Zirbel wins Meijer Grand Cycling Classic
Grand Rapids, MI - Tom Zirbel didn’t disappoint his Bissell sponsors hometown fans of Grand Rapids, MI, as he wins his first race after becoming the number one ranked rider on USA Cycling’s National Racing Calendar (NRC). Zirbel attacked his breakaway companion, former teammate Jake Rytiewski of Kenda Tire, with 1½ laps to go to claim the victory on the Meijer Grand Cycling Classic’s historic red bricks.
Zirbel and Rytiewski got away from the field about half-way into the 60 lap race. A few teams tried to cover the break, including Subway-Avanti and Priority Health West, but Kenda and Bissell kept those moves in check, liking their chances with the Zirbel/Rytiewski pair up the road. The two kept a pretty steady 17 second gap, and then with a lap and a half to go, Zirbel made his move.
“Jake’s a fantastic sprinter,” Ziebel said of Rytiewski.” I was not comfortable going to the line with him in a two-man sprint, so I knew I had to try to get away from him. ”
Zirbel opened up his gap on the finishing straight of the final lap, and had a comfortable lead 1km later at the line. Rytiewski left nothing in the tank, doing the lions share of the work in the break. He was rewarded with the Bissell Most Aggressive Rider Award (a Bissell SpotBot Pet).
