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Tour of Georgia - 2.3
Georgia, USA, April 22-27, 2003
Main Page Results Previous stage Next stage
Stage 2 - April 24: Macon - Columbus, 202km
Di Biase discovers America; Vogels maintains lead
By Tim Maloney, European Editor in Columbus, Georgia
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Like his countryman Cristoforo Columbo, Italian Moreno Di Biase of the Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave' team discovered America today in Stage 2 of the Tour de Georgia. Di Biase won today's stage in Columbus, Georgia with a dynamic sprint that propelled him on to the top rank of the podium. A diminutive fireplug of a sprinter, Di Biase now joins an elite club of pro riders who have won races on three continents as the Abruzzese rider has victories in Europe, Asia and now North America.
"I was very interested to come here and see what the racing was like", said 28 year old Di Biase. "It's been a great experience so far." Di Biase's victory came after an extremely rapid 202km stage from Macon, run at the incredible average speed of 49.1km/hr. "I knew I had good legs when I won the (KOM) sprint", he explained, "so I was confident that I could do well in the final. My teammates put me in a perfect position to win so I couldn't let them down."
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Runner-up Fred Rodriguez (Vini Caldirola) had a shot at Di Biase, but his lead-out didn't go as well as he wanted. "We came into the finish but I got gapped and just couldn't close on Di Biase," said Rodriguez. Mexican sprinter Miguel Meza (Schroeder Iron) kept the Tour de Georgia sprint jersey, but got squeezed out in the final kilometer. "Some guy almost crashed me and I stayed up but lost my place," said the disappointed Meza post-race. USPS rider Floyd Landis was happier today after the finish than yesterday. "I felt good today again and I'm glad we raced harder today," said Landis.
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Twenty-nine year old Aussie Henk Vogels (Navigators) was third in the sprint today and his four second time bonus kept him just ahead of Chris Horner (Saturn), while Vogels' Navigators team was tested all day with the responsibility of race leadership by Saturn. Right from the start in Macon, Saturn went on the attack and put the pressure on Navigators. "That is our strategy today," explained Saturn's directeur sportif Anje Bek. "We did a lot of work yesterday so they have do it today."
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The first hour passed by at a breakneck pace, with 50km covered. After numerous multiple attacks, Saturn finally made one stick as Phil Zajicek made the right move and was joined by Erik Saunders (OFoto-Lombardi Sports) and Troy White (Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar) after 55km. Sitting sixth on GC, Zajicek became leader on the road as the trio pounded along the Johnnie L. Caldwell Highway. Up and down all day on another tough stage, the break headed towards the feed zone and gained a maximum lead of 2.50 after 90km, but Zajicek's dreams of glory began to fade as Navigators upped the pace and began to close on the leading trio as the road climbed the towards Appalachian fall line.
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After the feed zone, the Navigators-led group sucked up the break in Manchester as the Tour de Georgia peloton continued its torrid pace. As the group raced through the resort town of Warm Springs towards the sprint at the Little White House, Chris Horner's power move grabbed him sprint points and another three-second time bonus, putting him equal with Vogels for the race lead. Di Biase then powered to the KOM sprint in Warm Springs and as Columbus became ever closer, Sacramento, CA rider Russell Hamby (OFoto-Lombardi Sports) made the second break of the day for the ambitious San Francisco based team. Hamby gained up to 45 seconds in Waverly Hall 30km from Columbus, but when Eric Wohlberg (Saturn) tried to bridge across to the 24 year old Hamby, all hell broke loose. No way were Navigators going to let Saturn danger-man Wohlberg loose and their powerful chase pulled back both riders.
Approaching Columbus in the hamlet of Ellerslie Depot after 160km, Jason McCartney (7-Up) decided to try his hand and made a brave solo move, but the sprint was winding up behind and as the road began to descend down to the Chattahoochee River valley, the peloton was gaining momentum very fast. Vini Caldirola and Navigators were riding on the front and McCartney was swallowed up. As the group charged into Columbus's downtown and hit the red bricks of Broadway, Di Biase and his Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave' boys moved up and executed their leadout perfectly. The Italian came off his teammate Uros Murn's wheel and powered to the win.
