Tour of the Gila - NE

USA, April 30-May 4, 2003

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Stage 1 - April 30: Dan Potts Memorial Time Trial, 15.7 miles

By Stephen W. Medcroft

Gord Fraser (Health Net) won the men's time trial
Photo: © Beth Seliga

The tone is set at the Tour of the Gila with Gord Fraser (Team HealthNet) and Genevieve Jeansen (Rona-Esker) taking the first stage in the professional classifications with the type of convincing victories you expect from brand-name pros of their caliber. Fraser put 37 seconds on second-place Drew Miller (Trek All-Stars). Jeanson piled on more almost 1 minute 30 seconds. With four days or racing to go, the story of the Tour of the Gila needs to be told by the racers behind.

In the women's field, second place, 1:27 back after the opening day 15.7-mile time trial, is Manon Jutras (Saturn Cycling). A former Jeanson teammate and fellow Canadian, Jutras is fresh off a calm and controlled win at La Vuleta de Bisbee and may have the best chance of all the women's field to upset Jeanson. Jeanson is, of course, the clear favorite and fresh off her own wins -- Sea Otter, Redlands, Pomona Valley, and Valley of the Sun. She shows such dominance in any race she enters that everyone else must feel like they are racing for second. But that's the beauty of the Tour of the Gila; it tests racers on many different levels and gives racers of all strengths an opportunity to shine.

Today's time trial was named for a local cyclist who was clipped by a vehicle during a training ride and lost his life a couple of years ago, as a reminder of the danger and fragility in our sport. The out-and-back course featured climbing out, and descending back. Add the usual desert winds and riders were scratching their heads this morning to decide to run disc wheels or not. There seemed to also be discussion in some camps of how large a gear to run due to the extended downhill. Knowing these dynamics, the results may not then be surprising. Fraser is a powerful rider and could take advantage of his strength on a rolling downhill push. Miller, of course, it is becoming notorious for his climbing and had the advantage for the up.

Tomorrow's Silver City to Mogollon Pass Road Race is a classic point-to-point race which features a 10-mile, 2,100 foot uphill finale once riders have 60 miles in their legs already.

Drew Miller, a Flagstaff, Arizona based racer who races for a regional Trek-sponsored club team (Landis/Trek/VW) is joined at the Tour of the Gila by a tough battalion of other Trek-related pros. Travis Brown of Trek's mountain bike team is here. As is Walker Ferguson of Subaru/Gary Fisher. Along with Colorado-based regional Trek pros such as Jeff Hartmann. Drew also, of course, brought along a core group from his own team. Trek All-Star team manager has high hopes that his band of mercenaries will make the Trek brand proud and once again frustrate Team HealthNet.

But there seemed to be a fire in Gord Fraser's time trial legs today, a gauntlet thrown. At the end of the day, Team HealthNet is in the driver's seat. With two strong riders in the top 5 and a strong team to pull them along, all eyes will be on HealthNet. Will they pull together and play tomorrow's race to their advantage?

The tactics women's teams have chosen to play against Jeanson's dominance will be interesting to follow tomorrow as well. Will they sit and mark Jeanson, looking for cracks to take advantage of? Or will their be relentless and aggressive, sacrificing themselves to weaken Jeanson so their own strong leaders can gain some back some of the advantage Jeanson seems to hold over everyone?

And don't count out the healthy group of mountain bike pros clipped into their road shoes either. Climbing is their forte after all. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski is having the best season start of his young career and is a rider who knows success in racing. Kelli Emmett (Hillenbrand Racing) is only a little more than 3 minutes back as well.

Photos

Images by Beth Seliga/3catsphoto.com

Gord Fraser (Health Net) was the best of the men in the opening time trial
Drew Miller (Trek/VW All Stars) pushes through the wind en route to 2nd place
Drew Miller (Trek/VW All Stars) working hard during his time trial
Michael Ley (Rio Grande) was the third best rider today
The Tecos team warm up in the sunshine
Jeff Hartmann (Trek VW All Stars) gets the countdown
Jeff Hartmann (Trek VW All Stars) sets off on his ride
Travis Brown (Trek/VW All Stars) during the first stage of the Tour of the Gila, a 15.7 mile time trial
Todd Welles (Hyundai-Mongoose) on his way to sixth in the time trial
A Sierra Nevada rider works his way up a climb during the time trial
The Health Net team celebrate Fraser's victory with wild abandon

Images by gilawilderness.com

The start-line is here isn't it?
One of the Landis/Trek/VW riders in the time-trial
The T-Mobile girls prepare for their run
And off we go
High tech starting gate
The concentration shows
You did what?

