On Saturday June 16^th the Kane Bikes/ Nccycling.com team headed north to the Crystal City Classic in Arlington, VA. This was the first year for a great event sponsored by the US Air Force (with a $12,000 dollar purse). The race was on a highly technical 2000 meter circuit that featured 9 corners (including a 180 degree U turn). The race drew a good field with riders from Nerac, Rite Aid, Navigators, Colovita, Toyota United and Jelly Belly.

The Kane Bikes/ Nccycling.com team stayed relatively quite for the first 50 kilometers of the 80k race. The first half of the race saw a high tempo with only a few small moves getting a small advantage on the field. Shortly after the half way point some of the race favorites started throwing down some serious attacks. Two moves went away with some serious heat going up the road. Missing the first move, Jon Hamblen and Joey Codington did a fair amount of work to bring back this break of 8 riders. The second move went away with 12 laps to go and had Joey Codington present. This looked like a promising move that included 2 Navigators riders and 2 Colovita Riders. However it was not to be and the move came back only a lap and a half later. After the break got caught things slowed way down as Jon Hamblen decided to lay down a textbook counter attack that saw him rocket solo off the front of the group to quickly pick up a 17 second advantage on the field. While Jon took off up the road many of the other riders just sat and looked at each other before the started to organize a chase. Jon spent three laps off the front before being joined by a quick bridging Kyle Wasmsley from the Navigator’s team. Kyle and Jon hooked up and railed the highly technical

course adding precious seconds each lap over a hard chasing field. With 2 laps to go the crowd was going nuts as these two lone riders held a 22 second advantage over the field with only 4k to go. In the end Jon was beaten at the line by Kyle who came around Jon with about 200 meters to go. Jon earned a well deserved 2^nd place spot on the podium. Meanwhile in the field Michael Muller from the Kane Bikes/Nccycling.com team launched a hard attack on the final lap in hopes of taking the third podium spot. It was not to be as he got caught halfway through the last lap. Michael was able to hold on for 16^th place.