Chiropractor wins back-to-back Criteriums

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By Nate Taylor | Monday, May 26, 2008 10:27 PM CDT | () comments

Eric Marcotte of Michigan celebrates his victory Monday in the Quad-Cities Criterium. (Jeff Cook/Quad-City Times) Buy this Photo

When Eric Marcotte crossed the finished line first in last year’s men’s main event, he thought he had little, if not, no chance to win the race twice in a row. Then again, he said luck was one of the reasons he won last year.

This year, with a target on his back, luck was on his side again.

As Marcotte came around the last turn on the course, the rider from Ishpeming, Mich., found himself in a fortunate position to steal the race. Then, with the whole crowd watching, Marcotte crossed the finish line pumping his fist. For the second time, the chiropractor won the Quad-Cities Criterium men’s main event.

“It’s really crazy because there’s so much that has to happen for you to win,” Marcotte said of winning the event in Rock Island.

As it turns out, Marcotte had to make an adjustment right before the race. Just as the 28-year-old was getting his gear together, the chain on Marcotte’s bike came off, and he had to get another one.

He said he asked six people before finding another one just before the race started. That wasn’t the only surprise for Morcotte. With two laps to go, Marcotte fell to eighth place as the entire five-man team from Texas Roadhouse was leading the pack. Then, as Marcotte came close to the last few turns, something happened.

“They set the pace high enough that no one could catch them,” Marcotte said. “I just tried finding a hole to go through. One of their guys took the inside corner and the other two teammates missed it to where there was a gap between them. They had miscommunication, and I got lucky.”

Marcotte capitalized on the miscommunication by splitting the other riders and sprinted toward the finish line. Marcotte said he believes without a doubt that in order to win the Criterium, good fortune is essential.

“You can be fit, but everything has to go right,” he said. “Everything just went right for me today.”

Although the chiropractor has become the seventh man to win the Criterium’s main event back to back, he said there is no way he will become a full-time professional.

“I’m not looking to go any higher than this,” Marcotte said. “I don’t want this to become my job. It does not interest me to do something like this full time. In my mind, you never do your passions or hobbies as jobs because I want it to be fun and not become work.”

Even if Marcotte said he doesn’t want to race full time, he did admit to saying he will race at the Criterium again next year. Then, as he was getting ready leave, race director Donnie Miller asked Marcotte the question of which victory was better.

Marcotte’s answer was simple, but yet, was geared to what he said earlier.

“I would say this one,” he said. “Just because what are the chances of winning this twice?”

Nate Taylor can be contacted at (563) 383-2477 or ntaylor@qctimes.com.