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Univest Grand Prix - 1.2
Souderton, Pennsylvania, USA, September 6-7, 2008
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Stage 1 - September 6: Univest Grand Prix Road Roace, 100mi
Euser wins rainy Univest
By Kirsten Robbins in Souderton, Pennsylvania
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After an injury-laden mid-season, Lucas Euser (Garmin-Chipotle) proved to be back on winning form. The 24 year-old soloed away with the victory in the final two kilometres a head of his late-race break away companion Frederik Ericsson (Cykelcity.se).
"We had the numbers with three guys in the final group so we had to use them," said Euser who celebrated his victory under the warm rain, with enough time to watch his team-mates play out their finish against the remaining chasers.
"We were both cramping, both hurting and just wanted to get to the line," he continued. "I had to play conservative; I looked back after I jumped. He put his head down so I knew I had the win – It's my first pro win and a long time in the making."
Garmin-Chipotle had numbers on their side, dominating the decisive break away of ten riders. After locking up the victory, Euser's team-mates Pat McCarty put the pressure on the chase group, rounding out the podium in third and Tyler Farrar claimed the sprint behind for fourth.
"This isn't a race that lends itself well to a field sprint," said Farrar who acknowledged being the fastest sprinter in the break yet confident his team-mates could do just as well up the road.
"We went into the race knowing that it would break apart and did what we needed to do to keep all of our numbers in the front. We got Lucas up there and the pressure was on the other teams to try to bring it back."
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The Swedish time trial champion, Ericsson used his raw power to bridge across to the winning breakaway. The soloist surprised the leaders when he joined them on the first of eleven finishing circuits. The runner up gained full sprint points on the circuits to capture the sprint jersey.
"I felt good all day but I missed the good move," said Ericsson who impressively caught the bunch and then continued a second solo chase to catch Euser. "I had to waste a lot of energy to catch up to those guys but I finally did. I didn't think I would do well after that. I think Euser sensed that I was not as strong and he knew he was going to beat me."
The breakaway was decided when a large group of twenty continued to reshuffle over the steep climbs surrounding Souderton. The ten front riders included Ericsson, Euser, McCarty and Farrar.
Also amongst the front runners were the eventual KOM jersey winner Bernardo Colex and his team-mate Juan Pablo Magallanes (Tecos), Chris Jones and Ian McGregor (Team Type 1), François Parisien (Team Race Pro), Philipp Mamos (Sparkasse) and Gerardo Fernandez (Champion Systems).
The second half of the original break reunited with the slowing lead group mid-way through the final circuits. McCarty and Farrar took advantage of their fresh legs and split the bunch apart for a second time, drawing five of the previous riders with them along with fresh faces Mark Walters (Team Race Pro) and Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1).
"I don't think they really had the legs to chase and Pat and I got a free ride," continued Farrar who enjoyed the classic-style road race. "We were obviously the freshest at the end."
How it unfolded
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Tropical storm Hanna touched down on the international peloton at the 11th annual Univest Pennsylvania, dampening an otherwise exciting bike race. It is one of few UCI sanctioned events held in the US, typically attracting a large contingent of young and amateur riders looking for a professional contact.
The 160-kilometre, Euro-like road race is notorious for painfully undulating terrain surrounding Souderton, Pennsylvania. The peloton endured one large circuit that covered a scenic backdrop of Bucks County's narrow roads, technical twists and gorgeous covered bridges. The event topped off with eleven short finishing circuits incorporated one steep hill on each five-kilometre lap.
"We've taken a classic European road race, something that has taken decades to produce in Europe, and we've transplanted it in to suburban Philadelphia," said John Eustice, event promoter. "The event has never seen more than one or two riders contesting the finish. It's a very difficult race and a place for strong riders to emerge."
Neither historical finishes nor the difficult terrain was enough to deter the hungry peloton from an animated start. Three back-to-back hot spot sprints kicked off the race. Teams Jittery Joes, Toshiba and Sparkasse went after the points available but did not gain enough to surpass Ericsson's point lead gained on the final circuits.
Team Tecos played offensive as the field approached the steep climbs through the heavy fog and rain. Three KOM ascents combined with the Mexican team's aggressive riding style was enough to shatter the bunch.
