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International Cycling Classic - Superweek - NE
USA, July 9-25, 2004
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Race 14 - July 21: Bellin Health De Pere Cycling Classic
Henderson flexes new rainbow stripes
Jansen and Vargas continue battle for overall Superweek title
by Mark Zalewski in De Pere
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A flat, four-cornered 100km criterium greeted the Superweek racers two hours north of Milwaukee, close to the home of the Green Bay Packers. For many this was a welcomed sight after a grueling, hot and humid road race the day before. Overall leader Harm Jansen (Helens RPM), with a few new teammates in tow, was set to defend his lead from a hard-charging Carlos Vargas (Endeavor). Also present at the race was the three-strong Health Net contingent with veteran U.S. rider John Lieswyn, Dan Schmatz and newly crowned scratch race World Champion Greg Henderson from New Zealand.
Right from the gun the pace was fast, which is nothing new for Superweek races. However, this prevented any break from gaining more than 100 meters -- though every lap someone tried. Henderson was content to sit at the back and wait for the race to settle.
"I was just being a lazy bugger to start with," he admitted. "I was sitting in the back because it was just SO fast -- we were doing like 50-55 kph the whole time. If a break was going to go, they would have to be doing 60kph -- and to do 60 kph is just bloody hard!"
Henderson's laziness was rewarded. "About half-way I moved up, and the first time I got to the front the break went, and it took me a couple of hard laps to get across to it. Then I looked around and we were all away -- it happened so quick. [The field] had been chasing, chasing, chasing and then it was like 'boom,' they turned it off."
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The ten-man break that stayed away contained some of the more prominent names of the race, including overall contenders Vargas and Jansen, Health Net teammate Dan Schmatz and a spattering of international racers including two teenage sensations -- Kiwi Adam Curry (Revolution Cycling Team) and Aussie Richard England (Team MGZT). The two younger riders formed their own allegiance within the break. "I had a couple of chats to the Aussie because we are around the same age and we were kind of outnumbered by the [older] guys," said Curry.
But with two teammates in the break, and a third working behind covering moves from the field, it was up to Henderson and Schmatz not to lose the win. "I was just making sure we didn't mess it up, ya know?" Henderson explained. "With two riders in the group, that would look silly losing it. We're in the situation where we can win the race, let's do it properly."
However, more than once the break looked doomed, with the field finally organizing itself enough to bring them back within sight. "We were just soft-pedaling more than anything. We just rolled through with everyone just watching each other, hitting the brakes and then we look around and see [the field] and said 'Oh shit!' and put the hammer down for a couple of laps -- extending the lead."
After that wake-up call, the break worked with renewed vigilance. Down to the last fifteen laps, the field never lost hope, even splitting itself into numerous groups as riders attempted to bridge the gap. But with every move that launched off the front, the attentive Health Net teammate Lieswyn made sure he was sucking their wheel.
All throughout the race, two of the break riders were racing their own race, with Carlos Vargas searching for overall points to inch closer to Harm Jansen -- and Jansen made sure to not let Vargas out of his sight. "In a way, I'd be better in the peloton, because when it comes down to it I'm a much better sprinter in a peloton and I can put more guys between him and me. But being in a break with him I can conserve much more energy, because in the peloton it's easier for him to surprise me with an attack."
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With only a few laps remaining, four of the break riders took advantage of the Vargas/Jansen situation. Richard England launched an attack that was immediately covered by Henderson, who had national pride to think of. "We were just taking turns covering," Henderson said. "I saw the move go and it was England the Aussie. I couldn't let an Aussie piss-off up the road without me on him!"
And with that, it was England, Henderson, Curry and Peter Lopinto (Ofoto cycling team) making up the final selection. Coming through for the bell it was Henderson sitting on England's wheel, waiting to pounce. And the world champion track racer did just that, making quick work of a long home stretch and coming in ahead of Curry and Lopinto. Dan Schmatz, Henderson's teammate took the sprint in the second group for fifth place.
The crafty Kiwi knew the score and used it to his advantage. "I knew [Harm] would be watching Carlos -- it's a race within a race," said Henderson. "I was pretty confident in the sprint. I've raced four days in a row now. It's quite funny, I was flying the first night -- crapped the next two days -- and I was flying again today. I'm just not used to the heat and humidity. It must have gotten to me yesterday -- after 60km I had nothing. But today I was just floating on the pedals."
