Rapinski Takes Win at South Carolina
Saturn's Viktor Rapinski rode to the top spot on the podium at the first race of the inaugural South Carolina Heritage Cycling Series in Anderson, S.C., Tuesday, April 29. Rapinski took the win in a two-man break with Danny Pate of Prime Alliance. Rapinski, Pate, Saturn's Chris Horner and Roberto Gaggioli of Monex landed the first four spots after lapping the main field 1-1/2 times. Saturn dominated the race from the beginning, with Trent Klasna attacking after the initial lap. His attack went unchallenged and grew into a lead of more than 20 seconds before he rejoined the peloton.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
By Rich Hincapie
Saturn’s Viktor Rapinski rode to the top spot on the podium at the first race of the inaugural South Carolina Heritage Cycling Series in Anderson, S.C., Tuesday, April 29.
Rapinski took the win in a two-man break with Danny Pate of Prime Alliance. Rapinski, Pate, Saturn’s Chris Horner and Roberto Gaggioli of Monex landed the first four spots after lapping the main field 1-1/2 times.
Saturn dominated the race from the beginning, with Trent Klasna attacking after the initial lap. His attack went unchallenged and grew into a lead of more than 20 seconds before he rejoined the peloton.
Soon after, Rapinski, Pate and Gaggioli split from the group in a three-man break they would uphold throughout the 50-mile race.
Despite occasional leads by Schroeder Iron and Navigators, Saturn was the main presence at the front of the pack, with no less than three riders in the first 6 at any given time.
With 57 laps to go, Horner, fresh off of his overall victory at the Tour de Georgia, attacked in what would become a solo bridge to the break pounding away 22 seconds ahead of him.
With two riders in the main break, the race was Saturn’s to lose. Prime Alliance and Saturn, both with strong riders ahead, worked at the front of the group to slow the pack. By lap 40, Saturn’s Trent Klasna had dropped to the back of the field to bridge his teammates.
With 20 laps to go, the race livened up. After a few short-lived attacks by various teams, Klasna, now back in the main field, attacked to lead the main group by nearly 20 seconds. Another attack initiated by Horner brought eight riders up to Klasna and one chaser. Remarkably, the group of eight contained all four riders in the original four-man break, with all of them still in contention for the win.
With five laps to go, Rapinski and Pate broke, with Horner blocking sprinter Gaggioli. Rapinski and Pate took first and second, while Horner and Gaggioli sprinted for third place. Gaggioli took the sprint, while Horner took fourth place.
The Anderson Criterium is the first of a four-race series to be held April 29 -May 2 in the historic South Carolina Heritage Corridor. The other races include:
April 30 – Walterboro May 1 – Greenwood May 2 – Aiken
Offering $40,000 in prizes, the South Carolina series is one of the richest criterium weeks on the American calendar.
The series has been developed by Hincapie Sports, in conjunction with the South Carolina Heritage Corridor and the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, and is designed to showcase South Carolina’s historic Heritage Corridor which extends from the mountains in the northwest to the Atlantic Ocean.
1. Viktor Rapinski, Saturn
2. Danny Pate, Prime Alliance
3. Roberto Gaggioli, Monex
4. Chris Horner, Saturn
5. Erik Saunders, Ofoto-Lombardi Sports
6. Trent Klasna, Saturn
7. Ivan Dominguez, Saturn
8. Jason Waddell, Mathis Brothers
9. James Taylor, OLP Racing10. Alex Candelario, Prime Alliance
11. Chris Harkey, Fairway Subaru/Cyfac
12. Todd Littlehales, Sierra Nevada/Cliff Bar
13. Robbie Ventura, U.S. Postal
14. Juan Jose Haedo, Colavita Bolla
15. Brent Dawson, Jelly Belly
16. Nieko Biskner, Sierra Nevada/Cliff Bar
17. John Murphy, Krystal
18. Ryan Guay, Navigators
19. Adam Myerson, Sportsbook.com
20. Radisha Cubric, Team Easton