This years Giro de Grafton was integrated into the professional cycling National Racing Calendar. Joining the field were team representatives from The Bahati Foundation (including 2008 Criterium National Champion Rahsaan Bahati), Kenda Pro Cycling (including 2009 ToAD champion Chad Hartley), Mountain Khakis, and others including the former France national road racing champion. Team Wisconsin held strong with Dierking putting in a few digs as well as Frye and Paquette maintaining contact at the front. With primes being handed out constantly, speeds were consistently above 30mph and topping 35 on occasion. At five laps to go Paquette and Frye were able to move up into go position but coming through on the final lap Frye had some bad luck and flatted on the last corner. Off the front and giving it everything he had through the final corner was Team Aero Cat’s Andrew “the Volcano” Crater. For a moment it looked as if his late attack might hold but when Rahsaan Bahati flipped on the NOS, it was no longer even a contest. Behind, the sprint splintered due to a nasty crash and Paquette rolled across the line at 26th.
Giro de Grafton P/1/2:
1. BAHATI, RAHSAAN Bahati Foundation
2. HOWE, ISAAC Team Mountain Khaki’s
3. BARROWS, CLAYTON AXA Equitable Cycling Team
26. PAQUETTE, DAVID Team Wisconsin-MC2
Overall:
1. HARTLEY, CHAD Kenda Pro Cycling
2. HOWE, ISAAC Team Mountain Khaki’s
3. BAHATI, RAHSAAN Bahati Foundation