The Herring Gas Cycling Team showed it will be a force to be reckoned with at the Natchez Bicycle Classic June 24-25 by dominating the Tour de Louisiana in Covington, La., last weekend.

Frank Moak of Natchez won the overall event, while teammates Jack Ditt of Shreveport, La., was second, Chris Stokes of Jackson was third, Chris Alexander of New Orleans was fifth, Brad Hecker of New Orleans was ninth and Shawn Casey of Rockwell, Texas was 13th. Kenny Bellau of New Orleans placed 16th.

&uot;In 11 years that’s the best we’ve ever worked as a team,&uot; Moak said. &uot;We really came together and did what we had to do.&uot;

Moak finished with a final time of 3:55:06. Ditt was second at 3:55:17. Stokes came in at 3:55:25.

Moak finished first in the road race with a time of 2:58:31.

&uot;Our theory was with the course being so flat that our best shot was to race together,&uot; Moak said. &uot;And we wanted to take the time bonuses in the hot spots.&uot;

Stokes won the first bonus, which took off seven seconds from his time, while Moak was right behind him to win the 5-second bonus.

Moak said every time a team attacked, Herring Gas stayed with them.

&uot;We had three guys attack during the feed zone, which is kind of a gentlemen’s agreement you don’t do that, so we all had to go after them,&uot; Moak said. &uot;I started a sprint on the left and another guy from another team started on the right. We collided in the middle and I heard spokes tangling and all kind of crashing sounds behind us.&uot;

Moak was able to stay upright and continue racing. One of the riders had a flat, leaving two to catch. With 100 meters to go, Moak caught the riders and passed them up to the finish line.

&uot;I just knew people were going to be passing me up because I was running out of gas,&uot; Moak said. &uot;But everybody was tired. I looked back for my teammates and Chris rode up with blood coming from his mouth and his knees skinned up, and he was on another bike. One of our guys (Bellau) is a nurse, so he stopped to help others who had fallen.&uot;

Ditt won the time trial at 6:35. Moak was fifth.

Going into the final race, the criterium, Ditt was first and Moak second, three seconds behind.

&uot;We had the same plan where we stayed together,&uot; Moak said. &uot;We wanted Jack to stay in the lead, but we didn’t want to give any bonuses away. I came out of the corner and won the first bonus.&uot;

The race stayed together. With four laps to go, Bellau signalled Moak to sprint for the line. Casey won the criterium, but Moak’s bonus points and time posted gave him the overall championship.

&uot;It worked out good because Shawn was able to win a stage,&uot; Moak said. &uot;I knew I had won it because nobody else who was close to our times was near.&uot;

For Moak, the win was especially satisfying.

&uot;I had finished in every position in the top 10 except first,&uot; he said. &uot;I’ve had several second and thirds. I never thought a 40-year-old would win it.&uot;

Moak said Herring’s performance at the Tour de Louisiana gives the team more confidence going into the Natchez Bicycle Classic.

&uot;We know the Natchez race is going to be tougher, with the competition being a little stiffer and the terrain harder,&uot; Moak said. &uot;We may not get the top three spots, but we can certainly put somebody on the pedestal.&uot;