Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Giro finale Photo ©: Bettini |
Wachovia Cycling Series
USA, May 31-June 5, 2005
Main Page Results & report Race Details Previous Race Next Race
USPRO - June 5: USPRO Championship, Philadelphia, PA, 250km
Commentary by Kristy Scrymgeour with additional reporting by Mark Zalewski and Tim Maloney
Complete live report
08:44 EDT
Welcome to the Live Coverage of the
US Pro Championships and the Women’s Liberty Classic in Philadelphia, PA. It’s
a beautiful morning to start a bike race. Not a cloud in the sky. By the end
of the race temperature predictions are in the mid 80’s, which may be too hot
for some, but will be welcomed by others. Henk Vogels (Davitamon Lotto) of Australia
commented to Cyclingnews the other day that he hopes it is hot, as it will help
to get rid of a lot of riders near the end.
The men will start their
250km race at 9am and head out on the 23km loop for the first of ten laps. The
course heads straight along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway towards Manayunk where
riders will have to have good position to negotiate a narrowing road and a couple
of turn onto the famous (some would say infamous, depending on how much they
have hurt riding up it) Manayunk Wall. The wall is about 1.5km long and is very
steep, reaching 17% but perhaps the hardest thing about doing this climb each
lap is finding your position leading into it. If you have good position at the
bottom, the climb is made much easier but starting at the back means you lose
your momentum and you have to chase back on over top of the wall meaning less
recovery.
The descent after the wall is very fast and in the early
laps of the race it’s not too hard to regain contact with the group, but it’s
the final laps where losing touch will be the breaking point. Following the
descent, the two smaller climb up Strawberry Hill and Lemon Hill have proven
to be great places for attacks to go in the past, after which the race descends
leading back to the wide open road to the finish and the men will complete three
smaller laps which take in Lemon Hill before their finish.
The Women
will begin ten minutes after the men and will therefore be on the course at
the same time. They will complete four laps of the course for a total of 92
kilometers. A huge field of women will be on the start line today, ranging from
the very best in the world including World Champion Judith Arndt and her Nurnberger
teammate Oenone Wood who is currently leading the Women's World Cup.
08:46 EDT
Huge crowds are already lining the
course especially at the start line and at Manayunk Wall which is traditionally
a great place to watch the wall. Parties line the streets and the atmosphere
is one that cyclists never forget after racing here.
09:00 EDT
|
09:02 EDT
Last year's Stars and Stripes winner
Freddy Rodriguez has also been called to the line. He won the title of US Pro
Champion last year for the third time.
Its 69 degrees at the moment
and thousands of people crowd around to watch the 23 mens teams take the start.
09:07 EDT
The race is underway. We already have
a break of three riders just slightly off the front with CSC, Subway and another
rider as the riders complete a small start loop.
09:08 EDT
The three riders have been caught
already as they head out for their first of ten big laps.
09:10 EDT
We talked to a very nervous Bobby
Julich before the race to ask him how is he. Between jittering teeth, he said
he is good, but he has his race face on today and we should see great things
from him.
09:12 EDT
Two other men have attacked. Its Jake
Rytlewski (Jittery Joe's) and Roberto Gaggioli (Monex) have a small gap. There
has already been a crash. Two Jelly Belly riders have gone down. One of them
looks like Alex Candelario who is recovering from a broken collarbone. Lets
hope he didn't re-break it.
09:14 EDT
The Jelly Belly team has come back
to help Candelario and the other rider back to the field. The other rider was
Caleb Mannion. Both are up back on their bikes. They look to be ok but Candelario
was holding his shoulder.
09:16 EDT
The women are being called to the
line now and will start very soon. This year will have a slightly different
dynamic as seven time winner of the race, Petra Rossner has retired. She is
here though as Director Sportif for the Nurnberger team.
It is very
likely that this race will come down to a sprint as usual though, as there are
so many good sprinters in the field. Oenone Wood, Regina Schleicher, Ina Yoko
Teutenberg, Tina Pic, Laura Van Gilder, Gina Grain, Joanne Kiesanowski and Olga
Slioussareva are all here among others.
09:18 EDT
The huge women's field is on the line.
Probably the biggest field ever for the women.... and they're off.
09:19 EDT
In the men's race a break of two riders,
Ari De Wilde (Nerac) and Nathanial Cornelius (Subway) have countered the break
and have a pretty good gap.
09:20 EDT
De Wilde comes through to do his turn
and the pair are working well together.
09:24 EDT
Hugh Moran (Aerospace Engineering)
is trying to bridge to the break and has about 5" on the field at the moment.
09:26 EDT
The men's break has entered Main St
ready to turn onto the climb. Health Net and Jittery Joe's are on the front
of the peloton. Moran is 15" behind the two leaders at the moment.
