Henry Hagg Lake welcomed the 2009 Banana Belt, Sunday, March 1.
The Men's Pro/1/2 field started early under relatively dry conditions.
Several early breaks didn't gain traction.
Seth Hosmer, Evan Elken and John Browning initiated the winning break, joined later by Aaron Sander, Jacob Rathe and Paul Bourcier.
The field chased but couldn't reel-in the big horsepower in the break group.
Two riders in the break meant an easy workload for Cyclepath's riders in the bunch.
Evan Elken out-sprinted Aaron Sander for hotspot points.
The chasers lost close to five minutes on the lead group by the end of the five-lap, 55-mile race.
Members of the break worked well together until they neared the finish.
Aaron Sander celebrates as he crosses the line to take Banana Belt #1.
Elkin, Rathe, Hosmer, Browning and Bourcier finished seconds later.
Cyclepath celebrates a successful outing for the team.
At least one rider took home a memento.
The rain seems to have limited the selection for Cycling Action Race Dog of the Week this time out. No matter, Ellie is a standout winner.
The Women's 1/2/3 field started in the morning, when conditions were dryer.
Several possible break attempts went away, but nobody was able to make a move stick.
The women's field passes through the start finish.
The women's field gets the bell for the last lap.
Karey Miles throws her bike for the win over Beth Burns in a photo finish for the women's 1/2/3 field. (Cat 3s are scored separately).
Miles and Burns enjoy their success.
Riders from the men's 3 field.
The men's Cat 3s covered four laps for 44 miles.
John Kim of Beaverton Bicycle Club bested the Men's Cat 3 field in a bunch sprint.
The winner of the Men's Cat 4 race had time to zip up his jersey in front of the hard-charging pack.
Brian Hitchcock of the Starbucks/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance team topped off his win with a little dance. The performance cost him the victory, however, as judges relegated him to 16th place for taking is hands off the bars.
The Women's Cat 4 field rolls out.
The Cat 4s also started in the morning.
Dawn Riddle of Veloshop won the Women's Cat 4/Masters combined race.
Rain really started pelting the lake when the afternoon groups hits the course.
The Masters Men on the course.
Masters men.
Cat 5 Men's early leaders.
Juniors go through the big corner before the dam.
Caution!
Slippery when wet.
