As Jared Fenstermacher rounded the turn toward the 18th Street climb on his final lap, he had one goal in mind.
"Last time up the hill, as hard as I can."
Fenstermacher achieved his goal, and by doing so, he was able to break away from a tight pack and gain his lead during Saturday's City Cycle 17.
This was the third time the 28-year-old Fenstermacher participated in the five-lap, approximately 17-mile race sponsored by the Pottsville Recreation Commission and The Republican-Herald, with Saturday's men's title being his first.
Two years ago Fenstermacher placed third, and three years ago, he came in second. This year he was going for gold and had a strategy to get there.
"If anybody broke away, go with them," Fenstermacher said. "Just stay with them.
"More importantly, I focused on the hill because once you're going downhill on the other side and everybody else is going uphill, you're getting that much farther away."
The first three laps of the race had a pack of 13-17 riders who stayed with each other and didn't budge. The Leesport rider did not mind the company around him.
"I didn't want to be in the front. I wanted to stay in the draft and let the other guys do the work," Fenstermacher said. "Being in front will just wear you down, second or third wheel is where you want to be."
Although Fenstermacher, sponsored by Spokes Bike Shop, won Saturday's race, not everything went smoothly for him.
"Right at the bottom of the last hill climb I popped the chain in the front, but I got it on without stopping. I was able to shift up and get it to go back on," Fenstermacher said. "If I would have had to stop, I never would have won the race."
It all came down to the last 18th Street climb. With several riders next to him, Fenstermacher saw his opportunity to break away and make it up the hill first. He finished with a solid time of 48 minutes, 16 seconds.
Amy Sarnes may not have years of experience under her belt in the sport of cycling, but anyone watching wouldn't be able to tell the difference between her and a seasoned veteran.
The Orwigsburg rider cruised to a first-place finish in the City Cycle 17 women's race. This was the 37-year-old Sarnes' second time participating in the race after coming in second last year.
"I didn't have a strategy coming into today," Sarnes said. "I was hoping to find somebody to draft with, but I was on my own for most of the race."
Sarnes was able to handle the 18th Street climb by doing most of
her training on hills.
"I usually like hills. By the third time I do the 18th Street hill I actually feel better than the first time I do the hill because I'm warmed up," Sarnes said. " This was only my second bike race ever, and I'll be back next year."
The City Cycle 17 begins in front of Martz Hall on 16th Street, travels York Farm Road and Maple Avenue to Mar Lin and back, utilizing Westwood Road, Woodglen Road, the bike path past Providence Place, Railway Park and JFK Pool, 1st Avenue, 18th Street and Elk Avenue before finishing on 16th Street in front of John S. Clarke Elementary School.
Thorr Pharr, 48, riding for Dutch Wheelman finished second in 48:25. He was only 9 seconds behind the first-place finisher.
The Danville rider has participated in the City Cycle for the past 15 years and has won it around seven times.
"My time I couldn't even tell you. Time's not really important in these races; it's who comes across the line first," Pharr said.
Pharr felt that by being in a group, it was more efficient and he conserved more energy.
"The feature in this race is the big, steep hill that throws the race apart. That's where the race takes place," Pharr said.
"Jared was the strongest and got away on the hill."
Brandon Ervin of Sugarloaf came in first in the youngest age group during Saturday's City Cycle 17.
The 16-year old improved his time since last year.