09:28 EDT
The men are on the climb for the first
time. Moran has caught the leaders but the field is closing in too. They are
now caught and the field is all together.
09:29 EDT
The crowds are all setting up for
a big day on the wall. Health Net are charging up the hill.
09:30 EDT 17km/233km to go
Its pretty strung
out! A Health Net rider has a small gap on the field as they go over the top
of the climb.
09:32 EDT
Mike Jones (Health Net) is the rider
off the front. He has been climbing well and may be going for the KOM classification
today. About 30 riders have a sizeable gap off the front of the men's field.
The are flying down this descent. The gap will most likely come back together
as they head into Strawberry Fields.
09:33 EDT
Discovery is on the front now setting
the pace in the mens race.
09:35 EDT
Thirty Five riders have a gap of 25"
at the moment in the men's race.
In the women's race T-Mobile are
on the front as they head onto the climb for the first time. They are working
for Teutenberg today. She is right up there next to World Champion Judith Arndt.
09:36 EDT
Matti Breschel (CSC) just stopped
for a wheel change and meanwhile in the break Timmy Duggan (TIAA Cref) is attacking
the break of 35 riders and has a small gap.
09:38 EDT
Most of the teams are represented
in the break. Duggan has been caught again and he sits at the front of the break
now.
09:42 EDT 27km/223km to go
A group of four riders
are slightly off the front of the break which still has 20" on the field as
they enter the start/finish circuit. But they are getting caught straight away.
09:45 EDT
Up in the men's break, Team Seasilver
and Discovery are setting the pace. The break is back up to 30" again. The field
is completely strung out. They can see each other as they pass on the finishing
circuit. There is a chase of 14 riders behind the main break.
09:48 EDT
Navigators is leading the break now
as they pass the finish line and head back out onto Ben Franklin Drive for their
second main lap.
Meanwhile the women are all together and the pace
is high at the moment. With so many riders in the field, many attacks will be
attempted today but with so many strong sprinters teams, I'm imagining it will
be to get away.
09:48 EDT
Now the women have a break of about
12 riders with T-Mobile heavily represented. Nurnberger are on the front of
the field chasing.
09:50 EDT 32km/218km to go
In the mens field
Health Net and Jittery Joe's chased hard and brought back the break on the fast
open stretch of Ben Franklin Drive. The average speed at this point is 26m/h
(41km/h).
09:51 EDT
Another TIAA CREF has attacked the
men's field. It is Bryan Smith.
Two riders, Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly/PooGel)
and Roberto Gaggioli (Monex) have bridged to him.
09:53 EDT
The women have a 13 riders group off
the front with T-Mobile and Nurnberger. Quark is on the front of the chase but
the gap is up to a minute now.
09:58 EDT
A few riders in the women's break:
Christine Thorburn (Webcor), Kristen Armstrong and Kimberly Bruckner (T-Mobile),
Kristin LaSasso (Lipton) and Annette Beutler (Quark). Behind Nurnberger are
chasing hard with Quark sitting in just behind them. The chase bunch is only
about 40 riders now and they are at 1'00" with the rest of the field another
minute behind.
09:59 EDT 40km/210km to go
T-Mobile seem to have
the upper hand in this break now!
10:00 EDT
In the men's race, the break of three
riders are slowly getting caught as they head up Manayunk Wall for the second
time. So far Adam Livingston (Seasilver) has been taking the KOM points.
10:04 EDT
Also in the women's break is Ina Teutenberg
which is why Nurnberger want to bring this back. She has her two teammates working
hard for her.
Joanne Kiesanowski (Nobili) is up there too as well as Erinne
Willock (Webcor) and Zoe Owens (Lipton).
10:06 EDT
The break was caught in the men's
race on the climb and Adam Livingston took the KOM points again. Now Health
Net are attacking again.
In the women's race the gap is about 25
seconds with Nurnberger still on the front of the chase. 11 riders are in the
break.
10:09 EDT
In the men's race the large group
got caught but another group of about 30 are off the front again. Horner is
in the group, as is VanDen Broeck and Ryder Hesjedal from Discovery, Roger Hammond
also.
10:14 EDT 50km/200km to go
A third of the field
are in the front bunch in the men's field and they have a gap of 53" as they
go over Lemon Hill on their second lap. There is a chase group of 14 guys who
are trailing by 25" but they are not very organised.
10:15 EDT
The temperature is 77 degrees at the
moment on the course.
10:20 EDT
Navigators, Health Net and Prodir
are on the front on the men's break which has about a minute on the field right
now. They are riding tempo but the peloton seem to be riding faster.
Back in the field Matti Breschel was brought down in the feed zone by an Advantage
Benefits rider. Breschel was a little angry and got up and through a water bottle!
10:21 EDT
Meanwhile on Manayunk there is a manhole
cover with a big hole in it and they are trying to fix it before the men come
back around for their third lap.