As the final weekend of Superweek approaches Harm Jansen retains his overall lead. Referred to as the "Flying Dutchman" by the announcers, Jansen is hoping for a field sprint in the upcoming races in order to increase his lead. "In a way, I'd be better in the peloton, because when it comes down to it I'm a much better sprinter in a peloton and I can put more guys between him and me. But being in a break with him I can conserve much more energy, because in the peloton it's easier for him to surprise me with an attack."
It's all criteriums on the menu for the rest of the series, so the chances of that happening are quite good. Jansen is particularly looking forward to Saturday's Downers Avenue race. "Downers is THE criterium of Superweek!"
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Photography
Images by Mark Zalewski/showchoir.net
- Frank Dierking (Athletes by Design) fights with his zipper in order to combat the high humidity.
- John Lieswyn (Health Net) finds himself stuck in the middle.
- Greg Henderson (Health Net) takes his new rainbow stripes for a spin at Superweek.
- Yesterday's winner Andrew Crater (Monex) keeps an eye out for a break to form.
- Despite high speeds during the first portion of the race, Richard England (Team MGZT) tries to escape.
- Where do you think you are going? Yet another unsuccessful attempt at riding solo.
- Sprint classification leader David Fuentes (Morgan Stanley) dives into the corner.
- A few locals enjoy some fine Wisconsin beer. (And thanks for sharing with the photographer!)
- Not only will the Campagnolo Race Services crew give you a spare wheel, Merlin (left) and Jose will even show you how to look like a pro by filing off those nuisance 'lawyer lips.'
- Overall leader Harm Jansen (Helens RPM) picks his way through the field.
- Where you find one, you'll find the other. Jansen and Vargas make sure to keep the other in sight.
- The young Aussie England gives it another go resulting in the final four-man break.
- Henderson sit pretty on England's wheel into the final lap.
- Behind the leading four, Jansen and Vargas check to see where the remnants of the field are.
- Taking a page out of Michael Jordan's book Greg Henderson sticks out his tongue in salute to the fans.
- The podium shows Jansen still in yellow with only four races remaining.
Results
1 Greg Henderson (Health Net presented by Maxxis) 2 Peter Lopinto (Ofoto cycling team) 3 Adam Curry (Revolution Cycling Team) 4 Richard England (Team MGZT) 5 Dan Schmatz (Health Net presented by Maxxis) 6 Harm Jansen (Helens RPM) 7 Carlos Vargas (Endeavour Cycling Team) 8 Juan Gaspari (National team aregentina) 9 Jon Tarkington (Vitamin Cottage) 10 Derek Wilkerson (Hillenbrand/Specialized) 11 Andrew Crater (Team Monex) 12 John Lieswyn (Health Net presented by Maxxis) 13 Peter Knudsen (Team Seasilver) 14 Jacob Erker (Team Seasilver) 15 Marvin Van Der Pluym (Van Hemert - EuroGifts) 16 Karl Menzies (Team MGZT) 17 Buck Miller (Jetful Coffee cycling team) 18 Alex Welch (Power Train) 19 Jeremiah Wiscovitch (LaGrange) 20 Garrett Peltonen (Endeavour Cycling Team) 21 Sterling Magnell (Sierra Nevada) 22 Mike Tillman 23 Craig McCartney (Intermountain Color Cycling Team) 24 Steve Tilford (BikeSource) 25 