Rodriguez takes a close one in Georgia
It’s been a long dry spell for the man they call “Fast” Freddie Rodriguez. But on Saturday the American blazed back into the winner’s column, taking a blistering bunch sprint that concluded the Tour de Georgia’s stage 6 run from the Lake Lanier Islands to Stone Mountain Park. The win was Rodriguez’s first since stage 4 at this same race exactly a year ago to the day. The victory also moved the Predictor-Lotto rider out of a first place tie with Canadian Gord Fraser on the race’s all time stage wins list. Rodriguez now stands alone with four.
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By Jason Sumner, VeloNews.com
Photo: Casey B. Gibson
It’s been a long dry spell for the man they call “Fast” Freddie Rodriguez. But on Saturday the American blazed back into the winner’s column, taking a blistering bunch sprint that concluded the Tour de Georgia’s stage 6 run from the Lake Lanier Islands to Stone Mountain Park.
The win was Rodriguez’s first since stage 4 at this same race exactly a year ago to the day. The victory also moved the Predictor-Lotto rider out of a first place tie with Canadian Gord Fraser on the race’s all time stage wins list. Rodriguez now stands alone with four.
This time Rodriguez won a mad scramble to the line, outsprinting J.J. Haedo
Stage 6: ACasey Gibson Gallery: |
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(CSC) and George Hincapie (Discovery Channel), capping off a 113.5-mile haul that ended just outside metro Atlanta in the shadow of Stone Mountain. At the line, it was Rodriguez by half a wheel over Haedo, with Hincapie a bike length back, and a surprising David Millar (Saunier Duval-Prodir) taking fourth in front of Cuban Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United).
“I knew where I had to be because I saw the circuit once on the first lap,” explained Rodriguez about the 7.6-mile finishing circuit, which was negotiated twice at race’s end. “There were a couple little hills. It was my kind of circuit. Those little hills take a little out of the other guys and that helps me.”
Discovery Channel’s Janez Brajkovic finished safely in the bunch, to retain his 12-second lead over CSC’s Christian Vande Velde in the chase for the overall crown. With only Sunday’s 66.8-mile Atlanta circuit race left in this seven-day hors categorie event, Brajkovic’s GC win is all but assured.
FULL RESULTS
After the peloton finally reeled in the remnants of the day’s primary breakaway at the beginning of the final circuit lap, the end game began with about a kilometer to go. Canadian Ryder Hesjedal (Health Net-Maxxis) attacked out of the bunch, but was quickly chased down by the CSC train, which had been working all day to give Haedo a shot at the win. Meanwhile, Rodriguez was surfing his way to the front, latching onto the Heath-Net train and then to Hincapie’s wheel.
“I came around the final corner [at 350 meters to go] and I was probably third wheel at 300 to go,” said Rodriguez. “It didn’t look good at that point. I thought I might be too far forward, so I waited and waited, saw the 200-meters-to-go sign, and then just went. Luckily I was able to get back up to speed and it was my kind of sprint where it was slightly downhill and really fast. I was able to wind it up and hold the speed. Haedo didn’t have enough time to come around.” Early in the race several large attacks launched but failed to stick. Finally the day’s prominent break formed near the feedzone, 47 miles into the stage. The group of three included young Belgian talents Olivier Kaisen (Predictor-Lotto) and Maarten Wynants (Quickstep), plus Navigator’s Aussie-Kiwi Glen Chadwick. The trio worked well together over the remainder of the day despite steady pressure from Toyota-United and CSC, who were both chasing in hopes of setting up their sprinters.
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“I got in both the earlier breaks but they didn’t work out,” explained Chadwick. “In the second big break [that included 19 riders] I was the only guy in there from my team, so [team director] Ed [Beamon] made the guys bring it back. But when everybody sat up in the feedzone, [Wynants and Kaisen] went and I just jumped across. I ended up in all three breaks actually.”
