June 19th: Waukesha Carl Zach Cycling Classic presented by Couri Insurance

The racing in general seemed a little less aggressive during Stage 4 of the Tour of America's Dairyland presented by Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board at the Waukesha Carl Zach Cycling Classic p/b Couri Insurance. But on the Eve of the Greenbush Road Race, it's a strategy that carries weight. Even so, barricade-banging fans were treated to some incredible athleticism, with a full week of racing to go.

Title sponsors Jerry and Judy Couri of Couri Insurance, along with local businessman Randy Radish, have a long-standing passion for women's cycling, as evidenced by over $1,000 in primes for Pro Women. It was a fairly tame day for the Women until a $150 prime with 3 to go that sparked the longest sprint of the day, for which Kacey Manderfield (Pure Energy pb Pro Air HFA) benefitted. A lap later, it was Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) picking up a $200 prime, edging out Emma Bast (Speedfix p/b Zubaz).

The field was fidgety with one to go as Van Gilder launched off the front, taking two riders with her. The 6-turn course produced an absolute drag race of a finish as Van Gilder and Bast duked it out on the line, with Van Gilder snatching the win, staying in the Becker Law Pink Leader's Jersey, and helping to keep Mellow Mushroom as the leader in the 5-Hour Energy Team Competition. Starla Teddergreen (Vanderkitten-Focus) nipped Carrie Cash-Wooten (Mellow Mushroom) in the field sprint.

Teddergreen also plays a role in the developing Oarsman Capital Cat 2 Amateur Green Jersey Competition. Currently worn by Anne Grabowski (Team Kenda p/b Geargrinder), just three points separate a tied Grabowski and Teddergreen with third and fourth place, Laura Parson (Primal Rose Bandits) and Tina Schofield (Z-Motion).

In the Men's Pro field, 16-year-old Logan Owen (Hagens Berman p/b Attitude Sports), current leader in the Oarsman Capital Cat 2 Amateur Green Jersey and a name to remember, strutted his carefree, go-for-it-all spirit at the front for a spell. But the name deserving to be in neon lights for the day? Wonder twin powers activate in the form of.Rahsaan Bahati (SKLZ pb Pista Palace).

The field was all together for most of the day but as announcer Todd Busteed said, "like the cat hearing the can opener", sprinters will jump on the primes. And that they did. The field, strung out with six remaining, saw Daniel Holloway (Kelly Benefit Strategies) launch off the front for the $500 Ultimate Lap Prime sponsored by Born Again Fitness and Nutrition. Out of nowhere came Holloway, the U.S. National Crit Champ. Holloway was joined briefly by Chad Hartley (Kenda 5-hour Energy pb Geargrinder) before Holloway teammates Thomas Soladay and Colton Barrett took over. But in the end, it was solo rider Bahati on the outside, fending for himself to take the win from Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia) and the Dominican Republic's Videl Euris-Rafael (Foundation CRCA).

After Monday's Greenbush Road Race, the Pro Men will face a week of three varying crits and one non-aero Time Trial before coming wheel to line with a "PRIME-a-pa-mooooo-za" weekend featuring nearly $15,000 in cash primes at Saturday's ISCORP Downer Classic, including the Ben's Cycle Ultra Prime, and Sunday's Madison Capital Criterium p/b American Family Insurance and Trek Bicycle.

View previous race reports in the archive.