Colorado Springs, Colo. (July 23, 2009) -- Americans currently hold the top three spots in the general classification of the Tour de l’Abitibi, a junior stage race in Canada often referred to as a Tour de France for juniors.
The event welcomes the best junior cyclists in the world, and after three of its seven stages, U.S. National team riders Andrew Barker (Lakewood, Colo.) and Charlie Avis (Palo Alto, Calif.) are first and second overall, and fellow American Anders Newbury (Fairfield, Vt./Baraboo Sharks) is third in the 126-rider field.
Barker earned his number-one spot primarily with his win in Thursday’s 14.5-kilometer individual time trial. Avis has scored two third-place finishes thus far – one in the time trial and the other in the stage two trek from St-Mathieu to Val-d’Or. Newbury’s top finish so far is the fourth-place time he posted in Thursday’s stage three time trial.
In addition to Barker and Avis, four other riders are contesting the stage race as part of USA Cycling’s National Team: Ryan Eastman (Petaluma, Calif.), Connor O’Leary (Belt, Mont.), Danny Heeley (Hermosa Beach, Calif.), and Benjamin Swedberg (Kent, Wash.).
Four stages remain in the 2009 edition with the final one being contested on Sunday, July 26.
Click here for photos and complete results on the event’s website.