10:23 EDT
Victory Brewing just had a mechanical
in the women's race and the team car has stopped.
10:24 EDT 59km/191km to go
T-Mobile riders are
still leading the break in the women's race. They gap is still at about one
minute.
10:27 EDT
Actually now the gap in the women's
field is coming down as they approach the finish line at the end of their second
lap.
10:29 EDT
An update for the women's break. Judith
Arndt and their top sprinter Regina Schleicher are both in that break and it
looks like Nurnberger are trying to protect that break from behind.
10:31 EDT
T-Mobile and Nurnberger therefore
have their protected riders in the break in Regina Schleicher and Ina Teutenberg.
This means that the break has a good chance to stay away, but Quark will be
wanting to chase. They have Beutler in there but they down have the strong numbers
like T-Mobile and Nurnberger. Nobili have their top sprinter in the group with
Kiesanowksi so they won't chase.
10:31 EDT
In the mens field Henk Vogels has
flatted and is getting a wheel from Mavic Neutral support.
10:33 EDT
The women have come through the finish
line now after their second lap, so they have two laps remaining now. The gap
is increasing again now.
In the men's race, the front group of 40
riders have 2'30" on the next group.
10:37 EDT
Arndt actually briged to the break
on the last time up Manayunk, to be up there to help our Regina. Not many other
riders in this peloton would be able to do that. Arndt is in amazing form right
now and whats very cool about her is that she is World Champion and undoubtedly
one of the strongest women in the world but she prefers working for her teammates
than actually winning herself.
10:41 EDT
Mari Holden is also in the women's
break. Thats four riders for T-Mobile. They are really working hard for Teutenberg.
Back in the peloton Vic Brewing and Colavita are chasing. A few Nurnberger riders
have actually pulled out of the race, but their top riders are up there.
10:42 EDT
It also looks like Nurnberger have
Wood up there so they also have three in the break. Amy Moore is in the break
for Victory Brewing, but she is outnumbered. Vic Brewing will want to bring
this back for their sprinter Gina Grain who came second last year.
10:47 EDT
The men's break has increased the
gap and it now sits at 3'35". The pace is fast now and some of the top riders
are in that break including Horner and Vogels. Freddy Rodriguez is not up there.
10:49 EDT
In the women's field Ina Teutenberg
is looking very good. She doesn't have to do any work in this break with her
three teammates doing the work and she can sit in and rest. She was a bit off
last week in bed with fever but she still managed to take two second place's
and a win, so she has good form.
10:52 EDT
Henk Vogels had to chase for a while
to get back on after his flat. Breschel is not yet back on after his altercation
in the feed zone but he is in a chase group of three riders with one other CSC
rider.
10:55 EDT
|
11:02 EDT
Mari Holden is on the front now driving
the women's break. Webcor just attacked the sprint at Lemon Hill and caused
a slight split in the break.
11:03 EDT
It will all come back together now
as they come back down to Ben Franklin Drive towards the finish where they'll
see one lap to go. T-Mobile are back on the front driving it again with Mari
Holden working very hard.
11:06 EDT
Lynn Gaggioli is also in the women's
break. She is a good sprinter too so we have quite a few good sprinters in this
break.
11:08 EDT
The men are on the climb again and
cowbells are going bezerk.
There is an attack at the start/finish
line in the women's break. Its Tina Pic, but they are all on her. The break
are all together and the gap to the peloton is 55" with Colavita and Vic Brewing
chasing. The peloton is split and the second chase group sits at 1'25".
11:15 EDT
Its Laura Van Gilder in the women's
break, not her teammate Pic. Van Gilder has won three races in the past week
and is very excited to be in this race and likes her chances. She has been second
and third before but has always lost out to Rossner. She is a good chance today
except that she doesn't have any teammates with her.
11:17 EDT
Bruckner, now known as Baldwin after
getting married, comes through to do a turn in this break as they head along
Ben Franklin Drive towards the wall for the last time.
11:17 EDT
Sigrid Corneo is also doing some work
for her teammate and sprinter Joanne Kiesanowski. Holden moves back to the front.
11:20 EDT
Teutenberg looks good and is actually
chatting to her rival Regina Schleicher in the break right now. Looking relaxed
but I'm sure very nervous. These two have been racing against each other for
many years in Germany, since they were juniors. Both are very good sprinters
and most have predicted that it will be a battle between the two of them if
it comes down to s sprint.
I'm thinking that T-Mobile will use Kristin
Armstrong later this lap to attack and make the other teams chase. It will be
hard for them to get anything away from World Champ Judith Arndt. In fact she
may be the one attacking!
11:22 EDT
Livingston took another KOM up Manayunk
so he is increasing his lead in the KOM competition. A lot of feeding going
on in the men's field now as its getting warm.
