The last race of the day at the tenth Carrera de San Rafael provided hot racing under the stars. Bernard Van Ulden (Jelly Belly) held off Scott Zwizanski (Bissell Pro Cycling) and two chase groups yesterday to earn the victory salute in front of thousands of cowbell-clanging fans lining the course in downtown San Rafael, California. Fabrice Dubost (Webcor Alto Velo) won the three-up sprint for the third spot on the podium.

A field of about ninety riders lined up for the Pro/1/2 Men’s race, a 90-minute twilight criterium raced on a one-kilometer course over an eight-block radius. The action started soon after the cannon went off at 8pm.

8-times Canadian Champion and 3-times Olympian Eric Wohlberg (Symmetrics) launched a attack with Van Ulden immediately on his wheel.

Fast Freddie Rodriguez (Rock Racing) was attentive to every mode

Lap by lap, a break was formed as riders bridged and about halfway through the race, a break of 21 riders was off the front which included Van Ulden, Zwizanski, Dubost, Rodriguez, Wohlberg and Jared Barrilleaux (Jittery Joe’s). Working together, the gap increased and the remaining field was pulled by the officials before the finale.

In the final 25 minutes, Zwizanski launched himself going into the final turn with a slight downhill but Van Ulden and Barrilleaux chased him down to form a lead trio.

A first chase group was formed consisting of Wohlberg and Dubost.

The chasing main group.

After a few laps, Barrilleaux faltered and the trio became a duo as Wohlberg and Dubost gobbled him up. Van Ulden attacked Zwizanski out of the first turn and was able to hold him off for the win. Zwizanski took second, and Dubost won the close sprint for third.

“Scott is somebody I definitely have to watch out for and it took a lot for me to drag him back,” said Van Ulden. “I hit him coming out of the first turn just as hard as I could, and he was closing on me for awhile. I just tried to go a little harder and I was able to hold him off. I was drilling it all the way to the line.”

Carrera de San Rafael podium (l-r): Scott Zwizanski (Bissell), Bernard Van Ulden (Jelly Belly), Fabrice Dubost (Webcor Alto Velo)

All photos copyright Lyne Lamoureux.