Results

Women
 
1 Genevieve Jeanson (Can) Rona Esker                   40.00.68
2 Manon Jutras (Can) Saturn Cycling Team                1.27
3 Leah Goldstein (Isr) Victory Brewing-Am               1.31
4 Katrina Grove (USA) T-Mobile                          2.31
5 Melissa Thomas (USA) Ritchey K2                       3.17
6 Kelli Emmett (USA) Hillenbrand Racing                 3.20
7 Lynn Gaggioli (USA) Velo Bella                        3.22
8 Jessica Phillips (USA) Saturn Cycling Team            3.50
9 Chrissy Ruiter (USA) Fort Lewis                       3.55
10 Rhonda Quick (USA) Vaniqa/Red S. Racing              4.04
11 Kri Scheffenacker (USA) Team Snow Valley             4.08
12 Kiara Bisaro (Can) Canadian Cycling                  4.11
13 Amy Moore (Can) Saturn Cycling Team                  4.15
14 Gretchen Reeves (USA) Rocky Mountain                 4.16
15 Brooke Ourada (USA) Team Goldys                      4.37
16 Karen Bockel (Ger) Rona Esker                        4.43
17 Maatje Benassi (Ned) ICO                             4.53
18 Susan Haywood (USA) T - Mobile                       5.19
19 Jennifer Wilson (USA) Mtn. Velo/Supergo              5.22
20 Megan Elliott (USA) Saturn Cycling Team              5.46
21 Andrea Hannos (Can) Rona Esker                       5.46
22 Melanie McQuaid (Can) Ford / Outfitters              5.47
23 Chrissy Redden (Can) Canadian Cycling                5.50
24 Elizabeth Begosh (USA) Team Snow Valley              5.51
25 Marie Rosado (PRc) Pollo Rey                         5.55
26 Mary Grigson (Aus) Subaru-Gary Fisher                6.06
27 Carrie Tuck (Can) Rona Esker                         6.11
28 Johanna Buick (NZl) Hornby Cycling Club              6.16
29 Christy Kopasz (USA) ICO                             6.18
30 Kristin Johnson (USA) T-Mobile                       6.19
31 Sarah Koinrad (USA) Basis                            6.29
32 Lisa Magness (USA) ICO                               6.34
33 Laura Schmidt (USA) Terry Precision                  6.40
34 Erinne Willock (Can) Rona Esker                      6.43
35 Melissa Sanborn (USA) ICO                            6.46
36 Liza Rachetto (USA) ICO                              6.52
37 Becky Broeder (USA) ICO                              6.55
38 Deneen Brown (USA) Landis/Trek/VW                    6.57
39 Samanth Nicholson (Can) Ciclismo                     6.58
40 Melissa Holt (NZl) Rona Esker                        7.03
41 Sima Trapp (USA) Goldy's                             7.13
42 Willow Koerber (USA) RLX Polo Sport                  7.21
43 Carla Flores (USA) Lakewood Racing                   7.21
44 Rook Campbell (USA) Hi Tech Bikes                    7.28
45 Dara Marks (USA) Mountain Velo                       7.28
46 Lisa Hunt (USA) The Olympic Club                     7.29
47 Shannon Gibson (USA) Team El Paso                    7.44
48 Mary Kneeland (USA) ICO                              7.44
49 Jody Koch (USA) Ford Outfitters                      8.00
50 Maria Molina (Gua) Pollo Rey                         8.03
51 Lara Kroepsch (USA) T-Mobile                         8.09
52 Ginger Buller (USA) Velo Bella                       8.17
53 Allison Lustby (USA) --                              8.18
54 Lisa Matlock (USA) Ford Outfitters                   8.19
55 Marg Fedyna (Can) Vaniqa/Red S. Racing               8.49
56 Beth Leasure (USA) Team Velo Clips                   8.52
57 Fabioal Acaron (PRc) Pollo Rey                       9.00
58 Rebecca Cooke (USA) Landis/Trek/VW                   9.02
59 Heather Armstrong (USA) Colorado Velo/Denv           9.05
60 Jana Repulski (USA) Goldy's                          9.12
61 Chloe Black (Can) Terry Precision                    9.17
62 Rachel Massey (USA) Ford Outfitters                  9.18
63 Nina Baum (USA) Lenz Sport                           9.32
64 Hiroko Shimada (USA) --                              9.34
65 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team             9.37
66 Maria Castaneda (Gua) Pollo Rey                      9.47
67 Sarah Hammer (USA) T-Mobile                         10.05
68 Crystal Yap (USA) Healthy Choice/Gurus              11.08
69 Sheba Farrin (USA) Lateral Stress Velo              11.56
70 Michele Bote (USA) LSV/Trek/VW                      11.58
71 Jocelyn Trochex (PRc) Pollo Rey                     12.12
72 Petrina Tulissi (Can) Ciclismo Racing               13.43
73 Lauren Dorsch (USA) Goldy's                         15.57
 
