May 18, 2010 - Santa Cruz, CA – Rory Sutherland of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis put in his second consecutive strong ride in the 3rd stage of the Amgen Tour of California.
Sutherland took 5th place on the stage from an elite chase group that finished just 0:17 behind the lead trio of stage winner Dave Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions), Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia) and Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack).
As it did in last year’s edition, the race blew up on the final climb up Bonny Doon Road.
“At the bottom of the climb, Radio Shack went to the front and hit it,” Sutherland said. “That thinned the group out a bit. I went around one group and got up to the lead riders. When Levi went, I got gapped off by Lance (Armstrong) and (Chris) Horner. I went around them and went after Levi with Lance and Horner on my wheel.
“Those were three world class guys up there,” he continued. “I decided, rather than going too far into the red chasing them to go back to the bunch. A lot of guys were coming back together so I thought we had a shot at the chase.”
That chase group also included Marc de Maar of UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis. Coming over the top, the lead trio had opened close to a 1:30 gap on the chase group. “Rory said he was feeling really good so he told me to go up and help with the chase,” de Maar said.
De Maar joined riders from Liquigas and Cervelo Test Team in hunting down the lead trio. “Those were three world-class riders up there,” de Maar said. “All three are great time trialists.”
On the 15-mile descent into Santa Cruz, the chase group started cutting into the gap. It was touch and go until the last few kilometers, but the lead trio held on by a scant 17 seconds.
Coming into the final corner before the finish, Sutherland was in good position for the sprint. But Best Young Rider competition leader Peter Sagan (Liquigas) was just able to come underneath him to take 4th place on the line. De Maar came to the line 18th on the stage. The high finish moved both riders up the general classification, with de Maar sitting 5th overall 0:24 behind new leader Zabriskie, and Sutherland jumping to 8th overall from 16th, 0:27 back.
Baldwin jumps up the overall
Chris Baldwin of UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis came back from a crash in yesterday’s stage that cost him over 10 minutes to put in a strong ride over today’s hilly course. Baldwin was in a small group that included George Hincapie that came in 1:41 behind the lead trio. His efforts moved him up from 66th overall to 43rd.
“I was feeling much better today,” he said. “I’m nowhere near my best form right now, but I feel like I’m moving in the right direction. Today gave me something to build on. I’m looking forward to the next stages. But it’s not just me. It’s how well the team is riding right now. Rory and Marc have but in two of the best efforts in the race. I think the team is exceeding expectations, and I’m really proud to be a part of UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis.”
Notes
Karl Menzies of UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis continued to stay in the hunt in the sprinter’s competition. He split the two intermediate sprints with current leader Mark Candish (HTC-Columbia). Menzies took the second intermediate sprint through Half Moon Bay and is now tied for 3rd in the competition with 15 points. Cavendish leads with 21. Surprisingly, Menzies is still holding 2nd place in the Mountains classification behind his breakmate in Stage 2, Thomas Rabou (Team Type 1).
The Tour continues Wednesday with a 121-mile stage from San Jose to Modesto that includes the first Category 1 climb of the Tour, the vaunted Sierra Road climb within the first 10 miles of the stage.
Photo: Jonathan Devich, Epic Images
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