Tour de Gruene - NE

Texas, USA, November 1-2, 2008

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Day 2 - November 2: Two-team time trial, 27.3miles (43.7km)

Armstrong makes it two for team with teammate Korioth in tow

By Mike Gladu

Lance Armstrong leads his team-mate
Photo ©: Mike Gladu

In Sunday morning's two-up time trial, more than 200 teams toed the line for a chance to take on Armstrong. The 27.3 mile circuit course started and ended in historic Gruene, Texas. It rolled out of town, connected with the previous day's route along River Road, headed out onto the highway for a bit to take in a few steady climbs as they rose from the lowlands by the river into the hills, up some moderate grades (one with a tip up to 13% at the end) and gave everyone a chance to fight a headwind before turning home to the finish.

Some of Texas' fastest young guns were queued up in the last few starts to make the race a challenge. Defending champs Davis Wenger and Steve Wheeler would be three minutes ahead, and Philip Wickoff paired with Garmin-Chipotle pro Patrick McCarty had the honor of the two minute spot.

If there was ever a target drawn on anyone's back, it was on Wickoff. Armstrong alone would be a pretty sure bet - but it would be a challenge to beat either team when timed on the second rider - John Korioth. With McCarty in the mix and a strong pair defending, it might come down to who could force/drag/cajole/nurse a struggling teammate to the line.

Korioth was in peak form after winning the Masters National Road Title this year, and had been waiting for this chance, asking Armstrong to do this event with him every year for 12 years, and he was rested from sitting out the ITT.

Phil Wickoff and Pat_McCarty push off
Photo ©: Mike Gladu

Knowing they were only two minutes ahead was always on the mind of Wickoff, and he hoped the pass would come later rather than sooner. It finally came with less than five miles remaining, which gave them a chance to get past all of the climbing, and recover a bit afterwards to retake the lead. It would not last though, and on a long downgrade Armstrong and Korioth made their final push to the finish.

Wenger and Wheeler enjoyed their three minute advantage on the road and rode like a well-oiled machine, never seeing the freight train that was chasing them. They finished second overall in 59:11.

Wickoff and McCarty made one final push and got immediately in front before the line, but Korioth never cracked, and Armstrong urged his teammate to the front for the honor of first crossing the line 34 seconds behind the defenders and establishing a new record for the new course at 56:37 (average speed 28.9 mph / 46.5 kmh), and McCarty & Wickoff claimed third overall with a time of 59:35.

Going two-for-two and establishing strong marks for others to shoot for, Armstrong and Co. made a final appearance in the historic Gruene Dance Hall to ceremonially lift the ITT trophy, and with Korioth at his side, the pair graciously accepted their TTT trophy in front of a fire-code limited enthusiastic crowd, pledging to return next year to defend.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Mike Gladu/Photosport International

Patrick McCarty was all ready to fly the Garmin-Chipotle flag at the start.
Patrick McCarty and Philip Wikoff wait for their call to the line.
The Gruene City Hall hosted the start
Angela Clark and Ruben Solis (Blitzgruppe TTT - Co-Ed 90 & Over) start the TTT to the tune of the Alpine Horn.
Lance Armstrong rolls to the start with his partner John Korioth.
Phil Wickoff and Pat_McCarty push off
Armstrong gets his bike into the starting position.
John Korioth and Lance Armstrong catch two teams which started a few minutes ahead of the pair.
Lance Armstrong pushed the pace high with team-mate John Korioth.
A television crew keeps a close watch on John Korioth and Lance Armstrong.
Former Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong returns to road racing in America.
Lance Armstrong leads his team-mate John Korioth on the second day.
Armstrong looks determined as always
Armstrong looks as ready as ever
Armstrong and Korioth confidently smile ahead of their time trial.
Armstrong and Korioth use the unusual start equipment to head off.
Armstrong takes the lead as the duo blasts through town.
The Armstrong team passes Justin Wolfe and James Murff
Philip Wikoff and Patrick McCarty finished third.
Armstrong did a majority of the pacemaking but Korioth held his own.
Armstrong full throttle along the Texas country side.
Astana versus Garmin, 1:0 as the black Armstrong team passes the light coloured McCarty one.
Team Livestrong would finish almost three minutes ahead of Garmin.
Towards the end Korioth got tired and had a bit of trouble holding Armstrong's wheel.
Armstrong pushes his big gear.
John Korioth and Lance Armstrong cross the line 43.7 kilometres later.
Armstrong and Korioth receive their award.

