International Cycling Classic - Superweek - NE

USA, July 7-23, 2006

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Stage 1 - July 7 : Beverly Hills Cycling Classic presented by The McTigue Financial Group, Chicago, IL, 100 km

International riders highlight Superweek opener

By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor in Chicago, IL

Christian Valenzuela Zamudio (Team Monex)
Photo ©: Mark Zalewski

The Beverly Hills neighbourhood of Chicago once again hosted the first race of the seventeen-day criterium and road race series known as Superweek. But with the U.S. elite nationals this weekend in Pennsylvania, the international riders were given an opportunity to shine, with Mexican Christian Valenzuela Zamudio (Team Monex) winning the race out of a three-rider break, including Dane Jacob Nielsen (Glud & Marstrand Horsens) and Wisconsin native Andrew Crater (Wheel & Sprocket).

"I felt really strong today," said Valenzuela. "But I have to say thanks to my team, a lot of thanks to them." Valenzuela is referring to the lead-out he received after the leading trio lapped the field with more than twenty miles remaining in the race. The leaders sat near the back for most of the time, but a flurry of primes near the end pushed the pace high and the three leaders moved to the front.

"I was following hard but there was an acceleration with three to go and I started cramping - it was immediately after a prime," said Crater. "Valenzuela was really pushing the pace." Crater dropped off the lead with less than five laps remaining, but was kept on the lead lap with the help of some teammates. "I am pretty disappointed because I could have taken them in a sprint. But I always seem to suffer at this race, since I take a long time off before this."

New Zealand criterium champion
Photo ©: Mark Zalewski

Another international Monex rider, New Zealand criterium champion Hayden Godfrey, had a frustrating evening but still made the most of it, scoring enough points to take the red points jersey. "I was in the break but when it started breaking up, I broke my bottom bracket!" said Godfrey. "They wouldn't put me back in the break and somewhere along I got some time penalties. So I tried to salvage something from it."

Godfrey and the rest of Team Monex plans to race all of Superweek, which continues this weekend with two criteriums in North-central Wisconsin. Three road races highlight the weekday races before a weekend of four NRC criteriums in Milwaukee and Chicago on Sunday.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com

Even with elite nationals this weekend, the first race of Superweek produced a strong international turnout.
An early break of three with two usual suspects: Andrew Crater (Wheel & Sprocket) and Jacob Nielsen Glud & Marstrand Horsens) along with Christian Valenzuela (Monex).
Nielsen leads the trio as they increase their lead on the field.
This Kahala-LaGrange rider tries to bridge to the break.
Frank Travieso (AEG-TOSHIBA-JetNetwork) attempts to bridge solo.
The riders were looked after by the SRAM Neutral Service team.
Nielsen leads Valenzuela.
Hayden Godfrey (Monex) broke his bottom bracket and got to use a neutral service Colnago with a SRAM road group, not a bad trade.
Andrew Crater (Wheel & Sprocket) powers along.
New Zealand criterium champion Hayden Godfrey (Monex) sprints for more points.
Andrew Crater (Wheel & Sprocket) corners at the bottom of the descent.
Team Milram, sans Erik Zabel, even sent some riders to Superweek.
Points leader Godfrey corners.
Dennis Haueisen (Team Milram)
Another large crowd in South Chicago Beverly kicks off Superweek.
Brian Jensen (Jelly Belly) and a Team Milram rider sprint for a prime.
Having lapped the field the leaders try to jockey for a good position in the sprint.
Team Monex puts two riders on the front to lead out Valenzuela, with Nielsen right on his wheel.
Andrew Crater (Wheel & Sprocket) suffered from cramping in the final laps, and uses a teammate to stay on the lap.
Christian Valenzuela Zamudio (Team Monex) takes the sprint with the help of his teammates.

Results

1 Christian Valenzuela Zamudio (Team Monex)
2 Jacob Nielsen (Glud & Marstrand Horsens) - Denmark
3 Andrew Crater (Team Wheel & Sprocket)
4 Hayden Godfrey (Team Monex) - New Zealand
5 Nevojsa Jovanovic (AEG- Toshiba) - Serbia & Montenegro
6 Dennis Haueisen (Team Milram) - Germany
7 David Sachs (Vision Quest)
8 Devon Vigus (Team Monex)
9 Victor Ayala (Kahala LaGrange) - Mexico
10 Frederick Bottger (Merrill Lynch / Bicycle John's)
11 Josh Horowitz (Kahala LaGrange)
12 Jeffrey Dickinson (Schwab Cycles Torelli Velo Project LLC)
13 Robert Kelley (Training Bible / The Bike Shop)
14 Brian Jensen (Jelly Belly - Aramark)
15 Patrick Dunaway (California Giant/Village Peddler)
16 Stefan Adamsson (Team Milram) - Germany
17 Zach Fiocca (Team Brain & Spine/Chann McRae Cycling)
18 Daniel Lionberg (Team Beans & Barley)
19 Randy Bramblett (McGuire Cycling Team) - United States
20 (unknown rider)
21 John Tzinberg (Kahala LaGrange)
22 Yosvany Falcon (AEG-Toshiba)
23 Cesar Correa (Endeavour Cycling)
24 Brent Dickinson (Velo Project LLC)
25 Cameron Fox (Encino Velo Cycling Club)
26 Kyle Jacobson (Team Beans & Barley)
27 Peter Femal (Team Monex)
28 Sean McBride (Metromint Cycling)
29 Brandon Gavic (Bianchi/Grand Performance)
30 Glenn Fant (Team Monex)
31 Michael Berling (Horsens, Denmark) - Denmark
32 Shawn Willard (Wheel & Sprocket)
33 Joshua Carter (Mesa Cycles Racing Team)
34 Ara Oggoian (Training Bible)
35 Dean Peters (SAFEWAY/G.A.Communications)
36 Kenneth Delo (Training Bible / The Bike Shop)