Words and photos: Peter Slate

Maui’s first stage race was a great success! Peak Performance Training Systems hosted the three stage, two day event. The overall included a road race on Saturday, a time trial and criterium. I withdrew on the first climb of the road race with an injury.

Saturday Stage #1 started with a little rain as we climbed up Kekaulike Hwy at 6:30 am and then flying down past Crater road. With the rain hitting the cyclists eyes like pellets it seemed to feel like hail. Donnie Arnoult was the first to the bottom of the hill after passing Tony Lang on the decent with his attacking downhill form and then was later caught by Tony who went on to win the first days 32 mile race with 3200 ft of climbing. Donnie and Alf Imperato had sprint to the finish for second and third and Donnie got him by a few seconds. Visiting rider Shantelle Pierce crushed the women's field by nearly 10 minutes.

Sunday morning Stage #2 started off with a Time Trial from Maalaea out toward Launiupoko. It was 11 miles and was a very hard effort. Tony Lang took the overall win with Alf Imperato and Donnie Arnoult in 2 and 3rd just 7 one hundredths of a second apart after about 30 minutes of riding. Just amazing. Terry Kolder won the women's division smartly.

Sunday afternoon Stage #3 was the Criterium. We had sun and windy Maui weather. It was hot and hilly. The guys took the first heat and rode the course for 45 minutes. The bell lap sounded and Tony Lang and Donnie Arnoult who had lapped most of the field twice were just hammering. Coming around the last turn they were shoulder to shoulder coming up the hill with Tony Lang just edging out our local ex pro by a wheel. It was one of the most exciting cycling finishes that I have seen in person. I had chicken skin after seeing that all out sprint for the line. Thanks guys for such a great show!!!

Afterwards we all went to my Office and Shop in Kahului off of Dairy road and had the awards ceremony with a bbq and adult beverages. There were cash prizes as well as swag that was given by all four of the bike shops that supported the Maui Stage Race.

Donnie from Maui Cyclery donated Jerseys, water bottles, gels, tires, tubes as well as competing in the event.

Bob from Island biker gave water bottles, t-shirts from his shop, and other misc items.

South Maui bikes donated a Giro helmet that went to the 11 year old Andrew Gibbons that competed in all 3 events as well as many other shirts, hammer gels, water bottles etc.

West Maui Cyclery donated, 25 large water bottles, and some other fine misc items to give away.

NeilPryde gave away 2 x $25 dollar gift certificates and 2 very nice beach towels. They are promoting their new all carbon road bikes.

I wanted to say thanks to all of the shops for their support in this endeavor.

Peak Performance Training Systems was leading the charge by sponsoring and putting on the event.

Kris and I had a great time putting this event together. Thanks to all of the volunteers that kept the riders safe at the intersections, the motorcycle escort, the turn around directors, the coffee getter, the fruit cutter, the ice fetcher, the timing department, the guys with the brooms at the corners, the cheering section, and on and on. It was amazing all of the support and volunteer help that we had. It made it all come together.