Garmin-Chipotle and Team Type 1 were amongst the riders able to follow the event's best climber, Bernardo Colex on each ascent. "In general we wanted to win the race today but that didn't happen," said Colex. "We were very aggressive and happy with the way we rode. Getting the KOM jersey is still very good for us. We are the kind of team that race with our hearts and get better little by little."
Tired legs started to set in and the front group continued to splinter as the terrain toughened. Ericsson, who missed the break, committed to a solo effort to catch up back up. "Time trailing is something I'm very good at – My specialty," he said regarding successful putting himself in a position to win.
"I've been a mountain biker for most of my career and just switched over to the road a few years ago. Hard and technical courses like this, with lots of corners and rain suit me very well."
Euser saw a good opportunity to attack on the second lap and Ericsson bridged across several kilometres later. "I had no idea who he was but there was a big Swedish flag on the back side of the course flying for him and I know Swedish guys are tough," said Euser, focused on US world championship team selection.
"I had to play conservative and watch him to see how strong he was," he continued regarding the winning strategy. "We are a great team because we are a team. We are not a bunch of individuals out there. We work hard together and that's how you win races, as a unit."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Scott Schaffrick
- Lucas Euesar (Garmin/Chipotle) finishing as the hurricane continued to blow in.
- Fredrick Ericsson (Team Cykelcity.se) leading Lucas Euesar right up until the bell lap rang.
- The peloton kept the chase on , hoping to close the gap.
- Fredrick Ericsson (Team Cykelcity.se) , Lucas Euesar (Garmin-Chipotle), Pat McCarty (Garmin-Chipotle).
Images by Anthony Skorochod/www.cyclingcaptured.com
- Lucas Euser of (Garmin-Chipotle) enduring the rains of Hurricane Hanna.
- Ken Johnson of (Battley Harley-Davidson) descending the hill before the Finish line.
- A descent followed by a relatively steep incline leading up to the Finish Line.
- Bobby Lea (Rite-Aid Pro Cycling) in his first pro-race since returning from the 2008 Bejing Olympics.
- Bobby Lea (Rite-Aid Pro Cycling).
- Lucas Euser (Garmin-Chipotle) riding the wheel of Frederik Ericcson (Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison) right up until the final sprint for the win.
- The Peloton "riding out the storm".
- Frederik Ericcson (Team Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison) leading the last few laps.
- Frederik Ericcson (Team Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison).
- Michael Stevenson (Amore & Vita - McDonald's) leads the breakaway behind the leaders Ericcson/Euser.
- Lucas Euser (Garmin-Chipotle) riding the wheel of Frederik Ericcson (Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison).
Results
1 Lucas Euser (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 3.50.48 2 Frederik Ericsson (Swe) Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison 0.13 3 Pat Mccarty (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 1.47 4 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 2.00 5 Francois Parisien (Can) Team RACE Pro 2.01 6 Philipp Mamos (Ger) Team Sparkasse/Canon Capital 2.02 7 Christopher Jones (USA) Team Type 1 2.03 8 Mark Walters (Can) Team RACE Pro 2.04 9 Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Team Type 1 2.20 10 Robbie King (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling 3.33 11 Steven Van Vooren (Bel) Cycling Center/JBCA/Doylestown Hospital 12 Gerardo Fernandez (Arg) Champion System Racing KraftGenie Cycling Inc. 13 Ryan Roth (Can) Team RACE Pro 14 Michael Stevenson (Swe) Amore & Vita - McDonald's 15 Joshua F Dillon (USA) Fiordifrutta Cycling Team 16 Yosvany Falcon (Cub) Toshiba-Santo Pro Cycling presented