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Wachovia Cycling Series
USA, May 31-June 5, 2005
Main Page Results & report Race Details Previous Race Next Race
Trenton - June 2: Trenton, NJ, 147km
Complete live report
Commentary by Kristy Scrymgeour with additional reporting from Mark Zalewski and Tim Maloney
16:28 EDT
Welcome to the live coverage
of the race two of the Wachovia Cycling Series. Today’s race is held in Trenton,
New Jersey and is renowned for being fast and crazy. Riders will complete 14
laps of a 6.5 course for a total of 91 miles (147km). Starting in front of the
New Jersey State Museum the course has two long straights that run by the finish
line in both directions making it great to spectators, with a loop at each of
the course. It is a flat course with a plethora of corners making it a technical
race all about positioning. Traditionally the race has been won in a bunch sprint
with big hitters such as Freddy Rodriguez, Julian Dean, Gord Fraser, George
Hincapie and Jay Sweet all having come out on top here. It has only been won
in a break away one year and that was when a solo break got away and nobody
saw it go.
We’ll be very likely looking for another bunch sprint
today with the Health Net Team wanting to back up their win in Lancaster using
either Greg Henderson or Ivan Dominguez. Both enjoying great form at the moment.
Of course Freddy Rodriguez will be firing up with the 54/11 wanting revenge
on Henderson. He loves this sprint. He won it last year and it’s a long drag
race power sprint which suits him. Today he’ll have a few more teammates here.
On Monday he only had three teammates and the rest were held up in airports
around the world and arrived without their bikes. Henk Vogels was one of those
and he’ll be fired up today to help out Freddy.
Another sprinter
to watch out for is Brazilian Luciano Pagliarini (Liquigas-Bianchi). He has
been sprinting well lately and had been training hard for the Tour de France.
He’s looking for a good result today.
16:36 EDT
And they're off and practically right
off the line we have an attack! A few riders have ten seconds on the bunch.
16:39 EDT
The break didn't last very long. Its
now all back together. Many of the smaller teams will be trying their luck in
a break today, as will some of the other riders who will be hoping to save the
legs of their sprinters by going up the road. They'll be also using this to
get a hard hit out to warm up for Sunday's race.
Looks like Lampre
has a flat at the moment.
16:42 EDT
Chris Horner (Saunier Duval-Prodir)
has attacked now and has taken Brent Bookwalter (Advantage Benefits-Endeavour)
with him. They are being marked by Mike Sayers (Health Net). They have about
a 15m gap.
16:46 EDT
That was caught with one lap down
and Roman Kilun (McGuire Pro Cycling) countered with Jason Bausch (Team Seasilver)
and they have a 15 second gap. Tim Duggan (TIAA CREF) has bridged to them to
make the break three.
16:50 EDT 12km/135km to go
Those three were caught
and another group has gone off the front. Looks to be about eight riders in
the group.
There is a chase group of seven now in between the break
and the field.
16:55 EDT
The leading group is being led by
Thomas Bruun Eriksen (CSC) and Health Net are chasing in the peloton. They are
closing the gap. As they come back to the finish line this lap they have a $1000
prime. The Jittery Joe's team have hit the front. Looks like they are after
this prime.
16:56 EDT
Eriksen came back to take the sprint
on the line. Now $1000 richer. It is very strung out now as they fly through
the start finish area.
16:59 EDT 21km/126km to go
A few flats are happening
in the bunch. Evan Elken (Jittery Joe's) punctured. After his wheel change he
tried to get back on but he has stopped now. Looks like the pace is too high
for a solo chase.
17:02 EDT
Jurgen Vandenbroeck (Discovery) has
attacked in the park and has a 15 second advantage on the bunch. As this happens
a few other riders have dropped off the back, both from the Nerac team.
Ben Jacques-Mayne (Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada) is attempting to bridge the
gap to Vandenbroeck.
17:03 EDT
Vandenbroeck has a 25 second lead
on the field now. At the back of the pack Matt Dubberley (McGuire Cycling) had
a puncture but has rejoined the field.
17:08 EDT 27km/120km to go
There are now four
chasers. Vanenbroeck still solo with 20" on Jacques-Mayne, Matej Mugerli (Liquigas),
Daniel Ramsey (Seasilver) and Matt Dubberley (McGuire). The field is another
ten seconds back. Dubberley didn't waste any time after his flat!
17:11 EDT
After three laps Vandenbroeck is still
powering away. Apart from the chasing four there is no serious chase from the
peloton. It is not really windy today, and these riders look like they might
stay out there a while.
17:13 EDT 32km/115km to go
The gap has gone up
slightly. Vandenbroeck leads by 21 seconds to the break and another 24 seconds
to the bunch.
17:19 EDT
The break is coming down with CSC
on the front.
17:20 EDT 35.2km/111.8km to go
It has come down
really quickly and....they have all been caught. Another counter goes. Solo
rider.
17:21 EDT
A CSC rider has attacked to bridge
to that solo rider.
17:22 EDT
The CSC rider is out there alone now.
But he is also coming back quickly.
