March 27/04 9:28 am - Redlands Men's Stage 4 brief

Posted by Editor on 03/27/04
 

Redlands Classic - California

Men's Stage 4 - Criterium 90 minutes

We have a correction to the men's criterium - it was won by Alex Candelario (Jelly Belly), with Juan Jose Haedo (Colavita Olive Oil Pro Cycling) second. Gord Fraser (Health Net) did come across the line in third, but was disqualified for leaving his line and causing Charles Dionne (Webcor) to crash in the final two corners. It is still not confirmed whether Fraser is really disqualified (meaning, he can't race tomorrow), or whether he was actually relegated to the back of the peloton. Ivan Dominguez (Colavita Olive Oil Pro Cycling) was moved up to third.

The nine corner circuit is quite tricky, with the second from last corner at more than 90 degrees. Race Leader Chris Horner (Webcor) went to the front for the final ten laps to set up his team mate Dionne, and Health Net was simultaneously trying to get their train organized for Fraser. Fraser and Dionne went into that second last corner neck and neck, with Fraser on the inside, and Dionne coming up on him, on the outside.

Fraser told our correspondent Leigh Hargrove (Pushbikes.ca) that, from his experience "you either come out that corner in front and win, or you crash". He insists that there was no deliberate attempt to crash Dionne, it was just an unfortunate part of bike racing.

Redlands ends tomorrow with a circuit road race.