May 17/03 6:16 am - Tour of Connecticut: Stage 2

Posted by Editoress on 05/17/03
 

Tour of Connecticut
Courtesy Navigators

The 3-day 3-stage Tour of Connecticut continued today under mild and breezy conditions in the City of Waterbury. The course, a 6.6-Km (4-miles) circuit featured two tough climbs and a short run through the city center, for a total of 15-laps and 100-Kms of racing. The steepness and length of the day's climbing would certainly create the selections necessary to determine the strongest riders in the race.

The action began on lap-1, but most of the activity was at the back as more than 20-riders had already dropped off the pace by the time the peloton had completed the circuit. The situation was essentially repeated for a couple of more laps until Chris Horner (Saturn) made a solo attack on lap 3 and gained 1-minute on the chasing field. Over the next 8 laps, Horner dug deep to maintain his lead as the chasers kept him in check. With just over 4 laps remaining, and Horner's lead rapidly diminishing, the front group was comprised of the 16 strongest riders with most everyone else succumbing to the tough course and hard racing.

The expected fireworks began as Navigators' Vassili Davidenko and Danny Pate (Prime Alliance) bridged up to Horner, but the danger of this group was quickly evident and the field closed in on the escapees before they could inflict any real damage.

Shortly afterwards, a brave move by David Clinger (Prime Alliance) put him up the road and pulling away rapidly from a sluggish chase group. Over the final 3 laps, Clinger was able to gain 2-minutes on the rest of the chasers and in a show of good form and depth, Danny Pate (also Prime Alliance) attacked the chasers on was able to give himself a shot at a podium finish.

Clinger easily took the stage-win while Pate time-trialled his way into 2nd place. Leading the charge from the remnants of the lead group was Saturn's Ivan Dominguez to take the final spot.

Tomorrow, the race takes the riders throughout the Housatonic Valley as 120-miles of roads will be covered before the race finishes in downtown Danbury. Vassili will be in the hunt to repeat his victory from last year, and the rest of the Navigators squad will be looking to unseat the Prime Alliance hold on the overall classification.

Stage and Overall Results (Unofficial):
1. David Clinger (Prime Alliance)
2. Danny Pate (Prime Alliance)
3. Ivan Dominguez (Saturn)