June 7/98 8:58 am - Canada Cup Results, U.S. Road and MTB Results, Dauphine

Posted by Editor on 06/7/98
 

Canada Cup #1 Results

The Cross Country Results are now available.


Hincapie Finally Wins USPRO Championship
(courtesy Frank Stanley, USA Cycling)

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Forget revenge. Forget redemption. Quite simply, George Hincapie (United States Postal Service) proved that he deserves the title of United States professional champion Sunday at the First Union USPRO Championships.

Hincapie, three weeks shy of his 25th birthday, won a 32-rider field sprint at the end of the 156-mile race, erasing any memories of last year‚s frustration.

A year ago, Hincapie was the first American across the line, apparently earning the USPRO jersey, but he was disqualified 45 minutes after the race‚s conclusion for illegally pacing behind his team vehicle.

"That was last year and it‚s over," Hincapie said. "This is this year and I won."

After an early five-rider breakaway built a lead of almost five minutes, the entire U.S. Postal team moved to the front to bring back the breakaway. Lance Armstrong drove the chase in the latter stages after Anton Villatoro had powered it earlier in the race.

As the field climbed the fabled Manayunk Wall for the 10th and final time, it was apparent that Hincapie was the focus for the USPS squad.

"You can imagine the pressure when you have Lance Armstrong and Frankie Andreu working for you and believing in you," Hincapie said. "I didn‚t have any choice but to win."

As the field entered the last of the final three small-circuit laps, Italian Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco-Cannondale) attacked, but Postal‚s Tyler Hamilton covered the attack. The Polish Mroz team then moved to the front of the chase to keep the pace as the other Postal riders finally started to fade. The field came together and set up the final sprint. Andreu gave Hincapie a final lead- out with about 300 meters to go.

"Two Saturn riders went to the left, a German went to the right, and a Saeco rider also went to the left," Hincapie said. "I came around him."

Hincapie cleared Massimiliano Mori (Saeco-Timex) by half a bike-length for the win, his first of 1998. Tomas Konecny (ZVVZ-Giant) of the Czech Republic was third.

"This is the U.S. National Championship and it‚s Philadelphia," Hincapie said. "Any U.S. rider wants to win this race."

FIRST UNION USPRO CHAMPIONSHIPS, UCI 1.2, June 7, Philadelphia, Pa., 156 miles

1. GEORGE HINCAPIE (UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE), Charlotte, N.C., six hrs, six mins, 35 secs; 2. Massimiliano Mori (Saeco-Cannondale), Italy, s.t.; 3. Tomas Konecny (ZVVZ-Giant), Czech Republic, s.t.; 4. Scott McGrory (Die Continental), Australia, s.t.; 5. Miloslav Kejval (ZVVZ-Giant), Czech Republic, s.t.; 6. Frank McCormack (Saturn), Leicester, Mass., s.t.; 7. Marco Giroletti (Mobilvetta-Northwave), Italy, s.t.; 8. Andrzej Spytkowski (Mroz), Poland, s.t.; 9. Jakob Piil (Acceptcard), Denmark, s.t.; 10. Mark McCormack (Saturn), N. Easton, Mass., s.t.

Canadians

13. Czeslaw Lukaszewicz s.t.
43. Gord Fraser @5:51
46. Brian Walton s.t.
50. Matt Anand s.t.


Rossner Makes It Two Out Of Three In Philly
(courtesy Frank Stanley, USA Cycling)

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The best women‚s road race field to ever assemble in the United States put a show of speed, but a familiar face won the First Union Liberty Classic.

Petra Rossner (Vizir-Russian National) of Germany won the field sprint at the end of the 57.6-mile course, giving her two wins in three years in Philadelphia.

Twenty of the top 25 women‚s riders in the world were present among the 114 riders as the race was also the second round of the UCI Women‚s World Cup.

For the first three laps, the Dream Team -- a potent mix of European riders -- kept the pace high with Zinajda Stagourskaia of Belarus constantly appearing at the front. Several Americans, including World Cup leader Dede Demet (Saturn), Julie Young (Shaklee), Mari Holden (Vizir-Russian National) and Pam Schuster (Saeco-Timex) were also ever-present.

"It was a lot like a Worlds road race," Schuster said, echoing the opinion of others. "For strong countries like us, it was even better because instead of six riders, 20 of the strongest U.S. riders are here."