Randy Dreyer (CritRacing.com) 26 Gustavo Carillo (Aerospace Engineering) 27 Christian McCarthy (Vitamin Cottage) 28 Chris Mehus (Grand Performance/Bianchi) 29 Ben Stafford (Webcor Builders) 30 Victor Ayala (LaGrange) 31 Chuck Coyle (Vitamin Cottage) 32 Caine Opgrand (Parish Foundation cycling club) 33 Charles Huff (Mercy Cycling Team) 34 Frank Dierking (ABD Cycling Team) 35 Zachary Martin (Mercy Cycling Team) 36 (unknown rider) 37 Jason Van Marce 38 Brad Edmunds (Team MGZT) 39 Juan Curuchet (National Team Argentina) 40 Jason Snow (Team Fuji) 41 John Cimbura (AST Cycling) Sprint Points - Men - Round 1 1 David Fuentes (Morgan Stanley) 2 Victor Ayala (LaGrange) 3 Peter Knudsen (Team Seasilver) 4 Walter Perez (Argentina National Team) 5 Mat Stephens (Mercy cycling) 6 Christian McCarthy (Vitamin Cottage) 7 (unknown rider) Sprint Points - Men - Round 2 1 Jeremiah Wiscovitch (LaGrange) 2 John Puffer (ABD Cycling Team) 3 Mat Stephens (Mercy cycling) 4 Jackson Stewart (Ofoto.com Lombardi Sport) 5 Victor Ayala (LaGrange) 6 Karl Menzies (Team MGZT) 7 David Fuentes (Morgan Stanley) Sprint Points - Men - Round 3 1 David Fuentes (Morgan Stanley) 2 Victor Ayala (LaGrange) 3 Frank Dierking (ABD Cycling Team) 4 Peter Knudsen (Team Seasilver) 5 Steve Tilford (BikeSource) 6 Wes Hartman (Team Mack) 7 John Lieswyn (Health Net presented by Maxxis) Sprint Points - Men - Round 4 1 Carlos Vargas (Endeavour Cycling Team) 2 Adam Curry (Revolution Cycling Team) 3 Jon Tarkington (Vitamin Cottage) 4 Harm Jansen (Helens RPM) 5 John Puffer (ABD Cycling Team) 6 David Fuentes (Morgan Stanley) 7 Karl Menzies (Team MGZT) Sprint Points - Men - Round 5 1 Richard England (Team MGZT) 2 Carlos Vargas (Endeavour Cycling Team) 3 Peter Lopinto (Ofoto cycling team) 4 Adam Curry (Revolution Cycling Team) 5 Juan Gaspari (National team aregentina) 6 Jon Tarkington (Vitamin Cottage) 7 Harm Jansen (Helens RPM) Overall standings after Race 14 1 Harm Jansen (Helens RPM) 243 pts 2 Carlos Vargas (Endeavour Cycling Team) 234 3 Emile Abraham (Team Monex) 175 4 Jacob Nielsen (Glud & Marstrand Horsens) 161 5 Andrew Crater (Team Monex) 124 6 Dave McCook (McGuire Pro Cycling) 106 7 Davide Frattini (Team Monex) 106 8 Richard England (Team MGZT) 98 9 Frank Dierking (ABD Cycling Team) 95 10 Brian Jensen (HRRC) 90 11 Steve Tilford (BikeSource) 87 12 Michael Sayers (Health Net presented by Maxxis) 80 13 Danny In't Ven (Antwerpse VC) 80 14 Dan Schmatz (Health Net presented by Maxxis) 71 15 Walter Perez (Argentina National Team) 71 16 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Glud & Marstrand Horsens) 67 17 Sterling Magnell (Sierra Nevada) 67 18 David Fuentes (Morgan Stanley) 64 19 Brian Sheedy (Team Seasilver) 62 20 Jimmy Hansen (Glud & Marstrand Horsens) 60 21 Neil Shirley (Team Seasilver) 56 22 Peter Lopinto (Ofoto cycling team) 54 23 Granam Howard (ABG) 47 24 Adam Curry (Revolution Cycling Team) 43 25 Garrett Peltonen (Endeavour Cycling Team) 41 26 Alex Candelario (Jelly Belly - Aramark) 37 27 Nicholas Reistad (Endeavour Cycling Team) 37 28 Juan Gaspari (National team aregentina) 37 29 John Lieswyn (Health Net presented by Maxxis) 36 30 Jonas Carney (Jelly Belly) 35 31 Jackson Stewart (Ofoto.com Lombardi Sport) 35 32 Aaron Olson (Colavita