1. Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone Uno 3.02.00 2. Luc Leblanc (Fra) Team Polti 3. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 0.12 4. Stephane Heulot (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux 5. Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi 7. Michele Bartoli (Ita) Asics s.t.
The national teams of Chile, Peru, Argentina and Venezuela are confirmed. They will use the Tour as a warm-up to the Panamerican Championships.
Santa Catarina Cycling Federation is still trying a deal with Polti. The Italian company has a huge factory in Brazil and maybe...
Twelve teams and more than 70 riders are already confirmed. Among them, Caloi (hadn't informed its cyclists yet, but we can wait for Marcio May, Daniel Rogelin and Luciano Pagliarini), Specialized and FMD/Blumenau.
The Stages
Prologue, Orleans (circuit), 20 kms Stage 1, Orleans-Bom Jardim (with Rio do Rastro Mountains), 49 kms Stage 2, Bom Jardim-Lages, 128 kms Stage 3, Lages-Alfredo Wagner, 110 kms Stage 4, Alfredo Wagner-Ibirama, 130 kms Stage 5a, Ibirama-Pomerode, 90 kms Stage 5b, Pomerode Time Trial, 18 kms Stage 6a, Pomerode-Joinville, 84 kms Stage 6b, Joinville Circuit, 50 kms Stage 7, Joinville-Brusque, 141 kms Stage 8, Brusque-Tijucas, 50 kms Stage 9, Tijucas-Florianopolis, 53 kms
Some Riders already confirmed
Chile - Gonzalo Garrido, Juan Fierro, Marcelo Arraigada Venezuela - Eliecer Izarra, Alexis Mendez Argentina - Ruben Pegorín, Fabian Tapia, Jorge Giacinti Peru - Antonio Muñoz, Alfredo Mondejar, Saul Estrabidis
Another highlight and pleasant surprise of the evening was a speech made by the injured New Zealand cyclist, Gary Anderson, who has almost fully recovered from the horrific crash suffered on August 7. Anderson with wife and newborn baby girl, thanked the spectators and medical staff of the Lehigh Valley Velodrome for the support he's been given since the accident.
Becky Quinn is just one Rider of the Year title away from tying the record of Australia's Lucy Tyler-Sharman. This feat certainly marks Quinn as one of the most dominant racers in the country and the most consistent. She did have some challenges throughout the night from the New Zealand teammates of Rawea Greenwood, Sara Ulmer and Fiona Ramage. The women's racing heated up all night as Ulmer had her eye on the third place spot in the standings overtaking 1998 National pursuit champion Jane Quigley.
Pate faced the men's races with more than enough points to be able to give up a few victories tonight. His points cushion still didn't stop his determination from taking on the rest of the international field that has challenged him all season long. Defending Rider of the Year Shaun Wallace was on hand to race, but was not in contention for the title after handily taking the Morning Call Rider of the Year title 5 times. Pate has medaled in the Australian National Championships 43 times, more than anyone in the history of Australian Cycling.
Other racing action saw some of "T-Town's" juniors return from San Diego to strut their late season form for the 1,500 plus crowd. In other men's racing, Jame Carney took two events from Pate. Pate then bounced back to take the 30-lap Preme Race from local favorite John Walrod. Women's racing saw great challenges from the New Zealand National team and Australia as Sara Ulmer took the women's Point-A-Lap, and Narelle Peterson, Australia, took two wins looking to improve her form.
Professional Men Chariot Heats: 1. Carney def Oliver, Dew 2. Sinton def Pate, Morehouse 3. Hatton def Mark, Hodskiss 4. Baker def Wallace, Godfrey Junior Men 7-Lap Final: 1. Andy Lakatosh 2. Andrew Zigler 3. Larry Detris 4. Tyler Petrie 5. Todd Zigler Professional Women 15-Lap Point-A-Lap: 1. Sara Ulmer 2. Ashley Kimmet 3. Fiona Ramage 4. Becky Quinn 5. Laura Pasicznyk Professional Men Chariot Final: 1. Jame Carney 2. Gil Hatton 3. Stephen Pate 4. Mattew Sinton 5. Sam Baker Junior Men 12-lap Tempo Race: 1. Larry Detris 2. Tyler Petrie 3. Andy Lakatosh 4. Todd Zigler 5. Andrew Zigler Professional Mens 30-lap Preme Race: 1. Stephen Pate 2. John Walrod 3. Tim Carswell 4. Glen Thomson 5. Jame Carney Women One Mile Final: 1. Narelle Peterson 2. Fiona Ramage 3. Becky Quinn 4. Tanya Lindenmuth 5. Linda Braley Professional Men 15-Lap Point-A-Lap: 1. Jame Carney 2. Shaun Wallace 3. Mike Grabowski 4. John Walrod 5. Brent Morehouse Junior Men 20-Lap Points Race: 1. Larry Detris 2. Andy Lakatosh 3. Andrew Zigler 4. Todd Zigler 5. Tyler Petrie Women Miss-and-Out: 1. Narelle Peterson 2. Sara Ulmer 3. Rawea Greenwood 4. Amy Lowry 5. Linda Braley Professional Men Miss-and-Out: 1. Jame Carney 2. Stephen Pate 3. Tim Carswell 4. David Dew 5. Glen Thomson Rider of Year Final Standings: Women: 1. Becky Quinn 2. Nicole Reinhart 3. Sara Ulmer 4. Jane Quigley 5. Narelle Peterson Men: 1. Stephen Pate 2. Jame Carney 3. Brent Dawson 4. Marty Nothstein 5. Shane Hodskiss