On the final, 14.4-mile lap, different riders took turns taking a shot at going off the front. Up the Manayunk Wall climb, it was Olympic champion Jeannie Longo (Longo-Ebly) of France, who was first up the climb. Longo‚s efforts came to an end on the ensuing descent. The string of brief attacks continued as a string of riders -- Rasa Polikeviciute (Lithuania), Linda Jackson (Saeco-Timex) of Canada, Young, Liz Tadich (AIS-Australia), Susy Pryde (Saeco-Timex) of New Zealand, world champion Alessandra Cappellotto (Dream Team) of Italy -- all took brief shots off the front, but in the end it was a field sprint.

"Actually, the only thing I‚m good at is sprinting," Rossner said.

Rossner‚s United Nations-esque teammates -- Holden and Russian SvetlanaSamokhvalova -- kept the field together to the final meters, where Rossner took over. "I was never seen in front except at the finish line," Rossner said.

It was a mixed result for the top American sprinters. Karen Bliss Livingston (Saturn) finished fifth in the field sprint, just ahead of world champion Alessandra Cappellotto (Dream Team) of Italy, while Kendra Wenzel (Saeco-Timex), the First Union Wilmington Classic winner, was involved in a crash near the arch over the course prior to the finish.

Livingston was the top American finisher. Demet finished seventh and retained the World Cup leader‚s jersey. The third round of the UCI Women‚s World Cup is Saturday, June 13 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Note: Canadian Cyclist will be there for live coverage through the race)

FIRST UNION LIBERTY CLASSIC (UCI WOMEN‚S WORLD CUP), U.S. 1.2, Philadelphia, Pa., 57.6 miles

1. PETRA ROSSNER (VIZIR-RUSSIAN NATIONAL), 2 hrs, 22 mins, 18 secs; 2. Diana Ziluite (Lithuania), Lithuania, s.t.; 3. Gabriella Pregnolato (VC Mimosa), Italy, s.t.; 4. Evi Gensheimer (Longo-Ebly), France, s.t.; 5. Karen Bliss Livingston (Saturn), Gainesville, Fla., s.t.; 6. Alessandra Cappellotto (Dream Team), Italy, s.t.; 7. Dede Demet (Saturn), Boulder, Colo., s.t.; 8. Pia Sundstedt (VC Mimosa), Finland, s.t.; 9. Svetlana Samokhvalova (Vizir Russian National), Russia, s.t.; 10. Heidi Van de Vijver (Hydro Quebec), Belgium, s.t.

UCI WOMEN‚S WORLD CUP STANDINGS (after two of six events)

1. DEDE DEMET (SATURN), Boulder, Colo., 96 pts; 2. Petra Rossner (Vizir- Russian National), Germany, 75; 3. Diana Ziliute (Lithuania), Lithuania, 56; 4. Karen Bliss Livingston (Saturn), Gainesville, Fla., 51; 5. Pam Schuster (Saeco-Timex), Northridge, Calif., 50.

Canadians

14. Leigh Hobson s.t.
37. Annie Gariepy s.t.
40. Kim Langton s.t.
46. Linda Jackson s.t.
56. Cybil Diguistini @:35
62. Anne Samplonius @1:55
70. Heather Cole @2:56
81. Sophie St. Jacques @10:50


STREB, SAIZ BREAK THROUGH AT SEVEN SPRINGS VISA DOWNHILL

SOMERSET, Pa. - Marla Streb (Yeti), San Geronimo, Calif., and Spaniard Oscar Saiz (Volvo-Cannondale) each earned their first-ever VISA Downhill Series wins at the second round of the 1998 series at Seven Springs Resort, Saturday.

Streb posted a time of two minutes, 39.67 seconds on the rocky, technical 1.2-mile course, beating current national champion Cheri Elliott (Intense/Maxxis), Cameron Park, Calif., by 1.79 seconds. Elliott was able to earn the second-place finish despite a hard crash which required her to be taken to a local hospital for X-rays.

For Streb -- a top-10 pro finisher in the National Championship Series (NCS) over the last four years -- it was a breakthrough performance that put her in the overall series lead.

"I've been waiting for this moment for four years, and it was definitely worth it," said Streb, who took over the VISA Downhill Series leader's jersey with the win. "I think I'm going to cry."

Before the race, Streb decided to dismount and run through the steep and technical "minefield" section that featured refrigerator-size rocks and wreaked havoc on many of the pro riders. In her final run, however, adrenaline took over.

"My plan was to run through the rock gardens, but I didn't listen to my plan," Streb said. "I just felt so confident and the rocks really dried up a lot for the final."

Elke Brutsaert (Schwinn-Toyota), Durango, Colo., finished third to move into second-place overall. She rode conservatively through the rock section after a mishap in her semifinal run. "If anybody was by the rock garden, I'm sure they saw me stack it up there," Brutsaert said.

