Central Valley Classic - NE

Fresno, CA, USA, March 12-13, 2005

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Stage 1 - March 12: Kearney Park Circuit Race, 75 miles

Climbers get it done in the Fresno Valley

By Jim Williams, Quark Cycling Team

The second weekend of the NRC calendar started today in Fresno California with the Kearney Park Circuit Race. From the profile of the course it looked as if it would be a day for the sprinters as there was an elevation gain of 5 feet per 15 mile lap for a grand total of 25 feet of climbing for the entire 75 mile race.

So it was a shock to many when Quark's super climber Annette Beutler came across the finish line first. The first two laps of the race were a chess game in which teams were marking each other. One break of 10 riders did manage to get away but the presence of a couple of the big sprinters prevented the break from working smoothly together. As the peloton was absorbing the remnants of the break other riders countered, and the wining break of the day was formed.

A group containing Annette Beutler of Quark, Michelle Beltran (Colavita), Christine Thorburn (Webcor), Kori Seehafer (T-Mobile) and Starr Falk (Los Gatos) got away. The break maintained an advantage of 35 seconds for two laps over a second group of 20 riders which contained most of the sprinters. Most people watching assumed the sprinters would overtake the break on the last lap - so when the group of five turned into Kearney park for the finish everyone was definitely surprised.

The first to jump was Beutler, who held off a tough challenge from T-Mobile's Seehafer. Rounding out the podium was Webcor's Thorburn, another strong climber. The second group on the road came in about a minute after the leaders had finished and the dash to the line for sixth place and bragging rights amongst the sprinters was won by Tina Mayolo-Pic of Quark. Riders take to the streets of the Tower district for the Tower criterium tomorrow which should be a day of redemption for the sprinters.

Results

Pro Men
 
1 Juan Jose Haedo (Colavita/Sutter Home)
2 Ivan Dominguez (Health Net)
3 Alex Candelario (Jelly Belly)
4 Charles Dionne (Webcor Builders)
5 Gustavo Artacho (Colavita/Sutter Home)
6 Emile Abraham (Monex)
7 Marty Nothstein (Navigators Insurance Pro)
8 Jackson Stewart (Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada Cycling)
9 Gordon Fraser (Health Net)
10 Vassili Davidenko (Navigators Insurance Pro)
11 Jason Klikna (Cycling Center Team)
12 Jake Erker (Symmetrics Cycling)
13 Daniel Schmatz (Team Sea Silver)
14 Bernard Van Ulden (Webcor Builders)
15 Mike Friedman (Northwestern Mortgage)
16 Patrick Briggs (SRM USA)
17 Marco Aledia (Texas Road House)
18 Kayle Leo Grande (Jelly Belly)
19 Sebastian Alexandre (Colavita/Sutter Home)
20 Horce Mcfarlene (R.H. Villa.Com)
 
Women Pro/1/2
 
1 Annette Beutler (Quark Cycling Team)
2 Kori Seehafer (T-Mobile)
3 Christine Thorburn (Webcor Builders)
4 Starr Fulk (Los Gatos Bic)
5 Michelle Beltran (Colavita/Cooking Light Women's Cycling)
6 Tina Pic (Quark Cycling Team)
7 Lynn Gaggioli (Monex)
8 Gina Grain (Victory Brewing)
9 Suzanne Sonye (Helens Trek)
10 Laura Yoisten (Diet Cheerwine)
11 Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile)
12 Felicia Greer (Webcor Builders)
13 Cindy Carroll (Dewars Racing)
14 Kelly Benjamin (ABD)
15 Nicole Freedman (Ford-Basis)
16 Kimberly Anderson (Colavita/Cooking Light)
17 Julia Farell (Wheels Of Bloor)
18 Magen Long (The Bicycle Store)
19 Kate Sherwin (Victory Brewing)
20 Audrey Lemieux (Quark Cycling Team)