Images by Erick van Veen

Lance Armstrong approaches some shy teenagers.
Armstrong warms up for the time trial and isn't there a hint of yellow already?
Armstrong smiles moments before going off in the individual time trial.
Armstrong races out of the start block and has officially started his road comeback.
Armstrong and Korioth wait for the countdown in the two-team time trial.
The Livestrong team races past a tightly packed audience.
Armstrong in the 'mediacentre' in the Tour de Gruene.

Images by Chris Ayers

Lance Armstrong from Texas, USA and with the flag to prove it.
Armstrong gets ready for his comeback ride in the Tour de Gruene.

Results

Ubergruppe TTT - Men
 
1 John Korioth / Lance Armstrong             56.37
2 David Wenger / Steven Wheeler               2.34
3 Philip Wikoff / Patrick Mccarty             2.58
4 Kevin Schaefer / Cord Offermann             4.44
5 Justin Wolfe / James Murff                  5.36
6 Patrick Mcgrath / Kurt Bickel               6.56
7 Jeremey Thomson / Thomas Kubicek            7.59
8 J.T. Cody / Marco Challaby                  8.06
9 Tim Pletcher / P.J. Rabice                  8.45
10 Jason Bentley / Marcus Arredondo           9.00
11 Steve Waters / Rene Van Der Salm          10.26
 
Ubergruppe TTT - Women
 
1 Christina Wolfe / Rheannon Cunningham    1.10.19
2 Kate Sherwin / Daniele Wikoff               2.57
3 Annick Beaudet / Melanie Mcnearney         20.53
 
Ubergruppe TTT - Co-Ed
 
1 Diann Sweeney / Ron Huijsman             1.07.39
 
Ubergruppe TTT - Tandem Co-Ed
 
1 Abby Richmond / Cliff Richmond           1.08.11
2 James Britton / Lynda Stewart               6.08
 
Blitzgruppe TTT - Men 59 & Under
 
1 Nathan Harding / Anthony Bush            1.08.21
2 Mark Moeller / Kirk Stackle                 3.27
3 James Piper / Andre Von Twistern            6.15
4 Maciek Malcharek / Brandon Malcharek        8.23
 
Blitzgruppe TTT - Men 60-79
 
1 Scott Munroe / Anthony Chavez            1.04.49
2 Allen Abell / Lee Eldridge                  0.33
3 Jose Gonzalez / Jorge Munoz                 2.23
4 Robert Dickerson / Ryan Haglund             3.08
5 Shane Wohlrabe / Ryan Wohlrabe              3.26
6 Jack Ishihara / Chris Epps                  3.33
7 John Myhre / Aaron Nelson                   5.10
8 Neil Barton / Joshua Barton                 5.25
9 Robert Malinak / Ian Margrave               8.50
 
Blitzgruppe TTT - Men 80-99
 
1 Andy Andreasen / Euan Mackay             1.04.51
2 Richmond Frasier / Jimmie Vaughan           2.13
3 Eric Pendland / Norberto Valdez             3.20
4 Jonathan Skelley / Carlos Santillana        3.55
5 Paul Sacket / Chad Welch                    7.13
6 Michael Paugh / Mark Whittier               7.28
7 Ricardo Rodriguez / Dirk Martin             7.58
8 Abel Gonzales / Vince Rosetta              12.06
9 Arthur Carr / John Guerra                  12.44
10 Allan De Jong / Beto Boggiano             13.12
11 Oscar Zavala / Mike Padgett               13.42
 
Blitzgruppe TTT - Men 100-119
 
1 David Fluchel / Daniel Joder             1.05.00
2 Kurt Joseph / James Alsup                   1.47
3 John Farugia / Mike Murray                  7.17
4 Steven Farmer / Gerardo Rueda               8.35
5 Larry Smith / Quentin Baker                15.11
 
Blitzgruppe TTT - Men 120 & Over
 
1 Sean Mcgrady / Gary Ferguson             1.11.43
2 Joe Vanarsdall / Jim Olsson                 2.28
3 Tom Hall / Stanton Truxillo                 4.41
 
Blitzgruppe TTT - Women 60-89
 
1 Barbara Kuhlemeier / Connie Turner       1.13.37
 
Blitzgruppe TTT - Co-Ed 50-69
 
1 Helen Tarr / Ryan Dionne                 1.09.14
2 Trey Copeland / Aimee Cormier               0.30
 
Blitzgruppe TTT - Co-Ed 70-89
 
1 Michael Herrick / Laura Herrick          1.12.53
2 Laura Meichan / Pete Neubig                 0.39
3 Alissa Pearce / Philip Johnson                  
4 Christiane Reetz / Brandon Canada           1.14
5 Celina Richardson / David Richardson        1.25
6 Shelly Campbell / Jeff Campbell             4.46
7 Sam Adkins / Mia Griggs                     5.20
8 Greg Bauer / Tracie Bauer                   8.01
 
