Run off as a track format race for the first time in its near-40 year history, the 38th edition of the Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic presented by Rockstar Games was won by the European track specialist Leif Lampater on Sunday.
The unique format, which saw track-style competition being used in the road races at Marcus Garvey park in New York City, was perfectly suited to double national champion Lampater (Transportation Advocacy/Rockstar), who has half a dozen six-day race wins to his credit as well as three World Cup victories.
He beat Bobby Lea (Pure Energy Cycling) and Anibal Borrajo (Jamis-Sutter Home) in the Omnium, clocking up 44 points thanks to his win in the first round points race and seventh place in the second round elimination.
That points race win came after he and his team-mate Benjamin Edmüller battled with Argentinean riders Anibal Borrajo and Demis Aleman (Jamis-Sutter Home) in the 30 lap points race. Borrajo won the final sprint to collect a chunk of points, but was still left short of Lampater’s 30 points. Edmüller clocked up 20 points to secure third.
“Argentina versus Germany is a dream scenario for any promoter of any sport,” said Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic Promoter John Eustice. “The match lived up to expectations with a heated duel that pushed the limits.”
Lampater then finished seventh in the elimination race. Australian rider Doug Repacholi was first to the line, attacking 25 minutes into it and building a big lead.
Behind, Beijing Olympic track rider Lea beat Gabriel Acaba (CRCA/L-Raphael.com) for second. They were left fighting it out for the runner-up slot after Guillaume Nelessen (Van Dessel Factory T) was eliminated.
“The racing fascinated the crowd,” said race promoter Eustice. “It was fast, dynamic and thrilling…a success.”
Lampater was second in last year’s event, which was run off in a more traditional format. He was enthusiastic about his victory, and also about the race itself. “I really liked the course,” he stated afterwards. “The audience was great this year, the weather was very good. I had enough motivation to make it a German race again.”
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Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic presented by Rockstar Games, June 19th:
Keirin Exhibition:
1, POLLYDORE Godfrey USA
2, SIMES Jackie USA
3, LOWE Anthony USA
4, BARRETTE Hugo CAN
5, SANCHEZ Augusto USA
6, LEA Bobby USA
7, SULLIVAN Daniel
8, SILVA Iggy USA
9, PRENSKY Colin USA
10, DIEFENBACH Matt USA More >
Pro Men’s Omnium (Overall):
1, LAMPATER Leif GER 30 14 40
2, LEA Bobby USA 15 25 40
3, BORRAJO Anibal ARG 25 11 36
4, REPACHOLI Douglas AUS 5 30 35
5, QUITERIO Stalin USA 16 16 32
6, EDMULLER Benjamin GER 20 10 30
7, ACABA Gabriel PUR 8 20 28
8, SILVA Iggy USA 11 12 23
9 ,ALEMAN Demis ARG 17 18
10, NELESSEN Guillaume USA 17 17 More >
Pro Men’s Elimination:
1, REPACHOLI Douglas AUS
2, LEA Bobby USA Pure Energy Cycling-
3, ACABA Gabriel PUR CRCA / L-Raphael.com
4, NELESSEN Guillaume USA Van Dessel Factory T
5, QUITERIO Stalin USA James Vincent Racing
6, MARVULLI Franco SUI I Challenge Myself/R
7, LAMPATER Leif GER TA/R*
8, GAMANHO Maurice USA Van Dessel Factory T
9, SILVA Iggy USA Wonderful Pistachios
10, BORRAJO Anibal ARG Jamis – Sutter Home More >
Pro Men’s Points Race:
1, LAMPATER Leif GER 28
2, BORRAJO Anibal ARG 20
3, EDMULLER Benjamin GER 18
4, ALEMAN Demis ARG 13
5, QUITERIO Stalin USA 10
6, LEA Bobby USA 7
7, SIMES Jackie USA 6
8, BURROWES Jermaine USA 5
9, SANTIAGO Rodney PUR 2
10, SILVA Iggy USA 1 More >
Women’s P/1/2/3:
1, LOTITO Kristin USA 17
2, EDWARDS Kimberly USA 12
3, GALE Caryl USA 10
4, UNDERWOOD Emily USA 9
5, SUMMERS Laura USA 6
6, HILDONEN Siri USA 1
7, WARGO Tracy USA 0
8, WOLF Cheryl USA 0
9, CUTLER Amy USA 0
10, SOLOMON Virginia USA 0 More >
Cat 2/3 Men:
1, POLLYDORE Godfrey USA 15
2, KOOP Zach USA 13
3, SAVORY Scott USA 8
4, PRENSKY Colin USA 7
5, FRIAS Samuel USA 4
6, HENDRY Thomas USA 3
7, JACARUSO Mitchell USA 2
8, MURPHY Evan USA 2
9, SCHMALZ Daniel USA 1
10, LIM Daniel USA 0 More >
Cat 4 Men:
1, BLAKE John USA 17
2, THOMAS R. Nathan USA 10
3, MUNOZ Antonio USA 10
4, ZERAY Lucca USA 5
5, NELSON Carl USA 4
6, GOLDSSTEIN Chase USA 3
7, MIKOLINSKI Thomas USA 3
8, BURYANENKO Sergey USA 2
9, METCALFE Guy USA 1
10, RODEN Omri USA 0