21st Tour de Beauce - 2.2

Canada, June 13-18, 2006

Photography

Stage 6 - June 18: St-Georges, 133 km

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Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com

• The first break of the day gets going early.
• François Parisien (TIAA-CREF) drives the early break.
• The Navigators Insurance riders ride on the front to protect their leader.
• The peloton, much smaller than we started with on Tuesday, climbs.
• The climb keeps going up.
• Parisien continues to pull the break.
• Another group tried to bridge up.
• A variety of teams looking to win in their last chance.
• The Navigator-led peloton climbs.
• Coming off the descent over a hard turn.
• TIAA-CREF was very active in the breaks, trying to for the Navigators to chase.
• Kobzarenko was well looked after today.
• Going aero off the descent.
• Will Frischkorn takes a break from eating to negotiate the descent.
• Cesar Grajales (Navigators Insurance) climbed very well today.
• Kobzarenko climbing calmly.
• Jacob Erker (Symmetrics) worked twice as hard to give his teammate Andrew Pinfold an easy ride.
• Text book defending.
• TIAA-CREF's Bryan Smith gets ready to hand-off a bottle to his team leader Danny Pate.
• Success!
• Bryan Smith leads Will Frischkorn up the climb to bridge to the break.
• Pinfold sits on in the break as his teammate works.
• The two bridgers almost there.
• With his teammates in the break, François Parisien (TIAA-CREF) hits the gas again.
• Frischkorn climbs with cast.
• Parisien calls it a day.
• Erker and Parisien worked hard today.
• Kobzarenko still well protected from any dangerous attacks.
• Frischkorn leads the break.
• Pinfold decides to make his move.
• Frischkorn's sprint handicap.
• Pinfold looks over his competition.
• Pinfold concentrating.
• Andrew Pinfold (Symmetrics) celebrates his win.
• Will Frischkorn (TIAA-CREF) rolls in with second.
• The top three of stage six.
• Beauce has some lovely scenery.
• Jarley Colorado Hernandez (Colombian National) wins the KOM.
• Sergey Lagutin (Navigators Insurance) also wins the points classification.
• Valeriy Kobzarenko is congratulated.
• The top three overall: Lagutin, Kobzarenko, Pate.
• Time for bubbly!

Stage 5 - June 17: Québec, 125 km

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Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com

• Cesar Grajales (Navigators Insurance) leads his team leader Valeriy Kobzarenko over the Cote de Gilmore climb.
• Valeriy Kobzarenko (Navigators Insurance) is watched carefully by Danny Pate (TIAA-CREF).
• Australian Cameron Hughes (Italpasta-Transport Belmire) is having a strong Tour de Beauce.
• The break gets away with Hernandez (Colombian National) leading the way.
• Ian MacGregor (TIAA-CREF) puts his head down on the steep incline.
• Andrew Randell (Symmetrics).
• The field stays at a steady tempo behind, with Navigators Insurance happy with the break.
• The field climbs.
• "I give up!" The break rolls neutral after the incident.
• Tony Mann (FRF Couriers-Caravello) talks it over with Hernandez.
• An official explains the situation to the break.
• The officials try to figure out the answers.
• Canadain time trial champion Svein Tuft (Symmetrics) chats with friends to kill the time.
• The peloton rolls back to the start.
• Canadian champion Francois Perisien (TIAA-CREF) will have this parcours to look forward to in two weeks as he defends his title.
• Valeriy Kobzarenko (Navigators Insurance) waits with the rest of the field.
• Top Canadian Mark Walters (Navigators Insurance) gets his bike checked out after the crash.
• Walters explains to the announcer what happened.
• Francois Perisien (TIAA-CREF) is popular with the press in Quebec.
• The race director explains the new situation with Walters looking on.
• "Do you think they'll explain it to us en Espanol too?"
• Ever the good sport Mark Walters (Navigators Insurance) knows what a bum rap this is for a break away, and offered Ian MacGregor (TIAA-CREF) and consolation energy bar.
• Riders found interesting ways to relax during the impormtu mid-race break.
• "Hmmm Svein, do you think they'll notice if I start in the break?" A sneaky Danny Pate (TIAA-CREF) tries to put one under the Navigators guys.
• Nope - Glen Chadwick and Ciaran Power have their eyes glued on Pate.
• Mark Walters explains the plan to the break riders.
• The field descends towards the Saint Lawrence Seaway, probably saying a prayer for a safe remainder of the race.
• The break tries to find a rhythm again.
• Svein Tuft shows his true colours with his sock choice -- Go Oilers!
• Hernandex leads the break up the climb.
• Hernandez goes for more KOM points on the climb.
• The field sprints with Russel Downing (DFL-Cyclingnews-Litespeed) in the lead at 300 meters.
• British champ Russel Downing (DFL-Cyclingnews-Litespeed) takes the fast downhill sprint.
• Russel Downing (DFL-Cyclingnews-Litespeed) celebrates his win.
• Russel Downing (DFL-Cyclingnews) wins the stage. Sergey Lagutin (Navigators Insurance) and Peter Hatton (Jittery Joes-Zero Gravity) finish in second and third place.
• Valeriy Kobzarenko (Navigators Insurance) keeps his yellow jersey.