11:23 EDT
The women are on the Manayunk wall
for the last time. Webcor on the front. Its Christine Thorburn.
11:24 EDT
Thorburn leading and she'll me trying
to make it fast so as the attacks don't go. Pucinskaite is also in this break.
She is a former World Champ as well. We have three in this bunch. Arndt, Holden
and Pucinskaite.
11:25 EDT
Thorburn sprinted at the KOM but no
other attacks eventuated. They are descending now.
11:26 EDT
They are very relaxed in the women's
break now as they hit the bottom of this hill. Its the calm before the storm,
the sprinters will be getting nervous.
11:28 EDT
In the mens race, four rider are trying
to bridge. They are Lobato (Prodir), Michaelsen and Breschel (CSC) and Marzano
(Lampre) and have been in no man's land for quite a while now.
11:29 EDT
T-Mobile on the front of the women's
break. It really doesn't look like the chase is going to get them so the winner
will be out of this break.
11:29 EDT
Its Baldwin on the front. Her and
Holden have been doing all the work keeping this break away for Teutenberg.
11:32 EDT
Pucinskaite comes through to do her
turn. She is setting things up for Kiesanowski. Tina Pic is on her wheel. It
has been difficult trying to figure out all the riders in this break. It seem
more have joined it. Pic and Van Gilder are both up there for Quark it seems.
11:36 EDT
Holden is on the front now in the
break. Arndt sitting second from the back. She is just keeping things in check
from the back, perhaps waiting to attack but very likely waiting for the lead
out she'll be doing in a bit.
11:37 EDT
A total of 13 riders are up there
in that break. Amy Moore from Vic Brewing is sitting in fourth wheel. Her team
couldn't bring this back so its up to her now for them. Gaggioli has been sitting
in all day. She is a good sprinter and could be a threat here.
11:39 EDT
The last time up Lemon Hill now. Thorburn
is going for the sprint again and will likely take the KOM competition for today.
She keeps the pace high after the sprint as they head back onto Ben Franklin
drive for the home stretch.
11:40 EDT
Arndt has attacked!!!!! She is an
amazing time trialer and has a good gap. They will have to put all their horse
power into getting her.
11:40 EDT
She has been caught though. They were
on the ball. Gaggioli is on the front now and the pace is not high. Its going
to be cat and mouse now.
Arndt goes again!!!
11:41 EDT
Nobili right on here though. Thorburn
goes, but they are on her too.
11:41 EDT
The sprinters sitting in trying to
find their place. Arndt at the back. She might even go for one more attack.
1km to go.
11:42 EDT
Armstrong on the front for T-Mobile.
Its not an easy finish because its wide open and you can see the finish for
ages. Have to be careful not to go too early.
11:42 EDT
Pic leading out, Van Gilder on her
wheel with Teutenberg just behind.
11:43 EDT
Teutenberg goes around with Schleicher
on her wheel. Its a drag race- can Schleicher come around???
11:43 EDT
|
11:44 EDT
T-Mobile are very excited. Teutenberg
has a grin from ear to ear. She has been aiming for this win after having worked
so hard for Rossner and Bessette in the past!
11:44 EDT
Taking second was Schleicher, followed
by Van Gilder.
11:54 EDT 118km/132km to go
Back to the men's
race now and we are at the 118km mark. The gap has increased to over six minutes
at this point.
11:56 EDT
We talked to Teutenberg on the finish
line who is very excited. "I'm really happy. It's really nice to win a big bike
race like this."
"T-Mobile was amazing today. They did such an amazing
job. I felt really good all day. I didn't have to do a thing. It was a good
situation that the break went up the road. It made things much safer and I felt
comfortable. I was worried the last time up the climb but its seems everyone
was tired so nothing went."
11:58 EDT
Back to the men's race again. There
has been a crash. TIAA Cref is down with Glomser from Lampre.
11:59 EDT
The TIAA CREF rider is Lange. They
are both back up and trying to get organised again. These riders are both in
the break.
12:02 EDT 126km/124km to go
The men's race are
half way through their big laps. They saw 8 to go when they went through the
finish line last time. Thats five big laps and three finishing laps.
12:03 EDT
The four chasers have been caught
by the bunch, but the break now has seven minutes on the field.
12:08 EDT
In the break Lange has regained contact
with the group after crashing but Glomser has not yet made it back. The pace
is really picking up in this race in the break and in the peloton. Its really
strung out now as they head along Ben Franklin Drive.
12:09 EDT
The prologue of the Dauphine Libere
was a 7.9 km time trial in Aix-les-Bains. Most of our American readers will
probably get a kick out of this
result.
12:12 EDT 134km/116km to go
Prodir is setting
the pace on the front of the break as they go up the Manayunk wall. Saunier
have not only Horner, but also Ventoso who won here last year. They will be
wanting this break to work and have been driving the pace on the front.
