Stage 1 - June 14: Saint Paul Riverfront Time Trial, 4.5 miles
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Health Net/Maxxis' Nathan O'Neill and TEAm Lipton's Kristin Armstrong demonstrated why they are the national champions in Australia and the USA respectively as they stormed to victory in the 4.5-mile opening time trial of the Nature valley Grand Prix this evening.
Waiting for an hour after posting the fastest time, Navigator Insurance's Bernard Van Ulden just shook his head as Health Net/Maxxis' Nathan O'Neill blazed through the finishing chute to post the winning time.
"I knew he would go fast," Van Ulden said. "If I had beaten him, you would have seen me doing back flips down the street here."
Still, the second year pro was good enough for second place at 8 minutes, 42 seconds, and he was the only rider who would spoil a Health Net sweep of both the podium and top five in the first stage of Great River Energy's Nature Valley Grand Prix.
"It makes a statement," O'Neill said of both his win and the team's performance in the St. Paul Riverfront Time Trial along the Mississippi River. The Australian national time trial champion beat Van Ulden by 13 seconds, coming in at 8:29, and stayed ahead of Greg Henderson, Karl Menzies, and Gord Fraser enough that he may be able to hold onto the leader's jersey for a bit.
That trio came in separated by about a half second, with Henderson clocking 8:48.52 and Fraser coming in at 8:49.07.
Whether the intermediate and finishing time bonuses are enough to pass the jersey around the team or he keeps the jersey, O'Neill said it is nice to have the options.
"The other three guys [on the team] behind me are all sprinters. It gives us a lot of options," O'Neill said.
Health Net's director sportif Jeff Corbett was pleased with O'Neill's and the team's performance, but he wasn't surprised.
"Whether we are riding on good spirits or on the form from racing the past couple of weeks, it doesn't matter. It is finally good to be building some momentum," he said. With Henderson's wins at Mt. Hood, Reading and Philadelphia, O'Neill continues Health Net's success in the past couple of weeks.
However, Corbett said given competition at this year's Nature Valley Grand Prix in the men's field - with several of North America's top teams fielding full squads - he was not as assured as his riders that the team would keep the jersey.
Van Ulden, who raced Nature Valley last year with only three other teammates, said this year having a full team will change the nature of the tactics for the team, as well as not having to defend the jersey going into stage two.
"I am not here to sit on some wheels,' he said. "I'm here to make something happen."
Whether that means taking the jersey in stage two is another story. Navigator's director sportif Ray Cippolini said on paper the 58.6-mile road race in stage two looks like a sprint fest, but he noted in the country, elements can play a big role.
"There's a lot of racing to be done yet this week," Cippolini said, not tipping his hat to any strategy the team may have to disrupt the Health Net momentum.
Frankie Andreau, directing Toyota-United in its first appearance at the Minnesota stage race, was a bit more direct about tactics heading into the week. "You focus more on a stage win," he said while sitting with his rider, Stefano Barberi, who walked away with the BMC Best Young Rider's jersey as well as the sixth fastest time at 8:58.
The Nature Valley Grand Prix heads to the Cannon Falls, Minn., on Thursday for a 58.6-mile road race for the second stage before returning to the Twin Cities for the Minneapolis Downtown Classic criterium on Friday. It finishes on Sunday in Stillwater, Minn.
TEAm Lipton's Kristin Armstrong continued dominating the time trial discipline by taking the first stage of the Great River Energy Bicycle Festival's Nature Valley Grand Prix.
The current U.S. National Women's Time Trial Champion finished the Saint Paul Riverfront Time Trial in 9 minutes, 25 seconds, six seconds ahead of the defending Nature Valley Grand Prix champion Christine Thorburn, who finished in second at 9:31.
"The field is really deep this year. We have riders coming from places as far away as Australia and New Zealand," Webcor/Platinum Builder's Thorburn said before the time trial.
