Tour de Nez - NE

USA, June 22-24, 2006

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Stage 2 - June 22: Downtown Truckee criterium, 60 minutes

Big Karl out-sprints breakaway companions

By Kimberly Baldwin in Truckee, California

Karl Menzies (Health Net presented by Maxxis) outsprinted his two breakaway partners, Tony Cruz (Toyota-United) and Andy Bajadali (Jelly Belly) to take the win in the pro men's criterium in Truckee, California tonight. With Cruz' third place in the morning's time trial and his second place in the criterium, he now goes into tomorrow's road stage with the overall race leader's jersey for the Tour de Nez.

The action in Truckee started at 5:30pm with the 30 minute handcyclists criterium. The ten handcyclists competing included the #1 world ranked Alejandro Albor, a truly amazing athlete. Albor convincingly won this morning's time trial, beating his competition by over 5 minutes. He continued his domination in the criterium. Within the first few laps, Albor, along with Oscar Sanchez and top Colorado-based hand cyclist, Matt Updike, separated themselves from the rest of the field. About half way through the race, Updike fell off the pace yet stayed strong and soloed in for third place. With 5 laps to go, Albor powered away from the up-and-coming Sanchez and never looked back. His win and his strength showed why he is currently ranked as the world's best. Albor's goal is this year's Hand Cycling World Championships, held in Salzbur, Austria in August. And after that? "My ultimate goal is the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China," said Albor. Look for more information on these amazing athletes in an upcoming diary report.

The next race on the evening's roster was the pro men's 60-minute criterium. Tom Zirbel of Priority Health lined up with the red race leader's jersey after winning the morning's time trial stage. A few sprinters' faces appeared that hadn't been seen at the time trial, notably Alex Candelario and Dave McCook from Jelly Belly. After a trumpeted rendition of the national anthem, the approximately 120 pro men were off and racing. The course was flat, fast, and technical. So technical, in fact, that within the first three laps there were two crashes that separated the field in half. By the half way point of the race, approximately 40 men were left in the front group with many men left either pulled out of the race or chasing. Within those 40 men though were four Jelly Belly, four Health Net presented by Maxxis, and four Toyota-United. With constant attacks, the race was always fast. And with Truckee being at over 5,000 feet in elevation, the air was thin and taking it's toll of some of the riders. Notably missing from the front group however was race leader Zirbel, who apparently crashed on the back side of the course and was taken out of the race. He is well enough to continue tomorrow though and is expected at the start of Friday's road race.

With about 20 minutes to go in the race, Andy Bajadali from Jelly Belly put in a ferociou attack, and was quickly followed by Karl Menzies, Health Net, and Tony Cruz of Toyota-United. The trio quickly built up a lead of over 8 seconds on the chasing field of 30 riders by this point. With 3 of the main men's teams represented and a splintering field behind, no real chase ensued and the break was established and gaining time. With Cruz the highest placed rider from the morning's stage, and the ominium points system, Toyota-United was aiming for the overall race leader's jersey and a hoped for stage win. But Karl Menzies, nicknamed Karl "Ten Men"zies, put a decisive stamp on the race, going into the final corner of the course first and never relinquishing his lead.

"Karl came around that last corner in his 14," said Cruz, "then shifted into his 11 and hadn't even stood up on his pedals yet. I tried to get a jump on him but he faked me out and I lost my chance. A couple of times during the break, Karl would simply accelerate and Andy and I would start coming off of his wheel."

The podium finish was a great result for Jelly Belly rider Bajadali too, considering he's been on the road racing for over 5 weeks now. "I'm just really tired right now," said Bajadali earlier after the morning's stage. "I've been on the road racing since mid-May and am ready for a break. My girlfriend and I are going camping after I get home from this race and I'm really looking forward to it."

Soloing to 4th place in tonight's race was Gordon MacCauley of Successfulliving, who attacked the field with about 5 laps to go. Alex Candelario of Jelly Belly won the field sprint for 5th.

The racing continues tomorrow with the 173km road stage starting in Tahoe City, California. The breath-taking course involves plenty of climbing and an even greater altitude gain, so look for mountain goat riders like Scott Moninger, last year's Tour de Nez champion, to come to the forefront, along with Toyota-United's Chris Wherry and Navigator's Phil Zajicek. "I feel Moninger's the one we need to watch tomorrow," said Tony Cruz after tonight's criterium. "He won this race last year and knows this course well."

