Oberman and Barclay win stage 5 of the Trans-Sylvania Epic

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Cole Oberman (Rare Disease Cycling) and Vicki Barclay (NoTubes Elite Women's Team) won stage 5 of the Trans-Sylvania Epic at R.B. Winter State Park on Thursday. Oberman became the second under 25 rider this week to claim a stage victory while Barclay logged her third stage victory of the week.

Jeremiah Bishop (Sho-Air/Cannondale) and Cheryl Sornson (Rare Disease Cycling) both defended their yellow leader's jerseys on the day.

Men

"If you do not succeed, try and try again" might have been the motto of stage winner Cole Oberman. The 23-year-old had launched a bold attack toward the end of yesterday's stage 4 which unsuccessful. However, that did not deter him from another late-race attack in today's stage 5.

From the gun, the Kona men were setting the pace again, as they have done other days. Kris Sneddon and Spencer Paxson did their best to apply pressure in the hopes of cracking race leader Bishop.

"You can't fault the Kona boys for putting on the pressure," said Bishop to Cyclingnews. "I did drop my chain at one point crossing a creek and had to chase back up to them. Luckily, there were rolling jeep trails I could catch back on and draft and recover."

All the top GC contenders were able to follow the duo and remained together for about 20 miles of the 31-mile stage.

Nick Waite (ProTested Gear) and Bishop put in some digs after the 16-mile checkpoint, but neither could get away.

With about 10 miles to go, Oberman saw his chance and went for it. Being 36 minutes down on the GC, Bishop and his rivals weren't too worried about the youngster being off the front. They looked at each other as Oberman rode away.

"It worked out this time. I was kind of dangling off the back all day and was having some brake issues which made it tricky to stay with the pack on the downhills," said Oberman to Cyclingnews. "I was still just barely hanging on out of the East Coast Rocks section, then I rolled to the front, rolled off and got a gap. They were all looking at each other, so I drilled it. I put my head down and tried to stay as small as possible in the wind."

Bishop said, "I knew Cole being off the front was good for me because if anyone else chased, I would get a free ride, and I didn't have to worry about him for GC."

Once Oberman was off the front, the race was for second place.

Waite initiated an attack among the chasers. "I attacked hard, but Jeremiah and Payson came up to me. Then I blew up and lost them," said Waite.

Coming off the third enduro segment of the day with five miles to go, each favorite was spaced slightly apart. Bishop surged and only McElveen could follow him. Behind them, Waite and Sneddon chased.

In the end, Oberman took the win with Bishop in second ahead of McElveen.

"I went a little earlier today so I got more of a leash," said Oberman. "I had better legs today too, but I had been without water since the checkpoint, where I missed my bottle hand-up. I kept waiting to hit the wall, but I just kept telling myself to keep breathe, breathe, breathe and I got it done."

Waite followed for fourth on the stage - or third in the men's category since McElveen is being scored as a U25 rider by virtue of having signed up as part of an Epic Team.

Bishop maintained his lead in the GC, actually gaining some time, and he now leads Paxson by 6:21. The real battle is for second as only one second separates Paxson from third placed Waite. Sneddon is only another minute and a half behind.

"It was a tough stage - another rainy day. I ended up gaining 32 seconds on Nick and another 65 seconds on Paxson, so I was pleased. I didn't expect to gain time although I wanted to," said Bishop. "Tomorrow I'll be more comfortable because once a stage is over three hours, it's more in my territory. I'm looking forward to laying the hammer down."

When asked if he would attack again tomorrow, Oberman said, "I'm a pretty good climber, so we'll see, but I'm not going to lay out all my cards right now."

Women

Vicki Barclay was feeling good today after a tough day yesterday. She, Sarah Kaufmann (NoTubes Elite) and Selene Yeager (Rare Disease Cycling) started off the first climb of the stage the fastest while GC leader Cheryl Sornson needed some time to warm up her legs on the chilly, 50-something-degree, drizzly day.

"It was like Scottish weather - that's probably why I won," joked Barclay. "After yesterday when I wasn't feeling good, I woke up this morning and felt good. I woke up early and was excited to race. I had pre-ridden the course once so I kind of knew where I was going, which helped."

Barclay excelled on the wet rocks, damp dirt and slippery roots and danced off the front. For a time, Kaufmann followed, but eventually Yeager passed Kaufmann and Sornson also got her motor fired up and running and was back in the mix.

"I took the start slow and felt like I needed to settle in. I knew I would catch and catch people," said race leader Sornson.

Unfortunately for Sornson, she flatted, slicing her sidewall just before the mid-race checkpoint. Her initial attempts to fix it were not working, then she spotted a photographer and realized she was near help at the aid station. When her team support staff struggled with the repair, her rival NoTubes team support staff jumped in and donated a wheel in an act of good sportsmanship.

"When I was within 45 seconds of Vicki, I went through some water and a rock hit my valve core and sliced my sidewall. I tried to fix it, but it was a bit of a debacle and I could feel the sealant coming out and hitting my cheek."

"I ran to the aid station, and my guy was trying to help me and I got the wheel out for him. He was trying to fill it, thinking it would seal, but I told him it wouldn't. The gifted wheel didn't mesh completely with the gears and my brake was rubbing a bit, but I could ride it and finish my day. I thought it would be at least five minutes I'd lose, maybe 10, but I was hoping not more."

Barclay got news of Sornson's flat and pushed the pace to make up some more time on the GC. Yeager chased in second place. Sornson regained significant time after her flat, chasing as hard as she could.

"About 10 miles from the end, some masters guys caught me and told me Cheryl had flatted, so I did my best to bury myself and make up some lost time from yesterday," said Barclay. "I hope I didn't go too deep for tomorrow, but here you have to sometimes go deep, even if you pay the next day.

In the end, Barclay took the stage, 1:22 ahead of Yeager. Sornson rode in for third at 4:30, minimizing damage to her lead and defending her yellow jersey. She now leads Barclay by a whopping 10:29 in the GC and Yeager by 18:55, heading into tomorrow's Queen Stage.

Yeager enjoyed the day's stage. "I think everyone was expecting it to be more primitive and difficult based on last year. I went into it worried, but it was fun. Many thought this was the most fun stage yet."

"The rocks here are different from our rocks - they're more slippery. I decided to settle down and ride my ride and people were telling me I wasn't too far behind Cheryl and Vicki, and I passed Cheryl with her sidewall problem," said Yeager. "I saw a pink dot ahead - Vicki - and did my best to try to get her."

Under 25 men and women

By virtue of winning the stage, Cole Oberman was also the fastest under 25 man of the day, ahead of Payson McElveen and Cameron Dodge (Colt Training Systems).

Kaysee Armstrong (Kona/TBB Race) won the Under 23 women's race by 2:48 over race leader Emily Shields (BMC Project Dirt) and 7:20 over Ellen Noble (Bear Development Team)

In the under 25 GC, Oberman and Shields continue to where the white best young rider jerseys.

Results