Pro Cycling) 35 33 Rahsaan Bahati (Major Motion) 35 34 Frank Travieso (Cyclist Warehouse) 34 35 Juan Jose Haedo (Colavita Pro Cycling) 34 36 Charles Huff (Mercy Cycling Team) 34 37 Mark Southard (Excel Sports Boulder) 33 38 Robbert Van Der Stelt (Van Hemert-Eurogifts) 33 39 Yosuany Falcon (Aerospace Engineering) 31 40 Jeremiah Wiscovitch (LaGrange) 30 41 Marvin Van Der Pluym (Van Hemert - EuroGifts) 30 42 Ben Raby (ABD Cycling Team) 27 43 Karl Menzies (Team MGZT) 25 44 Bill Stolte (HRRC) 25 45 Wes Hartman (Team Mack) 24 46 Victor Ayala (LaGrange) 23 47 Josh Goodwin (Team Monex) 23 48 Nathan Miller (McGuire Pro Cycling) 23 49 Frank Pipp (Endeavour Cycling Team) 21 50 Jon Tarkington (Vitamin Cottage) 21 51 Ricardo Hernandez (JC Investors Racing Team) 21 52 Greg Henderson (Health Net presented by Maxxis) 20 53 Robbie Ventura (US Postal Service) 20 54 Jai Crawford (Team MGZT) 20 55 Brad Edmunds (Team MGZT) 20 56 Brian Schaning (UW Health) 20 57 Ryan Nenninger (ABD Cycling Team) 20 58 Aron Huerta (Village Peddler) 20 59 Nathan Mitchell (US National Team/TIAA-CREF / 5280 Magazi) 19 60 Alex Robles (Trek-VW) 19 61 Daniel Ramsey (Team Seasilver) 18 62 Mark Poznial (GearRacing.com) 18 63 Jeremy Sartain (Bianchi/Grand Performance) 17 64 Jamiel Danesh (McGuire Pro Cycling) 16 65 Jason Waddell (Sharper Image - Mathis Brothers) 16 66 Eduardo Vicencio (Aidas/Zeta Gas) 16 67 Burno Nella (Nella Madison) 16 68 Kirk Albers (Jelly Belly/Carlsbad Clothing) 15 69 Sebastian Alexandre (Colavita Pro Cycling) 15 70 Juan Curuchet (National Team Argentina) 13 71 Max Clauson (GS Ciao) 13 72 Ryan Blickem (Aidas/Zeta Gas) 13 73 Chuck Coyle (Vitamin Cottage) 12 74 John Durango (JC Investors) 12 75 Thomas Hallock (Northwest Cycling Club) 12 76 Derek Wilkerson (Hillenbrand/Specialized) 11 77 Roman Kilun (McGuire Pro Cycling) 11 78 David Guttenplan (Locos/Georgia Cycle Sport) 11 79 Gavin Chilcott (Dewar's Racing Team) 10 80 Peter Knudsen (Team Seasilver) 10 81 Ron Scherer (Northwest Cycling Club) 10 82 Michael Busa (Long John Silvers) 10 83 Sam Horn (Intermountain) 10 84 John Semmelhack (ABD Cycling Team) 9 85 Michael Ebert (ABD Cycling Team) 9 86 Leonardo Martinez (Cyclists Warehouse) 9 87 Rudy Robaina (Cycle Science) 8 88 Jay Ku 8 89 Buck Miller (Jetful Coffee cycling team) 8 90 Bryce Mead (Bianchi/Grand Performance) 8 91 Jacob Erker (Team Seasilver) 7 92 Andrew Manart (Tiaa Cref) 7 93 Bart Heirewegh (Deschacht-Merckx) 7 94 John Puffer (ABD Cycling Team) 7 95 Dean Laberge (G.S. LOMBARDI SPORTS) 7 96 Andrew Touchstone (G.S. Lombardi Sports) 7 97 Brandon Gavic (Team Salsa Cycles) 7 98 Reid Mumford (XXX Racing/AthletiCo) 7 99 Daniel Larson (Cycle Science) 6 100 Christian McCarthy (Vitamin Cottage) 5 101 Zach Fiocca (Higher Gear) 5 102 Gustavo Carillo (Aerospace Engineering) 5 103 Jeff Courter (GS Ciao) 5 104 Scott Walters (Long John Silvers) 4 105 Paul Ellis (Jelly Belly) 4 106 Andy Clark (Rio Grande Cycling) 4 107 Clayton Barrows (RMCEF (Rocky Mtn. Cycling Ed. Foundation)) 4 108 Alex Welch (Power Train) 3 109 Ryan Gamma 3 110 Karl Bordine (Team Monex) 2 111 Jim Baldesare (ABD Cycling Team) 2 112 Tristan Schouten (UW Health) 2 113 Robert Quinn (XXX Racing/Athletico) 2 114 Stefano Barberi (JC Investors) 2 115 Chad Gibson (Outdoorlights.com) 1 116 Brant Hendler (West Michigan Coast Riders) 1 117 Caine Opgrand (Parish Foundation cycling club) 1 118 Kyle Gritters (Team Monex) 1 119 Troy Critchlow 1 Sprint standings 1 David Fuentes (Morgan Stanley) 154 pts 2 Victor Ayala (LaGrange) 81 3 John Puffer (ABD Cycling Team) 80 4 Frank Pipp (Endeavour Cycling Team) 71 5 Andrew Crater (Team Monex) 44 6 Karl Menzies (Team MGZT) 37 7 Juan Curuchet (National Team Argentina) 36 8 Frank Dierking (ABD Cycling Team) 31 9 Carlos Vargas (Endeavour Cycling Team) 30 10 Peter Lopinto (Ofoto cycling team) 28 11 Nicholas Reistad (Endeavour Cycling Team) 27 12 Dave McCook (McGuire Pro Cycling) 21 13 Michael Sayers (Health Net presented by Maxxis) 21 14 Harm Jansen (Helens RPM) 20 15 Walter Perez (Argentina National Team) 18 16 Davide Frattini (Team Monex) 17 17 Robbie Ventura (US Postal Service) 16 18 Paul Richards (Team MGZT) 16 19 Richard England (Team MGZT) 15 20 Troy Critchlow 15 21 Aaron Olson (Colavita Pro Cycling) 15 22 Adam Curry (Revolution Cycling Team) 15 23 Peter Knudsen (Team Seasilver) 15 24 Aric Hareland (Salsa Cycles) 13 25 Dan Schmatz (Health Net presented by Maxxis) 13 26 Wes Hartman (Team Mack) 11 27 Jamiel Danesh (McGuire Pro Cycling) 10 28 Chuck Coyle (Vitamin Cottage) 10 29 Frank Travieso (Cyclist Warehouse) 10 30 Granam Howard (ABG) 9 31 Jonas Carney (Jelly Belly) 9 32 Jeremiah Wiscovitch (LaGrange) 8 33 Mat Stephens (Mercy cycling) 8 34 Juan Gaspari (National team aregentina) 8 35 Sterling Magnell (Sierra Nevada) 8 36 Brian Jensen (HRRC) 8 37 Emile Abraham (Team Monex) 8 38 Jacob Nielsen (Glud & Marstrand Horsens) 8 39 Jon Tarkington (Vitamin Cottage) 7 40 Greg Henderson (Health Net presented by Maxxis) 7 41 Reid Mumford (XXX Racing/AthletiCo) 7 42 Christian McCarthy (Vitamin Cottage) 7 43 Daniel Ramsey (Team Seasilver) 6 44 Jose Estevez (Team DBL) 6 45 David Sachs (Alberto's Sport) 6 46 Ryan Hamity (RMCEF (Rocky Mtn. Cycling Ed. Foundation)) 6 47 Antony Galvan (Team DBL) 6 48 Gregg Medinilla (Team Monex) 6 49 Roman Kilun (McGuire Pro Cycling) 5 50 Todd Weitzenberg (Rocknasium) 5 51 Reed Tanger (Evolution Cycling) 5 52 Alex Candelario (Jelly Belly - Aramark) 5 53 Jackson Stewart (Ofoto.com Lombardi Sport) 4 54 John Semmelhack (ABD Cycling Team) 4 55 Craig McCartney (Intermountain Color Cycling Team) 4 56 Sebastian Alexandre (Colavita Pro Cycling) 4 57 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Glud & Marstrand Horsens) 4 58 Steve Tilford (BikeSource) 3 59 Buck Miller (Jetful Coffee cycling team) 3 60 Matt Bromen (LaGrange) 3 61 Nathan Miller (McGuire Pro Cycling) 3 62 Bill Stolte (HRRC) 3 63 Billy Jones (Endeavour Cycling Team) 3 64 Colin Beardsley (McGuire Pro Cycling) 2 65 Gavin Chilcott (Dewar's Racing Team) 2 66 Paul Ellis (Jelly Belly) 2 67 Karl Bordine (Team Monex) 2 68 Garrett Peltonen (Endeavour Cycling Team) 2 69 John Cimbura (AST Cycling) 2 70 Jim Baldesare (ABD Cycling Team) 2 71 Ryan Nenninger (ABD Cycling Team) 2 72 Neil Shirley (Team Seasilver) 2 73 John Lieswyn (Health Net presented by Maxxis) 1 74 Tim Granshew (Morgan Stanley 24 Hour Fitness/Specialized) 1 75 Jeff Courter (GS Ciao) 1 76 Brian Hammer (Hampshire Cycle Club) 1 77 Max Clauson (GS Ciao) 1 78 Stefano Barberi (JC Investors) 1