12:14 EDT
we are on the climb and the crowds
are huge with parties everywhere. Livingston leads on the climb again to take
more points in the KOM competition. He looks really good here and has a gap
with a Saunier Duval rider.
12:17 EDT
Livingston cruises around the corners
at the top of the climb, recovering. Saunier get back on the front and start
the drive the pace again. Ventoso is right up there working too. This may mean
they have already decided to put all their efforts into working for Horner.
12:17 EDT
Horner really wants to win this, as
victory here could very well get him a ride in the Tour de France.
12:19 EDT
A bit of chatting going on at the
front of the break. They are keeping the pace high though.
12:19 EDT
The Saunier Duval rider in the break
is Zaugg, not Mori.
12:22 EDT
The gap is still at seven minutes.
In fact it has grown slightly to 7'05".
Its going to be interesting to
see what happens here because two of the race favourites are not in the break.
That is Bobby Julich and Freddy Rodriguez. Another contender, who has not been
mentioned much in the lead up to this race is Tony Cruz (Discovery). He is also
back in the field and when we caught up with him before the race, he was keen
to have a good one and try for the jersey.
12:27 EDT
We caught up with a few other riders
at the start this morning. One being former US Pro Champion Mark McCormack (Colavita
Sutter Homes). He said, "At least I'm not sick this year."
He was
not worried about the heat today as he said he's had good races in hot and cold
weather here. He is not in this break and will be resting up now hoping that
it comes back later.
12:29 EDT
Saunier Duval still leading the break.
With his forearms on the tops in time trial position. He looks very relaxed,
just working away at keeping the tempo high.
12:33 EDT
Cyclingnews also spoke with Trent
Lowe (Jittery Joe's) this morning. A very good mountainbiker, currently doing
a fine job on the road. He won the young riders jersey at Tour de Georgia and
will be a rider to watch in the future. He said he's feeling "alright". He has
just come from training at altitude which he is not used to coming from sea
level in Sydney. He was hoping that it was hot today, so he got his wish, as
he knew that would help get rid of some riders who don't like the heat so much.
12:34 EDT
The gap to the field has come down
a little bit and the latest time split is 6'26". There is also a small split
within the break but it is coming back straight away.
12:38 EDT
A break now out of the break. About
five riders have gone on off the front but they are being absorbed again without
getting anywhere.
At the front of the peloton Advantage Benefits
are Davitamon are setting the pace. Its really hot out there and some of the
riders seem to be struggling already.
12:40 EDT 152km/98km to go
Health Net and Prodir
are setting the pace on front of the break. Health Net probably realised that
the gap had started to drop and decided to do something about it. They have
four riders in this break.
12:41 EDT
The Jelly Belly riders in the break
are sitting comfortably in, not having to do anything at this point. They also
have four riders up there.
12:45 EDT 156km/94km to go
After all this time
Glomser, who crashed with TIAA CREF in the feed zone a while back, is still
chasing solo in between the break and the field.
We have about 100km
to go in the bike race with the break currently heading up Manayunk for the
seventh time.
12:47 EDT
The pace is high and its strung out
at the bottom. Vogels is on the front and Livingston is taking over again. They
are looking significantly less peppy this time as this climb gradually takes
it out of you.
Smith from TIAA CREF is falling off the pace, as is
Ventoso.
12:48 EDT
Livingstong takes the points again
and managed to cause a big split is the break whilst doing so. Over the top
Sayers was on his wheel and has attacked.
12:49 EDT
Sayers looks back to gauge his lead.
He can see them closing in on him.
12:55 EDT
Mike Sayers has managed to keep that
gap open and is riding solo. He looks to be in a good rhythm as he goes up Strawberry
Hill. He has 15 seconds at this point.
12:58 EDT
Mike "Mad Dog" Sayers goes into a
tuck trying to keep his speed up going down the hill. The break is chasing hard
behind and they are all strung out.
He is obviously the sacrificial lamb
in this race. Health Net can let the three other riders in the break rest putting
the other teams on the defensive.
13:01 EDT
As we roll onto Lemon Hill, Sayers
still has about 20 seconds. The pace is high on the Hill. So far the average
speed of the race is 26m/h (41km/h). Sayers goes over the hill, driving the
pace and another riders is bridging to hi,. Its Jorgen Vandenbroeck (Discovery)
from Belgium. He goes straight to the front to do his turn. Sayers hops right
on.
13:02 EDT
Sayers needed that. They will work
well together now.
Back in the peloton Jittery Joe's are still chasing.
13:04 EDT 170km/80km to go
Jelly Belly and Prodir
lead the rest of the break now and will try to bring this back slowly.