by Herbalife 3.35 17 Ian Macgregor (USA) Team Type 1 18 Juan Pablo Magallanes Aranda (Mex) Tecos/Aldefer Auction 3.36 19 Bernardo Colex Tepez (Mex) Tecos/Aldefer Auction 4.54 20 Scott Jackson (USA) DLP Racing 8.01 21 Matt Winstead (USA) Team Inferno Pro Cycling 13.22 22 Phillip Gaimon (USA) Fiordifrutta Cycling Team 23 Stefan Cohnen (Ned) Team Sparkasse/Canon Capital 24 Jake Keough (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 15.13 25 Tommy Nankervis (Aus) DLP Racing 26 Kevin Buck Miller (Can) Team RACE Pro 27 Jonas Bjellmark (Swe) Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison 28 Cheyne Hoag (USA) CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25 Team 29 Mike Norton (USA) Calyon Pro Cycling Team 30 Rick Norton (USA) Immediate Mortgage/Artemis Elite 31 Matthew Johnson (USA) CRCA/Empire Cycling Team 32 Eric Tremble (USA) Kenda/Raleigh Cycling Team 33 Robert Kenneth Osterling (Swe) Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison 34 Peter Morse (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee 35 Tom Soladay (USA) Time Pro Cycling 36 Mathew Bell (Can) Calyon Pro Cycling Team 37 Trent Wilson (Aus) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 38 Michael Margarite (USA) CRCA/Empire Cycling Team 39 Keck Baker (USA) Battley Harley Davidson Elite Cycling Team 40 Christopher Hong (USA) Battley Harley Davidson Elite Cycling Team 41 Peter Horn (USA) Cycling Center/JBCA/Doylestown Hospital 42 John Freddy Parra (Col) Toshiba-Santo Pro Cycling presented by Herbalife 43 Nathan Coleman (USA) Immediate Mortgage/Artemis Elite 44 Clay Murfet (Aus) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 45 Chad Butts (USA) Champion System Racing KraftGenie Cycling Inc. 46 Jose Medina (Chi) Champion System Racing KraftGenie Cycling Inc. 47 Jacob Mueller (USA) Hershey Cancer Institute-GPOA-Cannondale 48 Richard Geng (Ger) Rite Aid Pro Cycling 49 Carlos Oyarzun (Chi) Tecos/Aldefer Auction 50 Andrew Hunt (Can) Team RACE Pro 51 Christopher T Rozdilsky (USA) Fiordifrutta Cycling Team 52 David Nelson (USA) Cycling Center/JBCA/Doylestown Hospital 53 Fabio Calabria (Aus) Team Type 1 54 Omar Cervantes (Mex) Tecos/Aldefer Auction 55 Ricardo Tapia (Mex) Tecos/Aldefer Auction 56 Evan Elken (USA) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 57 Frank Travieso (Cub) Toshiba-Santo Pro Cycling presented by Herbalife 58 Keir Plaice (Can) Team RACE Pro 59 Boyd Johnson Ii (USA) DLP Racing 60 Nicholas Bennette (USA) Fitness Together / Independent Fabrication 15.14 61 Bobby Lea (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling 62 Richard Faltus (Cze) Team Sparkasse/Canon Capital 63 Tilo Schüler (Ger) Team Sparkasse/Canon Capital 64 Martin Gilbert (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 65 Mathieu Roy (Can) Calyon Pro Cycling Team 66 Charles T Marzot (USA) Fiordifrutta Cycling Team 67 Eric Schildge (USA) Fiordifrutta Cycling Team DNF Caleb Fairly (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O DNF Tom Danielson (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O DNF Graziano Gasparre (Ita) Amore & Vita - McDonald's DNF Fabio Gilioli (Ita) Amore & Vita - McDonald's DNF Phillip Cortes (Can) Amore & Vita - McDonald's DNF Yuri Metlushenko (Ukr) Amore & Vita - McDonald's DNF Maxime Vives (Can) Calyon Pro Cycling Team DNF Thaddeus Dulin (USA) DLP Racing DNF Owen Nielsen (USA) DLP Racing DNF Charles Pendry (USA) DLP Racing DNF Benjamin King (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast DNF Nicholas Waite (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast DNF Clayton Barrows (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling DNF Stephan Kincaid (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling DNF Miles Watson (Aus) Rite Aid Pro Cycling DNF Moises Aldape (Mex) Team Type 1 DNF Luis Macias Hernandez (Mex) Tecos/Aldefer Auction DNF Chad Hartley (USA) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team