Stage 4b - June 16: Centre-ville de St-George Critérium', 60 km

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Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com

• Riders assemble for the start.
• Descending into the final turn of the 1.6km course.
• The field strung out on the descent.
• Edward King (Priority Health) corners in the pack.
• Trent Wilson (Jittery Joes-Zero Gravity) was active today, initiating the main break.
• Mark Walters (Navigators Insurance) and Jacob Erker (Symmetrics) bridge to Wilson and King.
• Two Aussies - Peter Dawson (South Australia.com-AIS) and Trent Wilson (Jittery Joes-Zero Gravity) ride in the break.
• British road champion Russel Downing (DFL-Cyclingnews-Litespeed) flys out of the field to bridge to the break.
• The break climbs.
• Greg Reain (Canadian National Team) flies his country's colours.
• Danny Pate (TIAA-CREF) is never shy.
• Austin King (Jittery Joes-Zero Gravity) leads the break into the first turn.
• Richard Flatus (Team Sparkasse) punched tickets at the back to save his energy for the finish.
• Japan's Aisan Racing Team gaining experience at the Tour de Beauce.
• Ciarian Power (Navigators Insurance) works in the break.
• KOM leader and third overall Sergey Lagutin (Navigators Insurance) had a relatively easy day in the field with the rest of the leaders.
• Glen Chadwick (Navigators Insurance) gets around the corner.
• David Harrigan (DFL-Cyclingnews-Litespeed) corners.
• Former race leader Stefan Parinussa (Team Sparkasse) was active today getting into the break.
• Candian champion and Québécois Francois Parisien (TIAA-CREF) is referred to as Frank by his yankee teammates.
• Austin King staying strong in the break.
• Fans found a variety of vantage points to watch the race.
• Faltus had plenty of time to celebrate, but still wanted to make sure.
• Richard Faltus (Team Sparkasse) takes the win.
• Sulzberger explains to teammate Miles Olman how he got his second place.
• The top three - Salzberger, Faltus and Walters.

Stage 4a - June 16: St-Jean-de-la-Lande ITT, 15 km

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Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com

• Will Frischkorn's (TIAA-CREF) broken hand does not help shifting.
• But a quick realignment of the aero bar and we have a happy rider!
• Fans of all ages cheered on the riders.
• The time trial was just over 15km.
• The countryside was beautiful but windy.
• A nice downhill began the course.
• Glen Chadwick (Navigators Insurance) rolls it.
• Canadian Mark Walters (Navigators Insurance) happy to be racing in Canada.
• Alexis Rojas Dias (Colombian National) goes up rather easy.
• Trent Wilson (Jittery Joes-Zero Gravity) giving it a roll.
• Gregorio Ladino (Tecos-Trek) tries to move up
• Wesley Sulzberger (South Australia.Com - AIS) is one of the stronger U23 riders.
• Stage favourite Danny Pate (TIAA-CREF) gets the count down.
• Pate powers away
• Valeriy Kobzarenko (Nevigators Insurace) gets ready to follow Pate.
• Down the ramp.
• The race leader found some aero equipment, including a nice front wheel from Mavic. Merci, Mavic!
• Hernandez (Colmbian National) puts in a hard finishing effort.
• Ciarian Power (Navigators Insurance) is also in the top ten overall.
• Pate chisels away the time from the leaders.
• Kobzarenko takes enough time away from Parinussa and manages to hold off Pate.
• Stefan Parinussa (Team Sparkasse) was out gunned today.
• The stage winners.
• Kobzarenko back in yellow.