While Chadwick and his fellow escapes rolled their advantage above six minutes at the race’s halfway point, the steady efforts of CSC and Toyota-United kept things just enough under control. With 72 miles covered the gap was down to five minutes, and eight miles later it was down to four.
“It was not easy to be out there so long,” said Wynants. “The road was up and down, twisting and turning all day. When you are in the peloton you don’t feel it as much, but when you are in the breakaway with just three you feel every little hill.”
The margin was down to 1:25 when the field made the turn into Stone Mountain Park, whose main attraction is a monstrous rock dome that is the world’s largest exposed piece of granite. It was only a matter of time before the break was done. Chadwick was the first to sit up on the rolling, tree-lined circuit. Then Kaisen was swarmed over just as Wynants made a final fruitless attack.
“When we came on to the circuit, I thought maybe it can stay away,” recalled Wynants. “But it was too difficult. I just attacked on the last climb for this jersey. It’s something.”
The jersey in question was Most Aggressive, but the big prize went Rodriguez who sailed past good friend Hincapie on his way to victory.
“It’s never easy to get in a drag race with Haedo and Freddie,” admitted Hincapie, who is racing for the first time since crashing out of the Tour of California. “Those guys are some of the best sprinters in the world, so third isn’t bad. This is my first race in two months, so today is a sign that I’m feeling stronger everyday. My legs are getting better every day so that’s a good sign for [the Tour de France] and the rest of the year. Today that last hill just wasn’t quite hard enough.”
Of course that’s all a matter of perspective. The hill — and the end result — was perfect for Rodriguez.
Official Results
1. Fred Rodriguez (USA), Predictor-Lotto, 189km in 4:04:00 (44.975kph)
2. Juan José Haedo (ARG), CSC
3. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel
4. David Millar (GB), Saunier Duval
5. Ivan Dominguez (CUB), Toyota United
6. Alessandro Proni (I), Quick Step-Innergetic
7. Karl Menzies (Aus), Health Net Maxxis
8. Andrea Tonti (I), Quick Step-Innergetic
9. Davide Frattini (I), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home
10. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr), Navigators Insurance, all same time
FULLRESULTS
Overall:
1. Janez Brajkovic (SLO), Discovery Channel, 23:01:03
2. Christian Vande Velde (USA), CSC, at 0:12
3. David Canada Gracia (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 3:04
4. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi), Saunier Duval, at 3:06
5. Kevin Seeldraeyers (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 4:22
6. Scott Nydam (USA), BMC, at 5:35
7. Jeff Louder (USA), Health Net Maxxis, at 6:00
8. Timothy Johnson (USA), Health Net Maxxis, at 6:59
9. Lucas Euser (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle, at 10:08
10. Ivan Santaromita (Swi), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 12:15
To see how today’s stage developed, simply CLICKHERE to open our Live Update Window.
Photo Gallery
Results
Official Results
1. Fred Rodriguez (USA), Predictor-Lotto, 189km in 4:04:00 (44.975kph)
2. Juan José Haedo (ARG), CSC
3. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel
4. David Millar (GB), Saunier Duval
5. Ivan Dominguez (CUB), Toyota United
6. Alessandro Proni (I), Quick Step-Innergetic
7. Karl Menzies (Aus), Health Net Maxxis
8. Andrea Tonti (I), Quick Step-Innergetic
9. Davide Frattini (I), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home
10. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr), Navigators Insurance
11. Richard England (Aus), Priority Health-Bissell
