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Univest Grand Prix - 1.2
Souderton, Pennsylvania, USA, September 8, 2007
Main Page Results Live report ProTour standings
Frischkorn dominates Univest GP
By Kirsten Robbins in Souderton, Pennsylvania
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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.
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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
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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."
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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.
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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
- Will Frischkorn (Team Slipstream-Chipotle) broke free to take victory.
- Floyd Landis was on hand to ride in the cyclosportif, leading record numbers of riders.
- Landis says good-bye to his family as he heads out for 100 km of 'training.'
- Hmmm, looks like a good time for a break... in the first 10 km.
- And a break is away.
- The break rolls along the countryside.
- Stefano Barberi (Toyota-United) radios the riders in the break back to the team car.
- The main break of the day, almost from the first kilometres, builds on their lead.
- It was a lonely day in no man's land for riders such as Brad Huff (Slipstream-Chipotle).
- With all the major teams represented in the break, riders from smaller teams were charged with the duties of chasing.
- Many problems were encountered today - thankfully these deer crossing between the chase and the approaching field were not among them.
- The field rolls through with the deer safely across.
- Pete Lopinto (Kodak Gallery-Sierra Nevada) crashed out of the break and has both physical and bike doctors checking him out.
- A slow-moving peloton is lead by the B world champion Ivan Stevic (Toyota-United).
- Bernard Van Ulden (Navigators Insurance) says enough with the group ride pace, and tries a solo bridge.
- Former elite US road champion Scottie Weiss (AEG-Toshiba-JetNetwork) leads Sebastian Frey (Sparkasse) and the rest of the chasers.
- Jonny Sundt (Kelly Benefits-Medifast) had a long day after a long season.
- As the kilometres and KOMs ticked off so did the numbers in the break.
- After getting popped it was hard going in between the groups.
- Sebastian Frey (Sparkasse) continues to go backwards out of the leading groups.
- The main field begins to split on the second KOM.
- Sundt keeps the speed high on the many descents.
- Slipstream-Chipotle teammates Will Frischkorn and Timmy Duggan lead over the third and longest KOM.
- John Fredy Parra (Tecos-Trek) rode a strong race against the numbers of Slipstream.
- One of the final chase groups turns onto the circuits just before the officials close the gate.
- The peloton laughs as they are told their race is over.
- The leaders corner on the circuit as a chase group comes from behind to unlap themselves.
- The 13 laps of the tough five kilometre circuit made for a long finish to a long day.
- Devis Miorin (Doylestown Hospital-ITA composite) survived out of the many chase groups to finish sixth.
- Will Frischkorn (Slipstream-Chipotle) rides solo after attacking the lead break.
- Timmy Duggan (Slipstream-Chipotle) keeps watch over Parra and Phil Gaimon (CRCA-Sakonnet) as his teammate rides away with the win.
- Frischkorn does not even have time to watch the big screen with two laps to go.
- Frischkorn and Duggan congratulate each other in a very tired fashion.
Images by Fj Hughes/www.fhughesphoto.com
- The devil looks much younger in person than on television.
- Jonny Sundt (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast) shows the strain of spending a long day in the break collecting sprint points.
- Mark Walters (Kodak Gallery-Sierra Nevada) rode strong to finish in the top five.
- After some controversy, Ryan Roth (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast) finished on the second step of the podium.
- After dropping his breakaway companions Will Frischkorn (Team Slipstream-Chipotle) rode solo to victory.
- Will Frishkorn (Team Slipstream-Chipotle) focused all the way to the finish line.
- Arms raised, Will Frishkorn (Team Slipstream-Chipotle) crosses the finish line.
- Podium (L-R): Ryan Roth (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast), Will Fischkorn (Team Slipstream-Chipotle), John Fredy Parra (Tecos De La Univ. Autonoma De Guadalajara).
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
