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Schroetlin, Tolson Win Big At Tour

By Clark Brooks

Champaign, IL - Jeff Schroetlin likes racing in Champaign, IL.

The last time Decatur resident raced in a criterium style race in Champaign he rode away with his second of back to back Pro Category 1 / 2 titles in 2004. Saturday, he added a third title attacking in the final lap to take the Tour de Champaign title on day two of the event.

“We finally got a pretty little break going and we just sat out in front about 10 seconds for what seemed like forever,” said Schroetlin. “We were really working hard.”

Decatur cyclist Jeff Schroetlin celebrates with his first place trophy after winning the Men's Cat 1/2 race at the Tour de Champaign criterium Sunday afternoon.

Schroetlin, along with Texas Roadhouse’s Jon Jacob and Panther/RGF Cycling’s Vincent Roberge extended the gap when riders behind them slacked off after a racing for a prime, a prize given to a competitor who finishes the current lap first out a group.

“We put in a hard lap,” recounted Schroetlin, now riding for the ABD Cycling Team out of Chicago, IL. “After the prime they (the rest of the field) sat up and we seemed to get some time.”

Riding solo as the only representative of ABD, the three attacked for the lead position during the final laps and Schroetlin sprinted to victory pumping both fist in the air as he crossed under the white awning at the finish line. On the first day of the Tour he finished in third place.

“Champaign has some good memories for me racing here,” he said with a smile.

The women’s Pro division winner was Tracy Tolson from the Kentucky Flyers racing team. The only Cat 1 rider in the top women’s class, the 48 year-old nearly lapped the field on her way to an impressing victory.

“The course was very clean, wide open,” said Tolson, who finished first ahead of Cat 2 rider Patricia Black from San Luis Obispo sponsored by Morgan Stanley/Team Spine/Specialized and Vanderkitten’s Rebecca Finley. “I never had to break in any of the corners.”

She didn’t race on the first day of the race due to early morning showers and thunderstorms that drenched the downtown Champaign venue. A wise decision for the six year veteran racer who turned to the sport when arthritis began to flair in one of her hips and ended her long distance running career.

“It was raining. The course was very sketchy so I decided I wanted to save my skin,” she said with a chuckle. “Not worth it going down.”

Black, who finished second, started racing in 1994. It was her first visit to Champaign and if the race is held again she plans to return with her husband who raced in the Masters division.

“We came here to Champaign for the first time. We spent the whole week here,” she said. “It has been great racing here. Today’s course was a beautiful crit course.”

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Click here to view final results for the July 12 Tour de Champaign
South Campus Research Park Bike Race & Celebration in Champaign, IL.

Click here to view final results for the July 11 Tour de Champaign
Rockin Champaign Downtown Cycling GP in Champaign, IL.

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