with the lead group.

By the third stage, the Americans were more accustomed to the dynamic of the event, and had set their sites on a victory. At 140km, the Guiteras-Bacunayagua road race was the longest stage, and included substantial climbing on its out-and-back course. Nonetheless, the Americans succeeded in controlling most of the race, and both Friedman and Papp never left the top-10. During the final 40km, Friedman and Lea set a fierce tempo at the front, while Wilson and Gerwitz neutralized several threatening moves. The last 20km were a non-stop series of attacks, until finally, with 4km to go, Darby Thomas took to the front on the last climb. He set a tempo fast enough to dissuade any additional attacks, but just slow enough to allow Papp-the team's designated sprinter-to comfortably follow the pace.

The US rider takes the high side

As the field crested the climb and Thomas swung off-his job done-Friedman made sure that Papp was tucked safely onto his wheel. Alas, Team USA's plan was foiled with 2km to go when the Cuban Pedro Perez gave an illegal handsling to one of his compatriots. The violent acceleration caught Friedman off guard and was enough to send the Cuban well clear of the field. Had he belatedly chased the attack, Friedman may have closed the gap, but most certainly would have left Papp unprotected in the wind. With no other option, Friedman increased his pace at the front and tried to convince some of the other lead riders to chase. They had none of it, however, and Papp sprinted home in fourth with Friedman fifth.

Sunday's stage four criterium in Cienfuegos became the race's finale, since the organizers were unable to secure permission to use a road circuit 50km outside of Habana for the Monday stage. Unlike the previous stages, juniors raced separately from the elite and under-23 riders in Cienfuegos. With strong help from his teammates, including a lead-out that lasted for well over 4km, Josh Gerwitz finished third on the stage behind Rainier Alvarez and Ernesto Lopez. Because he was tied for first place overall with Alvarez coming into the last race, Gerwitz's third place on the day gave him second overall. Bobby Lea finished sixth on the stage, Ryan Mele came 11th, Robbie Ketchel was 16th and Darby Thomas 21st.

Shawn Milne, riding one of the best races of his career, finished second overall on the stage in the combined elite/under-23 race and was fourth in the under-23 general classification. Mike Friedman finished ninth on the stage, Matt Wilson 12th, and Joe Papp 26th after he suffered a mechanical with two laps to go. In addition to Milne's excellent G.C. placing, Wilson finished sixth overall in the under-23 classification, while Papp was 11th in the elite race.

Final Results

Elite

1. Yosvani FALCON (Cuba) 10:45:39
2. Pedro P. PEREZ (Cuba) 10:45:42
3. Felix P. BATISTA (Cuba) 10:46:04

Others
11. Joe PAPP (USA) 10:58:14
19. Bill SPECKMAN (USA) 11:31:40

Under-23

1. Arnold ALCOLEA (Cuba) 10:46:54
2. Rolando BASULTO (Cuba) 10:47:22
3. Damian MARTINEZ (Cuba) 10:48:44
4. Shawn MILNE (USA) 10:49:08

Others
6. Matt WILSON (USA) 10:49:44
13. Mike FRIEDMAN (USA) 11:40:49
14. Mike NORTON (USA) 12:07:36
15. Boyd JOHNSON (USA) 12:07:36

Juniors

1. Rainier ALVAREZ (Cuba) 10:22:29
2. Josh GERWITZ (USA) 10:22:29
3. Yosdani AMIGO (Cuba) +0:00:37

Others
14. Robbie KETCHEL (USA) +1:02:26
17. Darby THOMAS (USA) +1:04:06
19. Bobby LEA (USA) +1:30:08
21. Ryan MELE (USA) +1:30:26

Fraysse expressed great happiness with the performance of his riders, and praised their ability to meet the challenge of racing in the Caribbean after having had only limited time to prepare. "The Cubans have been racing since January, and our guys showed guts and determination coming down here to race when it's still snowing in New England." The squad's performance earned them an invitation to return next February for the Tour of Cuba, the country's premier, UCI-sanctioned stage race. "It's an honor to be invited to return to Cuba to compete," said Fraysse. "We'll select the best possible team and will commence training for the event in late-December to ready ourselves." Until then, should the Pan American Masters Championships again be awarded to Cuba, Fraysse plans to organize a team from the United States. For more information, please contact him at 1-800-994-3335.

The Pan American Solidarity Program (PASP), launched in 1998, supplies donated cycling products to Latin American racers who are unable to obtain proper equipment in their home countries. Used, out-of-date or slightly damaged products, which some U.S. cyclists deem of little value, can be donated to this program in exchange for tax deductions.

UCI President Hein Verbruggen conceived of PASP after making several trips to South America, where he witnessed first-hand the lack of equipment, clothing and accessories. He believed that PASP could increase participation in cycling by making more material resources available to riders. With the assistance of Jose Paelez, President of the Pan American Confederation, Verbruggen involved USA Cycling in the project. In 1998, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) awarded a matching-grant to USA Cycling to help fund the launch of the PASP. Former U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF) chairman Mike Fraysse, who is the vice president of the Pan American Confederation, directs USA Cycling's involvement and serves as PASP administrator.

Recent recipients of donated materials have enjoyed international success in competition. At the 1998 Pan American Junior Championships, two cyclists won events on bicycles provided to them through PASP. In addition, a rider from Bolivia competed in the World Espoir Road Championships on a bicycle received from USAC, and a female rider captured a junior world championship on PASP-provided equipment.

In addition to supporting the development of cycling in Latin America, Pan American Solidarity strengthens relations between USA Cycling, the USOC and participating countries. One ancillary benefit of the program has been an increase in the number of Latin American race invitations extended to U.S. teams. This opportunity to compete in international road and track events provides invaluable experience to up-and-coming US athletes. Furthermore, the image of USA Cycling and the USOC as concerned global citizens is greatly enhanced by Pan American Solidarity's philanthropic efforts.

To make a tax-deductible donation of bicycles, clothing, equipment or accessories, please contact:
Pan American Solidairty
Mike Fraysse
Chairman Pan American Solidarity Commission
573 High Road
Glen Spey, NY 12737
1-800-994-3335