BMC Software Tour of Houston - 1.3USA, May 14, 2000Start lists: Men Women Men's result Women's result Reinhart and Fraser get closer to the big oneBy John Alsedek, cyclingnews.com correspondent Going into today's BMC Software Tour of Houston, Saturn's Nicole Reinhart and Mercury's Gord Fraser could be forgiven for having a larger-than-usual case of pre-race jitters. Besides the combination of points (UCI, Saturn U.S. Pro Tour, and NRC) and cash (a combined $35,000 for the day), two things that were on the mind of virtually every starter, they also had something else to ponder that no one else did: the possibility of being considerably wealthier in the near future. As part of the 2000 BMC race series, BMC Software has offered special bonuses to any rider who can manage to win all four events: $125,000 for the women, and a cool quarter-million for the men. As the winners of Round One, the BMC Lance Armstrong Criterium in April, Reinhart and Fraser stood in the position of being the only ones still capable of winning the prizes....and that's where they still stand, as they both took hard-fought bunch sprints to win their respective events and keep alive their hopes for those monster paydays. With an utter lack of climbing and the absence of riders such as Timex's Mari Holden and Anna Wilson of Saturn, it would have been understandable if the small women's field had quietly ridden out the 39.6-mile event and saved their energy for the almost inevitable sprint. But it didn't quite work out that way. While none of the innumerable attacks, such as a solo move by Erin Veenstra-Mirabella (Timex) during the first lap, gained more than a few seconds, they helped keep the pace above 25 mph throughout. But every time AutoTrader.com or Timex would send someone off the front, Reinhart's Saturn mates Julie Hanson, Susy Pryde, and Suzanne Sonye would bring them back, setting the table for Reinhart, who outkicked Tina Mayolo (AutoTrader.com) and Sarah Ulmer (Elita) for the win. The circumstances were somewhat different in the men's race. Not only were all the top U.S. domestic squads represented, but they were joined by a U.S. Postal Service contingent led by U.S. road champion Marty Jemison, as well as teams from Poland and Mexico. However, as has been the case for most of the season, it was Mercury who, despite having just seven riders in the race, once again dictated the results. They sent Will Frischkorn off with Jose Garcia (Universidad de Guadalajara) for what would turn out to be a 50-mile excursion off the front. However, they were caught with about 20 miles to go; despite a few other moves, such as a seven-man break that included Saturn's Mark McCormack and another Mercury man, Michael Sayers, it became clear that a bunch finish was in the offing. As the pack began the first of five 1.8-mile mini-laps, the Shaklee squad took the front, setting up a six-man train in the hopes of setting up defending Houston champ Jonas Carney. The Shaklee strategy seemed to be working, until Mercury set up its own express line with just three to go. After a last-lap crash eliminated such sprinters as Eddy Gragus (Jelly Belly) and Oscar Pineda (7 UP/Colorado Cyclist), it came down to those two teams in a hard fought and not entirely clean sprint, with Fraser outgunning the Shaklee duo of Graeme Miller and Dave McCook. U.S. criterium champion Antonio Cruz (Saturn) and Ukrainian Vassili Davidenko rounded out the top five. While Fraser sang the praises of his Mercury teammates afterwards, he also paid credit to his rivals "The Shaklee guys did a super job: they deserve full credit. However, we just had a little extra today." He may have a lot extra soon, as he and Reinhart continue their quest in San Jose, CA on June 24th at the BMC San Jose Grand Prix.