Stage 3 - June 15: St-Georges-Mont-Mégantic, 153 km

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Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com

• Cyclingnews fans are everywhere!
• Team Sparkasse rode the front to defend Stefan Parinussa's lead.
• Lots of schoolchildren have been greeting the race every day.
• Three FRF Couriers-Caravello riders try a cheeky break, with a Jittery Joes-Zero Gravity rider tagging along.
• Did we get away?
• Team Sparkasse continues to ride the front to defend Stefan Parinussa's lead.
• Climbing the first KOM.
• The Navigators Insurance team pressured Parinussa all day.
• KOM leader Sergey Lagutin (Navigators Insurance) extends his lead.
• Lagutin checks in with the team.
• Stefan Parinussa (Team Sparkasse) rode well to hang on to his lead.
• Quebec features a variety of cycling fans.
• The hills get bigger the farther south the race travels.
• Valeriy Kobzarenko (Navigators Insurance) escapes.
• Glen Chadwick (Navigators Insurance) tries to bridge to his teammate up the road.
• Peter McDonald (FRF Couriers-Caravello) climbs strongly.
• The yellow jersey tries to catch back on the descent.
• Chadwick leads Kobzarenko.
• "Thanks for joining me, mate!"
• We're riding away from Beauce to within 5km of the USA on the way to the highest paved road in Quebec.
• Kobzarenko looking comfortable.
• Parinussa tells his teammate to keep up the pace.
• Ian MacGregor (TIAA-CREF) trying to get more fibre in his diet.
• Lagutin finds another use for a mussette.
• Another turn - another climb.
• The yellow jersey getting pressured on another climb.
• Glen Chadwick (Navigators Insurance) asks what the gap is -- or is ordering his beer for after the stage.
• After Team Sparkasse fell off the pace, TIAA-CREF and Tecos-Trek moved to the front.
• Lagutin and Chadwick fly by with Mount-Megantic in the distance.
• After turning towards Mount-Megantic the attacks started.
• Only one Sparkasse rider was left at the bottom of Mount-Megantic.
• Chadwick - having fallen off of Kobzarenko's pace, enters the park.
• Kobzarenko checks to see how close the remnants of the peloton is.
• A strong headwind on the climb made it difficult.
• The three strongest climbers try to catch up to Kobzarenko.
• One fan tries to make Kobzarenko feel like he is in Europe.
• Kobzarenko greets his teammate.
• Lagutin wastes no time in moving to the front.
• Sergey Lagutin conguers Mount-Magantic.
• Kobzarenko grimaces.
• All the riders were tested today.
• The yellow jersey survives another day.
• Peter McDonald (FRF Couriers-Caravello) is totally wasted.

Stage 2 - June 14: Saint-Joseph, 180 km

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Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com

• Ian MacGregor (TIAA-CREF) makes his way over a tricky bridge.
• The early break had trouble organising.
• The peloton all together on an early climb.
• Going for KOM points. Will Frischkorn gave a valient effort in defending his lead.
• Glen Mitchell and Tom Zirbel (Priority Health) ride in the break.
• Danny Pate (TIAA-CREF) trying to increase the lead for the break.
• The Pate does not want to lose his helmet.
• Andrew Pinfold (Symmetrics) also found himself in the big break.
• Peter McDonald (FRF Couriers-Caravello) makes it over the second KOM.
• Danny Pate (TIAA-CREF) checks to see who made it over the KOM.
• The Navigators Insurance team sets the pace in the field, led by leader Valeriy Kobzarenko.
• Rodolfo Lopez (Tecos-Trek) sets the pace.
• Rodolfo Lopez (Tecos-Trek) tried to go alone, and built a 36 second lead before being reeled in.
• Danny Pate (TIAA-CREF) takes a moment to talk strategy.
• One of the many beautiful churches in the Beauce region of Quebec.
• The Irish duo in the break also take a moment to talk strategy with team director Ed Beamon.
• Pate and Lopez stand to climb.
• Race leader Valeriy Kobzarenko (Navigators Insurance) does not look worried yet.
• The Navigators Insurance team gets to work on the front.
• Stefan Parinussa (Team Sparkasse) says no to this feed.
• Danny Pate (TIAA-CREF) once again on the front.
• British road champion Russel Downing (DFL-Cyclingnews-Litespeed) keeps the pace up.
• The Colombian team has many strong climbers.
• Kobzarenko tries to urge another rider to help chase.
• The race leader crests another climb.
• Stefan Parinussa (Team Sparkasse) realizes the break might work.
• Stefan Parinussa (Team Sparkasse) again on the front in the final twenty kilometers.
• Power and O'Loughlin sat on all day.
• Up the climb on the finishing circuit, everyone keeps watch.
• Stefan Parinussa (Team Sparkasse) checks to see if he needs the time bonus on the line.
• John Fredy Parra Calada (Tecos-Trek) comes on the outside.
• John Fredy Parra Calada (Tecos-Trek) celebrates the stage win.
• Kobzarenko comes acorss too late.
• John Fredy Parra Calada (Tecos-Trek) wins a painting of the town where he won his stage.
• Stefan Parinussa (Team Sparkasse) takes over the yellow jersey.

Stage 1 - June 13: Lac Etchemin, 155 km

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Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com

• The field rolls through the beautiful scenery in the first stage of the Tour de Beauce.
• Fantastic conditions were enjoyed by all.
• A DFL-Cyclingnews-Litespeed rider sets the pace to keep the early break in sight.
• The first of many rolling hills is negotiated by the peloton.
• Canadian champion Francois Parisien (TIAA-CREF) follows the aero postion of a FRF Couriers-Caravello rider.
• Irish champion David O'Loughlin (Navigators Insurance) sets the pace to bring back the break.
• Jean-Sebastian Perron (Calyon-Litespeed) leads the break.
• Will Frischkorn (TIAA-CREF) put in a good ride, bridging up to the early break solo.
• Danny Pate (TIAA-CREF) takes over on the front of the second main break for Glen Chadwick (Navigators Insurance).
• Will Frischkorn (TIAA-CREF) signals defeat after taking the most KOM points on offer today.
• The Symmetrics team powers along, bringing back a dangerous break.
• Francois Parisien (TIAA-CREF) takes his turn getting water for the team.
• Evan Elkin (Jittery Joes-Zero Gravity) caught his front wheel in a groove, crashing and separating the fork from the frame.
• Fausto Esparca (Tecos-Trek) was active in two of the main breaks today.
• Valery Kobzarenko (Navigators Insurance) powered the break for much of the day.
• Valery Kobzarenko (Navigators Insurance) leads up the last KOM.
• Stefan Parinussa (Sparkasse) had nothing left over from a hard Philadelphia, and held on for fourth.
• A lot of farmland dots the Beauce countryside.
• Fausto Esparca (Tecos-Trek) has a word with Valery Kobzarenko (Navigators Insurance).
• Valery Kobzarenko (Navigators Insurance) once again leads up the climbs.
• Valery Kobzarenko (Navigators Insurance) begins to set-up his final move.
• With four kilometers to go, Valery Kobzarenko (Navigators Insurance) rides away from everyone.
• Valery Kobzarenko (Navigators Insurance) begins his celebration early.
• Valery Kobzarenko (Navigators Insurance) shows his elation with the win.
• Sergey Lagutin (Navigators Insurance) is happy with his teammate's win.
• The race for fifth
• The podium for stage one of the 2006 Tour de Beauce - (l-r): Sergey Lagutin, Valery Kobzarenko and Fausto Esparca