October 8/07 8:38 am - Vuelta a Chihuahua: Stage 1

Posted by Editoress on 10/8/07
 

Vuelta a Chihuahua Mexico

Report courtesy Symmetrics Fuelled By FarmPure

Symmetrics Fuelled By FarmPure had a solid start to the Vuelta a Chihuahua, putting two riders in a decisive 30-man move, and just missed taking the U23 leader's jersey.

Yesterday's 82.6km circuit race was won by Spanish ProTour rider, Javier Mejias ( Saunier Duval-Prodir).

The action was fast and furious on the very quick first stage, with the break getting away at the end of the first lap. With most of the big teams represented, there was little effort to reel in the split until the very end. The S-Team's Christian Meier and Cam Evans were in the move and were confident with the break.

"The first day of a stage race is always important as everyone is super-aggressive, since we're all starting from a clean slate," Evans said. "Once Christian and I got in the split we were pretty content to roll with it. Christian's had some great legs lately."

Evans and Meier were in very good company in the move, riding amongst Tour de France stars like Francisco Mancebo, Santi Pérez and Oscar Sevilla (Relax-GAM), as well as David de la Fuente (Saunier Duval Prodir). At the finish Mejías took the sprint and the lead of the race. Meier took 12th and 2nd in the U23 jersey competition.

"It's always good to make the first move in a stage race as it obviously sets the tune for the rest of the week," Meier said. "It's good we had two guys in the move, but I know the rest of the guys are all feeling good too. There's plenty of riding left."

The action continues today in the peloton with a 147.8km stage which will include a tough fourth category climb in the first third of the race.

Stage1 (October 7th): Juarez Circuit, 82.6 km

1. Javier Mejias (Esp) Saunier Duval-Prodir, 1:44:07
2. Filipe Cardoso (Por) Liberty Seguros
3. Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) Ceramica Flaminia
4. Danny Pate (USA) Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle
5. Antonio D'aniello (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia
6. Eduardo Graciano (Mex) Orven
7. Francisco Mancebo (Esp) Relax-Gam
8. Cuitlahuac Ayala (Mex) Arenas Tlacala
9. Francisco Matamoros (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
10. Maxime Bouet (Fra) Agritubel

12. Christian Meier (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
24. Cameron Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team all s.t.
80. Geoff Kabush (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team, 3:03
91. Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
96. Will Routley (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
97. Kevin Lacombe (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast
100. Ryan Roth (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast, all s.t.