Tour de Toona - NE

Altoona, USA, August 1-6, 2000

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Stage 5 - August 5: Verizon Circuit Road Race, 95 mi/152 km

Fraser and Ulmer's grips finally loosened

By John Alsedek, cyclingnews.com correspondent

The hardest stage of the Tour de 'Toona, the 152 kilometre Verizon Circuit road race saw an end to Gord Fraser and Sarah Ulmer's dominance in the event so far, although not by much. Each are now in second overall as Navigators Vassily Davidenko and Saturn's Lyne Bessette took over the respective leads.

Sensing that Fraser might be vulnerable on the stage's numerous climbs, the Navigators squad went on the offensive, sending Burke Swindlehurst up the road in a four-man break intended to test Mercury's and Fraser's resolve. It proved to be a smart move: while the men in sea-foam green were able to bring back the attackers, it cost them dearly - not only did they lose two riders as a result of the chase, but Fraser found himself struggling on the ascents.

With 20 miles to go, Navigators threw down the gauntlet, sending second-overall Vassily Davidenko into action, accompanied by teammate Brendan Vesty, Lieswyn, and Wherry. It proved to be the right move at the right time: by finishing 35 seconds up on a chase group led in by Chris Fisher (Tokyo Joe's), Lieswyn broke Fraser's winning streak, while Davidenko snatched the leader's jersey off the Canadian ace's back.

However, tomorrow's final stage could still give Fraser the overall if he plays his cards perfectly. His four win streak came on top of four consecutive wins in last year's event, and he can never be ruled out.

In the women's race, there should be no doubt about who will win: Saturn's Lyne Bessette took complete control of the race today when she won the stage three minutes ahead of a lone Tracey Gaudry, with the main field containing Ulmer a few seconds further back. Bessette demonstrated her climbing prowess on the first of three ascents of Blue Knob, and was never seen again until the presentations.

Results

Men

1. John Lieswyn (USA) Shaklee 		     3.32.10
2. Vassily Davidenko (Rus) Navigators
3. Brendon Vesty (NZl) Navigators
4. Chris Wherry (USA) Saturn
5. Chris Fisher (USA) Monsoon Racing (USA) 	0.35
6. Clark Sheehan (USA) 7-Up-Colorado Cyclist
7. Dean Meyer (USA) Lombardi Sports
8. Antonio Cruz (USA) Saturn
9. Mark Walters (Can) Navigators
10. Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Navigators

General classification after stage 5:

1. Vassily Davidenko (Rus) Navigators
2. Gord Fraser (Can) Mercury			0.07
3. John Lieswyn (USA) Shaklee			0.11
4. Chris Wherry (USA) Saturn			0.19
5. Chris Fisher (USA) Monsoon Racing		1.03
6. Scott Moninger (USA) Mercury			1.05
7. Mark Walters (Can) Navigators		1.08
8. Clark Sheehan (USA) 7-Up-Colorado Cyclist	1.10
9. Brendon Vesty (NZl) Navigators		2.14
10. Andrew Randell (Can) Jetfuel		2.20

Women

1. Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn		     4.10.30
2. Tracey Gaudry (Aus) Timex (USA) 		3.06
3. Tina Mayolo-Pic (USA) AutoTrader.com		3.14
4. Ann Samplonious (Can) Saturn
5. Sarah Ulmer (NZl) Elita
6. Alison Sydor (Can) Timex
7. Rosalind Reekie May (NZl) Procter & Gamble
8. Stacey Peters (USA) 800.com
9. Ann Gariepy (Can) Elita
10. Caren Spore (USA) Jane Cosmetics

General classification after stage 5:

1. Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn
2. Sarah Ulmer (NZl) Elita			3.07
3. Tracey Gaudry (Aus) Timex (USA)		3.28
4. Tina Mayolo-Pic (USA) AutoTrader.com		3.53
5. Alison Sydor (Can) Timex			3.56
6. Ann Samplonious (Can) Saturn			3.57
7. Anke Erlank (RSA) AutoTrader.com		4.00
8. Katrina Berger (USA) Charles Schwab		4.01
9. Kimberly Bruckner (USA) AutoTrader.com
10. Stacey Peters (USA) 800.com			4.04