Armstrong seemed to sense the importance of the day's event. "I think it is important to go out and put up a strong time today. There are several tough stages ahead," she said prior to taking the starting ramp.
Armstrong added that the short 4.5-mile stage made posting a good time even more important. This is her first time at the Minnesota five-day stage race, but other TEAm Lipton riders told her the race is won with time bonuses.
Thorburn, who wore the leader's jersey for five straight days last year, is all too aware of that.
"I actually finished four seconds faster this year than last," Thorburn said after the race. Even though she was disappointed with the second place finish, Thorburn found something to smile about. "My teammates are happy, it means they don't have to protect the yellow jersey."
Thorburn was very excited for several of her Webcor/Platinum teammates who posted solid times, including Erinne Willock, who finished just outside of the podium with a 9:49. It was enough to capture the white BMC Best Young Rider Jersey, though.
In third place was Alison Powers of Rio Grand/Sports Garage at 9:45.
Stage winner Armstrong also was quick to praise her teammates. "There is no room for error out there, so I give a lot of credit to my teammates who went out before me. They offered tips on how the wind was blowing and in an event like this, every second matters."
Armstrong now will don the yellow leader jersey as the Nature Valley Grand Prix heads to the Cannon Falls road race for the second stage. The Nature Valley Grand Prix, the first of three races in the Women's Prestige Cycling Series, runs through Sunday.
Kristin Armstrong (TEAm Lipton) won the opening stage time trial along the St Paul Waterfront
Christine Thorburn (Webcor-Platinum) finished the day in second, six seconds behind Armstrong
Alison Powers (Rio Grande/Sports Garage) finished third on stage 1
Laura Van Gilder (Team Lipton) with a strong performance for Team Lipton.
A strong ride put Erinne Willock (Webcor-Platinum) in sixth place and earned her the Best Young Rider jersey.
Brooke Ourada (Colorado Premier Training/Colnago) speeds down the 4.5 mile time-trial course.
Joelle Numainville (Team Biovail) passes Pamela Hinton (TRIA) on her way in to the finish.
Nicky Wangsgard (Colorado Premier Training/Colnago) overtook two people, including Lauren Koedyk (Jazz Apple).
Megan Monroe (Colorado Premier Training/Colnago) focusing on the final push to the finish.
Marisa Asplund (Colorado Premier Training/Colnago) gave a solid performance and placed in the top 30.
Stefano Barberi (Toyota-United Pro) took the best young rider's jersey after stage 1
Reid Mumford (ABD) was all smiles on the podium after stage 1
Greg Henderson (Health Net) showed great form after his Philly win with third in the time trial
A smiling Nathan O'Neill has a chat after taking the opening stage time trial
Bernard Van Ulden (Navigators) is congratulated by his partner after a solid second place
A Jelly Belly rider comes in
Karl Menzies (Health Net Maxxis) with a strong 4th place finish.
Jonathan Swain (CRCA/Sakonnet Technology) heads to the finish.
His highness "Hollywood" Henderson (Hollywood Cycles/Silver Cycling) graces the St. Paul river flats.
Gord Fraser (Health Net Maxxis) & team mates have the field seeing green.
Bryce Mead (ABD Cycling Team) on the final stretch.
Rising star Bajadali (Jelly Belly)
Twin Cities boy wonder Aric Hareland mixing it up with the top professionals.
Guy East (CRCA/Sakonnet Technology) finished within the top fifty.
Guy East (CRCA/Sakonnet Technology).
Ivan Stevic (Toyota-United) grimacing in the final meters.
Nathan O'Neill (Health Net Maxxis) with the winning ride of 8:21.
Local strongman Doug Swanson (Nature Valley Racing Team) charging to an impressive 7th place finish.
The men's podium (l-r): Bernard Van Ulden, Nathan O'Neill and Greg Henderson
Images by Matthew Moses/www.moses-images.com
Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing Team) heads out on the course.
Laura Van Gilder (Team Lipton) was one of the riders being watched today, she ended up in 20th place 45 seconds back.