DNF Neil Shirley (USA) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team DNF Jared Barrilleaux (USA) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team DNF Matt Shriver (USA) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team DNF Nick Frey (USA) Time Pro Cycling DNF Jackie Simes (USA) Time Pro Cycling DNF John Hamblen (USA) Time Pro Cycling DNF Daniel Ramsey (USA) Time Pro Cycling DNF Mike Stoop (USA) Time Pro Cycling DNF Daniel Vaillancourt (USA) Toshiba-Santo Pro Cycling presented by Herbalife DNF Predrag Prokic (Srb) Toshiba-Santo Pro Cycling presented by Herbalife DNF Brian Butts (USA) Battley Harley Davidson Elite Cycling Team DNF Sean Barrie (USA) Battley Harley Davidson Elite Cycling Team DNF Ken Johnson (Can) Battley Harley Davidson Elite Cycling Team DNF Franklin Burgos (Dom) Champion System Racing KraftGenie Cycling Inc. DNF Rashad Guerra (USA) Champion System Racing KraftGenie Cycling Inc. DNF Vladimir Estevez (Dom) Champion System Racing KraftGenie Cycling Inc. DNF Nick Keough (USA) CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25 Team DNF Graviel Epstein (Can) CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25 Team DNF Nick Friesen (Can) CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25 Team DNF Lisbon Quintero (Col) CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25 Team DNF Sheldon Deeny (USA) CRCA/Empire Cycling Team DNF Eric Brownell (USA) CRCA/Empire Cycling Team DNF Michael Mathis (USA) CRCA/Empire Cycling Team DNF Pascual Caputi (Ita) CRCA/Empire Cycling Team DNF Jim Camut (USA) Cycling Center/JBCA/Doylestown Hospital DNF Bryan Mcvey (USA) Cycling Center/JBCA/Doylestown Hospital DNF Calle-Henrik Sandell (Swe) Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison DNF Johan Anders Lindgren (Swe) Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison DNF Jan Gunners (Swe) Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison DNF James B Driscoll (USA) Fiordifrutta Cycling Team DNF Kevin Wolfson (USA) Fitness Together / Independent Fabrication DNF Aidan Charles (USA) Fitness Together / Independent Fabrication DNF Ward Solar (USA) Fitness Together / Independent Fabrication DNF Jonathan Bruno (USA) Fitness Together / Independent Fabrication DNF Thom Coupe (USA) Fitness Together / Independent Fabrication DNF Turner Johnson (USA) Hershey Cancer Institute-GPOA-Cannondale DNF Colin Sandberg (USA) Hershey Cancer Institute-GPOA-Cannondale DNF Chris Kuhl (USA) Hershey Cancer Institute-GPOA-Cannondale DNF Elliot Gaunt (USA) Hershey Cancer Institute-GPOA-Cannondale DNF Adam Farabaugh (USA) Hershey Cancer Institute-GPOA-Cannondale DNF Mark Warno (USA) Immediate Mortgage/Artemis Elite DNF Ramon Benitez (USA) Immediate Mortgage/Artemis Elite DNF Michael Githens (USA) Immediate Mortgage/Artemis Elite DNF David Osborn (USA) Immediate Mortgage/Artemis Elite DNF Jamie Riggs (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee DNF Bryson Bowers (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee DNF Kevin Hazzard (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee DNF Jason Baer (USA) Kenda/Raleigh Cycling Team DNF Jason Beerman (USA) Kenda/Raleigh Cycling Team DNF Sean ORourke (USA) Kenda/Raleigh Cycling Team DNF Adam J Sullivan (USA) Kenda/Raleigh Cycling Team DNS Toby Walch (USA) Kenda/Raleigh Cycling Team DNF Joe Cooper (NZl) Team Inferno Pro Cycling DNF Andrew Applegate (USA) Team Inferno Pro Cycling DNF Christian Parrett (USA) Team Inferno Pro Cycling DNF Timothy Swain (USA) Team Inferno Pro Cycling Sprints Sprint 1 1 Frank Travieso (Cub) Toshiba-Santo Pro Cycling presented by Herbalife 10 pts 2 Ricardo Tapia (Mex) Tecos/Aldefer Auction 5 3 Nicholas Bennette (USA) Fitness Together / Independent Fabrication 3 Sprint 2 1 Trent Wilson (Aus) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 10 pts 2 Jake Keough (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 5 3 Ricardo Tapia (Mex) Tecos/Aldefer