ResultsMen - 90 miles1. Gord Fraser (Can) Mercury 3.06.35 2. Graeme Miller (NZL) Shaklee 3. Dave McCook (USA) Shaklee 4. Antonio Cruz (USA) Saturn 5. Vassili Davidenko (Ukr) Navigators 6. Jan Bratkowski (Ger) Mercury 7. Mark McCormack (USA) Saturn 8. Kevin Monahan (USA) 7 UP/Colorado Cyclist 9. Steve Sevener (USA) Zaxby's 10. Jonas Carney (USA) Shaklee Women - 39.6 miles1. Nicole Reinhart (USA) Saturn 1.32.27 2. Tina Mayolo (USA) AutoTrader.com 3. Sarah Ulmer (NZL) Elita 4. Shannon Hutchinson (USA) AutoTrader.com 5. Laura Van Gilder (USA) Charles Schwab 6. Erin Veenstra-Mirabella (USA) Timex 7. Katrina Berger (USA) Charles Schwab 8. Nicole Freedman (USA) Charles Schwab 9. Mary McLaurin (USA) unattached 10. Roz Reekie (NZL) New Zealand National Start ListUS POSTAL SERVICE SATURN
1. Marty Jemison (USA) 11. Erin Hartwell (USA)
2. Frankie Andreu (USA) 12. Antonio Cruz (USA)
3. Christian VandeVelde (USA) 13. Bart Bowen (USA)
4. Dylan Casey,USA 14. Frank McCormack (USA)
5. Kirk O’Bee (USA) 15. Mark McCormack (USA)
6. Kenny Labbe (USA) 16. Seth Pelusi (USA)
7. Jamie Burrow (GBr) 17. Robbie Ventura (USA)
18. Trent Klasna (USA)
19. Chris Wherry (USA)
20. Harm Jansen (Ned)
MERCURY SHAKLEE
21. Derek Bouchard Hall (USA) 31. Jonas Carney (USA)
22. Roy Knickman (USA) 32 Jaime Carney (USA)
23. Mike Sayers (USA) 33. Graeme Miller (NZl)
24. Jan Bratkowski (Ger) 34. Glen Mitchell (NZl)
25. Will Frischkorn (USA) 35. John Lieswyn (USA)
26. Gordon Fraser (CAN) 36. David McCook (USA)
27. John Peters (USA) 37. Colby Pearce (USA)
38. Kent Bostick (USA)
39. Adam Laurent (USA)
40. Christian Valenzuela (Mex)
NAVIGATORS NUTRA-FIG-NONI
41. Vassilvi Davidenko (Rus) 51. Ron Schmeer (USA)
42. Franky Vanhaesebroucke (Bel) 52. Jason Van Marle (USA)
43. Burke Swindlehurst (USA) 53. Jason McCartney (USA)
44. Jon Hamblen (USA) 54. Jesse Keefer (USA)
45. Todd Littlehales (USA) 55. Ryan Allison (USA)
46. Paul Martin (USA) 56. Alex Gardner (USA)
47. Elliott Hibbard (GBr)
48. Matthew Koschara (USA)
49. Adham Sbeih (USA)
50. Brendon Vesty (NZl)
JELLY BELLY 7UP-COLORADO CYCLIST
61. Scott Cochran (USA) 71. Paul Collins (USA)
62. Eddy Gragus (USA) 72. John Corbett (USA)
63. Norm Carter (USA) 73. Ryan Guay (USA)
64. Kirk Albers (USA) 74. Kevin Monahan (USA)
65. Adam Livingston (USA) 75. Juan Pineda (Gua)
66. Steve Hegg (USA) 76. Oscar Pineda (Gua)
67. Mariano Friedick (USA) 77. Clark Sheehan (USA)
68. Matt Minard (USA) 78. Steve Speaks (USA)
69. Josh Collingwood (Aus) 79. Anton Villatoro (USA)
80. Doug Ziewacz (USA)
MAT-CERESIT-CCC UNIVERSIDAD DE GUADALAJARA
81. Luca Belluomini (Ita) 91. Florencio Ramos (Mex)
82. Massimo Sorice (Ita) 92. Camil Siddharta (Mex)
83. Dimitri Seduounes (Rus) 93 Jose Garcia (Mex)
84. Artur Krasinski (Pol) 94. Arquimedes Lam (Mex)
85. Tomasz Kloczko (Pol) 95. Jose Robles (Col)
