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RACE REPORTS: TOUR OF CALIFORNIA STAGE 3: ZABRISKIE TUNES OUT THE SHACK
Road Bike Action
May 18, 2010
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(Photo: Ken Conley)
David Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions) won stage three of the Tour of California ahead of Levi Leipheimer (RadioShack) and Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia). Zabriskie was part of a three-man break with Leipheimer and Rogers that went clear on the famed Bonny Doon climb.
The day started with several riders attempting to break away early in the stage, but the HTC-Columbia team kept a tight reign on the peloton. The team was keeping the race together to allow Mark Cavendish to collect points in the sprint competition. At the first sprint bonus of the day Cavendish delivered and took the points ahead of teammate Bernhard Eisel and Paul Martens (Rabobank). At the second sprint bonus the HTC-Columbia team was upstaged with Karl Menzies (UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis) taking the points ahead of Alexander Kristoff (BMC) with Cavendish in third.
With the sprint bonuses accounted for, the peloton finally let a break roll off the front just before the base of the day’s first KOM climb of Tunitas Creek. The break contained Andy Jacques-Maynes (Bissell), Eric Boily (SpiderTech), Will Routley (Jelly Belly), Davide Frattini (Team Type 1) and Ryan Anderson (Kelly Benefit). Over the top of the climb the break’s lead was out to 2:00 with Frattini claiming the KOM points ahead of Anderson and Jacques-Maynes.
The break’s gap continued to increase as they tackled the second KOM climb of the day. On the ascent up CA 84 they pushed their advantage out to 2:20 with Frattini again taking the points at the top in front of Anderson and Boily. From the top of the second KOM climb it was a short 12-kilometer run to the third KOM climb of the day up Pescadero Road. At the top of the climb the break’s lead was up to 3:20 with Frattini taking the KOM points for the third time ahead of Anderson and Boily.
With close to 50-kilometers until the base of the day’s major climb up Bonny Doon, the break settled into a rhythm to maintain their lead. As the peloton hit the flat rolling roads on their way to the final challenge of the day, Lance Armstrong suffered a mechanical and required a bike change. With the majority of the RadioShack team dropping back to assist Armstrong’s return to the peloton the speed dropped and the break’s gap grew to 4:20.
With Armstrong back in the pack the gap began to fall and as the break closed in on Bonny Doon their gap was down to just 35-seconds. As the peloton reeled in the break, Routley made a move off the front in an effort to stay clear. Routley held his gap onto Bonny Doon but with RadioShack lined out at the front he was quickly caught. With the peloton all together, RadioShack set the pace up the lower slopes of the climb. With Chris Horner (RadioShack) driving the pace the peloton quickly shattered. With the damage done, it was then Leipheimer’s chance to turn the screws. The only riders able to follow Leipheimer were David Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions) and Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia).
The trio quickly built their lead to 1:10 as the RadioShack and Garmin-Transitions teams controlled what was left of the peloton. In the break Rogers and Leipheimer shared the majority of the pace making with Zabriskie contributing as the grade lessened over the top. At the summit their lead was up to 1:30 as Leipheimer claimed the KOM points followed by Rogers and Zabriskie.
On the descent, Zabriskie, Rogers, and Leipheimer drove hard to the finish with the Liquigas team leading the chase in the hopes of putting Peter Sagan into the overall lead. Despite having three of the world’s best time triallist working together, the Liquigas led peloton began clawing seconds back on the descent. With 10-kilometers to go the gap was down to 45-seconds and falling. With 5-kilometers to go Leipheimer, Rogers and Zabriskie were only 20-seconds clear. As the peloton closed, Leipheimer, Zabriskie and Rogers held steady and maintained their slim advantage – allowing Zabriskie to take a flyer with 500-meters remaining to win the stage and take the overall lead.
After the stage Zabriskie commented on his victory. “Today was the first day that I have been able to go that deep this season. I hope to be able to continue this way and stay with Leipheimer on the later climbs,” said Zabriskie.
Tour of California Stage 3: San Francisco - Santa Cruz 113.3km
1. Dave Zabriskie (USA/Garmin-Transitions) 4:26:09
2. Michael Rogers (Aus/HTC-Columbia)
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Radioshack )
4. Peter Sagan (Svk/Liquigas-Doimo) @ .17
5. Rory Sutherland (Aus/Unitedhealthcare p/b Maxxis) @ s.t.
6. Heinrich Haussler (Ger/Cervelo)
7. Jens Voigt (Ger/Saxo Bank)
8. Christopher Horner (USA/Radioshack)
9. Francois Parisien (Can/SpiderTech)
10. Ryder Hesjedal (Can/Garmin-Transitions)
General Classification After Stage 3
1. Dave Zabriskie (USA/Garmin-Transitions) 13:09:33
2. Michael Rogers (Aus/HTC-Columbia) @. 04
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Radioshack) @ .06
4. Peter Sagan (Svk/Liquigas) @ .21
5. Marc De Maar (Ned/UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis) @ .24
6. Ryder Hesjedal (Can/Garmin-Transitions) @ s.t.
7. Janez Brajkovic (Slo/Radioshack)
8. Rory Sutherland (Aus/Unitedhealthcare p/b Maxxis)
9. Peter Stetina (USA/Garmin-Transitions)
10. Tom Danielson (USA/Garmin-Transitions) |
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