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With thunderstorms expected for Friday's Stage 3, a 222km rolling ride from scenic Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain to Rome, the bad weather could change the complexion of the Tour de Georgia as Saturn's directeur sportif Anje Bek will be looking to keep the pressure on Navigators to defend Vogel's lead, as will Rabobank. Up until now the Dutch team has been quiet, but both Marten Den Bakker and Remmert Wielinga like cold and wet weather conditions.
Read the Cyclingnews Live Coverage of this stage
Photography
Images by Jonathan Devich/thefastrack.com
- The jersey competition leaders and the national champion line up in Macon. From L to R, Henk Vogels, Miguel Meza, Chann McRae, Chris Horner and Saul Raisen.
- National Road champion Chann McRae looking ready for the day ahead.
- The peloton lines up at the start in Macon.
- Chris Wherry (Navigators) heads out for the day.
- Eric Saunders (Ofoto-Lombardi Sports) during a mid race break, took second in the first sprint of the day.
- The peloton rolls into Thomaston just behind the break.
- Navigators rode tempo today trying to keep hold of the leader jersey.
- Some tired faces with three days still to go.
- Chris Horner (Saturn) attacks to gain more points for the mountain jersey.
- Jonathan Vaughters (Prime alliance) leads the group into town.
- Riders pass through historic Warm Springs, the home of former president Franklin Roosevelt.
- The race just nearing the mountains of Georgia.
- When you have to get back in front of the peloton to get photos this is the road to take.
Results
1 Moreno Di Biase (Ita) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé 4.07.45 2 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 3 Henk Vogels (Aus) Navigators Cycling Team 4 Charles Dionne (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 5 Kevin Monahan (USA) 7UP / Maxxis 6 Matt Dubberley (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 7 Uros Murn (Slo) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé 8 Alex Candelario (USA) Prime Alliance Cycling Team 9 Jeff Hopkins (Aus) Jittery Joe's Cycling Team 10 Bobbie Traksel (Ned) Rabobank 11 David Clinger (USA) Prime Alliance Cycling Team 12 Oscar Pineda (Gua) 7UP / Maxxis 13 Antonio Cruz (USA) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 14 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé 15 Jeff Louder (USA) Navigators Cycling Team 16 Roman Peter (Swi) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 17 Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita Bolla 18 Lionel Syne (Bel) Webcor Cycling Team 19 David O'Loughlin (Irl) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 20 Russell Hambey (USA) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 21 Gabriele Balducci (Ita) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 22 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Jelly Belly 23 Nathan Russell (Aus) Colavita Bolla 24 Tim Larkin (USA) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 25 Andy Bajadali (USA) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 26 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 27 Chris Fisher (USA) Jelly Belly 28 Jeff Angermann (USA) Webcor Cycling Team 29 Jos Pronk (Ned) Dutch National Team 30 Kirk Albers (USA) Jelly Belly 31 Brent Dawson (Aus) Jelly Belly 32 Wouters Mol (Ned) Dutch National Team 33 Miguel Angel Meza Flores (Mex) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 34 Chad Hartley (USA) Jittery Joe's Cycling Team 35 Mauro Radaelli (Ita) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 36 Jacob Erker (Can) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 37 Christopher Pic (USA) 7UP / Maxxis 38 Vincent Van Rijn (Ned) Dutch National Team 39 Niko Biskner (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 40 David De La Fuente (Spa) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 41 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank 42 Douglas Ziewacz (USA) 7UP / Maxxis 43 Jürgen Landrie (Bel) Flanders-IteamNova.com 44 Thorwald Veneberg (Ned) Rabobank 45 Chann McRae (USA) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 46 Antonio Rizzi (Ita) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé 47 Ronald Mutsaars (Ned) Rabobank 48 Damon Kluck (USA) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 49 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank 50 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 51 Jason Bausch (USA) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 52 Dirk Peetoom (Ned) Dutch National Team 53 Adam Livingston (USA) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 54 Benjamin Sharp (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team 55 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Rabobank 56 Stirling Magnell (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 57 Michael Barry (Can) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 58 Mark Fitzgerald (USA) Jelly Belly 59 David Zabriskie (USA) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 60 David McKenzie (Aus) Flanders-IteamNova.com 61 Jonathan Vaughters (USA) Prime Alliance Cycling Team 62 Todd Littlehales (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 63 Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Cycling Team 64 Ciaran Power (Irl) Navigators Cycling Team 65 Svein Tuft (Can) Prime Alliance Cycling Team 66 Jamie Drew (Aus) Flanders-IteamNova.com 67 Erik Saunders (USA) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 68 Alan Iacuone (Aus) Flanders-IteamNova.com 69 Phil Zajicek (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 70 Jon Erdelyi (USA) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 71 Steve Larsen (USA) Webcor Cycling Team 72 Brice Jones (USA) 7UP / Maxxis 73 Scott Guyton (NZl) Flanders-IteamNova.com 74 Matt Decanio (USA) Prime Alliance Cycling Team 75 John Lieswyn (USA) 7UP / Maxxis 76 Addy Engels (Ned) Rabobank 77 Scottie Weiss (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team 78 Mariano Friedick (USA) Jelly Belly 79 Mark McCormack (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 80 Mauro Gerosa (Ita) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 81 Derek Wilkerson (USA) Jelly Belly 82 Danny Pate (USA) Prime Alliance Cycling Team 83 Dion Murk (Ned) Dutch National Team 84 Shawn Willard (USA) Colavita Bolla 85 John Peters (USA) Prime Alliance Cycling Team 86 Adham Sbeih (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 87 Marco Gilli (Ita) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 88 Patrick Heaney (USA) Webcor Cycling Team 89 Dane Jankowiak (USA) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 90 Conor Hurley (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team 91 Tom Danielson (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 92 Jonathan Hamblen (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team 93 Jonathan Sundt (USA) Jittery Joe's Cycling Team 94 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Navigators Cycling Team 95 Brian Forbes (USA) Jelly Belly 96 Jesse Lawler (USA) Jittery Joe's Cycling Team 97 Ted Huang (USA) Webcor Cycling Team 98 Nathan O'Neill (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team 99 David Wenger (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team 100 Pete Knudsen (USA) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 101 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Dutch National Team 102 Dominique Perras (Can) Flanders-IteamNova.com 103 Roland Green (Can) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 104 Saul Raisin (USA) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 105 Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita Bolla 106 Trent Wilson (Aus) Flanders-IteamNova.com 107 Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 108 Robbie Ventura (USA) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 109 Markus Wimmer (Aut) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé 110 Andrea Masciarelli (Ita) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 111 Remmert Wielinga (Ned) Rabobank 112 Jake Rosenbarger (USA) Jittery Joe's Cycling Team 113 Oleg Grishkine (Rus) Navigators Cycling Team 114 Gregory Henderson (NZl) 7UP / Maxxis 115 Tim Johnson (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 116 Massimo Amichetti (Ita) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé 117 James Mattis (USA) Webcor Cycling Team 118 Chris Horner (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 119 Michael H. Luther (USA) Colavita Bolla 0.30 120 Chris Wherry (USA) Navigators Cycling Team 121 Aaron Olsen (USA) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 0.35 122 Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Dutch National Team 123 Matteo Cappe' (Ita) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé 124 Glen Mitchell (NZl) Navigators Cycling Team 125 David Wyandt (USA) Webcor Cycling Team 1.35 126 Jason Mccartney (USA) 7UP / Maxxis 2.12 127 Karl Bordine (USA) Colavita Bolla 15.18 128 Farnoud Van Groen (Ned) Dutch National Team 129 Chris Baumann (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 