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Sea Otter Classic - NE
Monterey, California, USA, March 21 - 24, 2002
Stage 2 - March 21: Cannery Row circuit race, 48.5km/76.5km (W/M)
Results Previous stage Next stage
Constant attacks take their toll
By Steve Edwards
The Women
"It was so fast from the gun," gasped Rona’s Amy Jarvis. "It was crazy out there." More déjà vu from Redlands, it seemed. However, the war that is Rona vs. Saturn may be starting to get some support from others looking for a way into the fray. With Saturn expectedly launching riders from the gun, the other top teams were finding their own way into the action.
"We hoped to get away," said Cannondale/USA’s Katrina Berger. "We were thinking with a Saturn rider because Genevieve had to watch three Saturn riders. Our strategy was just to be in the break. There were a few, but Genevieve just kept reeling them in."
Whereas last week the train was all Saturn, this week’s breakaways were decorated with an assortment of jerseys. Late in the race, a break with Arndt, Total Trainer’s Nicole Demars, Rona’s Meshy Holt, and Can/USA’s Amber Neben took off.
"The last break looked like it was going because Genevieve was tiring," added Berger. "It’s always better to have more than one teammate in the break, so I bridged up. Unfortunately, Amber (Neben) cramped."
Holt than dropped back to help the tiring Jeanson.
"We wanted to attack from the start and make Rona work, so we can have an advantage tomorrow," explained Bessette. "We had three people she had to worry about. When one of us goes, the others just sit on her wheel and let her do all the work."
Up front, Berger attacked at the start of the final lap. She got a gap, and was able to hold off Demars and Arndt to the finish. Jeanson was followed by Bessette shortly after. It was Berger’s first win of the season and Cannondale/USA’s first win ever, something they hope to make a habit of.
"It’s a great team," she exclaimed. "We get along wonderfully, which makes for great team dynamics. Everyone is strong, so you can always count on somebody else to be there." Asked if they had anything in store for tomorrow, she smiled like the new kid on the block.
Saturn will be up to something. And Cannondale/USA will be up to something too."
The Men
"The thing that separates sprinters from normal riders is, well, you can see my left leg," said Mercury’s Gordon Fraser. "When road rash doesn’t bother you, you know you’re a sprinter."
This seemed to be a good mindset for today’s wicked-fast stage as crashes seemed to happen every few laps, luckily none serious. Strangely enough, the oddest crash of the day came in the time trial, where a television cameraman fell out of a van while shooting Marco Polo’s Jamsran Ulzii-Orshikh on a downhill. Ulzii plowed into the cameraman and was fortunately only scraped up, but word was that the cameraman was hit by the van and suffered worse consequences.
Similar to the women’s race, which finished with only 18 riders left, the men’s field was split early by a four-person pileup off one of the corners. The chase group never made it back, leaving less than 40% of the original field to fight it out.
Early on, a dangerous break formed with three 7up/Nutra Fig riders, including sprinter Charly Dionne, Mercury’s Phil Zajicek, and Chris Horner. They stayed away for more than half the race, with Horner taking a majority of the pulls. Race leader Zabriskie acknowledged the mistake.
"We missed the move in the beginning. Luckily Saturn missed it too and they helped us chase."
Once caught, escapes were attempted one after the other up until the finish. In the second to last lap, a bold solo by Navigators Mark Walters set the stage for the finish.
"Unfortunately, I had the lead on the last lap," he said. "But there was really nothing I could do about it."
Fraser and 7up/Nutra Fig’s Greg Henderson came around him, with Fraser hanging on for the win, his 4th of the year.
"My team was so busy covering guys, like Horner, we didn’t really have our train at the end," he said. "I told Henk Vogels, who’s usually my lead-out man, that if he wanted to across to Power to feel free because I think I have good enough legs to take care of myself. It was more of a free-for-all there at the end."
When asked if Horner - who was nearly always near the front - burned too much fuel, he answered.
"No way (laughs), that guy is so unbelievable. He’s still the best guy out here."
Rider Quotes, Day 1
Gordon Fraser, 1st stage 2
"I went easy this morning on the time trial to save my self for the stage win."
"I was determined not to let my team down, like I did in Redlands."
Mark Walters, 3rd in stage 2
"I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t get it, but I’m happy with the form my team is showing. We’re starting off our season stronger than we ever have before."
"I’m really happy with me form at the moment. I’m right where I want to be."
Katrina Berger, 1st 2nd stage
"It’s not a pure sprinter’s course. It’s more of how can you get through the corner."
"When I got there, I was pretty tired. So I didn’t pull through because I needed to recover for the finish and I knew I needed a little more uummph."
Genevieve Jeanson, 1st GC
On the re-loaded Saturn team:
"Saturn has a strong team but we’re ready to fight."
On the crit:
"It was fast, hard, and windy - super windy, gusty--and I got a great workout."
"Double days are hard. I’m glad it’s all over."
Lyne Bessette, 3rd GC
On tomorrow:
"It’s a very good stage for us. It should be exciting."
Giana Roberge, Saturn team director
"Every second counts. Tomorrow will be a good race."
On her re-loaded team:
"Kimberly is on good form. Lyne’s really keen. And Judith, she’s tired but she still looked very strong."
Kim’s last week (while not at Redlands):
"She rested, she really likes this race, and it’s always been a good race for her."
On Ms. Bessette:
"I don’t think Lyne ever has bad days."
Photography
Images by Rob Karman/www.roadbikephotos.com
- Judith Arndt (Saturn) rode to a podium place in the crit
- Genevieve Jeanson (RONA) wears the leader jersey in the crit
- Genevieve Jeanson (RONA) leads the chase
- A jubilant Katrina Berger (Cannondale-USA) celebrates as she crosses the line
- Dave Zabriskie wears the leader jersey in the crit
- Dave Zabriskie plays catseye slalom in the crit
- Chris Horner (Prime Alliance) leads the break
- Trent Klasna (Saturn) heads up a chasing train of yellow
- John Lieswyn (7UP-Nutrafig) takes a turn at the head of the break
- Prime Alliance leads the retaliation against the second break
- Gord Fraser (Mercury) salutes in celebration as he takes the win
- John Lieswyn (7UP-Nutrafig) looks reflective
Results
Men 1 Gord Fraser (Mercury) 2 Greg Henderson (7-UP/Nutrafig) 3 Mark Walters (Navigators)Ê Women Unofficial 1 Katrina Berger (USA) Cannondale-USA 2 Stacey Peters (USA) Bianchi-USA 3 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn-Timex 4 Geneviève Jeanson (Can) RONA 0.08 5 Lyne Besette (Can) Saturn-Timex 6 Karen Bockel (Ger) RONA 7 Melissa Holt (Aus) RONA General classification after stage 2 1 Geneviève Jeanson (Can) RONA 1.47.36 2 Kimberley Bruckner (USA) Saturn-Timex 0.45 3 Lyne Besette (Can) Saturn-Timex 1.34 4 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn-Timex 1.58 (Full results to follow when available)
