Vogels retains lead after TT, rider protest

• Results

By Rob Jones, VeloNews Correspondent

Moninger

Photo: Rob Jones

Scott Moninger won the sixth stage of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Beauce stage race on Saturday, moving into second overall behind his Mercury teammate Henk Vogels. Eugen Wacker (Mroz-Supradyn Witaminy) was second on the stage, half a second back, and John Lieswyn (7Up-Colorado Cyclist) was third.

The sixth stage was a 15km individual time trial in the town of St Georges de Beauce, and Moninger was the favorite, having won the same stage in 2000. “I really wanted to try to move into second overall before tomorrow’s final stage. It is crucial for us to have two riders in good position, so that we have a back up if anything happens to one of us.”

The out and back course was up all the way out and down all the way back. Moninger used a 56×17 on the climb and spun out a 56×11 returning. “There were sections where I was just tucked and coasting. It was so fast, 65-70km an hour.”

The win cuts Vogels’ lead to 45 seconds, with Zbigniew Piatek (Mroz-Supradyn Witaminy) third, 1:11 back, and Michael Barry (Saturn) in fourth at 1:33.

Vogels had a strong ride to finish 9th on the stage, despite a flattening tire for the final kilometer and a near miss with a security vehicle on the course. The vehicle had stopped just before a corner to speak with a marshal, and Vogels came around at more than 60kph, swerving at the last second and missing the van “by millimeters.”

The softening tire meant that the race leader had to brake in the final seven corners to keep upright.

The race was supposed to continue in the evening with a 40-lap criterium, however, a rider protest led by Vogels turned it into a mostly ceremonial parade. Rain made the roads slippery and the yellow jersey went to the front on the first lap after a crash and got agreement from other major teams (Mapei, Saturn, Mroz) not to race.

The riders stopped after one lap and organizers negotiated a 20 lap “race” that would not count on GC, so that the spectators who had turned up for this traditional crowd pleaser would not go away empty handed. The plan was to allow those who wanted to, to race the last five laps.

Privately there was grumbling among some riders and directors, but the agreement was enforced by the top teams whenever someone attempted to go off the front. When they did finally start to race, Trent Klasna (Saturn) took the win ahead of Cesare Diciento (Cantina Tollo) and Andrew Pinfold (Team Canada).

The Grand Prix Cycliste de Beauce concludes on Sunday with a tough 164km circuit race, which has the potential to completely upset the general classification.

Results

Saint-Georges ITT 15 Km
1. Scott Moninger (USA) Mercury-Viatel 15 km in 19:56:12
2. Eugen Wacker (Ger) Mroz-Supradyn Witaminy s.t.
3. John Leiswyn (USA) 7Up-Colorado Cyclist 0:27
4. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 0:27
5. Artour Babaitsev (Rus) Team Nurnberger 0:27
6. Micheal Barry (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 0:30
7. Zbigniew Piatek (Pol) Mroz-Supradyn Witaminy 0:31
8. Trent Klasna (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 0:33
9. Henk Vogels (USA) Mercury-Viatel 0:38
10. Chris Baldwin (USA) Navigators Cycling Team 0:40
12. Dominique Perras (Can) Ficonseils-RCC Conseils Assurances 0:45
13. Svein Tuft (Can) Team Canada 0:46
14. Doug Ziewacz (USA) 7Up-Colorado Cyclist 0:57
19. Chris Fisher (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 1:11
21. Andrew Randell (Can) 7Up-Colorado Cyclist 1:16
23. Gordon Fraser (Can) Mercury-Viatel 1:27
24. Francois Parisien (Can) Volkswagen 1:28
25. Czeslaw Lukaszewicz (Can) Team Canada 1:28
26. Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Navigators Cycling Team 1:29
28. Chris Wheery (USA) Mercury-Viatel 1:36
30. Min Van Velzen (Can) Team Canada 1:40
33. Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Cycling Team 1:50
34. Mark Walters (Can) Navigators Cycling Team 1:50
36. Charles Dionne (Can) 7Up-Colorado Cyclist 1:55
38. Harm Jansen (Ned) Saturn Cycling Team 1:56
44. Kevin Monahan (USA) 7Up-Colorado Cyclist 2:02
45. Derek Bouchard-Hall (USA) Mercury-Viatel 2:03
46. Jean-Francois Laroche (Can) Equipe du Quebec 2:03
47. Ryan Guay (USA) 7Up-Colorado Cyclist 2:03
50. Martin Gilbert (Can) Volkswagen 2:06

General Classification
1. Henk Vogels (USA) Mercury-Viatel 18:34:07
2. Scott Moninger (USA) Mercury-Viatel at 0:45
3. Zbigniew Piatek (Pol) Mroz-Supradyn Witaminy 1:11
4. Micheal Barry (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 1:33
5. Artour Babaitsev (Rus) Team Nurnberger 1:52
6. Piotr Chmielenski (Pol) Mroz-Supradyn Witaminy 2:09
7. Eugen Wacker (Ger) Mroz-Supradyn Witaminy 2:12
8. Chris Baldwin (USA) Navigators Cycling Team 2:18
9. John Leiswyn (USA) 7Up-Colorado Cyclist 2:29
10. Dominique Perras (Can) Ficonseils-RCC Conseils Assurances 3:06
12. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 3:27
14. Doug Ziewacz (USA) 7Up-Colorado Cyclist 4:38
17. Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Navigators Cycling Team 5:52
19. Min Van Velzen (Can) Team Canada 6:59
20. Baden Cooke (Aus) Mercury-Viatel 7:57
22. Harm Jansen (Ned) Saturn Cycling Team 34:02
23. Czeslaw Lukaszewicz (Can) Team Canada 34:06
24. Svein Tuft (Can) Team Canada 35:32
27. Trent Klasna (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 36:17
32. Chris Fisher (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 37:47
35. Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Cycling Team 38:35
36. Soren Petersen (Den) Saturn Cycling Team 38:41
37. Mark Walters (Can) Navigators Cycling Team 39:00
42. Jacob Erker (Can) Team Canada 40:34
43. Charles Dionne (Can) 7Up-Colorado Cyclist 40:47
50. Martin Gilbert (Can) Volkswagen 43:08