12. Janez Brajkovic (SLO), Discovery Channel
13. Cesar Grajales (Col), Jittery Joe's Coffee
14. Ruggero Marzoli (I), Tinkoff Credit Systems
15. Evan Elken (USA), Jittery Joe's Coffee
16. Jason Donald (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle
17. Elia Aggiano (I), Tinkoff Credit Systems
18. Daniele Contrini (I), Tinkoff Credit Systems
19. Charles Dionne (CAN), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home
20. Sheldon Deeny (USA), U-23 National Team
21. Tommy Nankervis (Aus), Jittery Joe's Coffee
22. Thomas Danielson (USA), Discovery Channel
23. Geert Steurs (B), Predictor-Lotto
24. Neil Shirley (USA), Jittery Joe's Coffee
25. Cody Stevenson (Aus), Jittery Joe's Coffee
26. Jackson Stewart (USA), BMC
27. Benjamin (USA), Priority Health-Bissell
28. Alexandre Moos (Swi), BMC
29. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi), Saunier Duval
30. Sergey Lagutin (UZB), Navigators Insurance
31. Preben Van Hecke (B), Predictor-Lotto
32. David Canada Gracia (Sp), Saunier Duval
33. Rory Sutherland (Aus), Health Net Maxxis
34. Ivan Santaromita (Swi), Quick Step-Innergetic
35. Pavel Brutt (Rus), Tinkoff Credit Systems
36. Steffen Weigold (G), Tinkoff Credit Systems
37. Edward King (USA), Priority Health-Bissell
38. Christophe Brandt (B), Predictor-Lotto
39. Jacob Rosenbarger (USA), BMC
40. Christian Vande Velde (USA), CSC
41. John Devine (USA), U-23 National Team
42. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN), Health Net Maxxis
43. Dominique Cornu (B), Predictor-Lotto
44. Anthony Colby (USA), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home
45. Timothy Duggan (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle
46. Timothy Johnson (USA), Health Net Maxxis
47. Hubert Schwab (Swi), Quick Step-Innergetic
48. Pavel Padrnos (Cz), Discovery Channel
49. Ivan Stevic (SCG), Toyota United
50. Nathan O'Neill (Aus), Health Net Maxxis
51. Kevin Seeldraeyers (B), Quick Step-Innergetic
52. Peter Hatton (Aus), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home
53. Ben Brooks (Aus), Navigators Insurance
54. Scott Nydam (USA), BMC
55. Leonardo Scarselli (I), Quick Step-Innergetic
56. Nicholas Reistad (USA), U-23 National Team
57. Scott Moninger (USA), BMC
58. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Discovery Channel
59. Lucas Euser (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle
60. Cameron Wurf (Aus), Priority Health-Bissell
61. Jonathan Garcia (USA), BMC
62. Matt Shriver (USA), Jittery Joe's Coffee
63. Ben Day (Aus), Navigators Insurance
64. Tyler Wren (USA), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home
65. Tyler Hamilton (USA), Tinkoff Credit Systems
66. Stefano Zanini (I), Predictor-Lotto
67. Christophe Rinero (F), Saunier Duval
68. Gustavo Artacho (ARG), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home
69. Craig Lewis (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle
70. Eric Keim (USA), U-23 National Team
71. Michael Blaudzun (Dk), CSC
72. Guido Trentin (I), Saunier Duval
73. Danny Pate (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle
74. Asle Kurt Asle (Nor), CSC
75. Ian Mckissick (USA), BMC
76. Brian Vandborg (Dk), Discovery Channel
77. Nicolas Gates (Aus), Predictor-Lotto
78. Gilberto Simoni (I), Saunier Duval
79. Thomas Peterson (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle
80. Douglas Ollerenshaw (USA), Health Net Maxxis
81. Austin King (USA), Jittery Joe's Coffee
82. Maarten Wijnants (B), Quick Step-Innergetic
83. Michael Lange (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle
84. David Mccann (IRL), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home
85. Adam Bergman (USA), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home
86. David Zabriskie (USA), CSC
