Juniors Limpach, McNeill and Reynolds Podium Memorial Day Weekend

Harvest Racing was well represented in this past Memorial day weekend’s races. With multiple podiums by junior racers, as well as strong performances by the senior squad, there was lots of high-fives to go around.

Cole Limpach: 2nd, Quad Cities, M4

In the Quad Cities Men’s category 4 race, junior Cole Limpach made it to the selection of 15 with seven laps to go. One rider was up the road after a prime lap. With three to go, the young Limpach went on the attack, successfully bridging up to the leader. The two stayed away for a lap before a pack of four joined them. The group of remained together until the final lap, when things started getting spicy. On the second to last corner, one of the leaders took it too hot and washed out another rider with him. Being caught behind the crash, Cole had to put in a hard effort to make up the distance. He railed the fourth corner and carried enough momentum to close the gap to the top two riders. With a final dig, he was able to get around one before the line, securing second place by a half a bike.

Afterwards, we caught up with Cole and asked him what he thought of the last of the weekend’s races. “Actually, I like Melon City better because everyone has a chance there, it was fast, and that speed bump at the bottom of the hill was fun. But the Quad cities race was really hard. Although the Quad cities hill was short, it was steep enough to make it really hurt on each lap.” 

While it may not have been as fun for the young Limpach at Quad cities, evidently being capable of taking lots of punishment while handling his bike when things got spicy separated himself from the pack and put him on the podium. Congratulations Cole, you’ve earned it.

Dillon McNeill: 1st (DQ*), Snake Alley M4;  2nd, Melon City M4

In the Snake Alley Juniors 15-18 race featuring a large field of 60+ riders, Dillon was in the chasers pack as a breakaway of four was up the road, and another in between. On the final lap, Dillon attacked his chase group half way up snake alley. The gap he opened was too much to overcome, allowing Dillon to be first over the line among the chasers (9th overall).

In the Men’s Cat 4 race later that afternoon, Dillon used that same tactic to attack the field on the final climb up the snake. As in the juniors race, Dillon’s attacked opened a big gap, which he was able to maintain for an impressive victory and post-up across the line. *However, in his post-race excitement, the young McNeil failed to appear for the junior’s gear roll-out, and was consequently disqualified. A tough break, considering he had just won the race.

Dillon not only handled the Snake Alley setback with poise, but he bounced back on Sunday’s Melon City Men’s cat 4 race by winning a $20 prime lap and grabbing another podium finish (2nd). Needless to say, Dillon did not miss the roll-out at Melon City. We always knew he was a quick learner, and his aggressive racing style is something we’re becoming more and more accustomed to seeing. Way to go, Dillon.

Tyler Reynolds: 3rd, Quad Cities Jrs 15-16

Tyler Reynolds also had a strong program in the Memorial day races with a podium (3rd) in the Quad Cities Criterium M15-18 and 10th in M3s, and a pair of 8th place finishes at Melon City’s M15-18 and M3 races. Tyler was equally impressed by the quality of the juniors racing over Memorial Day weekend, where several strong cat 2 and 3 juniors were in the field. On a shorter race, there is little opportunity to recover from mistakes or being in the wrong spot at the wrong time.  As usual, Tyler was in the right place at the right time to secure a podium spot and several top ten finishes in deep, strong fields. Nice racing, Tyler. 

Other results:

Snake Alley Pro/1-2
Lucas Marshall (11th)
Brady Murphy (20th) 

Snake Alley M40+
Kent McNeill (6th)

Snake Alley M50+
Greg Shimonek (2nd)

Melon City Pro/1-2
Jordan Ross (12th)

Melon City Masters 40+: 
Kent McNeill (5th)
Greg Shimonek (9th)

Melon City Masters 50+
Greg Shimonek (5th)

Cole Limpach on the attack at Melon City

Cole Limpach in the Breakaway at Quad Cities

Dillon McNeill spinning his way up the Cobbles of Snake Alley

Dillon McNeill on the Men’s Cat 4 podium (2nd) at Quad City Criterium

Tyler Reynolds showing good sprinting form at the Quad Cities Criterium

Tyler Reynolds on the podium of Jrs 15-16 Quad Cities Criterium