Weekend in Pomona
San Dimas,
CA, March 6-9, 2003
The first weekend of
National Calendar racing has come and gone these past 4 days at the Pomona
Valley Stage Race in the hills of Southern California. The 4 day event saw full
squads from Saturn, Prime Alliance, LeMond Fitness, Healthnet, Webcor, Schroeder
and Go-Mart to name a few of the pro squads in attendance.
Competing for the LeMond
Fitness/Captain CRA-Z Soap team were Bill Innes, Peter Mazur, Marco Aledia,
Keith Miller, Andy Crater, Matt Hawkins, Adrian Laidler Joe Chapman, Eneas
Freyre and Nic Brown.
Day one was an 8.5-mile
mountain TT up the spectacular Glendora Mountain road. Adrian put in the teams
best ride with a solid 18th place behind the Pantani like climbing
abilities of Saturn’s Tom Danielson who handily won the day.
Day Two was a 2 hr
circuit race in Fontana, California. More resembling a long course criterium the
field was strung out all day and escapees weren’t given much leeway as Saturn
controlled the field. At the 15 minute to go mark Adrian flatted and with no
wheel car around dutifully got a wheel from Keith as Marco and Billy waited to
pace him back to the field and maintain his GC spot as valuable NRC points went
25 deep for the race.
Unfortunately for the
trio, Prime Alliance had organized their lead out for sprinters Carney and
Candelario and they never regained the field holding the gap to 30 seconds for
the final few laps. Peter led the shattered field home in 15th.
Day Three was a 7.5-mile
circuit to be tackled 12 times. Again, the plan was to be diligent and
represented in all the moves. Saturn again let a small group whither out in the
wind for much of the race and rode a solid, steady tempo all day reeling the
group in on the penultimate lap. With a field sprint inevitable, the LeMond
Fitness/Captain CRA-Z Soap boys gathered the remaining troops as flats and
illness had taken a few riders off the back in the latter stages. Peter again
followed the right wheels and came home for 7th behind Stage 2 winner
Gord Fraser of Healthnet.
Day Four resembled the
final Tour stage, as it was a forgone conclusion that Danielson, behind his
mighty Saturn squad would take the GC with a comfortable minute plus lead. The
attacks were thick and fast with Peter, Andy and Nic all throwing their hats in
the ring. Saturn, for the 3rd straight day sat on the front and kept
the pace high and the attackers at bay. In the finale it was Gord Fraser taking
his 3rd win in as many days.
Having cut their teeth on
the first big time racing of the season, the boys are heading in different
directions to prepare for the next outings. Look for representatives at the
Tucson Classic next weekend and the next NRC event, the Mclane Pacific Classic
in two weeks time.
Final Overall General
Classification
1. Tom Danielson (Saturn)
20. Nic Brown (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @4:02
42. Peter Mazur (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @5:46
50. Eneas Freyre (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @6:41
57. Andy Crater (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @7:49
65: Bill Innes (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @ 9:30
Stage 4: San Dimas Community
Hospital Criterium
1. Gord Fraser (Health Net Cycling Team)
12. Eneas Freyre (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @ 2 sec
13. Nic Brown (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @ 2 sec
27. Andy Crater (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @ 2 sec
33. Bill Innes (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @ 10 sec
47. Peter Mazur (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @ 10 sec
Stage 3: Puddingstone Road Race (96 miles)
1. Gord Fraser (Health Net Cycling Team)
7. Peter Mazur (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) same time
16. Nic Brown (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) same time
26. Eneas Freyre (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) same time
50. Bill Innes (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) same time
64. Adrian Laidler (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) same time
Stage 2: KB Home Circuit Race
(2 hours)
1. Gord Fraser (Health Net Cycling Team)
15. Peter Mazur (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @11 sec
28. Nic Brown (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @11 sec
44. Andy Crater (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @11 sec
45. Eneas Freyre (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @11 sec
Stage 1: Glendora Mountain Time Trial (8.5 miles)
1. Tom Danielson (Saturn) 27:51
18. Adrian Laidler (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @3:45
25. Nic Brown (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @4:05
42. Bill Innes (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @5:08
55. Peter Mazur (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @5:38
71. Eneas Freyre (LeMond Fitness/Blender Magazine) @6:41
The following sponsors graciously support the LeMond
Fitness-Blender Magazine Cycling Team: LeMond Fitness (www.lemondfitness.com),
Captain CRA-Z Hand & All Purpose Soap (www.cra-z.com), Blender Magazine (www.blender.com),
American Italian Cancer Foundation (Honorary Sponsor -
www.aicfonline.org), Mazza Consulting, King Capital, Aardvark Consulting (www.aardvarkconsulting.com),
MAL Capital, Velocity (www.velocitygym.com),
La Bicyclette Brasserie, Trilogy Capital, ComfortDirect.com, Passerelli
Landscaping Services, R&A Cycles (www.racycles.com).
Suppliers: LeMond Bicycles (www.lemondbikes.com),
Spinergy wheels (www.spinergy.com),
Profile Design (www.profile-design.com),
Northwave shoes (www.northwave.it),
Limar helmets (www.trialtir-usa.com/2003-limar/limar.htm),
Rudy Project (www.rudyproject.com),
DeFeet (www.DeFeet.com),
Nokian tires (www.nokiantyres.com/bike),
Mazur Coaching (MazurCoaching.com), Honey Stinger (www.honeystinger.com)
