February 24/02 11:35 am - Texas Report, Teams 2002, Euro Results

Posted by Editor on 02/24/02
 

Report From Texas
Courtesy Ryan Roth, Sympatico

Sat. Feb, 23 in Boerne, Texas
Weekend at Boenes Road Race
Sympatico riders Ryan Roth and Dominique Rollin
85 miles
75 Senior 1 starters
(special race note two Category 5 beginner races because they had so much interest plus 31 women in the Senior 4 beginner womens field)

This was my first race of the year and was not sure what to expect. After a fairly slow first 3/4 of the first lap Dominique brought the race up to speed on a flat fast section of the course before a hill.

Over the top on a false flat I launched an attack and it lasted approx, 10km until being caught by 3 others. Soon after a group came across containing Dom, who immediately began to drive the break. After flying through a narrow section of road, just as we were about to get caught, Dom attacked and took another Canadian, Mark Ernsting of the Hotter N' Hell squad with him.

Content to see them off I decided I needed to recover as the race wasn't even half over. The pace slowed considerably as no one wanted to chase and the lead began to grow. I started to cover moves and hoped that something might stick and I would have a free ride but it stayed together until the field sprinted in for 3rd place, where I finished approximately 20th. Dom had soloed the last three kms for the win.


Sun. Feb. 24 in Austin, Texas
Sam's Boat Pace Bend RR
Sympatico riders Ryan Roth and Dominique Rollin
80 starters including Austin's favorite son
80 miles (13 laps)

An early morning start and a 8am start time greeted us the next day as we headed out for race #2. On the start line was basically the same field as yesterday with teams like Mercy Fitness from Arkansas, Mathisbros.com from Oaklahoma. Local teams like Frozen Drink Madness and Team Diabetes rounded out the field.

Oh and one other guy was on the start line who caused quite a stir, 3-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong of U.S. Postal Service.

As the race started I decided to sit in for awhile and see how the race played out. Numerous attacks went up the road but all were brought back, with about 5-6 laps to go Lance who had a prominent position at the back of the field all race started to move up. Sensing the action was about to begin everyone wanted to be near the front.

Coming down a fast downhill I could see Dom had a small gap off the front, approaching was one of the tougher climbs on this rolling course, the pace was high and as we went over the top. I looked back to see a good sized gap and I went to the front to pull.

Everyone was working hard and the group was full of strong guys including myself, Dom, Jason Waddell (Mathisbros.), Mark Ernsting (HHH), Ian Dille (Mercy) and some 4 other riders and of course Lance was there. We built our lead fast and kept a high tempo the next 3 laps. After the gap was established, I looked around to see that Sympatico was the only team with 2 riders in the break. I wanted to make the group smaller, remembering Jason's sprint from Saturday plus the fact that he wasn't pulling.

Approaching 1 lap to go Dom rode of the front with Ian on his wheel and we came to the hill where much of the action was occurring. About half way up I saw out of the corner of my eye, Lance winding it up. I jumped as hard as I could and kept a reasonable gap over the hill and closed it on a small downhill. I looked back and saw no one in sight. I sat on for a few pulls and recovered a little before helping build our lead. This was an ideal situation for us because it was Dom and I plus Ian and Lance.

Nearing the end of the race Lance pulled hard up one of the climbs and I lost about 7 or 8 metres on the group. I fought my way back on and decided Dom was the best chance for another Sympatico victory so with only a few km's remaining I rode hard on the front to prevent any attacks. Up the final climb Ian attacked with Dom on his wheel. As we crested over the top Lance pulled off to the side of the road, jumped into a car and exited the race. I sat up to watch the sprint as Dom easily won for the second time in as many days. I rolled across for third and ended one of the coolest races I have ever done. Just riding with Lance was an experience I'll never forget.


Canadian Teams 2002

Canadian Cyclist is once again compiling its 2002 team listing of Canadian registered road and mountain bike teams. To have information about your team included please send us you team roster (please include rider names and categories), major team sponsors, contact information (e-mail & website), a brief description of your goals for 2002, and major events your team plans to attend. Your information will be published in an upcoming Canadian Cyclist story and is a great way to kick-off your season and get some publicity! (Note: Teams that have already sent in information do not need to send it in again)

Please e-mail your team information to: editor@canadiancyclist.com


Talgo America Cycling Team
Courtesy Dusty Kunstbeck

Our Sponsors of this years team are: Talgo America (www.talgoamerica.com), North American Bici, Viner Bikes, Mavic, Carnac, Speedplay, Sintemma Forks, and Campagnolo.

The roster includes: Sue Palmer-Komar (Can), Susy Pryde (NZ), Anne Samplonius (Can), Joan Wilson (USA), Tina Skelley (USA), and Meredith Miller (USA). Obviously, we are a small team but we think that we have assembled a fine group of women that have the ability to make things happen.


Trofeo Luis Puig - Spain

Valencia to Benidorm 180 km

1 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Fassa-Bartolo 4:24:24
2 Rolf Aldag (Ger) Telekom
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom
4 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo
5 Angel Vicioso (Esp) Kelme-Costa Blanca
6 Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Domo Farm-Frites
7 Angel Edo (Esp) Milaneza MSS
8 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Mercatone Uno
9 Marcus Zberg (Sui) Rabobank
10 Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spa) iBanesto.com all s.t.


Classic Haribo - France

1 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2r 203 km in 4:33:46
2 George Hincapie (USA) US Postal
3 Enrico Cassani (Ita) Domo-Farm Frites
4 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lampre-Daikin
5 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites all s.t.
6 Tom Boonen (Bel) US Postal at 5:49
7 Davide Bramati (Ita) Mapei-Quickstep 5:53
8 Jimmy Casper (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux
9 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) CSC-Tiscali
10 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Jean Delatour all s.t.