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Univest Grand Prix - 1.2

Souderton, Pennsylvania, USA, September 8, 2007

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Frischkorn dominates Univest GP

By Kirsten Robbins in Souderton, Pennsylvania

Will Frischkorn (Team Slipstream-Chipotle) broke free
Photo ©: Mark Zalewski
(Click for larger image)

Team Slipstream-Chipotle's talented climber Will Frischkorn won the Univest Grand Prix in an unusual fashion against an international field, taking a solo 2.45 minute victory over second placed Canadian rider Ryan Roth (Kelly Benefits-Medifast) and Mexican John Fredy Parra (Tecos-Trek). Frischkorn, along with his Slipstream-Chipotle teammate Timmy Duggan, played a successful game of tactics against their outnumbered breakaway companions Parra and Phil Gaimon (CRCA/Sakonnet). Frischkorn counter attacked the lead group following Duggan with eight laps to go on the finishing circuits, leaving the other three to race for the minor placings.

In addition to the overall victory, Frischkorn was also presented with the climber's jersey after he won all the event's King of the Mountains climbs on the 172 kilometre course. "Getting the first KOM just kind of presented itself and after that it was how we decided to split up the race up and a bonus to get the jersey," said Frischkorn, before going on to acknowledge his team-mate's efforts. "Duggan did the brunt of the work for me today and he set up all the KOMs perfectly. I attacked for the win but I didn't think it would happen so quickly."

The main peloton of more than 60 riders was deemed outside the time cut after they were prevented from entering the finishing circuits. However the peloton was lead off course half-way through the race by an official vehicle which contributed to its delayed arrival. This was one of many problems throughout the day that encumbered the running of a smooth event.

Hmmm, looks like a good time for a break...
Photo ©: Mark Zalewski
(Click for larger image)

Before the race commenced the advance police vehicles started out seemingly unaware of the delayed start time, allowing civilian vehicles back onto the road before the riders had passed by. The communication problems was the result of malfunctioning race radios. Despite the communications mishaps every major team was represented in the early breakaway that resulted in a successful lead group.

By the time the race reached the closing circuits several chase groups, with a total of 13 riders, squeezed inside the allocated percentage of the leaders who had entered the circuits seven minutes earlier. Roth caught the leaders off guard after he entered the circuits one lap down but made up for lost time on each grueling circuit. Roth rode his way through each small group and finally the lead bunch to take second place.

"Will was already up the rode when I caught up to the other two riders," said Roth. "I got away from Mark Walters on the KOM climb with two laps to go and I kept catching guys that I knew were in the little chase groups ahead and I caught the Teco's and Slipstream rider after that and went straight by them. I suppose they weren't sure about me and that worked to my benefit."

How it unfolded

The main break of the day, almost from the first kilometres,
Photo ©: Mark Zalewski
(Click for larger image)

The history of the Univest Grand Prix's race would see a select group of riders entering the finishing circuits where the race of attrition would normally begin. This year, however, an unpredictable break away of eight riders rode off the front after the first intermediate sprint line just six kilometres after the start.

"It seemed like just a typical early break and we had good numbers in it," said race winner and KOM leader Will Frischkorn. "Plus, all of the big teams were represented. Every once in a while a break like this happens and you just have to take advantage of that."

The eight-rider break included Frischkorn, Duggan, Parra and Under23 champion Gaimon along with Sprint leader Johnny Sundt (Kelly Benefit), Kyle Wamsley (Navigators), Stefano Barberi (Toyota-United) and Davide Wiswell (Nerac). With every major team represented it looked certain that a chase from the peleton would not form.

"As soon as the break had three or four minutes I was pretty sure they would make it to the line," said Slipstream-Chipotle director Jonathan Vaughters. "Obviously there was a little confusion from behind and there was no real focused chase by anyone [which] helped us out. Every team was up there but I wanted my guys to go over the hills nice and easy, make sure everyone was comfortable so that the other teams would have a false sense of security and not want to chase. It wasn't so much that the break was a great one, it was more a factor that the chase never materialised behind it and that worked in our favour."

