Elite Team Signs Donny Lopez (10/1/98)
The Kissena Elite Team has landed 1996 Junior National Criterium Champion Donny Lopez for next season.  Currently attending Penn State University, Donny is a native of Manhattan.  His 1998 accomplishments include 3rd place in the Road Race and 2nd in the Omnium at the Collegiate National Road Championships and 9th place in the Espoire (under 23) category at the US National Road Championships.  "We are very pleased to add Donny to our roster," said Team Director Greg Avon, "he is a good all-around rider with a great attitude and tremendous potential.

Ramsey & Hadfield Sweep Tour de Greenwich (9/27/98)
Tim Hadfield (Kissena) escaped from a small breakaway to earn a solo victory in the Tour de Greenwich Road Race.  Bill Innes (Kissena), who marked the competition when Hadfield broke away, took second place.  "This is my favorite race all year" proclaimed the jubilant Hadfield, "it has a party atmosphere being at the end of the season."  Darcy Ramsey (Kissena), an eight-time winner of the race, beat Michelle Gulliano by more than four minutes to defend her title and break the course record.  The Kissena Elite Team was at the event to support two of its sponsors, Threads & Treads, an athletic apparel and footwear retailer and the Spin Gym, an indoor cycling studio.  Both businesses are based in Greenwich and Threads & Treads is the promoter of the event. (Kissena) escaped from a small breakaway to earn a solo victory in the Tour de Greenwich Road Race.  Bill Innes (Kissena), who marked the competition when Hadfield broke away, took second place.  "This is my favorite race all year" proclaimed the jubilant Hadfield, "it has a party atmosphere being at the end of the season."  Darcy Ramsey (Kissena), an eight-time winner of the race, beat Michelle Gulliano by more than four minutes to defend her title and break the course record.  The Kissena Elite Team was at the event to support two of its sponsors, Threads & Treads, an athletic apparel and footwear retailer and the Spin Gym, an indoor cycling studio.  Both businesses are based in Greenwich and Threads & Treads is the promoter of the event.
Tour de Greenwich
Greenwich, CT, Sept. 27, 1998
Women:
1. Darcy Ramsey (Kissena)
Men
1. Tim Hadfield (Kissena)
2. Bill Innes (Kissena)

Innes Stars at Univest Grand Prix (9/19/98)
If you caught the coverage of the Univest Grand Prix on the Outdoor Life Network, you would swear you were watching the Bill Innes Show.  The first half of the TV coverage focused on Innes (Kissena) who broke away by himself after 15 miles of the 100 mile race on the technical and challenging course.  Billed as an "Amateur Classic", the race featured the top US amateurs and numerous international amateur squads.  The tough competition did not deter Innes, who maintained his lead for more than 25 miles while the 175 rider field was shattered by the chase of the lone rider.  When Innes was finally caught by the lead group of 15 riders, the winning move escaped containing Jon Hamblen (Axis), Andrew Randall (Jet Fuel Coffee) and two French riders.   When Jeff Rutter, Tim Hadfield (Kissena) and a few others bridged from the field, the chase group swelled to 20 riders including three from Kissena ( Innes, Hadfield &  Dominique Perras).   Apparently Innes had something left in his legs as he tried in vain to organize the chase.  The break lost Andrew Randall as it increased its lead to over a minute and stayed away to the finish with the French riders taking first and third. 
Univest Grand Prix
Pennsylvania, Sept. 19, 1998
Amateur Men 1-2
18. Bill Innes (Kissena)
21. Dominique Perras (Kissena)
24. Tim Hadfield (Kissena)

Team Gossip
While at the Killington (VT) Stage Race, a few of us had the opportunity to have dinner with former Kissena star Jennifer Evans (Shaklee & Team EDS) and her fiancé Chann McRae (Saturn).  The couple have planned a fall wedding and are building a house in Texas.  One small, but very pleasant complication, Chann has just signed with Mapei to race in Europe next year.

Nealy Takes 2nd at 'The Josh' (9/20/98)
Kissena's Sean Nealy powered his team to second place at the Great Josh
Billings RunAground
Billings RunAground Bike/Canoe/Run race. (story from the Berkshire Eagle)

Pinate Shines at Junior Nationals
Carlos Pinate of Flushing, NY continued the tradition of fine
performances by Kissena riders in taking a 4th place medal in
the Men's 13-14 Criterium National Championship.  After suffering
a mishap in the Road Race, he still managed to place 11th.
US Junior National Championships
San Diego, CA, August 13-16, 1998
Men 13-14 Criterium
1 FARRAR, Tyler (Team Washington) 27:45.0
2 MEZA, Rigoberto (Hansen's/Canyon Velo) @1.30
3 CALDWELL, Blake (Chippers Cycling Tm) @7.10
    4 PINATE, Carlos (Kissena CC) same time
    5 WOOMER, Trevor (East Coast Velo) same time
Men 13-14 Road Race
1 FARRAR, Tyler (Team Washington) 27:45.0
11 PINATE, Carlos (Kissena CC) same time

Great Lakes Cycling Classic (8/23/98)
Buffalo, NY hosts one of the youngest big-money criteriums in the US and a race that this year produced an outstanding performance by two of Kissena's Elite Team riders.  The decisive six-man break, including Bill Innes, escaped with 12 laps to go in the 40 mile Pro-1-2 event.  A four-man chase group went clear at 5 laps to go with another Kissena rider, Tim Hadfield.   A solo attack from the lead group by Eric Wohlberg (Shaklee) proved to be the winning move as Innes took fifth.  Hadfield won the sprint from the chase group, taking seventh and another good payday for the Kissena squad.
Great Lakes Cycling Classic
August 23, 1998, Buffalo, NY
Pro-1-2
1. Eric Wohlberg (Shaklee)
5. Bill Innes (Kissena)
7. Tim Hadfield (Kissena)

New York City Championship Standings (8/8/98)

Kissena wins 2nd National Championship
as Hadfield takes Canadian Madison (7/27/98)
Tim Hadfield partnered with Yannick Cojan to win the Madison event at
the Canadian National Track Championships.  In the Team Pursuit, the
Kissena-sponsored squad, led by Hadfield took the Silver Medal with
a time of 4:35.  Tim also managed 6th in the Individual Pursuit (1/10 of a
second out of 3rd place).

You Can Take Kissenas Out of New York,
But You Can't Take New York Out of a Kissena.
by Sydney Schuster

Ramsey Wins National Road Championship (7/16/98)
Taylor Takes Criterium Bronze
Kissena's Darcy Ramsey (pictured above) outsprinted a group of 17 riders
to take the stars & stripes jersey in the Women's 35-39 US Road
Championships in Tallahassee, FL.  In the Men's 35-39 Criterium, Tony
Taylor
Taylor bridged to an 8-man breakaway with three laps remaining and then
narrowly missed the gold taking third in the final sprint.
US Masters National Championships
Women 35-39 Road Race
1. Darcy Ramsey (Kissena)
Men 35-39 Criterium
3. Anthony Taylor (Kissena)
Men 35-39 Road Race
10. Anthony Taylor (Kissena)

Hincapie in 2nd place at Tour De France (7/16/98)
When he was a junior with Kissena, we knew he would be good,
but how many of us thought he would be within 11 seconds (after Stage 5)
of the Yellow Jersey?  That is exactly where he is with an awesome
3rd place finish in Stage 3.