June 2/05 10:22 am - Wachovia Cycling Series: Fraser Wins Trenton, Full Results

Posted by Editoress on 06/2/05
 

Wachovia Cycling Series - Trenton Trenton, NJ

Courtesy Threshold Sports

Gordon Fraser (Health Net Maxxis), current Canadian national road champion, took home the second event of the Wachovia Cycling Series in Trenton on Thursday. This is the second win of the week for Health Net Maxxis. Fraser's teammate Greg Henderson won the Wachovia Cycling Series - Lancaster race on Tuesday.

The Wachovia Cycling Series - Trenton lived up to its reputation as one of the fastest races in the world. The all-out 91-mile race was completed in 2:57:59 placing it as one of the quickest in the event's 13-year history.

Julich (CSC) and Mark McCormack (Colavita - Sutter Home) made their mark by nearly becoming the first duo in the race history to breakaway from the well-known sprinter's Wachovia Cycling Series - Trenton field. It wasn't to be though when the peloton chased down the duo in the last lap to set up a heart stopping full on field sprint won by Fraser who was followed by second place finisher Freddie Rodriguez (Davitamon Lotto) and Lars Michaelsen (CSC) who finished third.

Early on, the usual break attempts began the field afire. Attack after attack made their way up the road only to be reeled in within a matter of minutes. Then during the sixth lap a 14-man break including stars Bobby Julich, the 2005 Paris - Nice winner and former Tour de France podium finisher, and Navigators Cycling Team rider Kirk O'Bee, were able to sneak away from the peloton. The large group was working as one until Julich and 2004 Wachovia U.S. National Professional Champion Mark McCormack (Colavita - Sutter Home) began to test their partners. On lap nine they were able to make the break from the break. Their lead increased to more than one minute over the chasing group and nearly three minutes over the remaining 176-man field.

On the last lap the field, strung out in full chase mode, caught the break and the duo to bring the field back together. Coming down to the sprint finish the field swerved back and forth across State Street. Health Net Maxxis again proved their merit when Fraser was delivered to the line to take the Wachovia Cycling Series - Trenton.

In the race's overall sprint competition Bobby Julich won six sprints to take home the designation as the Wachovia Cycling Series - Trenton Sprint Champion.

Looking ahead, the Wachovia Cycling Series moves on to the main event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Now in its 21st year, the Wachovia USPRO Championship is the longest-running and richest single-day cycling race in the U.S. On Sunday, June 5, at 9 a.m., the best professional cyclists will take to the streets of Philadelphia, in front of more than 500,000 spectators. Riders will race down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, on to Kelly Drive and through Manayunk, a total of ten times and 156 miles, to determine who will be the 2005 US Professional Road Champion.