Results

1 Karl Menzies (Health Net Presented By Maxxis)                           
2 Tony Cruz (Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team)                              
3 Andrew Bajadali (Jelly Belly)                                           
4 Gordon Mccauley (Successfulliving)                                      
5 Alex Candelario (Jelly Belly)                                           
6 Scott Moninger (Health Net Presented By Maxxis)                         
7 Kyle Gritters (Health Net Presented By Maxxis)                          
8 Robbie King (Priority Health)                                           
9 Tommy Nankervis (Priority Health)                                       
10 Ken Hanson (Bmc Racing Team)                                           
11 Chris Baldwin (Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team)                         
12 Garrett Peltonen (Health Net Presented By Maxxis)                      
13 Bernard Van Ulden (Webcor / Alto Velo)                                 
14 Caleb Manion (Jelly Belly)                                             
15 Jonny Sundt (Axleyusa.Com)                                             
16 Jamiel Danesh (Rh Villa.Com/ Montano Velo)                             
17 Heath Blackgrove (Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team)                      
18 Curtis Gunn (Successfulliving)                                         
19 Patrick Briggs (Cal Giant /Village Peddler)                            
20 Chad Nikolz (Broadmark / Hagens-Berman)                                
21 Morgan Schmitt (Broadmark/Hagens-Berman)                               
22 Phil Zajicek (Navigators)                                              
23 John Hunt (Cal Giant /Village Peddler)                                 
24 Roman Kilun (Health Net Presented By Maxxis)                           
25 James Mattis (Cal Giant /Village Peddler)                              
26 Mitch Moreman (Rocky Mtn Chocolate Factory)                            
27 Aaron Olson (Saunier Duval Pro Cycling Team)                           
28 Craig Mccartney (Wild Oats / Al's Barbershop)                          
 
Pro/1/2 Omnium after race 2
 
1 Karl Menzies (Health Net Presented By Maxxis)                         72 pts
2 Tony Cruz (Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team)                            67
3 Andrew Bajadali (Jelly Belly)                                         49
4 Chris Baldwin (Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team)                        47
5 Bernard Van Ulden (Webcor / Alto Velo)                                44
6 Scott Moninger (Health Net Presented By Maxxis)                       42
7 Gordon Mccauley (Successfulliving)                                    39
8 Alex Candelario (Jelly Belly)                                         35
9 Curtis Gunn (Successfulliving)                                        32
10 Tom Zirbel (Priority Health)                                         30
11 Kyle Gritters (Health Net Presented By Maxxis)                       30
12 Robbie King (Priority Health)                                        28
13 Tommy Nankervis (Priority Health)                                    26
14 Heath Blackgrove (Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team)                    25
15 Ken Hanson (Bmc Racing Team)                                         24
16 Garrett Peltonen (Health Net Presented By Maxxis)                    23
17 Phil Zajicek (Navigators)                                            22
18 Caleb Manion (Jelly Belly)                                           17
19 Jonny Sundt (Axleyusa.Com)                                           16
20 Jamiel Danesh (Rh Villa.Com/ Montano Velo)                           15
21 Brian Buchholz (Webcor/Alto Velo)                                    15
22 Patrick Briggs (Cal Giant /Village Peddler)                          12
23 Randy Reichardt (Bang Salon/Hart)                                    12
24 Chad Nikolz (Broadmark / Hagens-Berman)                              11
25 Morgan Schmitt (Broadmark/Hagens-Berman)                             10
26 Chris Lieto (Cal Giant /Village Peddler)                              9
27 Roman Kilun (Health Net Presented By Maxxis)                          9
28 John Hunt (Cal Giant /Village Peddler)                                8
29 Derik Archibald (Axleyusa.Com)                                        7
30 Michael Telega (Cal Giant /Village Peddler)                           6
31 James Mattis (Cal Giant /Village Peddler)                             6
32 Mitch Moreman (Rocky Mtn Chocolate Factory )                          5
33 Daniel Ramsey (Successfulliving)                                      5
34 Glen Mitchel (Priority Health)                                        4
35 Aaron Olson (Saunier Duval Pro Cycling Team)                          4