86. Slawomir Chrzanowksi (Pol) 96. Alejandro Sanchez (Mex)
87. Krystof Szafranski (Pol) 97. Jose Luis Castel (Mex)
88. Piotr Zaradny (Pol) 98. Jose Jimenz (Mex)
99. Ricardo Tapia (Mex)
100 . Omar Trompa (Col)
ZAXBY’S AMOROSO RACING TEAM
101. Chris Pic (USA) 121. Michael Tamayo (USA)
102. Scottie Weiss (USA) 122. Dave Peter (USA)
103. Jesse Lawler (USA) 123. Gus Carillo (Gua)
104. Tom Kalstrup USA 124. Andrew Crater (USA)
105. Ryan Barnett (USA) 125. Chris MacGovern (USA)
106. Rusty Miller (USA) 126. Garth Blackburn(USA)
107. Jon Atkins (USA) 127. Ryan Stoner (USA)
108. Tommy Mulkey (USA)
109. Micah Rice (USA)
110. Steve Sevener (USA)
YAHWEH TOKYO JOE PEPSI RICHARDSON BIKE MART
131. Antoine Bodwin (USA) 141. Chris Powers (USA)
132. Jim Laport (USA) 142. Max Miley (USA)
133. Joby Siciliano (USA) 143. Will Letendre (USA)
134. Troy Reynold (USA) 144. Bill Short (USA)
135. Joe Miller (USA) 145. Rory McAdams (USA)
136. Travis Hutchinson (USA) 146. Jason Davis (USA)
137. Tom Davis (USA)
138. Andrew Clark (USA)
TEAM ALTRA L’EQUIPE CHEVAL
151. Dean Buzbee (USA) 161. Mike Tillman (USA)
152. John Morstead (USA) 162. Abraham Valenzuela (Mex)
153. Paul Chandler (USA) 163. John Walrod (USA)
154. Brandon Cowart (USA) 164. Brian Whitcomb,USA
155. Christopher Tietsort (USA) 165. John Slover (USA)
156. Brian Fagan (USA) 166. Dirk Friel (USA)
157. Chris Hipp (USA)
158. Mike Nelson (USA)
159. Bret Crosby (USA)
160. Edward Kinen (USA)
CYCLESCIENCE.COM COMPOSITE A
171. Danny Bennett (USA) 181. Roberto Gaggioli (Ita)
172. Louis Lamarche (USA) 182. Chad Gerlach (USA)
173. Dan Larson (USA) 184. Peter Mutuc (USA)
174. Ivan Doninguez (USA) 185. Andrew Bajadali (USA)
175. Mike Pudinski (USA) 186. Dave Aschwanden (USA)
176. Mike Zingaro (USA) 187. Dean LaBerge (USA)
Women
SATURN 1. Nicole Reinhart (USA) 2. Julie Hanson (USA) 3. Susanne Sonye (USA) AUTOTRADER.COM 11. Kim Bruckner (USA) 12. Andrea Ratkovic (USA) 13. Tina Mayolo (USA) 14. Shannon Hutchinson (USA) 15. Marjon Marik (USA) 16. Laura Shuford (USA) 17. Pam Schuster (USA) 18. Julie Young (USA) PROTEUS.COM 21. Jen Dial (USA) 22. Tiffany Pizzulo (USA) 23. Emily Thorne (USA) 24. Bianca Netzler (USA) TIMEX 31. Odessa Gunn (Can) 32. Kim Smith (USA) 33. Erin Veenstra (USA) CHARLES SCHWAB 41. Laura Van Gilder (USA) 42. Nicole Freedman (USA) 43. Katrina Berger (USA) ELITA/NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL 51. Sarah Ulmer (NZl) Elita 52. Kim Davidge (NZl) Elita 53. Tania Duff-Miller (NZl) 54. Roz Reekie (NZl) COMPOSITE A 61. Lara Ruthvan (USA) Texas CycleSport 62. Melanie Black (USA) Lone Star Cycling 63. Kathy Oates (USA) 64. Deidre Murphy (USA) RLX Polo Sport 65. Amy Matson-Hyland (USA) 66. Amy Roberts (USA) Colorado Road Club 67. Traci Brown (USA) Colorado Road Club 68. Paige Winans (USA) 69. Charlotte Miller (USA) Resultscoming! |