First-round winner Leigh Donovan (Mongoose), San Clemente, Calif., slipped to third place overall after an eighth-place finish.

For Saiz, a 25-year-old from Barcelona who is currently ranked 13th overall in the international World Cup series, it was a lucrative trip to the United States. Saiz earned revenge on last year's Seven Springs winner Steve Peat (GT) when he edged the British rider out by just 0.43 seconds.

"I really like coming to race in the States," Saiz said. "There is a large crowd here and they yell really loud for you." Saiz's teammate and fellow Spaniard David Vazquez finished third, 1.66 seconds back.

Men's first round winner Brian Lopes (Mongoose), Mission Viejo, Calif., maintained the series lead with a fourth place finish. "I made a little mistake in the rock section, but after that I had a good run," said Lopes, who was the top American finisher.

German rider Jurgen Beneke (Schwinn-Toyota) is now second overall, followed by Eric Carter (GT), Temecula, Calif., in third.

The VISA Downhill race was part of the Chevy Trucks National Championship Series weekend at Seven Springs.

VISA DOWNHILL SERIES #2, Seven Springs, Pa., June 6, 1998

Pro Women

1. MARLA STREB (Yeti), San Geronimo, Calif., two minutes, 39.67 seconds; 2. Cheri Elliott (Intense/Maxxis), Cameron Park, Calif., @ 1.79 seconds; 3. Elke Brutsaert (Schwinn-Toyota), Durango, Colo., @ 2.12; 4. Nicole Grant (Giant), Boulder, Colo., @ 7.76; 5. Kim Sonier (Volvo-Cannondale), Flagstaff, Ariz., @ 11.49; 6. Sari Jorgenson (Yeti-Swatch), Radelfinge, Switzerland, @ 12.30; 7. Heather Schmitz (Amazon/Intense), Boulder, Colo., @ 17.06; 8. Leigh Donovan (Mongoose), San Clemente, Calif., @ 18.51; 9. Michelle Bednar (ODI- Southridge), La Canada, Calif., @ 20.74; 10. April Lawyer (Gary Fisher), Big Bear Lake, Calif., @ 21.90.

Pro Women's Overall Standings (after 2 of 6 events)

1. STREB, 190 pts.; 2. Brutsaert, 164; 3. Donovan, 148; 4. Sonier, 132; 5. Grant, 122; 6. Bednar, 116; 7. Elliott, 90; 8. Lisa Sher (Rotec), Laguna Beach, Calif., 86; 9. Schmitz, 82; 10. Lawyer, 78.

Pro Men's Results

1. OSCAR SAIZ (Volvo-Cannondale), Barcelona, Spain, two minutes, 11.51 seconds; 2. Steve Peat (GT), Sheffield, England, @ 0.43 seconds; 3. David Vazquez (Volvo-Cannondale), Barcleona, Spain, @ 1.66; 4. Brian Lopes (Mongoose), Mission Viejo, Calif., @ 1.80; 5. Eric Carter (GT), Temecula, Calif., @ 2.14; 6. Jurgen Beneke (Schwinn-Toyota), Longmont, Colo., @ 2.82; 7. Dave Cullinan (Schwinn-Toyota), Los Angeles, Calif., @ 4.36; 8. Shaun Palmer (Mt. Dew-Specialized), South Lake Tahoe, Calif., @ 5.05; 9. Geoff Scofield (Rotec), Whittier, Calif., @ 5.35; 10. Mike King (GT), San Diego, Calif., @ 5.58 12. Andrew Shandro (K2) Canada

Pro Men's Overall Standings (after 2 of 6 events)

1. LOPES, 274 pts.; 2. Beneke, 242; 3. Carter, 240; 4. King, 202; 5. Palmer, 184; 6. John Kirkcaldie (Foes Racing), New Zealand, 184; 7. Cullinan, 182; 8. John Tomac (Tomac-Manitou), Cortez, Colo., 182; 9. Kirt Voreis (Mt. Dew-Specialized), Twin Peaks, Calif., @ 180; 10. Derin Stockton (Maxxis), Santa Barbara, Calif., 160.


REPEAT WINS FOR SYDOR, LARSEN AT SEVEN SPRINGS CROSS-COUNTRY

SOMERSET, Pa. - Three-time world champion Alison Sydor (Volvo-Cannondale) and 1997 national champion Steve Larsen (Schwinn-Toyota), of Bend, Ore., remain undefeated in Chevy Trucks cross-country races at Seven Springs resort in Pennsylvania after each won for the second straight year in the second-year event. Sydor's technical skills, combined with her climbing strength, proved to be the difference in the women's race. She finished the slick, rock-covered 18-mile course in two hours, 12 minutes, 43 seconds.

