HARDWICK, MA (AP) by Anonymous - The ABC rookie race team headed up to Hardwick, MA for the New England Regional Road Race. The 65-mile race went around the hills of the Quabbin Reservoir. Showing up for the ABC team in the 4/5 race were The Gong Show Brothers, Mike DeLessio, and Mike Cavros.

The field of 139 riders was being tested early as the hills started a mile out of the starting area. Several crashes in the early going kept the riders on edge as the larger climbs approached. Ed Gong was the first ABC rider to drop off the pace.

"My bike fit(ness) just wasn't right today", a disappointed Ed said after the race. "But, all in all, I had a good time and was happy to be out." Adding, "It was nice to see the women's race from behind, they eventually dropped me too but at least I finished with a smirk on my face..."

Dave Gong was next to drop as the climbs began to get tougher. "I was hurt'in but quitting was not an option, I didn't care if I came in last - I was going to finish the race, only a chump quits", said the Gongelino. Unfortunately for Dave, he flatted after being dropped and had to repair his own flat. It cost him 10 minutes to change the flat and get going again. In that time, brother Ed came by and the two worked together for a while. But, as Ed began attacking on the hills, he quickly tired in the hot afternoon sun and Dave bided his time before putting his brother away and finishing 20 minutes ahead of number one son.

Meanwhile back in the main field which had dwindled in half by now, Mike DeLessio was powering up the increasingly difficult climbs with ease as he marked one of The Big Man's golden boys.

"The Big Man has said for years that we were not good enough to be on his squad, so I wanted to lay a world of hurt on this chump and show The Big Man that his team is nothing," a jubilant DeLessio said at the finish.

Cavros meanwhile began to falter at the high altitude and after his gold medal winning performance at the prestigious Lincoln Criterium the prior week began to get dropped on the climbs. On two successive climbs, he dropped about a minute back, but managed to power back to the field on the ensuing downhill. I guess they don't call him gravity boy for nothing.

Finally, on the longest climb of the day (at about 30 miles), The Big Man's boy got dropped off the pack. Cavros stayed with the group about half way up, but he too began to slow. It was a long climb with a steep decent. A descent which would be mired by a major crash.

Bodies were flying and bikes bouncing all over the road as the crash occurred at the front of the main field. DeLessio's superhuman bike handling skills allowed him to squirt through a narrow opening between to fallen riders and come out unscathed. Cavros soon followed down and saw the wounded bodies strewn across the road in agony.

Team ABC had done their best to get DeLessio in the main group, but as the finish got close, he was unable to get up to the front of the peleton. He was able to beat out two riders from the rival OSVC at the line to finish around 20th overall.

At mile 50, Cavros was cramping up and had to slow for a while after hooking up with a 15-man chase group. They were riding well, but a couple of guys attacked and Mike began to cramp and was spit out the back. After recovering for a bit, he picked up the pace to catch a few of the strays and finish 25 minutes back of the main field.

Most importantly, he finished 4 minutes ahead of the lone TSS rider. DeLessio was ecstatic to see his teammate cross the line ahead of one of the TSS All-Star Squad and quickly phoned The Big Man with the results.

Dave Gong finished about a half-hour later in strong form with Ed bringing up the rear a while later. Dave regained some strength after seeing the finish banner at the 200M sign, "Having my teammates cheering me on at the finish line made the day, I think I was gonna cry man".