13:06 EDT
They rest of the break have now caught
Sayers and Vandenbroek now so the break is back in tact.
13:10 EDT
The gap is still coming down. It is
now 5'20". Lotto and Jittery Joe's are still chasing and have really picked
up the pace. Jittery Joe's are trying to get Tim Johnson into position to do
something good today, and Lotto obviously want to bring this back for Freddy.
13:13 EDT
The Prodir riders however have four
guys up there and are really pushing the pace. Chris Horner and Mori have been
able to sit in as Ventoso and Gomez force the pace. So if the break gets caught
they will still be able to put Horner or Mori in another move.
Freddy
looks good back in the peloton. He just has to be patient now and hope that
this comes back. He has had former winner of this race Henk Vogels up in the
break covering it for him.
13:16 EDT 178km/72km to go
In the break a couple
of the guys are taking "nature break". They are coming off Kelly Drive heading
towards Manayunk again. Vogels seems to be taking a little rest on the back
of the break. One of the Advantage Benefits riders seems to be feeling a bit
ill and a Colavita rider gives him a pat on the back for encouragement.
13:16 EDT
Its still very strung out. Single
file.
13:17 EDT
CSC are on the front of the peloton
now. They have all their riders at the front and have put the hammer down. Its
time!
13:18 EDT
Bobby Julich sitting in behind them
looking comfortable with Gord Fraser sitting just behind him.
13:19 EDT
Jake Rytlewski still doesn't look
to be feeling well.
Ventoso is sitting up and dropping himself from
the break. He has moved to the left side of the road and just taking it easy
waiting for the main group.
13:21 EDT
Caleb Mannion (Jelly Belly) has been
dropped on the climb and Rytlewski is suffering but maintaining contact. Matty
Rice is also suffering on the climb.
Most of the riders are going
under the fountain at O'Briens' Waterhole to try and cool down. This hose/fountain
is there every year and definitely comes in handy if you need to cool down.
13:23 EDT
The speed in much higher in the peloton
this time and the gap has dropped further to 5'15".
Up in the peloton
Livingston had been consistent all day in the KOM points. He actually won the
KOM comp here in 2000 so knows how its done.
13:23 EDT
CSC are leading the chase up Manayunk
now. Julich is setting the pace! He looks really good.
13:27 EDT
Julich really set a fast pace up that
climb. He is testing his legs for this business end of the race. Saunier Duval
were right on his wheel covering him.
In the break, a small group
of riders is off the back. In that group are DeVocht, Rytlewski, Livingston,
Rice and Mannion.
13:28 EDT
We have an attack. Its Beppu from
Discovery but he was covered quickly.
13:30 EDT
VanDenBroek is attacking now. The
gap to the peloton is 4'02".
13:32 EDT 188km/62km to go
Its back together.
VanDenBroek caught. DeVocht sat up and is heading back to the field to help
Freddy. Vogels is calling up his team car. He really needs water but nobody
is coming. He gets some water.
13:34 EDT
We are turning left onto Lemon Hill
again. The break has split up again but the gap is really coming down. Its now
3'45".
13:36 EDT
Powers (Navigators) is solo off the
front of the break now. Its single file with gaps in the break.
13:37 EDT 192.5km/57.5km to go
Turning onto Logan
Circle. Everything is single file in the break and in the peloton.
13:38 EDT
When they go thought the finish line
they'll see two large laps to go and three small laps.
Powers has
been reabsorbed. The tempo in the break is slowing down. The gap is 3'23".
13:40 EDT
Sayers is on the front of the break
keeping it high. The longer the break takes to get caught, the more work CSC
has to do behind. Sayers is having a great race today.
Livingston
and Rytlewski have both been caught by the peloton. Livingston has probably
done enough to take the KOM jersey though.
13:42 EDT
CSC have two guys on the front of
the peloton. Its Bak and Michaelsen. They have taken back two minutes in the
last lap. We should all be waiting for the big attack by Julich up Manayunk
later in the race.
13:44 EDT
Freddy is eating some food now, staying
prepared for the finish. The gap is 3'00".
It's official. Adam Livingston
from Seasilver took the KOM and can't be beaten at this point.
13:46 EDT
Sayers still on the front for Health
Net. Making this last for as long as possible. Freddy seems to be smiling in
the bunch. Quite happy that this break is coming back.
13:47 EDT
The CSC team has all their riders
up the front and Jittery Joe's have a rider up there. Julich still looking very
good. Doing it easy at this point.
13:49 EDT 201km/49km to go
We head to the Manayunk
Wall for the second last time with 50km remaining in the race.
13:52 EDT
The gap is still three minutes. We
are on Main street now heading to the climb. There are people everywhere here
and the atmosphere is as good as usual.
