March 9/03 10:02 am - Fraser Makes It Three, BC Spring Series

Posted by Editor on 03/9/03
 

Pomona Valley Stage Race - California
Report courtesy Team Saturn

The final stage of the Pomona Valley Stage Race was a flat criterium held on the downtown, palm tree lined streets of San Dimas. With Genevieve Jeanson (Rona) and Tom Danielson's (Saturn) leads both virtually untouchable by their fellow competitors, the final stage was a battle for the stage win.

The women's race began 10 minutes late and got off to a brisk start. After a few laps, a four woman break formed with two of the same riders from yesterday's break, Saturn's Megan Elliott and Alison Dunlap (T-Mobile). Helen Kelly and Karen Bockell (Rona) were also there. With her Leader back in the pack, Bockell was hesitant to work but Dunlap and Elliott were motivated and worked the break gradually building the gap to 25 seconds.

The attacks from behind brought the time split down within range but without any organization at the front, the foursome was never negated and in the final meters it was Bockell coming over Dunlap for the win. Saturn's Elliott was fourth.

In the men's race a very early break containing no one in the top 40 in the overall lasted a few laps before the surging peloton brought them back to the fold. Attack after attack saw many breaks go up the road, but with many teams intent on a field sprint, especially Gord Fraser's Health Net Team, each attack was reabsorbed. The Saturn Team dominated the front of the peloton, riding a hard tempo to minimize any possible escapes, and thus protect Danielson's lead.

As the ninety minutes wound down, it was clear that a field sprint would determine the stage winner, and the Prime Alliance and Health Net Team moved to the front to wind it up for the lead-out. Saturn continued to press hard as well, keeping Danielson up front and safe from potential crashes.

In the final 300 meters it was Alex Candelario giving his best shot at the win for Prime Alliance, but Fraser was too fast and came by to win his third consecutive stage of the four day race. Danielson finished with the same time and won his first tour in the US for the Saturn Team. His Saturn Teammate, Chris Horner finished up second with Tim Johnson and Phil Zajicek also finishing in the top ten. Prime Alliance also finished up with a strong showing in the overall with four of their riders finishing in the top ten.

Stage 4 - Old Town Criterium

Women
1 Karen Bockell (Ger) Rona
2 Alison Dunlap (USA) T-Mobile
3 Hellen Kelly (USA)
4 Megan Elliott (USA) Saturn

Final GC
1 Genevieve Jeanson (Can) Rona
2 Amber Neben (USA) T-Mobile
3 Sue Palmer Komar (Can) Genesis Scuba
4 Manon Jutras (Can) Saturn Cycling Team
5 Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling Team

Men
1 Gord Fraser (Can) Health Net
2 Alex Candelario (USA) Prime Alliance

Final GC
1 Tom Danielson (USA) Saturn Cycling Team
2 Chris Horner (USA) Saturn Cycling Team
3 Jonathon Vaughters (USA) Prime Alliance


Escape Velocity / Devo Spring Series #2 - Zero Ave. Road Race
Courtesy Gord Ross

The second of 10 scheduled Spring Series races took place on Saturday March 8th in Langley, BC. The 8km course took riders through rolling farmlands and along Zero Ave, the road that runs parallel with the Canada/USA border. Temperature was near freezing, with some leftover snow and ice on the shoulder, and a cold wind seemed to be present throughout the circuit. A smaller group of riders were out, after last week's showing of 120+, with approximately 35 A's, 35 B's and 20 C's.

The racing was characterized by breakaways for both the A and B groups, thanks to the rolling nature of the course and the cold winds. In the 120km A Group race, a break including Rick Minichiello, Dylan Sebel, Andreas Hestler, Eric Harvey, Chris Barth, and Min Van Velzen got away with several laps to go. The group then shattered into smaller pieces in the remaining laps, with Minichiello, Sebel, and Hestler riding the last 2 laps together, Harvey and Barth coming in together and Van Velzen returning to finish the pack. Minichiello took the sprint with room to spare over Sebel and pro mountain biker Hestler rolled across in third.

The 80km B Group race saw a small, two man break away roll off the front with 4 laps to go. Those two riders were joined by Gordon Ross and Eric Van Veen on the next lap, who eventually dropped the original two with one lap remaining. Ross and Van Veen held on for the win with the pack hot on their heels, with Ross outsprinting Van Veen in the two-up sprint. Gavin Forsyth took the pack sprint.

A Group
1. Rick Minchiello - Symmetrics
2. Dylan Sebel - CDS Kenwood
3. Andreas Hestler - Rocky Mountain
4. Eric Harvey - Symmetrics
5. Chris Barth - Trek/VW

B Group
1. Gordon Ross - Escape Velocity
2. Eric Van Veen - unattached
3. Gavin Forsyth - Escape Velocity
4. Mike Hunter
5. Heather Parrot - Opus Women's Cycling

C Group
1. Scott Vigliotti
2. Jack New
3. Claire Cameron
4. John Rozell
5. Mike Burns