Blitzgruppe TTT - Co-Ed 90 & Over
 
1 Tim Terwey / Anne Stevenson              1.08.58
2 Ursula Hammes / Mike Weiss                  6.30
3 Angela Clark / Ruben Solis                  8.30
4 Doug Baysinger / Joyce Baysinger            9.07
5 Willie Allen / Deborah Barton              12.20
6 Ronald Dennis / Monte English              23.45
 
Blitzgruppe TTT - Tandem
 
1 Mark Norton / Sherri Norton              1.09.01
2 Doug Ballew / Ron Burzese                  17.13
 
Schnellgruppe TTT - Men 49 and Under
 
1 Travis Decker / Conor Steward            1.11.19
2 Cameron Harris / Ian Clark                 14.14
3 Kristofer Wagner / Sam Kuykendall          16.36
4 Jacob Sacket / Trevor Baldwin              17.57
5 Paul Brancheau / Curtis Brancheau          19.55
6 Nick Sako / Trevor Sako                    46.42
 
Schnellgruppe TTT - Men 50-59
 
1 Nicholaus Thomas / Grant Springer        1.14.38
2 Eglain Martinez / Carlos Ruiz               0.24
3 Craig Ayers / Addison Mcauley               3.02
4 Todd Mayo / Jason Posey                     5.20
5 Greg Kenney / Charles Delacey               5.56
6 Remigio Del Rio / Remigio Del Rio G.        9.04
7 Scott Higgins / Thomas Higgins             18.38
8 Charles Schneider / Miles Vandewalle       20.16
 
Schnellgruppe TTT - Men 60-69
 
1 Vic Alvarez / Jean Paul Legault          1.10.32
2 Laryn Mumm / Ian Mumm                      11.29
3 Rafael Garcia / Bradley Deramus            16.57
4 James Balmos / Albert Elizondo             21.57
 
Schnellgruppe TTT - Men 70-79
 
1 Chad Plantz / Anthony Milunas            1.07.06
2 Joshua Charles / Oscar Gutierrez            3.00
3 Chris Edgerton / Billy Pace                 3.04
4 Edward Kennedy / Sean Sullivan              4.14
5 Cesar Flores / Silverio Gonzalez            4.27
6 William Stokes / Bill Lyons                 5.02
7 Marco Munoz / Luis Gomez                    5.29
8 Thomas Adams / Connor Penland               6.03
9 Matthew Mapes / Larry Hallstrom             6.30
10 Thomas Lawlor / Cory Berdinner             8.37
11 Eric Cracraft / Bobby Ludwick             10.23
12  Munoa / Patrick Penland                  11.59
13 Michael Shearman / Bryan Richardson       12.17
14 Philippe Ayala / Frankie Benitez          12.25
15 Noe Espinosa / Marlon Urcia               12.50
16 Earl Styles / Tom Smierciak               14.25
17 Jeffrey Schlimmer / Josh English          15.15
18 Ahmed King / Deo Dato Alvaraeo            16.12
19 Joel Bermel / Ken Williford               18.46
20 Chester Long / Jorge Munoz                20.44
 
Schnellgruppe TTT - Men 80-89
 
1 Mike Adams / Cole Adams                  1.05.54
2 Chris Rulon / Greg Hericks                  0.54
3 Thomas Carter / Pete Morawiec               6.03
4 Duke Young / Glen Bruemmer                  6.43
5 Chandler Ogden / John Barnett               8.45
6 Hugo Zapata / Juan Carlos Zapata            9.41
7 Edwin Braun / Mike Boursier                11.07
8 Marc Gonzales / Allen Hodapp               11.17
9 Donald Gordon / Jean Gareau                13.36
10 Jorge Alvarado / Alfonso Figueroa         15.20
11 Brian Young / Nicholas Burgett            16.06
12 Eric Fontenot / Richard Novigrod          19.50
13 Steve Harris / Sean Hutcherson            24.41
 
 
1 James Slauson / Doug Foxworth            1.07.42
2 Ken Hubacher / Dave Lewis                   3.12
3 Michael Braden / Jerry Anderson             4.08
4 Kevin Stegan / Geoff Maguire                4.16
5 Mike Murphy / Mike Nelson                   7.05
6 Dennis Shelly / Mick Bride                  7.38
7 Eric Landry / Weston Guinta                 8.43
8 Jerome Landry / Dan Nichols                13.11
9 Adrian Snell / Mike Snell                  13.58
 
