First Union USPRO Championships (1.2)

Philadelphia, USA , June 10, 2001

Main page and start list

Complete Live Report

Start time: 0900 EDT
Estimated finish time: 1500 EDT

0850 EDT

10 minutes to go before the start. The peloton is now on the start line and there is a lot of tension. The weather is perfect, with a high of about 82 F expected, and it's not too windy. There is a record crowd already on the Manayunk Wall.

One of the things about the racing this week is that even the smaller teams are prepared well. This means that it should be a very competitive race today. US Postal have the best team for years, very focused. Mercury have a big strong team too. A lot of people are pulling for Trent Klasna (Saturn) who has had a great season. Fred Rodriguez is nervous, as the Domo team is not strong. The 250 kilometre distance will sort everyone out though.

0920 EDT

Nothing much happening after 20 minutes of racing. Most of the peloton are riding piano, although a Mroz rider (Pawel Niedzwiecki) has attacked.

1000 EDT

16 riders with 1'20 on the peloton. Michael Sayers (Mercury Viatel), Benoit Joachim (US Postal Service), Robbie Ventura (US Postal Service), David Zabriskie (US Postal Service), Nicolas Reynaud (Festina Lotus), Luis Perez (Festina Lotus), Raphael Jeune (CSC World On Line), Chris Fisher (Saturn), Frank McCormack (Saturn), Ryan Guay (7-UP Colorado Cyclist), Clark Sheehan (7-UP Colorado Cyclist), Eugen Wacker (Mroz-Supradyn / Servisco), Zbigniew Kyrzykowski (Mroz-Supradyn / Servisco), Max Finkbeiner (Zaxby's), Daniel Spence (IBM Lotus), . Three riders are attempting to bridge: Jason Crookham (Sympatico.ca), Scottie Weiss (Zaxby's), Douglas Ryder (IBM Lotus)

Postal is driving the break hard, looking to make the race hard as they did on Thursday. Mercury has only one rider in the break.

1030 EDT - 11 laps to go (8 big laps, 3 small laps)

The peloton is at 3'15 to the 16 man breakaway. Jason Crookham (Sympatico.ca) and Douglas Ryder (IBM Lotus) are chasing at 1'35. US Postal is still driving the break, and so far the race is in their favour.

In the front group , Daniel Spence (IBM Lotus) been winning the hill climbs. Peloton is not really chasing, and Mercury look confused. Navigators don't have a man up there either, and the gap may continue to grow.

Other news across the pond: Italian newspapers have reported that up to 70 riders will be questioned by Police tomorrow in relation to the hotel raids. Most of the products were reportedly stimulants (caffeine etc.), but there are reports of heavier drugs, as well as some experimental stuff. A full report will be published later on cyclingnews.com

1100 EDT - 80 km/170 km to go

The 16 man breakaway with 10 laps to go has ballooned to a 7'05 lead. The peloton are still not chasing seriously, and this really puts the pressure on Mercury.

Euro news: Mario Cipollini has won the last stage of the Giro from Danilo Hondo and MarcoZanotti. Didier Rous has won the prologue of the Dauphine.

1130 EDT

With 9 laps to go, the three chasers (Pawel Niedzwiecki (Mroz), Dominique Rollin (Sympatico.ca) and Douglas Ryder (IBM Lotus) are at 2'24, while the peloton is at 7'45. There's a little increase in the tempo, but the Mercury riders coming back to the team car asking what to do. They don't want to chase, that's clear but everyone is expecting them to.

In front, Daniel Spence (IBM Lotus) and Luis Perez (Festina Lotus) are trading off for the mountain sprints on Lemon Hill and the Manayunk Wall. Spence is leading that competition.

The weather is staritng to cloud up and getting a little windier, there are huge crowds as always.

1200 EDT - 120 km/130 km to go

The situation is similar with 8 laps to go, but the peloton is chasing harder now. Mercury is doing a little bit, but it's mainly Navigators who have taken on the responsibility. The gap is now down to 6'40.

Some early race pics from Jonathan Devich:

  • Fred Mengoni - a local Philly rider who has battled back from being hit by a car.
  • Fred Megnoni - watches the bunch fly by on the early laps

1230 EDT - 146 km/104 km to go

With 7 laps to go, Luis Perez made a big attack on Manayunk Wall, dropping the South African Spence. He is caught by Clark Sheehan (7-UP Colorado Cyclist) and Eugen Wacker (Mroz) and now there are three riders leading a group of 12.