17:24 EDT
Jacques-Maynes has fallen off the
bunch and is in the caravan. It looks like he might be pulling out for the day
after that breakaway effort. The pace has been pretty fast so far with the average
speed now at 44km/h (27.6m/h).
17:24 EDT
Its all back together.
17:27 EDT
The riders have crossed the line to
see ten laps to go. On the line was another prime with Lars Michaelsen (CSC)
taking it.
17:28 EDT
Through the park were more attacks.
One from McGuire, followed by Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada) but its all back
together again.
17:31 EDT
Scott Zwizanski (Kodak Gallery/Sierra
Nevada) has attacked now and TIAA CREF are on the front. The field is curb to
curb going through the finish line, so there is now real chase and nobody trying
to bridge to him. He has 5 seconds.
17:32 EDT
Jittery Joe's have hit the front and
have closed the gap down a little.
17:36 EDT 51km/96km to go
Trent Lowe (Jittery
Joe's just came back for a bike change. It looks like he gave his bike to another
rider, perhaps Jeff Hopkins, the sprinter. The whole team is back just off the
back to pace him back on.
17:37 EDT
They are entering the park again.
This is where the feed zone is but they probably won't start feeding until next
lap.
17:40 EDT
15 riders have rolled off the front
of the bunch now. They have about a 200m gap so far.
17:46 EDT
The 15 riders have an advantage of
15 seconds. In the group are Lief Hoste (Discovery), Shawn Milne and Kirk O'Bee
(Navigators), Bobby Julich and Andy Schleck (CSC), Mark McCormack and Aaron
Olsen (Colavita Sutter Homes), John Lieswyn (Health Net), Brent Brookwalter
(Advantage Benefits/ Endeavour), Adam Livingston (Seasilver), Glen Mitchell
(Kodak Gallery). They have 50 seconds and two riders are in the middle trying
to bridge.
17:48 EDT
The two chasers have been caught now
and the bunch is at 1'20". Julich just took the sprint prime at 8 laps to go.
CSC seem to be controlling the break. Health Net will have to chase this. They
have Lieswyn in the break but he is sitting on the back. They will want to get
more riders up there or bring it back.
17:52 EDT
Gerrit Glomser (Lampre) is also in
the break, as is Ivan Ravaioli (Saunier Duval) and Daniele Colli (Liquigas).
17:57 EDT
The gap is now 1'40". If the gap gets
any bigger the front end will meet the back end on the cross over part of the
course. So riders will have to stay to the right side of the road.
17:59 EDT
Another addition to the riders in
the break is Brice Jones from Jelly Belly.
18:02 EDT
Navigators and Colavita are driving
the break, both having a couple of riders up there. Back in the bunch Health
Net who only have Lieswyn up there, are chasing with the help of Davitamon Lotto
who missed the break entirely.
18:07 EDT
The gap is 1'50".
We talked
to Henk Vogels before the start who is working for Freddy today. He has a disastrous
couple of travels days getting here from the Giro. He got stuck in both London
and Boston for long layovers and when he arrived he didn't get his bike. He
commented that today will probably be the same as usual. Lots of breaks that
will come back together for a sprint. He said today is more of a warm up for
them for Sunday and that he hopes Sunday is hot so that is splits up the bunch
more. Predicted temperatures are in the mid 80's.
18:08 EDT
Jonny Sundt (Jittery Joe's) has attacked
solo out of the peloton and has a small gap. Currently he is 1'55" back from
the break and the bunch is another 9" back from him.
18:13 EDT
Six laps to go now and Bobby Julich
has taken another sprint prime. He gapped everybody on the line and has a small
break. He is on fire today and is really trying to keep the pace high in this
break.
18:13 EDT 76km/71km to go
McCormack has bridged
to Julich and they have 15" on the rest of the break.
18:14 EDT
Meanwhile, Davis Phinney is being
interviewed by Michael Aisner.
18:16 EDT
The gap is really increasing its lead.
They now have 2'45" on the peloton. Sundt is still in no man's land at 2'20".
Mike Sayers is on the front of the bunch for Health Net but they are not making
a dent at all in this gap.
18:18 EDT
Shawn Milne (Navigators) has been
dropped by the break. Julich and McCormack are still away with 15 seconds on
the break. Julich is leading at this point. The rest of the break don't seem
to be getting organised to chase them.
18:22 EDT
Sundt is getting caught by the peloton.
Up front Julich are McCormack have just gone through the finish line with 5
laps to go. The rest of the break are not gaining back any ground on them. Now
Liewsyn has moved to the front of the break.
18:23 EDT
Chris Horner and Francisco Ventoso
are back in the caravan. One of them is getting a wheel change. The whole Saunier
Duval team are coming back to help.
18:24 EDT
Gert Steegmans (Davitamon Lotto) also
had a flat and had to go back for a wheel change.
It was Ventoso
who had the flat.
18:25 EDT
Ohhh. A bike had come off the McGuire
Team car. The bike is dangling and they are pulling over. They bike hit a pole
on the side of the road as they did that!
18:26 EDT
UP front McCormack leads Julich now.
They seem to be working well together. The rest of the break are strung out.
Others seem to be trying to get across and there are a couple of splits in the
paceline.