Pete Lopinto (Kodak Gallery-Sierra Nevada) crashed out
Photo ©: Mark Zalewski
(Click for larger image)

Though an organised team chase never materialised several chase groups did. After the break of eight was established a smaller group of four riders developed shortly after 25 kilometers, including Scottie Weiss (AEG-Toshiba), Mattia Parravicini (Doyelstown Hospital-Italy), Sebastian Frey (Canon Capital-Germany), and Bernardo Colex (Tecos).

The chase group came within a minute of the leaders but lost organisation when they were joined by a second chase group of four riders that included Eugene Boronow (Mengoni), Bernard Van Ulden (Navigators), Akos Haiser (Hungarian National Team) and Devis Miorin (Doyelstown-Italy).

As the race entered the closing circuits Duggan set off the first attack with nine laps to go, forcing former Pan American champion Parra to chase. When Parra regained contact with Duggan, Frischkorn launched his winning move over the climb on the backside of the circuits.

"Our director wanted us to start attacking with eight or nine laps to go," Duggan said. "It worked out for us and Will was working really hard out there on his own. I was really and truly impressed with the Teco's rider. Every time I attacked he was right on my wheel and I don't think I had the best acceleration in the end."

Duggan was unable to shed Parra from his wheel and the duo prepared for a two-up sprint to determine the second and third places on the podium.

Slipstream-Chipotle teammates Will Frischkorn
Photo ©: Mark Zalewski
(Click for larger image)

Almost out of nowhere Roth continued his Time Trial straight past the pair to take second place. Parra and Duggan mistook Roth for a lapped rider, so didn't respond as he cruised on by, leaving the duo to sprint for what they thought was second place on the descent to the finish.

"I was on the wheel of Duggan and then I attacked to take over before the line," Parra said with regards to the race between himself and the two Slipstream riders. "It was very difficult and I knew that I wouldn't be able to win. But my goal was to be able to beat one of them."

Roth attributed his efforts in taking back a lap to his Time Trialing ability and the motivation from Mark Walters (Kodak-Sierra Nevada). "When we entered the circuits we were a lap down on the front group of four and that was the first group that we saw," said Roth. "But Mark Walters and I kept going by them, not expecting that we would take a whole lap. The time gap to them kept dropping and my director Jonas told us that there were two laps to go and to really try to catch that lead group from behind."