Men
 
1 Gord Fraser (Can) Healthnet                          36.17.56
2 Drew Miller (USA) Trek/VW All-Stars                   0.37
3 Michael Ley (USA) Team Rio Grande                     0.43
4 Domingo Ramirez (Mex) Tecos                           0.49
5 Michael Sayers (USA) HealthNet                        0.50
6 Todd Wells (USA) Hyundai Mongoose                     0.51
7 Blake Caldwell (USA) 5280/Subaru                      0.53
8 Jeffrey Hartmann (USA) Trek/VW All-Stars              0.55
9 Ubaldo Mesa Estepa (Col) Tecos                        1.01
10 Andreas Hestler (Can) Canadian Cycling               1.12
11 Andy Jacques-Maynes (USA) Sierra Nevada/Clif         1.13
12 Russ Langley (USA) Team Snow Valley                  1.26
13 Ryan Blickem (USA) Border Bandits                    1.28
14 Sandy Perrius (USA) Healthy Choice/Gurus             1.32
15 Chris McGovern (USA) Healthnet                       1.38
16 Gardie Jackson (USA) Healthy Choice/Gurus            1.43
17 Nic Brown (Aus) LeMond Fitness/Captain Cra-Z         1.47
18 John D Hunt (USA) HealthNet                          1.48
19 Kevin Nicol (USA) Team Rio Grande                    2.05
20 Scott Zwizanaki (USA) Team Snow Valley               2.09
21 Colby Pearce (USA) 5280/Subaru                       2.11
22 Cody Peterson (USA) Lost River Cycling               2.13
23 Steve Cate (USA) Mathis Brothers                     2.15
24 Patrick Sullivan (USA) GS Ciao                       2.17
25 Je Horgan-Kobelski (USA) RLX Ralph Loren             2.18
26 Alex Kozlov (Blr) Healthnet                          2.18
27 Rich David (USA) Team Rio Grande                     2.20
28 Justin Preschka (USA) Trek/VW All-Stars              2.20
29 Daniel Doornbos (USA) Chicks Harley Davi             2.28
30 Andy Crater (USA) LeMond Fitness/Captain Cra-Z       2.36
31 Aron Huerta (USA) Mathis Brothers                    2.37
32 Travis Brown (USA) Trek/VW All-Stars                 2.37
33 Calvin Allan (USA) Broadmark Capital                 2.39
34 Jon Tarkington (USA) Vitamin Cottage                 2.42
35 Jose Luis Cas Ceja (Mex) Tecos                       2.45
36 Antonio Ald Chavez (Mex) Tecos                       2.47
37 Jon Stierwalt (USA) Team Rio Grand                   2.52
38 Frank Mapel (USA) Specialized                        2.55
39 Craig Wilcox (USA) Broadmark Capital                 2.55
40 Michael Janelle (USA) Tokyo Joes                     2.57
41 Todd Hariott (USA) Healthnet                         3.03
42 Hugh Moran (USA) Construction Zone                   3.05
43 Adrian Laider (Aus) LeMond Fitness/Captain Cra-Z     3.07
44 Walker Ferguson (USA) Trek/VW All-Stars              3.08
45 Florencio R Torres (Mex) Tecos                       3.10
46 Frank Overton (USA) Pro Peloton                      3.10
47 Jason Lockesmoe (USA) Healthnet                      3.12
48 Andy-Appl McCauley (USA) Cane Creek                  3.15
49 Tim Carolan (USA) Trek/VW All-Stars                  3.16
50 Michael Olheiser (USA) Veloclips                     3.18
51 Timmy Duggan (USA) Duane Duggan Remax                3.23
52 Irving Agui Robles (Mex) Tecos                       3.26
53 Bryson Perry (USA) Healthy Choice/Gurus              3.30