Schnellgruppe TTT - Men 100-109
 
1 Robert Reeve / John Soberhrad            1.09.58
2 Steven Bigby / David Gill                   1.34
3 Robert Probe / Mark Jeffries                4.20
4 Phillip Misek / George Jahant               5.55
5 Steve Takamatsu / Alan Hays                 6.25
6 Robert Dole / Bob Pillmore                  7.02
7 Brian Walsh / Dennis Hart                   7.55
8 Charles King / Rob Condina                 11.24
9 Greg Koehnle / Tom Lago                    11.29
10 Doug Schulze / Simone Strobos             12.26
11 William Harris / Bo Jackson               13.08
12 Joseph Dunkle / Pat Mcmullen              13.38
13 Kurt Vandewalle / Ken Vandewalle          15.53
14 Allen Wilson / Randy Tollett              17.19
15 Bob Rivard / Ed Purvis                    19.08
 
Schnellgruppe TTT - Men 110-119
 
1 Glenn Weichert / Deano Sakos             1.12.33
2 Mario Valaperta / Michael Kelley            3.34
3 Eduardo Mendez / Manuel Mendez              7.46
4 Eldon Brown / Enrique Noriega               7.49
 
Schnellgruppe TTT - Men 120 & Over
 
1 Ed Allbritton / Linn Biggs               1.18.33
2 Randy Mckane / Walter Giesberg              2.14
 
Schnellgruppe TTT - Women 59 & Under
 
1 Olivia Wright / Madeleine Mcduff         1.40.39
 
Schnellgruppe TTT - Women 60-89
 
1 Lisa Reeve / Jessica Barnes              1.39.38
 
 
Schnellgruppe TTT - Co-Ed 50-69
 
1 Kimberly Aeschlimann / Brian Young       1.32.25
 
Schnellgruppe TTT - Co-Ed 70-89
 
1 Kevin Gabos / Cheryl Wintermute          1.14.17
2 Kay Lynn Cammack / Paul Garcia              0.13
3 Brian Meelbusch / Kathi Keyes               2.00
4 Paul Fafard / Minna Miller                  4.00
5 Ray Perez / Patsy Perez                     7.09
6 Felicia Neubig / George Hammerlein         23.45
7 Scott Reinecke / Rebekah Faubion           25.00
 
Schnellgruppe TTT - Co-Ed 90 & over
 
1 Charles Woolcock / Becky Kaye            1.19.03
2 Patrick Orr / Jan Orr                       1.12
3 Peter Mcmahon / Shirley Gonzales            5.03
4 Charlie Canedy / Lisa Canedy                7.43
5 Sharon Wencel / Bruce Wencel                7.59
6 Joseph Bray / Rita Bray                     9.00
7 Terri Cocanougher / Steve Moore            13.08
8 Ray Botello / Beth Baca                    19.16
9 Rob Guidry / Andrea Guidry                 22.57
 
Schnellgruppe TTT - Tandem
 
1 Daniel Lewis / Daniel Lewis              1.19.24
2 Jens Hess / Blue Martinez-Hess             15.35
 
Schnellgruppe TTT - Tandem Co-ED
 
1 Charlie Schell / Audrey Schell           1.18.05
2 Allan Wilson / Carol Wilson                 2.26
3 Robert Cannon / Haydee Contreras            3.16
4 Eric Leach / Amanda Leach                   6.19
 
Ride for Time
 
1 Ed Solis / Andrew Beres                  1.05.34
2 Paul Hurdlow / Derick Williamson            0.31
3 Carl Graf / Andrew Wilks                    3.49
4 Jerry Bueno / Augustine Magallanes          5.51
5 Clint Fiddler / Baron Herdelin-Doherty      6.23
6 David Bertsil / Ken Cioli                   8.40
7 Antonio Silvestre / Mary-Paige Corcoran    10.26
8 Chris Shaw / Lisa Shaw                     12.45
9 Steve Strauss / Jose Rojas                 13.33
10 Allen Goss / David Rilling                15.10
11 Michael Laduke / Elizabeth Laduke         15.53
12 Chris Vaughn / Bob Young                  16.01
13 Hector Cortes / Oscar Cortes              16.45
14 Frank Jurado / Brian Willett              17.42
15 Johannes Heijmans / Ron Digiacomo         18.33
16 Steve Weggert / Naomi Miller              19.12
17 Hans Schneider / Helen Schneider          20.24
18 Luis Leal / Jose Toscano                  21.27
19 Patrick Boyce / Stephen Mis               24.24
20 Marcelino Gutierez / Roy Rodriguez        27.34
21 Gregory Maitland / Bobby Caballero        29.30
22 John Wilmeth / Chad Ishee                 40.56
23 Antionette Illy / James Bradley           53.56
24 Philip Lovello / Neal Hartsell            55.50