JUNE 20, 2010
Stillwater, MN – Stop us if you’ve heard this story before: Rory Sutherland of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis comes into the final stage of the Nature Valley Grand Prix in 2nd overall, a handful of seconds down on the leader. He attacks going into the final lap, gets a gap, holds it and takes the overall title.
If that sounds a lot like the 2009 edition of the Nature Valley Grand Prix, it’s because Sutherland repeated the performance today, rolling to the start line three seconds behind Scott Zwizanski (Kelly Benefits) and rolling across the finish not only with a stage win, but the overall title.
As it had done in every stage of the race, UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis took control of the race late, this time putting seven riders on the front with three laps to go.
“Kelly was under pressure all day,” said Team Director Mike Tamayo. “Early, Jeremy Vennell (Bissell) was off the front, and Kelly had to work hard to keep him in check because he was only about 30 seconds out of the lead. With six to go, Jamis took the front and upped the pace and that started to break things up. They eased off and we took over the front.”
UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis never let go, launching Sutherland off the front heading into the second to last time up the nasty Chilkoot Hill climb, just as they had done last year.
“You have to find the right time to attack, and it just happened that it was the same time and place as last year,” Sutherland said. “The team rode fantastic all week. We had a specific plan and goal for each stage and we stuck to it each day, whether it was working for Hilton (Clarke) or me. This was definitely a team win.”
Sutherland jumped off his lead-out and hit the climb hard, with only Luis Amaran (Jamis-Sutter Home) following. Coming over the top of the climb, Sutherland held up just enough for Amaran to get up to him. Just behind, Zwizanski’s teammate David Veilleux tried to cover the move but was gapped off.
“I knew he was motivated to work because he had a chance to move up in the overall as well,” Sutherland said.
The duo worked hard together, with Sutherland driving the pace, knowing he had to finish at least four seconds ahead of Zwizanski to take the overall crown. The chase behind on the final lap was furious. Coming into the final climb up Chilkoot to the finish, the pack was closing in. Sutherland hit it again, opening a gap on Amaran, but more importantly, holding the chase at bay.
He crossed the line three seconds before Amaran, and nine seconds ahead of Zwizanski to take the overall by six seconds.
“This is the first time I’ve won this stage,” he said. “It’s a very hard course, and also one that everyone knows about. To take the win and the overall on this stage is a great achievement. It was quite a nice Father’s Day present.”
Top Sprinter
UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis was on the podium every day of the race. Sutherland’s win was the third stage victory for the team out of five stages (Stage 3 was canceled due to weather). The other two stages, Sutherland posted a 2nd and 3rd place. New sprinter Hilton Clarke posted the other two wins. He took the lead in the Sprinter’s competition with his win at the Stage 2 St. Paul Criterium, solidified it with his win in the Uptown Minneapolis Criterium, and then held it to the line; something he’s shown he’s quite good at.
“Hitlon’s fit in quite well, quite quickly,” Sutherland said. “He’s given us that one little thing we seem to have been missing. He’s shown that he is a great finisher, and when the plan was to work for me the last two stages, he showed he was a great teammate as well.”
Notes
Karl Menzies of UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis, who provided exceptional lead-out duties all week, while also picking up a 2nd place to Clarke in St. Paul, was rewarded for his efforts with the Most Aggressive Rider jersey for the Tour.
De Maar, Schmitt Finish Beauce 3rd and 4th Overall
In the final stage of the Grand Cycliste de Beauce, UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis threw everything they had at the Fly V Australia team of race leader Ben Day in an effort to dislodge him and Move Marc de Maar and Morgan Schmitt up in the overall standings.
When a dangerous nine-rider break including SpiderTech’s Ryan Roth, the best placed rider on GC in the move at 9th overall, it posed two choices for the Team, Directeur Sportif Gord Fraser said.
“We could share the work with Fly V to ensure Roth didn’t leap-frog onto the overall podium and hope for a field sprint with (Andrew) Pinfold,” Fraser said, “or let them burn matches, and hit them with attacks in the final few laps and take a shot of winning the overall. We chose the latter.”
With three laps to go, Chris Baldwin got the fireworks started. The attacks pecked away at Fly V’s workers, with Day and second overall Darren Rolfe losing the services of four helpers by the final lap.
On the last lap, de Maar put in numerous attacks but Day was up to the challenge each time. “At that point, we knew our bid for the overall was over,” Fraser said. “And despite having Morgan, Chris and Marc chasing, we left it a bit too late to catch the break.”
Instead, Pinfold easily won the sprint from the reduced field, taking 7th on the stage.
“I’m very proud of the team’s willingness to sacrifice the battle today to win the war,” Fraser said. “We had a tremendous tour with Marc’s two stage wins and 3rd overall, and another emerging performance from Morgan with 4th overall.
“Andrew’s form is the best of the season and should make him a serious dark horse for next week’s Canadian Championships,” Fraser continued. “Chris showed good leadership and performed well despite serious illness to break some legs today and finish high in the overall at 11th. Max Jenkins provided yet again some key teamwork at critical moments. His form continues to be consistent and improving.”
NVGP Photos: Jonathan Devich, Epic Images
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