87. Jonathan Mc Carty (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle
88. Scott Zwizanski (USA), Priority Health-Bissell
89. Philip Zajicek (USA), Navigators Insurance
90. Glen Chadwick (NZl), Navigators Insurance
91. Mauro Facci (I), Quick Step-Innergetic
92. Martin Pedersen (Dk), CSC
93. Chad Beyer (USA), U-23 National Team
94. Jeff Louder (USA), Health Net Maxxis
95. Christopher Baldwin (USA), Toyota United
96. Trent Wilson (Aus), Jittery Joe's Coffee
97. Kirk O'Bee (USA), Health Net Maxxis, at 0:28
98. Hendricus Vogels (Aus), Toyota United, at 0:39
99. Caleb Manion (Aus), Toyota United, at 3:23
100. Olivier Kaisen (B), Predictor-Lotto, at 4:52
101. Caleb Fairly (USA), U-23 National Team
102. Burke Swindlehurst T (USA), Toyota United, at 6:05
103. Matthew Goss (Aus), CSC
104. Christopher Wherry (USA), Toyota United
105. Anders Lund (Dk), CSC
106. Omer Kem (USA), Priority Health-Bissell
107. Justin England (USA), Toyota United
108. Eric Riggs (USA), U-23 National Team
Overall, after Stage 6
1. Janez Brajkovic (SLO), Discovery Channel, 23:01:03
2. Christian Vande Velde (USA), CSC, at 0:12
3. David Canada Gracia (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 3:04
4. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi), Saunier Duval, at 3:06
5. Kevin Seeldraeyers (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 4:22
6. Scott Nydam (USA), BMC, at 5:35
7. Jeff Louder (USA), Health Net Maxxis, at 6:00
8. Timothy Johnson (USA), Health Net Maxxis, at 6:59
9. Lucas Euser (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle, at 10:08
10. Ivan Santaromita (Swi), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 12:15
11. Tyler Wren (USA), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home, at 12:26
12. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Discovery Channel, at 24:48
13. Thomas Danielson (USA), Discovery Channel, at 26:57
14. Nathan O'Neill (Aus), Health Net Maxxis, at 27:15
15. David Zabriskie (USA), CSC, at 28:21
16. Anthony Colby (USA), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home, at 28:55
17. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN), Health Net Maxxis, at 29:09
18. Danny Pate (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle, at 29:55
19. Gilberto Simoni (I), Saunier Duval, at 30:00
20. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel, at 30:13
21. Michael Blaudzun (Dk), CSC, at 30:37
22. Brian Vandborg (Dk), Discovery Channel, at 30:49
23. Alexandre Moos (Swi), BMC, at 30:50
24. Hubert Schwab (Swi), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 31:30
25. Sergey Lagutin (UZB), Navigators Insurance, at 31:35
26. Thomas Peterson (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle, at 32:37
27. Rory Sutherland (Aus), Health Net Maxxis, at 32:59
28. John Devine (USA), U-23 National Team, at 33:06
29. Andrea Tonti (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 33:20
30. Glen Chadwick (NZl), Navigators Insurance, at 33:44
31. Craig Lewis (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle, at 33:53
32. Jason Donald (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle, at 34:06
33. Ben Day (Aus), Navigators Insurance, at 34:08
34. Cesar Grajales (Col), Jittery Joe's Coffee, at 34:16
35. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr), Navigators Insurance, at 34:17
36. Scott Moninger (USA), BMC, at 35:07
37. Timothy Duggan (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle, at 35:47
38. Preben Van Hecke (B), Predictor-Lotto, at 36:05
39. Ruggero Marzoli (I), Tinkoff Credit Systems, at 36:06
40. Philip Zajicek (USA), Navigators Insurance, at 36:17
41. Pavel Padrnos (Cz), Discovery Channel, at 36:44
42. Ian Mckissick (USA), BMC, at 36:53
43. David Mccann (IRL), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home, at 36:54