Last years NVGP overall winner Christine Thorburn (Webcor-Platinum Women's Cycling Team) finished 2nd on the day in a time of 9'31"960
Alison Powers (Rio Grande/Sports Garage) was 3rd place in stage 1 with a time of 9'45"280
Kristin Armstrong (Team Lipton) the stage 1 winner with a time of 9'25"390
Candice Blickem (Aaron's Cycling Team) heads into the finish with a time of 10'16"460.
National criterium champion Tina Pic (Colavita/ Cooking Light Cycling Team) finished the day in 6th place with a time of 9'49"380.
Dave McCook (Jelly Belly) rode an easy pace saving his legs for the sprint finish the next couple stages.
Bernard Van Ulden (Navigators) finished 2nd on the day with a time of 8'42"670
Ivan Dominquez (Toyota-United) another sprinter who rode an easy pace in preparation for the finish line sprints ahead.
Lancaster winner Jackson Stewart (Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team)
Australian national champion - Nathan O'Neill (Health Net presented by Maxxis) was the champion of Stage 1 with a time of 8'29"790.
The Men's podium - (L-to-R): Bernard Van Ulden (Navigators), Nathan O'Neill (Health Net presented by Maxxis), Greg Henderson (Health Net presented by Maxxis)
Images by Bruce Adelsman/www.skinnyski.com
Heading towards the halfway point, full into the wind
Hitting the short hill on the return
Team Tria shadowed by the media
Kenda rider flying along the riverfront
Local rider for Hollywood Cycles starts out of downtown St. Paul
Revving up to speed
Great form
Navigators rider pouring it on down Warner Rd
Pressing hard back toward the finish
Broadmark rider getting some tailwind help
Team Obrea/Jelly Belly coming back along the riverfront
Images by Frank Rowe
With Mississippi Riverboats providing a backdrop, Laura VanGilder (TEAm Lipton) streaks to a top-20 finish.
Megan Elliot (Argon 18/Champion System) hammers down the backstretch.
One of the best young riders - 18-year-old Natalie Klemko (America's Dairyland) finished in the top 50.
Robin Farina (Team Kenda Tire) nears the end of the stage 1 time trial.
Allison Beall (TRIA) lays it all on the line.
Kori Seehafer (TEAm Lipton) powered home to record the fifth-best time, 23 seconds behind Kristin Armstrong.
With St. Paul's colorful Wabasha Street Bridge behind her, Emilie Roy (Equipe de Quebec) nears the finish line.
Local rider Dale Sedgwick (Bianchi/Grand Performance) posted a respectable time.
Although riders started at 30-second intervals Martin Gilbert (Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada), Matt Muyres (Nature Valley/Penn Cycle), and Greg Henderson (HealthNet) bunched up on the final downhill.
Bernard Van Ulden (Navigators Insurance) posted a fast early time which was good enough for second overall.
Tim Johnson (Health Net) is considered one of the "riders to watch" at this year's Nature Valley Grand Prix.
Brice Jones looking colorful in the JellyBelly kit.
Shawn Milne (Navigators Insurance) wore the yellow leader's jersey for several days in last year's edition of the race.
Pleasure Jackson (Broadmark Capital) looks like he's taking pleasure in his time trial performance.
Dan Swanson (Nature Valley/Penn Cycle) powers his way down the final hill.
Another appropriate name: Chase Fullerton (VMG Racing) gives chase.
When you're a man by the name of Gordon Fraser (HealthNet), you attract the attention of the TV cameras.
Love that colour combo! Justin Morgan (Broadmark Capital) sports the hot pink shoe covers.
Reid Mumford (ABD Cycling) overtakes his 30-second man Jason Klikna (BMC Racing), en route to the eighth-best time.
Nathan O'Neill (Health Net) was the strongest rider today, winning the 4.5 mile time trial.
Scott Nydam (Rio Grande/Sports Garage) rode to an impressive sixth-best time.
Results
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