13:54 EDT
Navigators lead onto the climb. Mannion
has popped off the back and it sitting up. Baldwin has also pulled off. The
pace on this climb is very high. Riders keep getting popped off. Vogels is driving
the pace up here and splitting everything up.
13:55 EDT
VanDenBroek takes over and has to
wait a bit at the top for the bunch to get back on his wheel.
13:56 EDT
The peloton has hit the bottom of
the climb. That means the gap has come down again. Discovery has attacked out
of the peloton. Could be Cruz?
13:57 EDT
Julich has hit the front. He is powering
up there again. He's in the saddle. On his wheel is Freddy Rodriguez. He moves
to the front and opens up a gap over the top. There is a huge split in the field.
13:58 EDT 206km/44km to go
The gap is 2'11" and
closing.
Vogels has a gap up in the break and Chris Wherry (Health
Net) is with him. They have at least ten seconds on the rest of the break.
13:59 EDT
The Discovery team has shut it down
though and VanDenBroek counters immediately. He looks back to check out his
gap.
14:00 EDT
Only eleven riders left in that front
group now with the rest chasing or sitting up to wait for the bunch. The gap
to the peloton is 1'50".
14:04 EDT
The break has come back together a
little now and its looks like about 25 riders in the front now. A lot of cat
and mouse going on in the break. They seem to be sitting up, nobody wanting
to do the work.
14:05 EDT
Jelly Belly is attacking. Looks like
Ben Brooks, but he has been caught.
The main peloton is very small
now after Julich powered up that climb.
14:06 EDT
Vogels has attacked now and has about
seven seconds to the break. Carlston (Liquigas) and Eriksen (CSC) are bridging
to him.
14:07 EDT 214km/36km to go
The three riders have
been caught and its very strung out as we turn back onto Ben Franklin Drive
towards the start finish line.
14:07 EDT
When they go through the start line
they will only have one big lap to go and three small laps.
Danny
Pate has attacked now.
14:08 EDT 215.3km/34.7km to go
Pate has about
about ten seconds on the field.
14:09 EDT
Two minutes behind the break is the
field with CSC on the front.
14:10 EDT
Pate going around the roundabout and
back towards the finish line. He has 15" on the chase. Horner is up near the
front of the rest of the break. They don't really want to let Pate go. He was
third here one year and is former U23 TT champion.
14:11 EDT
He looks good now and gets out of
the saddle to keep his momentum as he heads back out onto the course. CSC is
still leading the peloton. They have Bak and Michaelsen on the front.
14:13 EDT
The break has let Pate go and seem
to be slowing up knowing that the field is closing in. Still a long way to go
for a solo break, but still a good move by Pate.
14:15 EDT 218.4km/31.6km to go
The main field
is very small now. Probably only about thirty riders.
Alot of attacks
in the break now. Kodak Gallery is trying now trying to bridge up to Pate. Vogels
is looking like he's itching to go.
He attacks!
14:15 EDT
Another rider goes with Vogels. Its
all strung out. Liquigas attack now.
14:17 EDT
Pate has 30 seconds. Jones attacked
in the break but was caught by Vogels and has now gone off the back of the break
and is asking for Mavic. Perhaps he has a flat.
More cat and mouse
games in the break and it has really slowed down. Colavita attacks, Health Net
chase.
14:18 EDT
Horner goes, Discovery follows, bringing
things back.
Vogels is sitting on the back of the break recovering
from that effort.
Pate still up the road solo with 30 seconds on
the rest of the break.
14:20 EDT
Pate taking a drink. Keeping hydrated.
He has a nice rhythm and he heads towards Manayunk.
Ivan Dominguez
has attacked the bunch behind trying to bridge and Aaron Olsen has also gone.
14:22 EDT
Pate has 35" now. Dominguez and Olsen
have come back to the break and they have sat up again. The gap to the rest
of the field is 1'40" now.
14:24 EDT
Pate is on Main street Manayunk with
35" on the rest of the break and he has increased the gap to the field to 2'30".
14:26 EDT
Its single file in the break now with
Health Net leading the way. We have 21 riders still in the break and about the
same in what was the main peloton.
Pate is really putting pressure
on CSC because he has made the break ride harder and their chase job harder.
14:27 EDT
Pate is on the wall for the last time.
The pace is high and CSC rider Eriksen has a flat on the hill.
Pate
is driving it and really looking good. Riders are getting droppped back in the
remains of the break. Its all strung out.
14:28 EDT
Pate rounds the corner at the top
and gets out of the saddle to keep his momentum on the flat section before he
descends.
He's in a tuck down the hill.
14:29 EDT
We have two chasers behind Pate. Its
Horner and Chris Wherry and they have a huge gap on the rest of the break.
14:30 EDT
They are working well together on
this descent and keeping their pace high in the tuck position.
