Tour of Connecticut - NE

USA, May 16-18, 2003

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Stage 2 - May 17: Waterbury Circuit Race, 100km

Prime Alliance steals the show

By Kristy Scrymgeour

Prime Alliance stole the show at second stage of the Tour of Connecticut today when David Clinger and Danny Pate both soloed to first and second place respectively, taking the yellow jersey from Saturn's Eric Wohlberg.

The 100km stage was raced over a 6.6km course, featuring a steep 1.8km climb in which the riders had to contend with 15 times. In what was quoted to be "brutal, brutal race" by the Race Director John Eustice, it was Saturn's Chris Horner, demonstrating his ongoing form, who was first to make a significant break when he attacked four laps in, quickly gaining 2 minutes on the field. A chase group of 12 riders followed and began slowly reeling Horner in.

With four laps remaining, David Clinger made the winning move as he attacked in an attempt to bridge up to Horner. He not only caught Horner, but he went right past him and soloed for the remainder of the race, his gap getting up to 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, as Horner came back to the chase group, Mike Sayers (Health Net) attacked to get a gap, and Pate, in a similar style to his teammate Clinger bridged across, working with Sayers until one lap to go and then riding away leaving Sayers to be caught by the chasers who were now a group of no more than five. The group included Horner, John Lieswyn (7UP-Maxxis), Jonathan Vaughters (Prime Alliance) and Ivan Dominguez (Saturn).

Clinger powered on to win the stage in a time of 2:36:36, his teammate Pate coming in for second, 1:27 minutes behind. 22 seconds later, rounding off the podium positions was Dominguez who took the five man sprint from Sayers and Horner.

Photos

Images by Brent Soderberg/bikeride.com

David Clinger crossing the finish
Richard Fries interviews David Clinger
Chris Horner lead for most of the race
Jonathan Vaughter pushing up the climb
The chase group on the climb

Images by Celia Cole

John Lieswyn (7UP/Maxxis) follows the wheel of Mike Sayers (Healthnet/sportbook.com) in the closing moments of the race.

Results

1 David Clinger (USA) Prime Alliance           2.36.26
2 Danny Pate (USA) Prime Alliance                 1.32
3 Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Saturn                     1.56
4 John Lieswyn (USA) 7UP/Maxxis                   1.59
5 Mike Sayers (USA) Healthnet/sportbook.com
6 Chris Horner (USA) Saturn
7 Jonathan Vaughters (USA) Prime Alliance         2.04
8 Andrew Bajadali (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi            2.11
9 Chris Baldwin (USA) Navigators
10 Mike Jones (USA) West Virginia                 2.27
11 Ian Dille (USA) Snow Valley
12 Jeff Louder (USA) Navigators
13 Tim Larkin (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi                3.24
14 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Saturn                     3.35
15 Jon Hamblen (USA) West Virginia                6.29
16 Vassilli Davidenko (Blr) Navigators
17 Scottie Weiss (USA) West Virginia
18 Todd Herriott (USA) Healthnet/sportbook.com    7.19
19 Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita Bolla
20 Jackson Stewart (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi
21 Erik Saunders (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi
22 Mike Dietrich (USA) FIO
23 Nick Brown (Aus) LeMond Fitness                7.58
24 Mark Walters (Can) Navigators
25 Ryan Guay (USA) Navigators
26 Jason McCartney (USA) 7UP/Maxxis
27 Russel Langley (USA) Snow Valley
28 Mike Voigt (USA) Snow Valley
29 Trent Klasna (USA) Saturn
30 Andrian Laidler (USA) LeMond Fitness          12.10
 
General classification after Stage 2
 
1 David Clinger (USA) Prime Alliance        
2 Danny Pate (USA) Prime Alliance             
3 Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Saturn                 
4 John Lieswyn (USA) 7UP/Maxxis                 
5 Mike Sayers (USA) Healthnet/sportbook.com
6 Chris Horner (USA) Saturn
7 Jonathan Vaughters (USA) Prime Alliance
8 Andrew Bajadali (USA) Ofoto/Lombardi
9 Chris Baldwin (USA) Navigators
10 Mike Jones (USA) West Virginia