September 16/07 9:48 am - Tour of Missouri: Stage 6 report and results

Posted by Editoress on 09/16/07
 

Tour of Missouri

Amy Smolens is providing our on-site interviews

At stage races time bonuses during a stage at intermediate sprints can mean a difference in final GC positions. Dominique Rollin has been in a battle all week with David Canada and they were separated by 1 second in the GC after stage 5.

Dominique Rollin

Pre-race

AS: How do you feel today, are you a bit nervous?

DR: Oh Yeah. We have to try and control the primes, we will give it a good shot today.

AS: Yesterday did you let things get away a bit too much?

DR: Yeah, we kind of missed the break. There were a lot of attacks but we thought we could catch it with 40km to go and unfortunately it was a bit too late. We started to chase with 6 min gap, and thought we could do it and maybe I could get a few seconds on the line (in the field sprint), but it did not work. We still have one more day.

AS: From what you know about today's course and race (number of time bonuses for the sprints) are you confident?

DR: Pretty confident. I know I have a better sprint than Canada and we will see what happens at the first intermediate sprint and at the finish line.

Post Race

AS: Talk about the first intermediate sprint what happened there?

DR: We had the plan to control the race, avoid letting breaks get away and to be sure that I got that second and it worked pretty well. I got pushed by one of the Saunier Duval's in the final corner before the sprint but managed to go around him by jumping the curb.. it was pretty knarly and dangerous coming into that sprint. I was maybe 20 metres back and I managed to make it up and take it. That was just enough to get 3rd place (GC) and with a 3rd on the stage I was another 4 seconds ahead of him (Canada).

AS: Had you and Kurt done the math before? Checked it so that if you tied you had it in the bag?

DR: Yeah, after the TT I had 22/100's of a second on Canada so that was enough to get 3rd place, but I was still hoping to get a place on the podium (stage).

AS: What does it mean to be on the podium at one of the 3 biggest stage races in N. America?

DR: You got it! It is one of the 3 biggest stage races in N. America and to be on the podium with George Hincapie gives you such a pleasure.

AS: How big is it for Kodakgallery.com - Sierra Nevada in the last year of the team as we know it?

DR: It is a good way for Kodakgallery.com - Sierra Nevada to say goodbye to the fans and to say goodbye to the N. American market and a way for me and my coach Brian Walton of Cadence Cycling just to say we are here and working together and we are going to be for the next year and for the next 5, 6 years and more.

AS: Where will you be next year?

DR: Ah (laughs) that is the question!

AS: Still don't know?

DR: We've got some names and we've got some teams. I just can't reveal it now, but I will be in a comfortable place with a nice team to race for next year.

Andrew Pinfold

AS: Another 2nd place. It shows Symmetrics are right up there in a race like this doesn't it?

AP: Yeah, I mean it gives credibility to our team and program. The guys rode unbelievably for me today, we didn't chase but they kept me out of the wind the whole time. I knew it was going to be a late sprint and Ivan (Dominguez) was back there and I just said to Svein (Tuft) "let me follow him, just follow him, FOLLOW him". Then we were very calm and did not hit the front oo early, which is what most of the other teams did. It just played out perfect.. actually it was a good day for me personally. It is my first anniversary with my wife, so that was a nice little treat for her. It will be a nice little gift for her and I am happy to do that for her.