3rd Saturn Cycling Classic - NE
Boulder, USA, August 10, 2002
Photography
Images by Rob Karman/www.roadbikephotos.com
- Bonilla, Vaughers, and Wherry helped form the final selection
- The early breakaway takes shape
- The leaders tackle the Kenosha Pass
- Mike Carter (Handle Bar and Grill) escaped alone early, but later abandoned
- The peloton remained fairly large for such a selective event
- Riders of the Saturn Cycling Classic rarely get to enjoy the scenery
- The peloton cruises in the Saturn Cycling Classic
- Tinker Juarez (Handle Bar and Grill) descends the Guanella on his familiar mountain machine
- Chris Wherry (Mercury) climbs on the rough roads of the Guanella
- Chris Wherry (Mercury) switches to his mountain bike for the descent of the Guanella
- Chris Wherry's victory salute was particularly symbolic
- Jesus Zarate (Mercury) takes the mountain points on Red Hill Pass
- Jesus Zarate (Mercury) claimed the King of the Mountains prize
Images by Beth Seliga
- The racers head out of Boulder on Rt. 93.
- Mercury and Handlebar & Grill head up RT 93
- Mike Carter wins the Blackhawk Sprint!! However, since he did not finish the race, the prize money is awarded to Soren Petersen who arrived in Blackhawk 30 seconds behind Carter.
- Riders start the ascent up Guanella Pass
- Jonathon Vaughters (Team Handlebar and Grill) ascending Guanella Pass.
- The breakaway, including Chris Wherry (Mercury) and Burke Swindlehurst (Navigators) heads up Guanella Pass.
- Wherry (Mercury) reaches the top of Guanella Pass and prepares to switch to a mountain bike for the dangerous decent.
- Fans, some costumed, gather to cheer for the racers as they begin their decent
- Mercury riders, Wherry, Zarate, Zajicek and Moninger, at the bottom of Guanella Pass.
- "The Mercury riders - Wherry, Zarate and Zajicek - eased up, perhaps waiting for teammate Scott Moninger who wasn't too far behind." (From Cycling News live report)
- The Handlebar & Grill support vehicle had difficulty reaching Vaughters. It was some time after reaching the bottom of Guanella Pass before he could transition back to his road bike.
- Burke Swindlehurst is slightly off the front as Mercury regroups and Vaughters transitions to his road bike.
- A group of racers head up Kenosha Pass.
- Wherry (Mercury) and Petersen (Saturn) work together to maintain a lead of 1'30" as they head into Alma. Wherry will eventually pull away from Petersen as they head up Hoosier Pass.
- The sound of bells is deafening as Chris Wherry (Mercury) arrives in Breckenridge!!! He is only minutes from winning the 2002 Saturn Classic.
- Wherry is overwhelmed with emotion as he is surrounded by friends, fans and family shortly after winning the 2002 Saturn Classic.
- Moninger and Wherry celebrate Chris's win.
- Petersen (Saturn) is awarded the cash prize for the Blackhawk Sprint.
- Moninger, Swindlehurst and Wherry take the podium.
- Wherry waves to the crowd from the sunroof of his new 2003 Saturn Vue.
Images by Calvin Gauss
- Patrick Sullivan climbs alone up Guanella Pass
- Frank Overton suffering up the steeper pitches of the Guanella Pass
- Tom Danielson (Mercury) leads Patrick Sullivan and Frank Overton (Al's Barber Shop/Hind) and Mark Southard (Trek-VW) down Oh My God Road
Images by Jack Dempsey
- More than 5,000 people ringing cow-bells lined the streets of Breckenridge, Colorado
- Chris Wherry celebrates victory as he crosses the line
Photos by Eric West
- Race winner Chris Wherry tops the 11,671 foot Guanella.
- Jesus Zarate crosses Guanella Pass with a 2 minute lead
- Burke Swindlehurst working hard in the high altitude
- Tim Johnson makes a quick bike change to something more suitable
- Chris Baldwin and Mark Southard cross Guanella, forming the largest group to summit together
- Saturn and Mavic were, understandably, everywhere
- Mike Ley fights the grade, only tofinish outside the offical timecut.