14:31 EDT 230km/20km to go
That was the last
time up the wall. When they reach the start/finish at the end of this lap they
only have three finishing laps remaining. If these guys catch Pate they are
a dangerous situation.
14:32 EDT
Horner and Wherry caught Pate and
flew right by, but Pate got back on.
14:33 EDT
Horner coming through to do his turn
and the trio will work well together. This is their chance but they can only
do it together.
Behind, Vogels has attacked but has been covered
by CSC and Saunier Duval. He sits up again and the rest of the break catch him.
They are all looking around.
Another attack.
14:35 EDT 233km/17km to go
It is Advantage Benefits
this time. They are single file and the solo rider has been caught.
14:36 EDT
Pate gets a bottle from his team car
and hops back on the back on the break.
14:37 EDT
The leading three have 35" to the
rest of the break now and 2'05" to the peloton.
14:37 EDT
Vogels looking frustrated back in
the first chase group. He has been trying to bridge but he can't get away and
the peloton is not making up any time at the moment.
14:41 EDT 236km/14km to go
We are less than 20km
to go now. This turn of events has put real pressure on CSC and Davitamon. Could
the winnner come from this group of three.
They are working well
together at this point and are really powering.
All the riders in
the first chase group are really frustrated. Some of them are trying to work
but they can't get organised.
14:42 EDT
The leaders are going through the
start/finish and see three 3-mile finishing laps to go.
14:45 EDT
Horner is driving it at the moment.
Wherry comes through to do a turn. They are just working so well together. Back
in the break Vogels is throwing his arms up in pure frustration.
Carlström from Liquigas has been trying to bring this back out of the rest of
the original break but he's not getting any help.
14:48 EDT
Matej Mugerli (Liquigas) has attacked
out of the first chase group. They obviously they were not going to be able
to chase it down.
14:49 EDT
These guys are flying and have increased
their lead again. They now have 55" to the rest of the break and 2'20" on the
second chase group that includes Bobby Julich and Freddy Rodriguez.
14:51 EDT
Almost one finishing lap completed
now. They'll see two laps to go. They're gap has inceased again to 1'09".
Mugerli is still alone chasing them but it will be hard for him to catch these
three alone as they are all looking very good.
14:54 EDT
Its really pretty amazing to have
three American's in this trio. If they pull this off they'll make history. There
were many years there when an American didn't make the podium. If they pull
this off they are not only racing for the win, they are racing for the stars
and stripes.
Horner is really hungry for this and it is his ticket
to the Tour de France
14:54 EDT
Horner has attacked!!!!!
14:54 EDT
It took some time for the other two
to react. They were looking at each other, but they have caught him. Wherry
has countered!
14:55 EDT 142km/108km to go
He looks back and
is caught. Horner counters again. Pate is chasing and pulling Wherry up again.
14:56 EDT
Pate moves to the front in an almost
attack but Wherry moves through.
Horner on the front again now.
14:57 EDT
They are all nervous now, looking
at each other. They know they have to keep the pace up so that they don't get
caught, but they all need to start to think about the finish.
14:58 EDT
They are back at the start finish
line with one lap to go. Only 3 miles, less than 5km. Wherry on the front but
keeping his eye out.
14:58 EDT
Horner goes again and catches them
napping. Pate chasing again letting Wherry sit on!
14:59 EDT
Back together and really slowing down
now. Horner still on front but looking back. Pate coming through for a turn.
Wherry comes through after him.
15:00 EDT
Wherry attacks and opens the gap.
Pate chasing it again!
15:01 EDT
Horner sitting on and Wherry is making
up time. Horner comes through now.
15:01 EDT
But Wherry has a huge gap up front
and looks good.
15:02 EDT
The gap may well be too big to make
up now. Only a few kilometers to go.
15:03 EDT
Wherry powering and Horner is doing
the chasing behind. Pate looks like he's cramping. Horner just gave him a push
but then Horner pulls through. They have him in sight but it could be too late.
15:03 EDT 249km/1km to go
Wherry looks like he's
suffering. He has seven seconds with less than 1km to go.
15:04 EDT
Its still a big gap. Its an amazing
finish.
15:04 EDT
500m to go and it looks like Wherry
will hold this. Horner attacks and is coming. Pate is on his wheel!!!
15:05 EDT
They are closing, Wherry struggling
but he holds on!!!
15:05 EDT
Wherry takes the win and the Stars
and Stripes. Pate comes in to take second place and Horner takes third.
15:05 EDT
Wherry punching the air in excitement.
15:06 EDT
This is the biggest win of his career!
15:09 EDT
Mike Sayers comes across the line
and screams as he congratulates Wherry. He really helped make this happen with
his work in the break today.
Men's Results
Provisional 1 Chris Wherry (Health Net) 2 Danny Pate (Jelly Belly) 3 Chris Horner (Saunier Duval/Prodir)
