As President and Founder of Spa SportÔ, I assure you that I test every piece of clothing I make in racing and training conditions and I refuse to sell a product unless it meets the exacting standards I demand.

I was a Category 1 cyclist until 2002 when I scaled back my racing to concentrate on growing the Spa SportÔ clothing line.  

Here are some of my race highlights in the last few years:

 Photo credit: Jonathan McElvery

Here I am  competing at the 2001 Pro / Cat. 1 & 2 Blue Bell Classic in Pennsylvania where I finished 2nd racing against some of the country's top pro riders.  The Blue Bell race is held the day before the U.S. Pro Championships in nearby Philadelphia and many of the Pro's come to the race to prepare for the next day's National Championships.  I broke away with two riders from the Mercury/Viatel Pro Cycling Team, Chris Wherry and Jon Restek, with 20 miles left in the 50 mile race.  Resteck crashed on a dangerous turn with about 10 miles to go but Chris and I pressed on.  We had a slim 30 second lead in the final mile when Chris attacked me on a small climb. I couldn't respond to Chris' attack but I did hold on for second place.

Lincoln - Mercury Blue Bell Cycling Classic
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - USA
June 9, 2001

1. Chris Wherry -Mercury-Viatel
2. Charles Issendorf- G.S. Mengoni
3. Rainiel Sanchez - Snow Valley
4. Wilson Vasquez - G.S. Mengoni
5. Derek Bouchard Hall - Mercury - Viatel

Click here for complete results and race report.

Photo credit: Jonathan McElvery

Here I am the podium at the 2002 New York City Cycling Championships (left to right: Skip Foley 2nd place, Joe Papp 1st place, Charlie Issendorf 3rd place).  The three of us escaped early in the race and worked together very smoothly.  I don't have much of a sprint so I attacked on the final lap hoping to get away but I was caught before the finish.  Click here to read my race report.

New York City Cycling Championships
August 4, 2002

1. Joe Papp (Verge Sport) 
2. Skip Foley (Trek VW Goodale)
3. Charlie Issendorf (G.S.Mengoni) 
4. Jean Paul Desros (CCB Volkswagon) 
5. Adam Pantastillo (Watchung Wheelma)

Click here for complete results.

Other notable results from 2001 and 2002:

1st place at the 60km Pro/Am Great Neck Cycling Challenge (NY) - click here for a race report

3rd place (1st amateur) at the Pro/Am Carteret Classic Criterium (NJ) - click here for results

4th place (1st amateur) at the Pro/Am Bound Brook Cycling Classic (NJ) - click here for a race report

4th place at the 81 mile Pro/Am Housatonic Hills Road Race (MA) - click here for results

4th place at the 88 mile Pro/Am Tokeneke Classic Road (CT) - click here for results

5th place at the 76 mile Pro/Am Palmer Road Race (MA) - click here for results

5th place at the Brandywine Road Race (MD) - click here for race results

12th place at  the 98 mile Pro/Am Bear Mountain Road Race (NY) - click here for results

27th place at  the 140 mile Pro/Am Housatonic Valley Classic (NY) - click here for a race report / results

Race Tactics and Coaching Articles

I have wrote a number of articles on coaching and racing.  Click any of the links below to read one:

How To Give A Leadout
How To Attack
I'm In A Breakaway. Now What?
How To Race A Criterium
What's The Plan?
Where Are The January Champions Now?
Choosing A Team
Suffering
Words To Live By
Racing and Relationships