Tour of the Gila - NE

USA, May 3-7, 2000

Stage 5 - May 7: Gila Monster Road Race, 100 miles/66 miles (m/w)

Men

John Lieswyn's report

9200 ft/3000 m climbing, 3 mountains

Simple strategy today for Team Shaklee. Use our manpower in two shifts. Jame Carney, Dave McCook, Luke Mauritzen, Christian Valenzuela, and Colby Pearce would set the pace over the smaller climbs and flats until 50 miles, when we hit the first climb. On one of the 50mph (80kph) descents early on, Christian got a front flat. I'll tell you, I've never seen a bicycle front end wobble as badly as his was. Lucky for him he brought it under control.

Going up the first major climb of the day all our "first shift" guys fell off the pace, their job done. From this summit we could see a majestic arid valley containing the turn around point, the Gila Cliff Dwellings. There wasn't much time to sightsee as the descent was fast and difficult. I eased off as we neared the bottom and strong winds buffeted my front aero Cane Creek wheel. Sitting around 20th in the line I got to see one of the more horrific crashes of my cycling career as Bart Bowen (Saturn) went wide in a corner. His front wheel hit a deep ditch and he flipped hard. Parts of his bike including the collapsed front wheel still attached to sheared off fork blades flew through the air. I couldn't imagine that he would get up from that fall. Later we'd find out that Bart got up and was seen in the feed zone scraped up but OK.

Sylvain, Glen, and Graeme took care of Eric and I until the start of the 2nd climb, about 20 miles. Our Kiwis worked really hard at the front, doing 30mph and closing the gap to the early breakaway of Gord Fraser, Mike Sayers, and Steve Speaks (7UP). On the last two climbs I stayed close by Eric and we worked to contain the overall challengers, especially Eddy Gragus (Jelly Belly), Doug Z. (7UP), and Scott Price. Burke Swindlehurst won the stage (and the stuffed Gila Monster prize) from a group of 3 riders while Eric and I finished 1:20 behind in a group of 6. It was a great team effort today. After 24,000 feet climbed in 5 days Eric took the overall win while I was also in the top 10.

Next up: Houston BMC Software GP, then Olympic Road Trials Jackson Mississippi

Results

1. Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Navigators

Final general classification:

1. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Shaklee-Marin              13.44.47
2. Eddy Gragus (USA) Jelly Belly                      1.30
3. Doug Ziewacz (USA) 7 UP-Colorado Cyclist           3.05
4. Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Navigators                3.22
5. Clark Sheehan (USA) 7 UP-Colorado Cyclist          3.29
6. Ron Schmeer (USA) Nutra Fig-Noni                   3.45
7. Scott Price (USA) Landis Cyclery-WMRC              3.56
8. John Lieswyn (USA) Shaklee-Marin                   4.10
9. Damon Kluck (USA) Spokesman                        4.54
10. Jimi Killen (USA) Boulder Chaos                   4.57

Women

By John Alsedek, cyclingnews.com correspondent

In today's 66-mile 'Gila Monster' Road Race, Jeannie Longo may have won the battle, but Timex's Mari Holden won the war. With three minutes in hand over Longo going into the final stage, Holden's lead appeared safe; however, with over 5,000 feet of climbing- and a finish atop a surprisingly difficult Category 4 climb- Longo wasn't quite done yet. She gained nearly two minutes on the final ascent, but Holden, aided by Timex teammate Kim Smith, worked to limit her losses, finishing second in the stage and holding on to win the five-day event. Longo retained second place, while Kimberly Bruckner (AutoTrader.com) finished third in both the stage and the overall.

Results

1. Jeannie Longo (Fra) Ebly
2. Mari Holden (USA) Timex
3. Kimberly Bruckner (USA) AutoTrader.com

Final general classification:

1. Mari Holden (USA) Timex
2. Jeannie Longo (Fra) Ebly
3. Kimberly Bruckner (USA) AutoTrader.com

Thanks to Giana Roberge for the results