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Tour of Elk Grove - NE
USA, August 12-13, 2006
Clarke repeats, Uhl redeems in Elk Grove
By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor in Elk Grove Village, IL
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The second day of the Tour of Elk Grove featured slightly less money, but the same level of heated action as riders battled for a healthy $30,000 between the men and women.
Clarke wins field sprint for double win
The shorter race for the second day of the Tour of Elk Grove resulted in a seemingly harder race, as the speed started fast and only got faster over the sixty kilometers. This spelled field sprint for the men, with a narrow and curving last kilometer to negotiate. But Hilton Clarke (Navigators Insurance) showed he can sprint through a field just as well as out of a breakaway, taking the win by half a wheel over Brad Huff (TIAA-CREF) and Alejandro Acton (TargeTraining).
"My team here is all sprinters," said Clarke. "We waited for the last possible minute [to sprint.] Siro Camponogara set me up great again."
"The final sprint was so hectic," said runner-up Huff. "I was leading it at 400 meters and I had to go then to get either first or second. If I waited I would have gotten fifth or sixth."
Clarke was ready for Huff's move and used it to his own advantage. "He got the jump on me, but it was so far I was able to get on his wheel and rest."
New day, new race for Sarah Uhl
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"I was twenty-fourth yesterday and pissed!" said Sarah Uhl (Serotta) who guest rode for Cheerwine this weekend. But the new day brought a new dynamic to the race. And with little attacking the field sprint was just the ticket for the young but seasoned track rider, who held off Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing) on the line for the win.
"Today was much for mellow," said Uhl. "Yesterday I wanted to be in a break -- I'm trying to work on being a break rider." But today the breaks did not form, and Uhl had to revert back to her sprinting knowledge.
On the last lap, Uhl rode under the protection of her new teammates, one of whom led for the majority of the final lap.
"Everyone was happy with the positioning coming out of the last turn," Uhl explained. "But I had to go at three hundred meters because I just felt the pack coming." Uhl's speed coming around the bend in the final fifty meters was enough to hold off the rushing field.
Uhl was most happy about her guest riding experience, particularly after today, and was glad to be able to give her team the win. "It was a really rewarding experience for me, and it was a great team."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com
- Yesterday's winner Rachel Heal (Victory Brewing) resetting her SRM for more 'training.'
- Two Aaron's Corporate Furnishings riders take the turn.
- Chrissy Ruiter (Victory Brewing) shows her effort.
- Meredith Miller (TEAm Lipton) gets taken to the inside, deftly avoiding the ensuing pile-up.
- The effects of the crash with Laura Bowles (Victory Brewing) on the floor.
- The following riders could not get around the wreck.
- More carnage.
- Sarah Tillotson (Colavita-Cooking Light) lights it up for the hometown fans.
- Like yesterday, every break had a Victory Brewing and Cheerwine rider.
- Kate Sherwin (Victory Brewing) takes a late flyer.
- The sprint on the line went to Sarah Uhl (Serotta) guest riding for Cheerwine, just ahead of Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing.)
- Everyone looks up to see who finished where.
- Hilton Clarke (Navigators Insurance) is all business as he looks to increase his $25,000 from yesterday.
- Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) was back for more home racing.
- Rahsaan Bahati (TIAA-CREF) knows where to find the cycling scoop.
- Many riders felt the shorter distance today resulted in higher speeds.
- Alex Candelario (Jelly Belly) leads a potentional break.
- Candelario in another break with Mark McCormack (Colavita-Sutter Home).
- The pain of the fast pace showed on many faces.
- The lead riders come around Elk Grove Boulevard.
- Bahati found an aero use for his favourite web site.
- Sprinting for primes began in the last turn almost a kilometer from the line.
- You can almost taste the money.
- Jakob Nielsen (Glud & Marstrands) rode in Superweek but came back from Denmark for the big money this weekend.
- Jonathan Page (Colavita-Sutter Home) takes a turn on the front.
- Chris Horner corners near the front as always.
- Putting a steep angle into the turn.
- Ivan Stevic (Toyota-United) was racing for spending money on the town in Chicago later.
- Brad Huff (TIAA-CREF) stays cool in the field.
- Local midwest amateur team Bianchi-Grand Performance leads with two to go.
- Colavita-Sutter Home took over on the last lap.
- Every man for himself in the final meters, with Brad Huff (left) even with Hilton Clarke (center) and Alejandro Acton (TargeTraining) on the right.
- Clarke does it again in a photo finish with Huff and Acton third.
- The men's podium.
Results
Men 1 Hilton Clarke (Aus) Navigators Insurance 2 Brad Huff (USA) TIAA-CREF 3 Alejandro Acton (USA) TargeTraining Women 1 Sarah Uhl (USA) Cheerwine-Serotta
