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Americans continue to secure podium spots at Tour de l'AbitibiVal-d'Or, Quebec, Can. (July 24, 2010) -- Through six stages, American riders have race to multiple podium spots at the Tour de l'Abitibi, a seven-stage, six-day race in the Canadian province of Quebec that concludes on Sunday, July 25. Colt Peterson (Huntington Beach, Calif./USA Cycling Development Program) won stage 4, a 52-kilometer evening road race, which a followed a 14.5 km individual time trial that same day.  Stage 5 podium His teammates, Benjamin Swedberg (Kent, Wash./ USA Cycling Development Program)and Daniel Farinha (San Jose, Calif./ USA Cycling Development Program), went one-two in the final sprint of the fifth stage, a rain-soaked 115 km road race from Rouyn-Noranda to Val-d'Or. USA Cycling riders survive crash-filled stage 5 New asphalt, wet road and fresh paint caused several crashes in the last 30 km of stage 5, as riders had difficulty in the fast-paced race that saw an average speed of 47 kph in the first two hours of racing. After the fourth crash in less than two minutes, the leaders of the peloton made a gentlemen's agreement to wait for their crashed teammates to rejoin the race before heading into the finishing circuits. The race regrouped as the peloton entered Val-d'Or in an almost parade-like atmosphere. The first lap on the finishing circuit was controlled and orderly. Attacks from Team Quebec began with two laps to go, but several Americans kept pace with the attacks in an effort to not let victory escape. As the group strung out with one lap to go, the pace regained the momentum from earlier in the day and on the final sprint the Americans were well represented. Swedberg led Farinha to the line to take the win, while other top 10 American riders included Graham Dewart (Turner Pro Chain) in fourth, Andrew Ramage (Mid-South Regional) in sixth, Brandon Feehery (BORAH Development ) eighth, and Tanner Putt (South Eastern Regional) finishing 10th. Swedberg secures second in stage 6 circuit race Swedberg reached the podium for the second consecutive day with a second place finish on stage 6. The stage was won by overall classification leader Lachlan Morton of Team Holowesko Partners, who initiated a breakaway with two other riders and then attacked them with six kilometers to go. The Australian rider built a 19-second lead on the main group, which seemed content to reel in the remaining riders and contest the sprint for second place, won by Swedberg. The race consisted of seven laps of a 12.4 km circuit through the streets of Val-d'Or. A small crash on the first KOM didn't slow the race by much, as only two or three riders were involved who then quickly were back on their bikes racing down the streets back to the start/finish line. Another crash occurring with four laps to go involved many more riders, and made chasing back into the main group difficult because of the technical nature of the course. The many turns and hills made the course unique and difficult for the riders to initiate attacks and maintain aggression during the race. The 86 km race was completed in 2 hours 2 minutes. The final stage, a 115 km road race, will be held Sunday afternoon, July 25, from Sennetere to Val-d'Or.
Stage 4: Malartic -- Val-d'Or -- Malartic 8. Thomas Jondall (Tucson, Ariz../USA Cycling Development Program) +00:03 Stage 5: Rougn-Noranda -- Val-d'Or 15. Paul Lynch (Colchester, Conn./USA Cycling Development Program) +00: 00 Stage 6: Val-d'Or 51. Daniel Farinha (San Jose, Calif./USA Cycling Development Program) +00: 09 For complete results visit www.tourabitibi.qc.ca Photos: Related Articles About USA Cycling's National Development Programs This Article Published 2010-07-25 13:03:40 For more information contact: |