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com

Images by Fj Hughes/www.fhughesphoto.com

Results - 172 km

1 Will Frischkorn (USA) Team Slipstream presented by Chipotle                4.18.56 (39.855 km/h)
2 Ryan Roth (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast                             2.45
3 John Fredy Parra (Col) Tecos De La Univ. Autonoma De Guadalajara              3.26
4 Timmy Duggan (USA) Team Slipstream presented by Chipotle                      3.27
5 Mark Walters (Can) Kodak Gallery presented by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.       3.28
6 Devis Miorin (Ita) Kio Ene-Tonazzo-Dmt                                        3.29
7 Phil Gaimon (USA) CRCA/Sakonnet Technology                                    3.59
8 Bernardo Colex (Mex) Tecos De La Univ. Autonoma De Guadalajara                9.37
9 Scottie Weiss (USA) AEG-Toshiba-Jetnetwork Pro Cycling Team                  11.22
10 Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team                   13.28
11 Sebastian Frey (Ger) Team Sparkasse                                              
12 Stefano Barberi (Bra) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team                        13.35
13 Kyle Wamsley (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team                             
14 Jonny Sundt (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast                         13.45
15 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team                      14.34
16 Timo Honstein (Ger) Team Sparkasse                                               
17 Eugene Boronow (USA) GS Mengoni                                             20.58
DNF Glen Chadwick (NZl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team                           
DNF Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team                      
DNF Darren Lill (RSA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team                             
DNF Victor Rapinski (Blr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team                         
DNF Danny Pate (USA) Team Slipstream presented by Chipotle                          
DNF Jason Donald (USA) Team Slipstream presented by Chipotle                        
DNF Steven Cozza (USA) Team Slipstream presented by Chipotle                        
DNF Yosvany Falcon (Cub) AEG-Toshiba-Jetnetwork Pro Cycling Team                    
DNF Eric Keim (USA) AEG-Toshiba-Jetnetwork Pro Cycling Team                         
DNF Predrag Prokic (SCG) AEG-Toshiba-Jetnetwork Pro Cycling Team                    
DNF Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light                
DNF Dan Vaillancourt (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light          
DNF Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light           
DNF Luca Damiani (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light              
DNF Dominique Perras (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast                        
DNF Simone Cadamuro (Ita) Kio Ene-Tonazzo-Dmt                                       
DNF Mattia Gavazzi (Ita) Kio Ene-Tonazzo-Dmt                                        
DNF Jesse Anthony (USA) Kodak Gallery presented by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.        
DNF Dominique Rollin (Can) Kodak Gallery presented by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.     
DNF Dan Timmerman (USA) Kodak Gallery presented by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.        
DNF Chris Jones (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling                                             
DNF Aidan Charles (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling                                           
DNF Alec Donahue (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling                                            
DNF David Wiswell (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling                                           
DNF Daniel Holt (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling                                             
DNF Istvan Cziraki (Hun) P-Nivo Betonexpressz 2000 Kft.Se                           
DNF Akos Haiszer (Hun) P-Nivo Betonexpressz 2000 Kft.Se                             
DNF Zoltan Mecseri (Hun) P-Nivo Betonexpressz 2000 Kft.Se                           
DNF Rida Cador (Hun) P-Nivo Betonexpressz 2000 Kft.Se                               
DNF Joshua Taylor (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling                                        
DNF Mike Norton (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling                                          
DNF Clayton Barrows (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling                                      
DNF Christian Lademann (Ger) Team Sparkasse                                         
DNF Stefan Loffler (Ger) Team Sparkasse                                             
DNF Philipp Mamos (Ger) Team Sparkasse                                              
DNF Stefan Parinussa (Ger) Team Sparkasse                                           
DNF Fausto Esparza (Mex) Tecos De La Univ. Autonoma De Guadalajara                  
DNF Francisco Matamoros (Mex) Tecos De La Univ. Autonoma De Guadalajara             
DNF Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team                             
DNF Bobby Lea (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team                                  
DNF Ivan Stevic (SCG) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team                                
DNF Lisban Quintero (USA) CRCA/Empire                                               
DNF John Leohner (USA) CRCA/Empire                                                  
DNF Mike Margarite (USA) CRCA/Empire                                                
DNF Eric Brownell (USA) CRCA/Empire                                                 
