As we have done with previous CRCA Open Races, with the CRCA Mengoni Grand Prix this coming Saturday we fired up the Road-Results.com super computers to run a detailed analysis on the expected winners for this highly prestigious New York City race. Of course with registration still open until Thursday afternoon, there is the potential that these projections could change, particularly for the Women's and Men's 4 fields. If you haven't already registered, you may do so on Bikereg: https://www.bikereg.com/net/18321/CRCA-Mengoni-Grand-Prix-2013
Men's Championship ($2,000 Prize Pool)Visit Site
In recent years the story of the Mengoni Grand Prix has been all about GS Mengoni USA. The squad has won their namesake race each of the past four years, each time with a different rider. In fact you have to go way back to 2008, when Adam Myerson was riding for Time Pro Cycling to find a non-GS Mengoni USA race winner. While this is the most dominant streak from a single team that the race has ever experienced, this has long been a good race for GS Mengoni - they won the 1996, 1999, 2001 and 2003 editions, all behind Wilson Vasquez.
GS Mengoni USA also has the benefit of 2012 Champion Cesar Marte returning to the race to contest for the title. However according to the Road-Results.com super computers even having the reigning Champion won't be enough for GS Mengoni USA on Saturday - the super computers indicate that it will be Rafael Meran, of CRCA/Foundation, taking home the victory.
The second step of the podium is projected to go to Cesar Marte, with third place going to Amaury Perez of arcos iris. However its worth noting that the expected top ten is rounded out by no fewer than three additional CRCA/Foundation riders - Neil Bezdek, Evan Murphy and Geron Williams - suggesting that they may have multiple options for the victory.
Of course this is also the final race for the 2013 CRCA Men's P/1/2 Series p/b SIDS Bike Shop and with current series leader Michael Margarite (Stan's NoTubes) not racing on Saturday there are 20 other riders that are still mathematically in contention for the series victory and with it a brand new CAAD10 frame.
Perhaps the best placed rider to overtake Michael Margarite is Zach Koop (CRCA/Blue Ribbon) who has 10 points to Margarites 13 - meaning that if Zach finishes fourth or better he will take home the series win and with it a brand new frame.
Women's Championship ($2,000 Prize Pool)
With equal prize money for the women, the CRCA Mengoni Grand Prix Women's Championship will be paying 15 deep on Saturday. With a small field of just 23 riders currently registered, the odds are quite good for racers looking to finish in the money.
The confirmed rider list is full of familiar names - the vast majority of whom are CRCA members - though its Amy Cutler of FCS|Zngine p/b Mr. Restore that is projected to come out on top on Saturday. Amy opened the season with wins at the CRCA Grant's Tomb Criterium and the CRCA Dave Jordan Central Park Classic before moving to the second step on the podium for the CRCA Lou Maltese Memorial, so it will be interesting to see if she can come out on top on Saturday.
The projected Women's podium is rounded out by Lauren Dagostino from NJ/NY Colavita Women followed by CRCA's own BrittLee Bowman, who is currently leading the CRCA Jim Boyd p/b Sixcycle and Champion System race series.
Men Cat 3
The Men's Cat 3 field is rapidly filling and based on current registration Road-Results.com projects Antonio Munoz of CRCA/Foundation taking home the victory. That said the CRCA Dave Jordan Central Park Classic and the CRCA Lou Maltese Memorial both ended with breakaways managing to stay away from the field, so the we could see a surprise result here.
The Men's Cat 3 podium is rounded out by what appears to be two Montecci teammates, Higinio Rodriguez of Montecci Cycling and Samuel Frias of Team Montecci. Rounding out the top five are George Schroeder of CRCA/Bicycle Planet Racing and Ron Ferraz, also of CRCA Foundation. Ron won the field sprint at the CRCA Lou Maltese Memorial and appears to be in position for another result at the CRCA Mengoni Grand Prix.
Lurking in the top ten are Mihael Ginghina (CRCA/Targetraining Tri & Cycle) who is always dangerous and Allen Carr (Ride Brooklyn) who is coming off a second place finish in stage two of the Tour of the Catskills)
This is the final race of the CRCA Men's Cat 3 Race Series and while Blaine Hurty (Black Tie Sports) has locked up the series victory, there is still money on the line for the second and third place finishers in the series, with a number of racers registered on Saturday who have a shot at finishing in the money.
Men Cat 4
The Men's Cat 4 field for the CRCA Mengoni Grand Prix is a surprisingly small field, opening up the window for a surprise winner. Unfortunately the Road-Results.com super computers have no idea what to make of this field - they predict Chris Williams (CRCA) as the victor, but they appear to have multiple Chris Williams, including a Cat 1 who raced ToAD, factoring into this prediction.
Second place in the projected results goes to Sean Hourigan, also of CRCA, who is coming off a 4th place finish at the JBN Bicycle Race and a 2nd place finish at the Bob Rodale Fitness Park Race. Third place is expected to go to Sebaj Adele (unattached) who finished fourth at the CRCA Lou Maltese Memorial.
