Sergent, Powers top Gila time trial

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Trek-Livestrong's Under 23 rider Jesse Sergent put forth an astounding performance at the SRAM Tour of the Gila's stage three time trial, winning the 26-kilometre event in a time of 34:09.

The world pursuit silver medalist bested runner up Levi Leipheimer (Mellow Johnny's), the previous year's stage winner and current overall leader, by 14 seconds and US National Time Trial Champion Dave Zabriskie (DZ Nuts) by an additional 12 seconds.

"It's a pretty good feeling and to be able to make the fastest time was pretty special to me and I definitely didn't expect it," Sergent said. "I was already at home and took a shower when I got the phone call that I won. I'm very happy with my ride. I felt good out there but I just assumed that I wouldn't be on the podium with guys like Levi and Zabriskie. I lost about three minutes to Levi last year so this is a big improvement."

Leipheimer maintained his overall race lead heading into the stage four criterium held in downtown Silver City on Saturday. The SRAM Tour of the Gila will end with the famously difficult Gila Monster Road Race on Sunday where Leipheimer hopes to defend his overall title.

"I think Tom is, if not one of the best, the best altitude riders in the world," Leipheimer said. "I think he is the one to worry about and obviously Dave is strong too. I have to watch those guys."

Leipheimer was particularly impressed with Sergent's time trial performance, even though it came as a bit of a surprise.

"Jesse is a silver medalist in the World Pursuit Championships so it makes sense," Leipheimer said. "I don't think anyone expected him to win today but it's great to see from an Under 23 kid on our team. I heard I was second and I figured it was Dave [Zabriskie] who beat me. I said, ‘how much time did I lose to Dave by," and they told me I beat Dave, so I asked who beat me and they said Jesse did. I thought that was cool."

Some 170 pro men rolled individually to the starting line and many were unsure of what aero equipment was best suited for the strong, gusty winds that started during the previous day's road race and continued through the time trial.

"We started off this morning with a tri-spoke and a disc and tried it out on the descent and both Lance and I were a little scared going down the descent with that equipment choice," Leipheimer said. "We switched to just normal deep dish wheels, front and rear, and in the time trial I definitely lost time in the faster parts, I could see that with Danielson in front of me. On the uphill I was great and made time back on everyone. I couldn't go as fast on other parts."

Leipheimer noted that his conservative choice of equipment was partially made to avoid crashing in the harsh winds the same way his teammate Gert Steegmans did at Paris-Nice last month. The Belgian rider broke his collarbone after a gust of wind ripped him off his bike during the opening prologue.

"I don't regret that [not using a disc wheel] because, as we were discussing the equipment choice, the situation of Steegmans came up in Paris-Nice and our number one goal was that we don't want that to happen. We are here at the Tour of the Gila for training, to prepare for the Tour of California and I didn't want to turn into a sail and end my hopes for, not just the Tour of California, but the Tour de France which is not that far away. That's a smart choice and while it may have cost me a few seconds here and there it doesn't matter, I felt great, my fitness is good and I don't mind losing to one of our young kids. I'm happy for Jesse."

Sergent set off mid-pack and returned from his effort with the fastest time of the day. He rolled back to his team's hotel following the time trial hoping for, at best, a top ten placing. Toward the end of the event, the best placed overall contenders rode into the finish line posting times in the 34 to 36-minute range and none, not even the event's odds-on favorite, Leipheimer was able to crack youngsters leading time.

Zabriskie was indifferent to his third placed performance in the stage three time trial and pointed to the event as good practice for the upcoming Amgen Tour of California in May.

"So far it's been a really slow start to the season and I tried to have a conservative off season with the Tour of California race being moved," Zabriskie said. "Maybe my plan worked and I will come on form for California, that's what I hope. I think it was a decent result. It wasn't the greatest time trial of my life but it was respectable."

Powers most powerful in windy Gila time trial

Former United States of America Time Trial Champion Alison Powers (Vera Bradley Foundation) blasted her way to win the SRAM Tour of the Gila stage three time trial, cutting through the strong winds to post the fastest time of 39:18 minutes. Powers outpaced Erinne Willock (Webcor-Builders) and USA Road Champion Meredith Miller (Tibco) who placed third.

“I was really hoping to win and hoping to make up time that I’ve lost, especially on Mogollon,” Powers said. “Yesterday we tried to win the stage and it didn’t work out but I was proud that we won today. This is a time trial and it was my chance to hopefully move up in the general classification.”

Mara Abbott (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12) placed seventh in the individual event, but maintained her overall race lead by 1:09 ahead of Powers. Andrea Dvorak (Colavita-Baci) sits in third place, 3:06 minutes behind Abbott.

“The thing about a time trial is that whether you go up hill, downhill, windy or whatever, you’re going to go all out no matter what and everyone deals with the same variables,” said Abbott.

Powers is hoping to continue to move up the general classification ladder over final two stages. “I would like to come here and race to win and it was unfortunate to lose three and half minutes on the first day,” lamented Powers. “I thought I rode really well but Mara road even faster. It is not over, we have two more days left and anything can happen.”

There were some 60 starters in the women’s field left after the previous day’s dangerously windy road race. The wind continued to blow throughout the women’s time trial, resulting in slower times compared to previous years.

“I don’t like the wind but it doesn’t affect me as much as the little people,” Powers said. “I live in a windy place and I train in the wind so I was kind of looking forward to the wind and the cold because I do well in those conditions. I like this course because it is hilly and fast and you have to know how to ride your bike in the wind. Also, we don’t get many long time trials.”

Willock was surprised with her second place performance, having taken some time away from training on her time trial bike. “I’ve have spent about 25 minutes on the bike so far because I just got it,” she said. “I love it because it’s the first time the time trial bike fits me and I’m not playing with the position. There was a tail wind on the way out. I was nervous about the wind in the valley so I had to get out of my bars.”

Miller held a steady rhythm over the 26-kilometre route’s large rollers and attributes her third place to her powerful pedaling. “To really be able to get on top of the gears and power through the wind helped a lot,” Miller said. “The finish was a matter of staying steady up the climbs and not getting over geared and remember to spin on the climbs.”

The SRAM Tour of the Gila continues with the stage four downtown criterium.

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