54 Jacob Rubect (USA) Trek/VW All-Stars                 3.35
55 Daniel Ramsey (USA) Sierra Nevada/Clif Bar           3.37
56 Michael Lange (USA) Back Yard Burgers                3.46
57 Lawrence Perera (USA) Sportsbook.com                 3.46
58 John Osguthorpe (USA) Healthy Choice/Gurus           3.48
59 Rusty Beall (USA) Healthnet                          3.49
60 Matt Toulouse (Can) Canadian Cycling                 3.49
61 Troy White (USA) Sierra Nevada/Clif Bar              3.50
62 Evan Elken (USA) Broadmark Capital                   3.52
63 Carl Swenson (USA) RLX Ralph Lauren                  4.07
64 Kurt Hackler (USA) Fiordi Frutta                     4.19
65 Ainslie MacEachran (USA) AST Sports Science          4.22
66 Jeffrey Austin (USA) Saturn Development              4.23
67 Eric Murphy (USA) Healthy Choice/Gurus               4.29
68 Ian Prichard (USA) Schwab Cycles/Torelli             4.35
69 Eric Ransom (USA) Iomega-Or Ben                      4.36
70 Zach Vestal (USA) Trek/VW All-Stars                  4.38
71 Josh Beck (USA) Sportsbook.com                       4.40
72 Bartek Fidelus (USA) Celo Pacific                    4.42
73 Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Broadmark Capital             4.42
74 Jaime Gandara (USA) Team GRJ                         4.43
75 Michael Moore (Can) Gearsracing.com                  4.44
76 Ricky Federau (Can) Canadian Cycling                 4.50
77 Leigh Palmer (Aus) LeMond Fitness/Captain Cra-Z      4.54
78 Javier Pan Herrera (Mex) Tecos                       4.58
79 Carlos Vargas (Col) Saturn Development               5.12
80 Chris Sheppard (Can) Canadian Cycling                5.17
81 Ian MacGregor (USA) Duane Duggan Remax               5.27
82 Ian Stuart (USA) Saturn Development                  5.29
83 Ron Hudson (USA) Sportsbook.com                      5.30
84 Brian Matter (USA) Saturn Development                5.33
85 Kurt Fletcher (USA) Dogfish                          5.40
86 Tristan Schouten (USA) Saturn Development            5.47
87 Ross Krause (USA) Sportsbook.com                     5.52
88 Brian Hawley (USA) Sierra Nevada/Clif                5.53
89 Brian Schanning (USA) Saturn Development             6.15
90 Todd Baurer (USA) Chicks Harley Davidson             6.24
91 Tyler Thompson (USA) Broadmark Capital               6.29
92 Abraham Taylor (USA) Sierra Nevada/Clif Bar          6.36
93 Tim Reinhart (USA) Saturn Development                6.42
94 Mitch Moreman (USA) Dean                             7.03
95 Jason Klikna (USA) Sierra Nevada/Clif Bar            7.03
96 Richard Rodriguez (USA) Colorado Velo                7.12
97 Eric Reber (USA) ACA / Cicli Casati                  7.28
98 Crai Wohlschlaeger (USA) Big Shark                   7.53
99 Eneas Freyre (USA) LeMond Fitness/Captain Cra-Z      8.05
100 Ian Dille (USA) Team Snow Valley                    8.20
101 Bill Innes (USA) LeMond Fitness/Captain Cra-Z       8.38
102 Joe Sternberg (USA) Moots Bicycles/GVC              9.15
103 Joshua Klikna (USA) Sierra Nevada/Clif Bar          9.33
104 Scott Price (USA) --                                9.52
105 Chris Baumann (USA) Sierra Nevada/Clif Bar         12.11
106 Joel Alamill Avila (Mex) Tecos                     12.11