DNF Alejandro Guzman (Dom) CRCA/Empire                                              
DNF Gavi Epstein (Can) CRCA/Sakonnet Technology                                     
DNF Gabe Lloyd (USA) CRCA/Sakonnet Technology                                       
DNF Guy East (USA) CRCA/Sakonnet Technology                                         
DNF Robbie Giannini (USA) CRCA/Sakonnet Technology                                  
DNF Josh Dillon (USA) Fiordifrutta                                                  
DNF Charles Marzot (USA) Fiordifrutta                                               
DNF Cory Burns (USA) Fiordifrutta                                                   
DNF Martin Lechowicz (USA) GS Mengoni                                               
DNF Jonathan Erdelyi (USA) GS Mengoni                                               
DNF Anibal Borrajo (Arg) GS Mengoni                                                 
DNF Kevin Hazzard (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee                                             
DNF Mike Mathis (USA) Jet Fuel Coffee                                               
DNF Jon Chodroff (USA) Jet Fuel Coffee                                              
DNF Colin Sandberg (USA) Jet Fuel Coffee                                            
DNF Steve Cummings (USA) Jet Fuel Coffee                                            
DNF Mike Stubna (USA) Jet Fuel Coffee                                               
DNF Michael Chauner (USA) Pennsylvania Lightning                                    
DNF Nick Frey (USA) Pennsylvania Lightning                                          
DNF Chris Ruhl (USA) Pennsylvania Lightning                                         
DNS Lucas Euser (USA) Team Slipstream presented by Chipotle                         
DNS Mike Friedman (USA) Team Slipstream presented by Chipotle                       
DNS Brad Huff (USA) Team Slipstream presented by Chipotle                           
DNS Winston David (USA) AEG-Toshiba-Jetnetwork Pro Cycling Team                     
DNS Alex Hagman (USA) AEG-Toshiba-Jetnetwork Pro Cycling Team                       
DNS Andy Guptill (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light              
DNS Bruno Langlois (Can) Equipe Vallee De L'aluminium De Vinci                      
DNS Joel Dion-Poitras (Can) Equipe Vallee De L'aluminium De Vinci                   
DNS Mathieu Roy (Can) Equipe Vallee De L'aluminium De Vinci                         
DNS Charles Thibault (Can) Equipe Vallee De L'aluminium De Vinci                    
DNS Daniel Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast                           
DNS David Mccook (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast                            
DNS Reid Mumford (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast                            
DNS Justin Spinelli (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast                         
DNS Mirko Allegrini (Ita) Kio Ene-Tonazzo-Dmt                                       
DNS Maurizio Biondo (Ita) Kio Ene-Tonazzo-Dmt                                       
DNS Mattia Parravicini (Ita) Kio Ene-Tonazzo-Dmt                                    
DNS Pete Lopinto (USA) Kodak Gallery presented by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.         
DNS Todd Yezefski (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling                                           
DNS Samuele Marini (Ita) P-Nivo Betonexpressz 2000 Kft.Se                           
DNS Alejandro Borrajo (Arg) Rite Aid Pro Cycling                                    
DNS Ryan Dewald (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling                                          
DNS Stephan Kincaid (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling                                      
DNS Gregorio Ladino (Col) Tecos De La Univ. Autonoma De Guadalajara                 
DNS Jesus Zarate (Mex) Tecos De La Univ. Autonoma De Guadalajara                    
DNS Hector Hugo Rangel (Mex) Tecos De La Univ. Autonoma De Guadalajara              
DNS Juan Pablo Magallanes (Mex) Tecos De La Univ. Autonoma De Guadalajara           
DNS Sean Sullivan (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team                              
DNS Jose-Manuel Garcia (Mex) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team                         
DNS Heath Blackgrove (NZl) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team                           
DNS Daniel Zmolik (USA) CRCA/Empire                                                 
DNS Joao Correia (Por) CRCA/Empire                                                  
DNS Alvaro Arnal (USA) CRCA/Empire                                                  
DNS Eric Schildge (USA) CRCA/Sakonnet Technology                                    
DNS Matt White (USA) Fiordifrutta                                                   
DNS Josh Lipka (USA) Fiordifrutta                                                   
DNS Hayden Brooks (Aus) Fiordifrutta                                                
DNS Alberto Blanco (USA) GS Mengoni                                                 
DNS Nick Friesen (Can) GS Mengoni                                                   
DNS Christopher Gottwald (USA) GS Mengoni                                           
DNS Mark Pozniak (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee                                              
DNS Zack Morris (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee                                               
DNS Peter Morse (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee                                               
DNS John Minturn (USA) Jet Fuel Coffee                                              
DNS Turner Johnson (USA) Jet Fuel Coffee                                            
DNS Jackie Simes (USA) Pennsylvania Lightning                                       
DNS Peter Horn (USA) Pennsylvania Lightning