44. Asle Kurt Asle (Nor), CSC
45. Ben Brooks (Aus), Navigators Insurance, at 37:18
46. Christophe Brandt (B), Predictor-Lotto, at 37:25
47. Jonathan Garcia (USA), BMC, at 37:30
48. Maarten Wijnants (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 37:51
49. Jonathan Mc Carty (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle, at 38:23
50. Dominique Cornu (B), Predictor-Lotto, at 38:28
51. Justin England (USA), Toyota United, at 38:29
52. David Millar (GB), Saunier Duval, at 38:34
53. Peter Hatton (Aus), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home, at 38:41
54. Jackson Stewart (USA), BMC, at 38:46
55. Geert Steurs (B), Predictor-Lotto, at 39:18
56. Benjamin (USA), Priority Health-Bissell, at 39:23
57. Christopher Baldwin (USA), Toyota United, at 39:25
58. Douglas Ollerenshaw (USA), Health Net Maxxis, at 40:08
59. Guido Trentin (I), Saunier Duval
60. Ivan Stevic (SCG), Toyota United, at 40:18
61. Adam Bergman (USA), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home, at 40:29
62. Tyler Hamilton (USA), Tinkoff Credit Systems, at 40:31
63. Leonardo Scarselli (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 40:46
64. Edward King (USA), Priority Health-Bissell, at 40:58
65. Charles Dionne (CAN), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home, at 41:38
66. Nicolas Gates (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, at 41:52
67. Davide Frattini (I), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home, at 42:04
68. Michael Lange (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle, at 42:19
69. Cameron Wurf (Aus), Priority Health-Bissell, at 42:22
70. Alessandro Proni (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 44:24
71. Karl Menzies (Aus), Health Net Maxxis, at 44:41
72. Fred Rodriguez (USA), Predictor-Lotto, at 44:44
73. Daniele Contrini (I), Tinkoff Credit Systems, at 44:48
74. Eric Keim (USA), U-23 National Team, at 45:04
75. Neil Shirley (USA), Jittery Joe's Coffee
76. Burke Swindlehurst T (USA), Toyota United, at 45:10
77. Matthew Goss (Aus), CSC, at 45:33
78. Christophe Rinero (F), Saunier Duval, at 45:35
79. Caleb Manion (Aus), Toyota United, at 45:47
80. Jacob Rosenbarger (USA), BMC, at 46:08
81. Gustavo Artacho (ARG), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home, at 46:10
82. Haedo Juan José (ARG), CSC, at 46:24
83. Olivier Kaisen (B), Predictor-Lotto, at 47:03
84. Pavel Brutt (Rus), Tinkoff Credit Systems, at 47:54
85. Trent Wilson (Aus), Jittery Joe's Coffee, at 48:15
86. Kirk O'Bee (USA), Health Net Maxxis, at 48:51
87. Nicholas Reistad (USA), U-23 National Team, at 49:53
88. Elia Aggiano (I), Tinkoff Credit Systems, at 50:12
89. Steffen Weigold (G), Tinkoff Credit Systems, at 50:20
90. Mauro Facci (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 50:26
91. Ivan Dominguez (CUB), Toyota United, at 50:38
92. Anders Lund (Dk), CSC, at 50:41
93. Tommy Nankervis (Aus), Jittery Joe's Coffee, at 51:28
94. Hendricus Vogels (Aus), Toyota United, at 51:33
95. Martin Pedersen (Dk), CSC, at 51:59
96. Richard England (Aus), Priority Health-Bissell, at 52:06
97. Christopher Wherry (USA), Toyota United, at 52:47
98. Sheldon Deeny (USA), U-23 National Team, at 52:52
99. Chad Beyer (USA), U-23 National Team, at 53:46
100. Matt Shriver (USA), Jittery Joe's Coffee, at 55:31
101. Austin King (USA), Jittery Joe's Coffee, at 55:45
102. Evan Elken (USA), Jittery Joe's Coffee, at 56:02
103. Scott Zwizanski (USA), Priority Health-Bissell, at 57:22
104. Cody Stevenson (Aus), Jittery Joe's Coffee, at 57:43
105. Stefano Zanini (I), Predictor-Lotto, at 58:37
106. Eric Riggs (USA), U-23 National Team, at 1:03:23
107. Caleb Fairly (USA), U-23 National Team, at 1:04:16
108. Omer Kem (USA), Priority Health-Bissell, at 1:07:16