Sea Otter Pro NRC Road Race - (NE)

Monterey, California, USA, April 14, 2007

Results Mountain Bike Coverage 2006 Results

Ramsey survives in suicide break for NRC win

Women's race cancelled midway after deluge

By Steve Medcroft at Laguna Seca raceway in California

Daniel Ramsey
Photo ©: Steve Medcroft

Daniel Ramsey (Team Successfulliving.com) escaped from the pro men's peloton twice on Sunday at the Sea Otter Classic NRC circuit race, staying away the second time to win while Redlands champion Andrew Bajadali (Jelly Belly) and Frank Pipp (Health Net/Maxxis) struggled against 30 mile-per-hour winds in a failed doomed attempt to bring him back.

Underway after a multiple delays

Early in the day, the elite women's race was stopped mid-race when a broad low layer of dark clouds settled over the venue and began dumping dangerous volumes of water on the world famous Laguna-Seca International raceway. After more than an hour of racing, USA Cycling officials decided that conditions on the track, which included running water and mud, were unsafe enough to invoke the 'Act of God' rule and called the race without declaring a winner.

The nasty weather cleared and after a water truck circled the course and hosed away errant debris, the men got underway after a ninety-minute delay.

With six of the scheduled 31 laps (for a total race distance of 65 miles) in the books, local rider Andy Jaques-Maynes (California Giant Strawberries) and 29-year old Daniel Ramsey (Team Successfulliving.com) managed to eke out a thirty-second lead on a field that seemed more content with huddling together against the wind and cold than being overly aggressive in neutralizing the threat.

"The plan was for me to go for KOM's," Ramsey said about the move. "I knew Andrew was up the road. We got together and went nice and steady. I told him I'd take the KOM points and he could take the Sprint points."

With ten laps remaining, attacks in the pack stretched then shattered the rest of the field and the leaders were caught.

"I had some teammates in (the chase group) so I knew I was going to have to be the first person to attack; they had been covering moves all day" Ramsey said about his second surge. And although his intention for the race had been simply the KOM category, Ramsey found himself alone off the front again. "(The main pack) must have been just watching each other because I didn't think I felt that good."

Ramsey said he was more motivated to stay away once he had a lead the second time. "My teammates were all back there covering for me. They all dug just as deep as I did to give me a hand so I wanted to give it everything I had." Ramsey also had to contend with 30-mph winds. "It was hard. The wind was strong. It was wet early on. You had to stay on your toes. But this course is as good as it gets in the rain and I just had the legs to keep on going."

Behind, a disorganized chased group filled with Ramsey's teammates kept things in hand for the solo breakaway rider. A late-laps effort by Andrew Bajadali and Frank Pipp couldn't take hold and a group of a half-dozen riders sprinted for the remaining podium spots.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Steve Medcroft/Cyclingnews

Andy Jaques-Maynes (California Giant Strawberries) and Daniel Ramsey (Team Successfulliving.com) in the early, unsuccessful break)
Daniel Ramsey broke away and second time and made this one stick
The 2007 Sea Otter Classic started on a rain-soaked racecourse
Andy Jaques-Maynes was the first rider to take off
Jaques-Maynes stayed away until Daniel Ramsey bridged up and joined him
Ramsey and Jaques-Maynes worked together for ten laps until they were caught by the field
31 times up a 200-foot climb and the cold winds took its toll on the field
Riders try to close gaps on the Laguna-Seca International raceway with the Sea Otter expo in the background
Ramsey escaped alone a second time and put his head down until he won
Frank Pipp (Health Net/Maxxis) try to agitate the chase but was never able to bring Ramsey back

Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

The ill fated woman's circuit race early in the race...
…and near the end.
I see wet people!
Daniel Ramsey (Successful Living) with Andy Jacques-Maynes (Cal Giant) in the early breakaway.
Frank Pip (Health Net ) shows how to descend the cork screw.
Daniel Ramsey (Successful Living) for the win.

Images by Larry Rosa/Larry Rosa Photography

DBC Elite rider tucks in and corners the corkscrew.
Jamiel Danesh (Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada) enjoying the weather conditions.
Two Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada riders ride hard up the climb toward the corkscrew.
Alex Candelario (Jelly Belly).
Andrew Bajadali (Jelly Belly) the previous day's winner charges up the climb.
Kyle Gritters (Healthnet)
Roman Kilun (Healthnet) looks strong with eight laps to go.
Daniel Ramsey (Successful Living) enjoys the victory after a long solo break.
Frank Pipp (Healthnet) and Christian Valenzuela (Successful Living) fight it out for third and fourth.
Top five men's pro NRC Sea Otter Classic Circut Race.

Results

Men (provisional)

1 Daniel Ramsey (Team Successfulliving.com)         2:57:14
2 Brian Jenson (HRRC/Trek Stores)
3 Frank Pipp (Health Net/Maxxis)
4 Christian Valenzuela (Team Successfulliving.com)
5 Aaron Tuckerman (Team Rubicon)
6 Michael Grabinger (Team Successfulliving.com)
7 Alex Candelario (Jelly Belly)
8 Curtis Gunn (Team Successfulliving.com)
9 Andrew Bajadali (Jelly Belly)
10 Daniel Harm (Team Rubicon)