"I really like this course," said Sydor, who currently leads the international World Cup series. "All these rock parts are so right up my alley. They made some changes to the course this year so the technical sections came sooner. When I pre-rode the course yesterday, I knew that would be the most important part."

After one lap, Sydor had already distanced herself from the field, with Alison Dunlap (GT), Colorado Springs, Colo., Ruthie Matthes (PowerBar), Durango, Colo., and Ann Trombley (Ellsworth), Golden, Colo., in a chase group, 1:20 behind.

From that point, it became a race for second place as Sydor continued to put more than a minute on the field through each successive lap. Matthes, the 1997 national champion, passed Dunlap in the second lap and settled into a pace that kept her alone in second until she was caught by a hard-charging Jacques, who had passed Dunlap in the "No Fear Zone," a steep, snaking descent that required riders to maneuver through off-camber turns between trees.

"My favorite part was that screaming downhill," Jacques said. "I had so much fun in there - I was just laughing all the way through the feed zone." Jacques made one bobble on a tough root-covered section of trail in the final lap, which was all Matthes needed to make her move. "Tammy was ahead of me and there was one really rocky section with roots," Matthes said. "All it takes is one slip in there." Matthes made the pass and then rode the final descent flawlessly to hold Jacques off by nine seconds. Trombley scored her second consecutive top-five, finishing fourth, just two seconds ahead of Canadian Chrissy Redden (Ritchey).

Larsen dropped out of the first race of the series because of a flat tire, so he had to start at the back of the men's field of 86. He worked his way into a lead group and then surged over the last lap of the 22.5-mile course, dropping 1996 Olympian Tinker Juarez (Volvo-Cannondale), who was just 10 seconds behind Larsen with one lap to go. Larsen exploded over the last climb, putting more than two minutes on Juarez. "I knew the race would be won in the last lap," Larsen said. "I knew at that time it was no guts, no glory." 1995 national champion David Wiens (Polo Sport), Gunnison, Colo., amazed the fans gathered at the finish with a late race surge to finish second and move into the leader's jersey. "It's been a really crazy week," said Wiens, whose wife Susan DeMattei - an Olympic medalist in mountain biking -- gave birth to their first child, Cooper, on Wednesday. "Ever since Big Bear, we've been waiting for the kid to come. It was really neat that I got to spend a little time with Susan and Cooper before I came here."

Wiens was in fourth place heading into the final lap before passing Andres Brenes (Ritchey) of Costa Rica and Chris Sheppard (Catera/Pure Energy) of Canada over the final seven miles. Sheppard finished third, to move into second overall in the series. First-round winner Carl Swenson (Catera/Pure Energy), Boulder, Colo., slippe to third overall after finishing 20th.

CHEVY TRUCKS CROSS-COUNTRY SERIES #2, Seven Springs, Pa., June 7, 1998

Pro Women, 18 miles

1. ALISON SYDOR (Volvo-Cannondale), North Vancouver, B.C., Canada, two hours, 12 minutes, 43 seconds; 2. Ruthie Matthes (PowerBar), Durango, Colo., @ 3:07 back; 3. Tammy Jacques (Schwinn-Toyota), Carbondale, Colo., @ 4:18; 5. Chrissy Redden (Ritchey), Campbellville, Ontario, Canada, @ 4:20; 6. Carmen Richardson (Head Shok), Colorado Springs, Colo., @ 5:08; 7. Rene Marshman (Moots), Lafayette, Colo., @ 5:16; 8. Mary Hearn (Polo Sport), Menlo Park, Calif., @ 5:27; 9. Golden Brainard (Catera/Pure Energy), Flagstaff, Ariz., @ 7:20; 10. Jimena Florit-Juarez (Head Shok), Downey, Calif., @ 7:35.

