June 20, 2010 - 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.”
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