Women's race: It ended in a bunch sprint, despite attempts by Acca Due to escape. No prizes for guessing who won.... 1. Petra Rossner (Saturn) 2. Anna Millward (Saturn). Millward increases her lead in the World Cup, and thats' 6 wins (5 in a row) for Rossner. Pic from Rob Karman:

1255 EDT - 160 km/90 km to go

The 3 riders Luis Perez (Festina), Clark Sheehan (7-UP Colorado Cyclist) and Eugen Wacker (Mroz) have now established a 3'40 lead to 12 chasers, with the peloton a further 1'20 behind them. It's a delicate situation in the race at the moment, with no-one really driving it hard, saving for the front three.

Top 5 in the Liberty Classic: 1 Petra Rossner (Saturn), 2 Anna Millward (Saturn), 3 Debby Mansfeld (Vlaanderen-T-Interim), 4 Sandy Espeseth (Intersports), 5 Mirjam Melchers (Acca Due O-HP)

1325 EDT - 170 km/80 km to go

The big chasing group has been caught by the peloton, and now there are just three riders in the lead: Luis Perez, who attacked over the Manayunk Wall (3rd last time up it) and won the KOM putting 20 seconds into Sheehan and Wacker. However, they only have 2 minutes to the bunch.

In the peloton, Mercury are chasing strongly now. The pace and hard tempo have taken a heavy toll, with a lot of riders dropping out.

Complete results and report of the last stage of the Giro available here.

1350 EDT - 185 km/65 km to go

On the last lap (5 to go) after Lemon Hill, Perez and the other two were caught, with the chase led by Saturn. There is a solo move on River Drive by Kirk Willett, but he is caught.

Right now there is a lot of action in the peloton, with Domo, John Lieswyn amongst those attacking. There's still about 50 riders in front as we approach the penultimate climb of the Manayunk Wall.

1410 EDT - 37 km to go

On the second last climb of the wall, Mercury and Navigators drive the pace at the bottom, then Ekimov comes through for US Postal. George Hincapie launches himself off the front but is brought back over the top. However, the peloton is now split into two groups of 25 at one minute apart.

There are now three riders away after Lemon Hill: Jakob Storm Piil (CSC World On Line) Mike Barry (Saturn) Soren Peterson (Saturn). They have about 5 seconds.

1430 EDT - 20 km to go

A big attack by Pedro Horillo (Mapei) on the last time up the wall, George Hincapie was second, and Fred Rodriguez (Domo) third. They are joined by Fabrizio Guidi (Mercury Viatel), Jakob Storm Piil (CSC World On Line) and Trent Klasna (Saturn). They have 40 seconds on the peloton which is not looking too organised. This could be it and it will be a fantastic finish. Coming up to three short 3 mile laps to go.

1440 EDT - 14 km to go

The gap to the six is down to 10 seconds. Klasna led over Lemon Hill. Mroz and Navigators lead a group of 25 inclduing Vogels, Van Bon, Koerts and Commesso.

1450 EDT - 8 km to go

It's about 15-20 seconds between the two groups, as George Hincapie wins the last KOM from Trent Klasna (Saturn) and Jakob Storm Piil (CSC World On Line). Guidi might have fast legs, and Horrillo Munoz is a handy sprinter too... This is going to be an exciting finish.

1500 EDT - 0 km to go

Last KOM: Jakob Storm Piil (CSC World On Line) Fred Rodriguez (Domo-Farm Frites) Trent Klasna (Saturn)

The front 6 still have 22 seconds, but are being chased hard by the Navigators, Mroz. Hincapie and Klasna attack in the last 2 km. It's Klasna v. Hincapie for the sprint....Fred Rodriguez catches them and attacks on Logan's circle. If he can hold on he will win.

...And he does! Solo win by Fred!

Second was Klasna, with Hincapie third.

"We were coming into the last kilometre and guys were looking at each other. The speed started to go down and I just kept going hard on the inside. I got a gap and kept going. I can't believe this is happening."

Results

Unofficial
1 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Domo-Farm Frites       5.57.57
2 Trent Klasna (USA) Saturn                      0.08
3 George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service        0.12
4 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Mercury-Viatel
Full results and report