130 Sebastian Alexandre (USA) Colavita Bolla 131 Andrew Deters (USA) Jittery Joe's Cycling Team 132 Dario Falquier (USA) Webcor Cycling Team 17.31 133 Troy White (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 18.48 134 Wesley Seigler (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team 22.56 135 Jacob Fetty (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team 136 Michael Jones (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team Teams 1 Formaggi Pinzolo 12.23.15 2 7 Up Maxxis 3 OFOTO Lombardi Sports 4 Vini Caldiroal Sidermec 5 Jelly Belly Carlsbad Clothing 6 Prime Alliance 7 Navigators 8 Sierra Nevada Clif Bar 9 Rabobank 10 Saturn 11 Dutch National 12 Schroeder Iron 13 Webcor 14 US Postal Service 15 Colavita Bolla 16 Jittery Joe:s Coffee 17 Flanders Iteamnova 18 West Virginia Pro Cycling General classification after stage 2 1 Henk Vogels (Aus) Navigators Cycling Team 9.40.57 2 Chris Horner (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 0.04 3 Nathan O'Neill (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team 0.05 4 John Lieswyn (USA) 7UP / Maxxis 0.12 5 Phil Zajicek (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 0.13 6 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 0.14 7 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Navigators Cycling Team 0.16 8 Danny Pate (USA) Prime Alliance Cycling Team 9 Roland Green (Can) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 10 David Zabriskie (USA) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 0.17 11 Miguel Angel Meza Flores (Mex) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 12 Scott Guyton (NZl) Flanders-IteamNova.com 13 Mark McCormack (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 0.18 14 Tom Danielson (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 15 Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Cycling Team 16 Jeff Louder (USA) Navigators Cycling Team 0.19 17 Michael Barry (Can) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 18 David Clinger (USA) Prime Alliance Cycling Team 19 Matt Decanio (USA) Prime Alliance Cycling Team 0.20 20 Jacob Erker (Can) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 0.21 21 David O'Loughlin (Irl) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 22 Brent Dawson (Aus) Jelly Belly 0.22 23 Tim Larkin (USA) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 24 Douglas Ziewacz (USA) 7UP / Maxxis 0.23 25 Andy Bajadali (USA) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 0.24 26 Chann McRae (USA) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 27 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 28 Kevin Monahan (USA) 7UP / Maxxis 0.25 29 Erik Saunders (USA) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 30 Alex Candelario (USA) Prime Alliance Cycling Team 0.26 31 Steve Larsen (USA) Webcor Cycling Team 32 Jamie Drew (Aus) Flanders-IteamNova.com 33 Jason Bausch (USA) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 34 Brice Jones (USA) 7UP / Maxxis 35 Saul Raisin (USA) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 36 Ciaran Power (Irl) Navigators Cycling Team 0.27 37 Chris Fisher (USA) Jelly Belly 38 John Peters (USA) Prime Alliance Cycling Team 39 Uros Murn (Slo) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé 0.28 40 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank 41 Mariano Friedick (USA) Jelly Belly 42 Roman Peter (Swi) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 43 Adam Livingston (USA) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 0.29 44 Pete Knudsen (USA) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 45 Damon Kluck (USA) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 46 Mark Fitzgerald (USA) Jelly Belly 47 Jonathan Sundt (USA) Jittery Joe's Cycling Team 48 Alan Iacuone (Aus) Flanders-IteamNova.com 49 Antonio Cruz (USA) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 50 Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 51 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Jelly Belly 0.30 52 Ronald Mutsaars (Ned) Rabobank 53 Scottie Weiss (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team 54 Svein Tuft (Can) Prime Alliance Cycling Team 55 Chad Hartley (USA) Jittery Joe's Cycling Team 0.31 56 Christopher Pic (USA) 7UP / Maxxis 0.32 57 Dane Jankowiak (USA) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 58 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Rabobank 0.33 59 Derek Wilkerson (USA) Jelly Belly 60 Mauro Gerosa (Ita) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 61 Charles Dionne (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 62 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank 63 Antonio Rizzi (Ita) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé 0.35 64 Jesse Lawler (USA) Jittery Joe's Cycling Team 65 Mauro Radaelli (Ita) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 66 Remmert Wielinga (Ned) Rabobank 0.36 67 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 68 Russell Hambey (USA) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 69 Thorwald Veneberg (Ned) Rabobank 0.37 70 Gabriele Balducci (Ita) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 0.38 71 Addy Engels (Ned) Rabobank 72 Dominique Perras (Can) Flanders-IteamNova.com 0.41 73 Nathan Russell (Aus) Colavita Bolla 0.42 74 David De La Fuente (Spa) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 75 Vincent Van Rijn (Ned) Dutch National Team 0.43 76 Chris Wherry (USA) Navigators Cycling Team 0.50 77 Glen Mitchell (NZl) Navigators Cycling Team 0.57 78 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé 1.13 79 Jonathan Vaughters (USA) Prime Alliance Cycling Team 1.15 80 Andrea Masciarelli (Ita) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 1.18 81 Dion Murk (Ned) Dutch National Team 1.30 82 Oleg Grishkine (Rus) Navigators Cycling Team 83 Adham Sbeih (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 84 Oscar Pineda (Gua) 7UP / Maxxis 1.34 85 Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita Bolla 1.35 86 Jürgen Landrie (Bel) Flanders-IteamNova.com 1.37 87 Marco Gilli (Ita) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 1.39 88 Matt Dubberley (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 1.44 89 Gregory Henderson (NZl) 7UP / Maxxis 1.48 90 Jonathan Hamblen (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team 1.50 91 David Wenger (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team 1.52 92 Conor Hurley (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team 93 James Mattis (USA) Webcor Cycling Team 1.54 94 Jake Rosenbarger (USA) Jittery Joe's Cycling Team 1.56 95 Bobbie Traksel (Ned) Rabobank 1.57 96 Patrick Heaney (USA) Webcor Cycling Team 97 Jeff Angermann (USA) Webcor Cycling Team 98 Massimo Amichetti (Ita) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé 1.58 99 Jos Pronk (Ned) Dutch National Team 1.59 100 Benjamin Sharp (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team 2.00 101 Todd Littlehales (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 102 Trent Wilson (Aus) Flanders-IteamNova.com 2.01 103 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Dutch National Team 2.03 104 Jeff Hopkins (Aus) Jittery Joe's Cycling Team 2.04 105 Ted Huang (USA) Webcor Cycling Team 2.06 106 Shawn Willard (USA) Colavita Bolla 2.08 107 Wouters Mol (Ned) Dutch National Team 2.09 108 Lionel Syne (Bel) Webcor Cycling Team 2.10 109 Aaron Olsen (USA) Schroeder Iron Cycling Team 2.15 110 Tim Johnson (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 2.26 111 Michael H. Luther (USA) Colavita Bolla 2.31 112 Robbie Ventura (USA) US Postal presented by Berry Floor 2.32 113 David McKenzie (Aus) Flanders-IteamNova.com 2.34 114 Kirk Albers (USA) Jelly Belly 2.35 115 Brian Forbes (USA) Jelly Belly 2.36 116 Dirk Peetoom (Ned) Dutch National Team 2.44 117 Jon Erdelyi (USA) Ofoto-Lombardi Sports 2.46 118 Markus Wimmer (Aut) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé 2.57 119 Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Dutch National Team 3.25 120 David Wyandt (USA) Webcor Cycling Team 3.37 121 Niko Biskner (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 3.50 122 Stirling Magnell (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 3.53 123 Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita Bolla 4.27 124 Jason Mccartney (USA) 7UP / Maxxis 4.55 125 Moreno Di Biase (Ita) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé 5.47 126 Matteo Cappe' (Ita) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé 6.14 127 Sebastian Alexandre (USA) Colavita Bolla 17.56 128 Farnoud Van Groen (Ned) Dutch National Team 17.59 129 Chris Baumann (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 18.17 130 Troy White (USA) Sierra Nevada-Clif Bar 19.18 131 Karl Bordine (USA) Colavita Bolla 19.42 132 Andrew Deters (USA) Jittery Joe's Cycling Team 21.30 133 Dario Falquier (USA) Webcor Cycling Team 22.14 134 Michael Jones (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team 23.17 135 Wesley Seigler (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team 25.03 136 Jacob Fetty (USA) West Virginia Cycling Team 25.35