Pro Women's Overall Standings (after 2 of 7 events)

1. MATTHES, 272 points; 2. Jacques, 272; 3. Trombley, 248; 4. Brainard, 242; 5. Marshman, 208; 6. Gretchen Reeves (Catera/Pure Energy), Las Cruces, N.M., 192; 7. Richardson, 188; 8. Hearn, 152; 9. Rachel Lloyd (Gary Fisher), San Anselmo, Calif., 152; 10. Sydor, 150

Pro Men's Results, 22.5 miles

1. STEVE LARSEN (Schwinn-Toyota), Bend, Ore., two hours, 21 minutes, 31 seconds; 2. David Wiens (Polo Sport), Gunnison, Colo., @ 2:07 back; 3. Chris Sheppard (Catera/Pure Energy), Kamloops, B.C., Canada, @ 2:11; 4. Tinker Juarez (Volvo-Cannondale), Downey, Calif., @ 2:32; 5. Andres Brenes (Ritchey), San Jose, Costa Rica, @ 3:16; 6. Seamus McGrath (Haro), Milgrove, Canada, @ 3:24; 7. Peter Wedge (Mapei-Kona), Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, @ 3:46; 8. Paul Rowney (Haro), Sydney, Australia, @ 4:07; 9. Kirk Molday (Trek-Volkswagen), Ramona, Calif., @ 4:58; 10. Andreas Hestler (Volvo-Cannondale), Victoria, B.C., @ 5:40

Pro Men's Overall Standings (after 2 of 6 events)

1. WIENS, 372 pts.; 2. Sheppard, 314; 3. Carl Swenson (Catera/Pure Energy), Boulder, Colo., 312; 4. Brenes, 300; 5. Molday, 300; 6. Juarez, 296; 7. McGrath, 272; 8. Todd Wells (Mt. Dew/Specialized), Ulster Park, N.Y., 268; 9. Travis Brown (Trek-Volkswagen), Boulder, Colo., 262; 10. Peter Swenson (Polo Sport), Boulder, Colo., 256.


Miller Wins Second Straight NORBA Dual Slalom, Lopes On Top Again

SOMERSET, Pa. - Australian Katrina Miller (Jamis) rode through the pain of a broken arm to win the second race of the 1998 NORBA National Dual Slalom Series Saturday. Brian Lopes (Mongoose), Mission Viejo, Calif., beat Steve Peat (GT) of England in the men's final, taking both heats in the final run.

The women's final was a test of the walking wounded. Both Miller and second- place finisher Cheri Elliott (Intense-Maxxis), Cameron Park, Calif., had been in and out of local hospitals over the previous 24-hour period. Elliott was checked in earlier in the day when she plowed headfirst into a rock in the final run of the women's downhill, and Miller suffered a hairline fracture to her radius bone in a practice run crash.

"It sort of hurt, but I guess it was adrenaline taking over," said Miller, whose win gave her a perfect record in the series. "They wanted to plaster it, but I wouldn't let them."

Elliott is now second overall, followed by first-round winner Leigh Donovan (Mongoose), San Clemente, Calif. Donovan failed to make the final round of 16 after she was disqualified for missing a gate.

Lopes, a two-time national champion in dual slalom, moved into the overall series lead, knocking out first round winner Mike King (GT), San Diego, Calif.. King finished fourth Saturday after crashing in the second heat of the third-place round, losing to Dave Cullinan (Schwinn-Toyota), Los Angeles, Calif. Peat is now third overall.

1998 NORBA DUAL SLALOM SERIES #2, Seven Springs, Pa., June 6, 1998

Pro Men 1. BRIAN LOPES (Mongoose), Mission Viejo, Calif.; 2. Steve Peat (GT), Sheffield, England; 3. Dave Cullinan (Schwinn-Toyota), Los Angeles, Calif.; 4. Mike King (GT), San Diego, Calif.

Pro Men's Overall Series 1. LOPES, 90 pts.; 2. King, 70; 3. Peat, 40; 4. Eric Carter (GT), Temecula, Calif., 40; 5. Cullinan, 35.

Pro Women 1. KATRINA MILLER (Jamis), Durango, Colo.; 2. Cheri Elliott (Intense-Maxxis), Cameron Park, Calif.; 3. Sari Jorgenson (Yeti-Swatch), Radelfinge, Switzerland; 4. Michelle Bednar (ODI-Southridge), La Canada, Calif.

Pro Women Overall 1. MILLER, 100 pts.; 2. Elliott, 70; 3. Leigh Donovan (Mongoose), San Clemente, Calif.,40; 4. Jorgensen, 30; 5. Bednar, 30.


Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

Prologue - Villeurbanne, 5 km

1. Chris Boardman (GBR) Gan en 5:40:23
2. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina s.t. (48/100ths behind)
3. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) Once at 0:03
4. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) US Postal 0:03
5. Patrick Jonker (Ned) Rabobank 0:04
6. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis 0:06
7. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank 0:08
8. Thierry Bourguignon (Fra) Big Mat 0:09
9. Christophe Capelle (Fra) Cofidis 0:09
10. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto 0:10