July 5/02 11:02 am - Edmonton Interclub Race Series, Wendy's International

Posted by Editoress on 07/5/02
 

Edmonton Interclub Race Series
Courtesy Derek Singbeil

Tuesday July 2nd marked the start of the third series for the weekly Edmonton Interclub Races. This week's event took place at the popular Polar Park course under sunny skies and consisted of 3 laps of the 14k course with 2 small climbs and the added challenge of a strong wind. The race filled weekend must have taken its toll on local riders as the rider turnout was somewhat smaller than usual with just under 20 riders out for the event.

The top results for the 3 categories were:

A Group:
1.Paul Macdonald-Juventus
2.Taylor Little-United Cycle
3.Shane Rush-Velocity
4.Zibi Szymanski-Velocity
5.Bruce Copeland-ERTC

B Group:
1.Harley Desprey-Velocity
2.Paul Plakas-Pedalhead
3.Robert Straga

C Group:
1.Nick Insole-Juventus
2.Roger T. ?-Velocity
3.Paul Kozak-ERTC
4.Brad Vanderveen-Velocity
5.Janka Hegedus-Juventus

I would like to thank Susan Copeland & Corey Torgness for their assistance marshalling the course keeping it safe for everyone out there!
Next week we return to the Alberta Research Park for another exciting Criterium.

To see this months schedule and obtain map/course information, click on www.ertc.org/raceinfo/tnt.html


Wendy's International Stage 3
Courtesy Team RONA

French rider Catherine Marsal of the Saturn Timex team robbed the Americans of an Independence Day victory today at the Wendy's International Sports Festival. However all was not lost for the Americans as Ohio native Gail Longenecker of Team RONA finished second. Tina Mayolo-Pic of Diet Rite took third place, beating Nicole Freedman of Team RONA by a bicycle length.

Mayolo-Pic now leads Freedman by four points in General Classification. Wendy's International is a series of six races held until Sunday, July 7. General Classification is determined by adding points earned in each of the races.

Today's race was a 48-km criterium, being 50 laps around a short, flat course. About 20 laps into the race, a six-member break formed, which included Cathy Marsal, Joanne Kiesanowski (NZL, Diet Rite) and Gail Longenecker. "Joanne was well-placed in General Classification", said Longenecker, "so she was on our short list of girls to watch to protect Nicole's (Freedman) chances for overall. One of us had to join the break and I went."

Marsal, Kiesanowski and Longenecker earned the points for the half-race sprint. With 20 laps to go, Marsal attacked again and left the break behind her. On a short course, she quickly lapped the field. Five laps later, Longenecker attacked, three other raiders bridged to her, but she attacked again. This time she made a gap, while the rest of the break was absorbed by the peloton. Longenecker crossed the line alone, a few seconds behind Marsal.

Behind the break there were a few crashes and Freedman was one of the victims. "I had no help", she said, "I just cornered badly and slipped." She got back on her bicycle and eventually positioned herself at the front of the pack for the final sprint. Mayolo-Pic was a little quicker and beat her by a bicycle length. "I'm sore, said Freedman, but I think I'm OK, we'll see tomorrow how it feels. I'm just four points behind first place overall, so this is very winnable."

A happy Longenecker said "It's nice to have a podium in my home state, but that's not the main point today. The team was counting on me to execute the strategy and that went well. That's what feels great. I'm just sorry that Nicole crashed, I hope she'll be OK tomorrow."

Tomorrow, the riders will compete in the Worthington Criterium, a 48-km race dubbed Å’The Hardest Criterium in America".

Wendy's International Sports Festival
Third Stage: Hilliard Criterium

Women

1. Cathy Marsal (FRA, Saturn Timex)
2. Gail Longenecker (USA, RONA)
3. Tina Mayolo-Pic (USA, Diet Rite)
4. Nicole Freedman (USA, RONA)

Wendy's International Sports Festival
General Classification after three stages

1. Tina Mayolo-Pic (Diet Rite) 116 pts
2. Nicole Freedman (RONA) 112


Men
Courtesy Team Mercury

Mercury's Graeme Miller won today's third stage of the Wendy's Cycling Classic, Teammate Brice Jones was 4th.

A group of 8 riders went clear and lapped the field in the race held on the 4th of July. Mercury provided all of the fireworks as Miller and Jones powered the group that also contained 7-UP's Kevin Monahan, who would finish 2nd. Miller would eventually escape again with 2 others to take the victory with Brice Jones winning the sprint for 4th.

Tomorrow, the riders will compete in the Worthington Criterium as Mercury looks to make it 2 in a row.

Results
1. Miller, Mercury
2. Monahan, 7-Up
4. Jones, Mercury
5. Dawson, Jellybelly
DNF Fraser, Mercury