JULY 20, 2010
Bend, OR – Rory Sutherland of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis placed 3rd behind the Trek-Livestrong duo of Jesse Sergent and Alex Dowsett in the opening prologue of the Cascade Classic.
Sutherland finished within a second of the top spot. But, because of the short nature of the course – covering just two miles – the time gaps all around were very narrow.
“I think Rory also finished within a second of being outside the top 10,” said Team Directeur Sportif Gord Fraser. “The gaps are so small among the top guys it’s almost like tomorrow is the first stage.”
Wednesday’s Mackenzie Pass Road Race should serve to spread out the gaps. The 74-mile course includes over 7,000 feet of climbing, including a 10-mile finishing climb up to the Three Creeks Snow Park.
Riders took to the streets of Bend’s Old Mill District this evening under warm and breezy conditions. Large crowds lined the one-mile out-and-back course along the Deschutes River, with the race organizers making the most of the commercial district to create a carnival-like ambiance.
“They did a bang up job on the atmosphere,” Fraser said. “One of the big things to do on the river is take float trips on tubes or rafts. I think there were probably a few spectators on the river tonight, too.”
The atmosphere at the finish tomorrow may be festive again for the fans, but after the long finishing climb, it’s likely only a handful of riders will be in the mood for celebrating.
Photo: Jonathan Devich, Epic Images
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