The Natchez Bicycle Classic is special for riders of the Herring Gas Road Race team.

After all, it’s their hometown race.

But it’s one that the Herring guys have not been able to win but once (1997), and that frustration continued this past weekend.

There was not team title this year, but there was also not a Herring rider among the top 12 finishers.

That frustration was probably even tougher considering the Herring team just won the Tour de Louisiana, a prestigious road race held in Covington, La.

And Natchez’s own Frank Moak crossed the finish line first among competitors in that race.

Moak, 40, was bumped in the road race, which led to a five-man wreck, with Moak going over his handlebars and onto the grass at the side of the highway.

With his handlebars tilted down, Moak returned to the race and finished

&uot;It takes a lot of luck,&uot; Moak said. &uot;You have to be fast and you have to be good, but you do need some luck. When I crashed out, Kenny (Bellau) stopped to help, so that was both of us out there. Sometimes it seems we just weren’t meant to win this race. But we’ll keep coming back and giving it our best shot.&uot;

There were three crashes Sunday in the Senior 1, 2, 3 criterium in a stage race that saw more than 10 during the weekend. And hitting the steaming hot asphalt while going some 30 miles an hour is going to leave a mark.

&uot;I think it was because the race was so fast,&uot; Moak said. ‘That was one of the fastest races we’ve had here. When you make a mistake going this fast, bad things are going to happen,&uot; he said.

Shawn Casey of Rockwall, Texas was the top Herring Gas finisher, placing 13th in the overall with a time of 4:19:14.

&uot;I thought we were fairly strong,&uot; he said. &uot;We didn’t have two of our stronger riders here because Chris Alexander had some family obligations and Chris Stokes is taking the bar.&uot;

Moak, who finished 20th at 4:25:53, said he is going to take a month off, but continue training.

&uot;We’re going to have a real good fall,&uot; he said. &uot;We’ve got a race in Tupelo, another in Huntsville and a couple in New Orleans and Lafayette,&uot; he said.

Jack Ditt of Shreveport, La., was 18th at 4:23:16.

Ditt finished 22nd in the criterium.

&uot;I just didn’t have good legs today (Sunday),&uot; he said.

Ditt finished fourth overall last year with a time of 4:17:06.

Ditt was upset with himself, saying his legs went out on him the last day and leading the pack of riders behind criterium leaders Max Miley, Brian Bunch and Rory McAdams before falling back on the final two laps.

Kenny Bellau of New Orleans finished 21st at 4:26:10.

Brad Hecker of New Orleans, said he thought Herring still had a strong outing.

Hecker finished 22nd overall at 4:26:43.

&uot;This is probably one of the best organized races all year,&uot; Hecker said. &uot;And the entry from the road race is the best. When you come into Natchez and the main street in town is closed down, there are banners hanging overhead and the people are cheering, that’s a nice way to treat the riders. It makes all of the training worth it.&uot;

Joey Martin is sports editor of The Democrat. He can be reached by calling 446-5172 ext. 232 or at joey.martin@natchezdemocrat.com.