18:28 EDT 85km/62km to go
Patrick McCarty (Discovery)
has gone back for a rear wheel as has Emile Abraham from Monex.
18:29 EDT
Up front Colli was trying to bridge
to the lead pair with Andy Schleck sitting on his wheel covering for Julich.
The peloton are at 2'55" now.
18:31 EDT
Back in the peloton Milne from Navigators
is slightly off the front again with Remi Mcmanus (Subway). They have a ten
second advantage on the bunch.
18:32 EDT
Julich and McCormack have a 34" gap
on the rest of the break now and over three minutes on the field. All danglers
in between have been absorbed.
18:39 EDT
The leaders are continuing to increase
their lead on the rest of the original break. They now have 1'19" and 2'50"
to the peloton. They are both doing equal turns out there. Julich is really
powering. He looks very good.
18:41 EDT 96km/51km to go
In the bunch, Health
Net are chasing with Wherry doing a big turn now. Jittery Joe's are helping
in the chase. Lotto aren't helping in the chase yet.
18:42 EDT
The bunch is really strung out as
they chase really picks up now. With about 50km remaining there is still plenty
of time but so far Julich and McCormack are looking very strong. This would
be unprecedented if they managed to stay away today.
18:45 EDT
The gap is dropping slightly. The
leaders now have 1'13" on the first chase group and 2'27" on the peloton. Riders
are continually getting dropped from the main bunch as they pace is very fast
and strung out.
18:49 EDT
It looks like the official have made
a mistake with the lap count. Instead of the lap board reading 3 laps to go
when they pass through the finish line this time the lap board will read 4 to
go, adding another lap to the race.
18:52 EDT
The chase group will be caught by
the peloton soon but Julich and McCormack still have over two minutes.
18:53 EDT
The officials have changed their minds
and have now changed the lap board back to 3 laps to go.
Their are
two fire trucks on the main straight of the course and officials are now trying
to get those trucks out of the way.
18:55 EDT
Julich and McCormack now have 1'38"
now and the peloton have absorbed the rest of the break. The fire trucks are
now off the course and its all under control.
18:59 EDT 108km/39km to go
Matt Dubberley (McGuire)
and Ruben Lobato (Saunier Duval) have attacked out of the peloton. The gap to
Julich and McCormack is coming down and now sits at 1'25.
19:01 EDT
The is a problem with this mileage.
We now have 2.5 laps to go with is 25km to go.
19:02 EDT
The gap is still dropping. Now at
1'15".
19:06 EDT 117km/20km to go
The leaders have just
crossed the finish line with two laps to go. The gap is 1'20" but Liquigas has
joined the chase. Lotto are still sitting back, not chasing yet. The way they're
going Julich and McCormack will get caught with about half a lap to go, but
we can't count them out yet.
19:08 EDT
The gap is 1'02" now and falling fast
as the bunch flies through this penultimate lap. As usual, it looks as if this
is going to come down to a bunch sprint.
19:10 EDT
Liquigas still doing the work as they
go through the park with the latest time split being 48".
19:15 EDT
After two hours and forty minutes
of racing the gap has fallen to 30". Liquigas still doing all of the work on
the front for their sprinters Marco Zanotti and Luciano Pagliarini. Health Net
is sitting in behind them, as is the Lotto team for Rodriguez.
19:18 EDT 127km/10km to go
One lap to go now
and the gap is only 15". Health Net and now Saunier Duval have now joined the
chase. Saunier Duval will be wanting to set up Ventoso. We'll be waiting for
the counter attacks now. McCormack is looking back. He knows they are caught
very soon.
19:20 EDT
Riders have entered the park for the
last time. The bunch is strung out. Saunier on the front.
19:22 EDT
Julich and McCormack has just hanging
out there now. The sprinters teams have them in sight and are just getting organized
for the finish. They know they will be caught, the inevitable is just being
delayed.
19:23 EDT 130km/7km to go
Julich and McCormack
are sitting up now. They looked back, sat up, shook hands and have been reabsorbed
with 7km remaining in the bike race.
19:26 EDT
Jelly Belly have moved to the front,
with CSC also up there. Horner is up there for Saunier Duval.
19:29 EDT
CSC will be setting up for Lars Michaelsen,
having had the race set up beautifully by Julich.
Apparently with
one to go Alessandro Ballan from Lampre was getting ready to put his hands up
for the victory. But they still had a lap to go.
Coming up to the
sprint now....
19:30 EDT
Freddy looks to be on the front. Health
Net behind him. Looks like Fraser.
19:30 EDT
Fraser starts to come around, he is
flying....
19:31 EDT
And Fraser takes the win from Freddy
Rodriguez!! Another win for Health Net. Thats two days is a row Freddy has had
to give up the win to the green team.
19:32 EDT
Michaelsen took third for CSC.
19:34 EDT
Bobby Julich got the sprint competition
taking home a couple of thousand dollars in primes.
Provisional Top 3 1 Gord Fraser (Health Net/Maxxis) 2 Freddy Rodriguez (Davitamon Lotto) 3 Lars Michaelsen (CSC)
