Whitten wins prologue to earn first leader’s jersey at Cascade

Image 1 of 22

Tara Whitten (TIBCO-To the Top) rode into her second consecutive leader’s jersey in two weeks by virtue of winning an opening prologue, this time at the Old Mill Time Trial at the Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend, Oregon.

"I expected to be a contender but I knew it would be tougher than at the last race," said Whitten, who won the Tour de Toona prologue. "I think I felt a bit better today than I did at Toona. It was a good distance."

The world track champion rode the 3.2 kms parcours in a time of 3:52 minutes, out-pacing six-time Olympic medalist Clara Hughes (BC Bike) in second and former double world champion Kristin Armstrong (Peanut Butter & Co Twenty12) in third, both two seconds back.

"I’m really happy with my performance and to be really that close to Tara," Hughes said. "It was fun."

It was a slightly varied course compared to the previous year beginning on a winding neighborhood road through the Old Mill District. The course rode up onto a small incline before looping back down to the start-finish line.

"Most of the course was not technical, except for the parking lot at the top of the course," Whitten said. "At the same time you had to take those corners safely and it is hard to say how much time you can make up there."

Armstrong was pleased with her third place performance following a strong showing in the first half of the season. She recently crashed at the Nature Valley Grand Prix and went on to place third at the USA Cycling Elite national time trial championships in Georgia.

"I took some time off but I had a lot of fun today and I think that you can do anything for four minutes," Armstrong said. "With Tara and Clara right in front of me, both track specialists, I felt like I was in good company. There were good rides from other riders on my team too that will be in contention during this race."

The Cascade Cycling Classic is hosting some 100 Pro-Cat 1/2 riders for the six-day event. The race is a valuable member of the National Racing Calendar (NRC) and is the final event of the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series (WPCS).

"Cascade is a full week of hard racing and we have to be mindful and play our cards properly," Armstrong said. "I think you have to set your own goals and follow them because the minute you try and follow what everyone else is doing then things start getting crazy. If you keep your focus you will succeed at it. We will look at our opportunities and look at the overall for the stage race."

The women’s race will continue tomorrow with the stage one 118 kilometre road race beginning in Maxwell Butte Snow Park and concluding atop the lengthy McKenzie Pass ascent on Three Creeks.

Antogna fastest in Cascade prologue

Fernando Antogna (Jamis-Sutter Home) used his notable pursuit skills to win the Old Mill Prologue at the Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend, Oregon.

The Argentine posted the fastest time of the day at 3:35:62 minutes, less than one second ahead of Roman Van Uden (Pure Black Racing) and his teammate Tim Gudsell.

"In a prologue or short time trial we know that Fernando is very strong," said Jamis-Sutter Home director Sebastian Alexandre. "I had a lot of faith in Fernando today because he is a track guy and I knew he was going to be good when I saw the corners on this course. He was feeling good coming into this race, checked out the course yesterday a few times and he was ready."

Antogna will wear the leader’s jersey into stage one’s 118 kilometre road race that finishes atop Mackenzie Pass. However, given that he is not known for his being a climber, the team does not anticipate taking control of the race.

"I have good feelings about Luis Amaran and Tom Zirbel for the overall," Alexandre said. "Fernando is not a climber, so we won’t work. It was a only a prologue today, we are happy to win the stage, have the jersey, but now we will just play or cards for the overall."

How it unfolded

Some 200 Pro-Cat 1 men individually took to the starting ramp at the Old Mill Prologue. The course rode along a winding neighborhood road through the Old Mill District, up a small incline before looping back down to the start-finish line.

Pure Black Racing has come off of a successful block of racing winning the overall title at the Tour de Toona two weeks ago with Scott Lyttle. The team is looking to win another overall title but considers NRC leader Francisco Mancebo (RealCyclist.com) as the biggest threat in the overall classification.

"It’s nice to have two guys in the top three heading into the stages," said PureBlack Racing team owner Carl Williams. "We have some good options going into the hills and in a good position. Without a doubt, Mancebo will be a big threat. He rode a strong prologue and will be strong on the climbs. With the time trial being in the middle of the week, he will be tough to beat."

The men’s race will continue at the stage one 118 kilometre road race beginning in Big Springs Snow Park and concluding atop the lengthy McKenzie Pass ascent on Three Creeks.