It was the single most important character question when we built this team’s original roster, and it has guided our program’s growth over the last five years. “Will you sacrifice your race at the altar of a team victory?” Our lineup is made up entirely of cyclists who revel in such chances, and for the last three years Peoria, Illinois has provided the arena for Burnham Racing to demonstrate its commitment to winning as team.

Since 2008, Burnham has stepped-back prior to the Peoria Cycling Classic and self-assessed its strongest attributes. We have been fortunate each season to have a dangerous balance of  self-loathing long-distance rolleurs and a series of closers who always seem to find their thunder in mid-June. All year long we throw breaks at the wall until they stick, but for Peoria, with a State Championship on the line, our men have rallied behind a plan that gives the team its best chance for victory. Delivering a race into the hands of our sprinters is a gamble and a thrill… for three straight seasons the Burnham peloton has held its breath waiting for the PA announcer to call out the name of the winner, and for three straight years we have been rewarded.

Congratulations to Nate Iden, the 2010 Illinois USAC State Cat 3 Criterium Champion.

Nate’s victory is the third-consecutive for Burnham Racing in the Cat 3 State Criterium, joining Matt Smith (2008) and Jeff Wat (2009). With Chris Curran winning the State Road Championship earlier this month, Burnham now holds both State jerseys until the 2011 season. The team has now accumulated  six USAC State Championship titles in five seasons, from five different riders. Since Memorial Day weekend, Burnham has won five Cat 3 races, with Jason Mindeman taking two stages of the Elkhart Stage Race, Curran’s road Championship, Jason Knauff’s victory at Cobb Park and Iden’s triumph in Peoria.

A three man team headed to the Fitchburg Longsjo Stage Race this coming weekend will travel with both Illinois Cat 3 Championship jerseys in its luggage.

WORDBITES FROM PEORIA…

NATE IDEN: “I started my afternoon by getting called by the PA announcer out for not pinning my number correctly! My goal for the race, was to be in place to attack 200 meters before turn 7, and be the first one thru turn 8.  The team controlled the race from the start with JK attacking from the gun.  I wanted to ride up front and let everyone settle down, then sit mid pack until it was go time. With three laps to go I slide up to 10th wheel… 2 laps to go move to 7th wheel… and 1 to go I move up to 5th.  Assuming I may have other sprinters marking me, I decided before the race that I was going to jump early, and I mean early.  When I told the team where I was planning on going from, I got several looks of worry.  Matt O’Keefe took a flyer heading into the last lap, followed by Nick G, Chris Curran, 2 other riders and myself.  When he pulled off after turn 6, Nick drove the pace down the back stretch on the left side putting me in an ideal spot to jump to the right and open a gap.  As I looked over my shoulder coming out of corner 8 to see who was with me I realized I had opened a large gap.  Now it was just a matter of putting the head down and turning the pedals to lock up the title we came here to defend.  This would not have been possible without all of the teamwork.  Thanks, again, to my teammates.”

Matt O’Keefe
“It was a fast, safe race.  I conserved energy, not knowing where I stand in terms of fitness, then went off on a solo flyer with just over one lap to go.  I stayed off until just after turn 6, then had the pleasure of seeing my teammates roll by in great position.  Nate already had a gap as he attacked into turn 7.”

Nick Gierman
” The race started off fast and everyone was gunning to be on the rear wheel of Jason K. Burnham initiated a few breaks of its own and covered everything else. The race finished even faster and our 3rd consecutive cat 3 state criterium championship came on the shoulders of Nate Iden. I am extremely proud to be on this team.  The selflessness of everyone to achieve a common goal is incredible and extremely fun to be a part of.”

Chris Curran
“Nick’s pull on the last lap was crazy fast and I had to sit second wheel. We knew the field was coming to swarm the inside lane before corner 7…. But then it was  WHHIPPPCRACK from Nate's bike as he reached sonic speed.”

Eric Goodwin
“When you hear your teammate’s name announced, when he manages not to crash on the post-up, when you take that cool-down lap and you’re all yammering a mile-a-minute because everyone is giddy over what just happened… These are the exact moments that you hope for when you pull that team jersey on.  Cycling is evil and we know this title run won’t last forever, but we’re going to enjoy it while we can. It’s not even July and I feel like we can put a bow on the season. Congrats to all of my teammates – a more selfless group of psychos, you will not find.”

Jason Knauff
“Burnham went all 2006-Tour-vintage-Thor Hushovd and bookended the race. I attacked at the trigger and red-lined the first two laps... Nate "The Closer" Iden wraps it up when it really mattered. With 5 to go I put in a good dig, looked back and saw Siggy on my wheel again with another rider in a red kit coming across to us... was this really going to be a Cobb Park repeat? Unfortunately for the other 2 guys, we had other plans.  Thanks to all the other riders who raced. The win means more when you have to overcome worthy opponents and it was a blast to lock horns on the battlefield with the other 3/4's of the field that wasn't in a Burnham kit.”

Julian Baumgartner

“Though I wasn't at the race, when I received an email reading "Destination: CULVER'S" I knew that a third State Criterium Championship jersey was ours. “