San Dimas Stage Race - NE

California, USA, March 17-19, 2006

2005 results Stage List Start List Past winners

Top teams front in San Dimas

Despite not being included on the National Racing Calendar this year, the San Dimas Stage Race still looks to be a hotly contested battle between the top US domestic teams. Its proximity in both time and location to next weekend's Redlands Classic no doubt helped fill the field of racers looking for a final tune up race before the traditional first stage race of the US domestic season. This year's addition of the Tour of California to the calendar has no doubt meant a change of training schedules for many top riders, but with almost a month since the GC riders have had a chance to shine, many will be looking to this weekend to gauge their fitness against their peers.

One team that has targeted this race despite its exclusion from the NRC is the powerhouse Health Net squad whose title sponsor is located here in Southern California. Their GC hopes rest on defending champ Scott Moninger, while veteran sprinter Gord Fraser can't be counted out in the hunt for the points jersey. It was here in 2002 when the race was called the Pomona Valley Stage Race that Fraser first made a name for the first year Health Net squad by taking 3 consecutive stages en route to the green jersey title.

Moninger can expect pressure from former team mate Chris Wherry and fellow Boulderite Chris Baldwin of the new Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team. As those two super squads face off, expect some of the smaller teams to try and take advantage of the situation and get a result while the two top dogs are busy watching each other. If the time gaps are small after the stage 1 uphill time trial, the race could be very interesting with generous time bonuses on offer both on key laps and at the finishes of stages 2 and 3. However it is often the winner of the opening stage who holds the leader's jersey through to the end.

In the women's race, T-Mobile brings a small but powerful squad of 5 riders led by climbing ace Kimberly Baldwin and World Cup leader Ina Teutenberg. They will be challenged by the new Lipton team which boasts last year's TT winner Kristin Armstrong, a former member of the Magenta Flamed T-Mobile squad. Her new formation brings 8 riders to the starting line in the hopes that strength in numbers will see them through.

The Stages

Stage 1 - March 17: Glendora Chevrolet Time Trial, 3.8 miles
Stage 2 - March 18: San Dimas Hospital Road Race, 96/72 miles
Stage 3 - March 19: Incycle/Cannondale Classic, 90/55 minutes

Start list

Coming!

Past winners

2005 Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net/Maxxis  Erinne Willock (USA) Webcor Builders
2004 Chris Horner (USA) Webcor               Lyne Bessette (Can) Quark
2003 Tom Danielson (USA) Saturn              Karen Bockell (Ger) Rona/Esker
 
Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com