Auction 3 Sprint 3 1 Philipp Mamos (Ger) Team Sparkasse/Canon Capital 10 pts 2 Francois Parisien (Can) Team RACE Pro 5 3 Pat Mccarty (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 3 Sprint 4 1 Frederik Ericsson (Swe) Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison 10 pts 2 Lucas Euser (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 5 3 Ian Macgregor (USA) Team Type 1 3 Sprint 5 1 Frederik Ericsson (Swe) Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison 10 pts 2 Lucas Euser (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 5 3 Francois Parisien (Can) Team RACE Pro 3 Sprint classification 1 Frederik Ericsson (Swe) Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison 20 pts 2 Philipp Mamos (Ger) Team Sparkasse/Canon Capital 10 3 Trent Wilson (Aus) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 10 4 Frank Travieso (Cub) Toshiba-Santo Pro Cycling presented by Herbalife 10 5 Lucas Euser (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 10 6 Francois Parisien (Can) Team RACE Pro 8 7 Ricardo Tapia (Mex) Tecos/Aldefer Auction 8 8 Jake Keough (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 5 9 Ian Macgregor (USA) Team Type 1 3 10 Pat Mccarty (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 3 11 Nicholas Bennette (USA) Fitness Together / Independent Fabrication 3 Mountains Mountain 1 1 Bernardo Colex Tepez (Mex) Tecos/Aldefer Auction 10 pts 2 Pat Mccarty (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 5 3 Nicholas Waite (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 3 Mountain 2 1 Bernardo Colex Tepez (Mex) Tecos/Aldefer Auction 20 pts 2 Pat Mccarty (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 10 3 Nicholas Waite (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 6 Mountain 3 1 Bernardo Colex Tepez (Mex) Tecos/Aldefer Auction 10 pts 2 Pat Mccarty (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 5 3 Christopher Jones (USA) Team Type 1 3 Mountain 4 1 Lucas Euser (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 10 pts 2 Frederik Ericsson (Swe) Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison 5 3 Philipp Mamos (Ger) Team Sparkasse/Canon Capital 3 Mountain 5 1 Frederik Ericsson (Swe) Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison 10 pts 2 Lucas Euser (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 5 3 Pat Mccarty (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 3 Mountain classification 1 Bernardo Colex Tepez (Mex) Tecos/Aldefer Auction 40 pts 2 Pat Mccarty (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 23 3 Lucas Euser (USA) Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 15 4 Frederik Ericsson (Swe) Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison 15 5 Philipp Mamos (Ger) Team Sparkasse/Canon Capital 3 6 Christopher Jones (USA) Team Type 1 3 Best young rider 1 Jake Keough (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 4.06.01 2 Jonas Bjellmark (Swe) Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison 3 Cheyne Hoag (USA) CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25 Team 4 Mathew Bell (Can) Calyon Pro Cycling Team 5 Christopher Hong (USA) Battley Harley Davidson Elite Cycling Team 6 Clay Murfet (Aus) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 7 Andrew Hunt (Can) Team RACE Pro 8 Fabio Calabria (Aus) Team Type 1 9 Charles T Marzot (USA) Fiordifrutta Cycling Team 0.01 Teams 1 Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O 11.36.11 2 Team RACE Pro 3.51 3 Team Type 1 4.11 4 Tecos/Aldefer Auction 19.56 5 Team Sparkasse/Canon Capital 26.51 6 Cykelcity.se/Klehr Harrison 26.52 7 Fiordifrutta Cycling Team 28.21 8 Champion System Racing KraftGenie Cycling Inc. 30.12 9 Cycling Center/JBCA/Doylestown Hospital 10 Rite Aid Pro Cycling 30.13 11 Toshiba-Santo Pro Cycling presented by Herbalife 30.14 12 DLP Racing 34.40 13 Calyon Pro Cycling Team 41.53 14 Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast
