Nature Valley Grand Prix - Stage 2 Men
This time it counts! Mother Nature  Cooperates - Kirk O’Bee gets a bit of revanche for stage 1 and repeats 2007 win in Cannon Falls.

By James Lockwood

Stage 2 Cannon Falls Road Race 60 miles
In a stage race where “epic” is an apropos word used to describe weather conditions, Thursday’s second stage of the Nature Valley Grand Prix, the Cannon Falls Road Race provided a bit of a surprise. It was sunny, in the 70s, with little crosswinds.

“We were waiting for the crosswinds to come, but they never did,” said Healthnet/Maxxis’ Kirk O’Bee. “We were actually hoping for a lot of crosswinds,” his director sportif, Mike Tamayo, said.

Without those winds, Healthnet-Maxxis did what any team with a national criterium champion would do. They sat in on the 60-mile jaunt through the rolling farm country of east-central Minnesota until the finishing circuits, and led four of five finishing laps through the 2-mile circuit delivering O’Bee to the win he was denied in the first stage of Nature Valley.

“Normally you wouldn’t start [leading] from eight-and-a-half miles out, but our guys were strong,” Tamayo said. O’Bee tipped his hat to his team for the pace they pushed.

“They did it perfectly,” O’Bee said. “Without those guys, I wouldn’t have won.” It was a humble statement from a rider who made this a repeat win from 2007. However, as O’Bee told the story, he was not the rider who was supposed to win.

“I was actually trying to help John,” O’Bee said, referring to his teammate, John Murphy, who took third on the stage. “He was in front of me coming out of the last corner. I came around him and was hoping he would get on my wheel.”

With 500 meters from that corner into the uphill finish, it was a daring move for O’Bee, who made it stick to the end. “I didn’t think I was going to make it,” he admitted.

A little longer, he might not have. At least, that is the story Alex Candelario of Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast told. “If I had another 10 feet, I would have caught him,” said Candelario, who finished second in the race.

Still, his placing was a bit of surprise, as he said he was not planning to sprint but lead out his teammate, Martin Gilbert. When Gilbert was not on his wheel coming out of the last corner, Candelario said he was told to open it up and go for the win.

“Tactically, it was similar to last year,” O’Bee said. “The course is so tight, you have to get up front. It is hard to come around.”  His team had motivation after race officials called off the first stage of the nature Valley Grand Prix with O’Bee leading.

“[Wednesday’s decision] acted as a great motivator for the guys,” Tamayo said.

O’Bee stopped short of calling Thursday’s second stage win vindication for Wednesday’s cut-short effort, but he said he was upset after the first stage, an emotion he didn’t seem to be showing after the second stage. “Who knows what would have happened if they had restarted the race. Maybe I wouldn’t have won,” he said.

It was a sentiment Candelario shared, as his team was charging hard in Wednesday’s stage chasing O’Bee down when the race was stopped. He said the team was disappointed with the call to stop the race, and there was little to compliment on the action on Thursday, too, outside of his placing.

“It was just not hard enough,” Candelario said about Thursday’s action. “It was pretty negative racing. It was such a short race, it was difficult to split things apart. ”

Not that Kelly Benefit Strategies didn’t try. They played at the front of the peloton most of the race and featured in the best break of the day, a solo effort by Jonny Sundt for 12 miles that was never more than a minute from the field.

Only a few other attacks were made, and the field stayed together most of the day. Jelly Belly’s director sportif, Danny Van Haute, chalked up the lack of action to spent riders coming out of a 250-kilometer effort in 100-degree heat in Philadelphia. “I think Philly took a little more out of everyone than they thought it had,” he said.

His rider, Nick Reistad, who took the Sports Beans King of the Mountains jersey on the stage, called the racing nervous with everyone packed tight for the whole stage. “No team was willing to take the helm,” he said.

That is until Healthnet hit the circuit. And with the win on Thursday, Tamayo said they plan to keep control of the race and the leader’s jersey going into Friday’s third and fourth stages, the 6-mile Saint Paul Riverfront Time Trial in the morning and the Downtown Minneapolis Classic criterium in the evening. “We’re confident,” he said. “We’re here to win.”

Health Net p/b Maxxis
This time it counts - O’Bee wins 2nd stage of Nature Valley
Kirk O’Bee of the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis missed out on a strong chance for the win in Stage 1 of the Nature Valley Grand Prix Wednesday when the stage was neutralized due to bad weather. At the time, the national criterium champion had established a solid lead on the pack solo and looked in good position to stay away until the stage was halted.

In Stage 2, the 60-mile Cannon Falls Road Race, he got his redemption, capping off a perfect team effort with a sprint win in downtown Cannon Falls.

“We set out a plan and executed it to a T,” Health Net P/by Maxxis directeur sportif Mike Tamayo said. “The entire team rode like rock stars today.”

The race mostly stayed together throughout, and after the first of five two-mile circuits in Cannon Falls, Health Net went to the front and stayed there. “When we got to four laps to go, we took control of the race,” Tamayo said. “Phil Zajicek showed his strength today by doing a pull at the front that had to be two laps. Rory (Sutherland) did the lead-out and dropped off Kirk for the sprint.”

O’Bee started his sprint a bit early, but was still able to hold on for the win, a repeat of his win in this stage at last year’s NVGP. John Murphy added a bit of icing by taking third on the stage.

“We definitely showed our strength today,” Tamayo said. “The win was also a bit of redemption for last night.”

more to come...

Stage 2 Results and General Classification
Cannon Falls Road Race 60 miles
1. 15 Kirk O'Bee Team Healthnet Presented by Maxxis 2.25'53" 15"
2. 63 Alex Candelario Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 2.25'53" 10"
3. 14 John Murphy Team Healthnet Presented by Maxxis 2.25'53" 6"
4. 1 Ivan Stevic Toyota-United 2.25'53"
5. 6 Dominique Rollin Toyota-United 2.25'53"
6. 86 Shawn Milne Team Type 1 2.25'53"
7. 141 Alex Boyd Team Waste Management 2.25'53"
8. 5 Caleb Manion Toyota-United 2.25'53"
9. 146 Keil Reijnen Team Waste Management 2.25'53"
10. 64 Martin Gilbert Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 2.25'53"
11. 31 Richard England Bissell Pro Cycling Team 2.25'53"
12. 42 Ricardo Escuela Successful Living.com P/B Parkpre 2.25'53"
13. 56 Kayle Leogrande Rock Racing 2.25'53"
14. 97 Jonathan Page Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma Bar 2.25'53"
15. 43 Michael Grabinger Successful Living.com P/B Parkpre 2.25'53"
16. 28 Tyler Wren Colavita Sutter Home 2.25'53"
17. 81 Emile Abraham Team Type 1 2.25'53"
18. 134 David Guttenplan TIME Pro Cycling 2.25'53"
19. 61 Andrew Bajadali Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 2.25'53"
20. 65 David Veilleux Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 2.25'53"
21. 32 Benjamin Jacques-Maynes Bissell Pro Cycling Team 2.25'53"
22. 22 Anibal Borrajo Colavita Sutter Home 2.25'53"
23. 21 Luis Amaran Colavita Sutter Home 2.25'53"
24. 26 Davide Frattini Colavita Sutter Home 2.25'53"
25. 52 Michael Creed Rock Racing 2.25'53"
26. 106 Eric Schildge Fiordifrutta 2.25'53"
27. 16 Frank Pipp Team Healthnet Presented by Maxxis 2.25'53"
28. 114 Adrian Hegyvary Hagens Berman LLP Cycling Team 2.25'53"
29. 24 Anthony Colby Colavita Sutter Home 2.25'53"
30. 33 Edward King Bissell Pro Cycling Team 2.25'53"
31. 62 Daniel Bowman Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 2.25'53"
32. 17 Rory Sutherland Team Healthnet Presented by Maxxis 2.26'02" 9"
33. 51 David Clinger Rock Racing 2.26'02" 9"
34. 2 Heath Blackgrove Toyota-United 2.26'02" 9"
35. 157 Jason Walters Nature Valley Cycling Team 2.26'02" 9"
36. 82 Jesse Anthony Team Type 1 2.26'02" 9"
37. 111 Nick Clayville Hagens Berman LLP Cycling Team 2.26'02" 9"
38. 83 Ben Brooks Team Type 1 2.26'02" 9"
39. 45 Brian Jensen Successful Living.com P/B Parkpre 2.26'02" 9"
40. 66 Keven Lacombe Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 2.26'02" 9"
41. 34 Aaron Olson Bissell Pro Cycling Team 2.26'02" 9"
42. 4 Jonny Clarke Toyota-United 2.26'02" 9"
43. 37 Tom Zirbel Bissell Pro Cycling Team 2.26'02" 9"
44. 36 Jeremy Vennell Bissell Pro Cycling Team 2.26'02" 9"
45. 58 Doug Ollerenshaw Rock Racing 2.26'02" 9"
46. 35 Garrett Peltonen Bissell Pro Cycling Team 2.26'02" 9"
47. 27 Andrew Guptill Colavita Sutter Home 2.26'02" 9"
48. 171 Matthew Busche IS Corp Cycling Team 2.26'02" 9"
49. 54 Cesar Grajales Rock Racing 2.26'02" 9"
50. 124 Sheldon Deeny THF Racing 2.26'02" 9"
51. 203 Michael Woell Flanders/MBRC 2.26'02" 9"
52. 145 Jon Parrish Team Waste Management 2.26'02" 9"
53. 132 Nick Frey TIME Pro Cycling 2.26'02" 9"
54. 18 Phil Zajicek Team Healthnet Presented by Maxxis 2.26'02" 9"
55. 173 Steve Scholzen IS Corp Cycling Team 2.26'02" 9"
56. 161 Adam Bergman HRRC / Trek Stores 2.26'02" 9"
57. 78 Bernard VanUlden Jelly Belly Pro Cycling 2.26'02" 9"
58. 73 Nick Reistad Jelly Belly Pro Cycling 2.26'02" 9"
59. 75 Nic Sanderson Jelly Belly Pro Cycling 2.26'02" 9"
60. 25 Luca Damiani Colavita Sutter Home 2.26'02" 9"
61. 122 Stefano Barberi THF Racing 2.26'02" 9"
62. 48 Bradley White Successful Living.com P/B Parkpre 2.26'02" 9"
63. 154 Jesse Moore Nature Valley Cycling Team 2.26'02" 9"
64. 23 Armando Borrajo Colavita Sutter Home 2.26'02" 9"
65. 101 Hayden Brooks Fiordifrutta 2.26'02" 9"
66. 166 Steve Tilford HRRC / Trek Stores 2.26'02" 9"
67. 38 Scott Zwizanski Bissell Pro Cycling Team 2.26'02" 9"
68. 77 Aaron Tuckerman Jelly Belly Pro Cycling 2.26'02" 9"
69. 71 Michael Lange Jelly Belly Pro Cycling 2.26'02" 9"
70. 95 Russ Langley Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma Bar 2.26'02" 9"
71. 11 Matt Crane Team Healthnet Presented by Maxxis 2.26'02" 9"
72. 192 Cole House Bianchi / Grand Performance 2.26'02" 9"
73. 12 Tim Johnson Team Healthnet Presented by Maxxis 2.26'02" 9"
74. 41 Alessandro Bazzana Successful Living.com P/B Parkpre 2.26'02" 9"
75. 47 Christian Valenzuela Successful Living.com P/B Parkpre 2.26'17" 24"
76. 164 Chris Hall HRRC / Trek Stores 2.26'17" 24"
77. 94 Charles Hutcheson Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma Bar 2.26'27" 34"
78. 212 Ian Stanford Grandstay Hotels 2.26'27" 34"
79. 105 Chris Rozdilsky Fiordifrutta 2.26'27" 34"
80. 13 Romun Kilun Team Healthnet Presented by Maxxis 2.26'27" 34"
81. 115 Sam Johnson Hagens Berman LLP Cycling Team 2.26'27" 34"
82. 135 Daniel Ramsey TIME Pro Cycling 2.26'27" 34"
83. 57 Rudolph Napolitano Rock Racing 2.26'27" 34"
84. 102 Phillip Gaimon Fiordifrutta 2.26'27" 34"
85. 68 Jonathan Sundt Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 2.26'38" 45"
86. 7 Henk Vogels Toyota-United 2.26'47" 54"
87. 193 Pat Lemieux Bianchi / Grand Performance 2.27'01" 1'08"
88. 174 Kip Spaude IS Corp Cycling Team 2.27'01" 1'08"
89. 202 Christopher Doig Flanders/MBRC 2.27'01" 1'08"
90. 91 Keck Baker Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma Bar 2.27'01" 1'08"
91. 123 Joshua Chugg THF Racing 2.27'01" 1'08"
92. 172 Jordan Roessingh IS Corp Cycling Team 2.27'01" 1'08"
93. 211 Andy Minier Grandstay Hotels 2.27'01" 1'08"
94. 93 Evan Fader Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma Bar 2.27'01" 1'08"
95. 55 Kevin Klein Rock Racing 2.27'01" 1'08"
96. 92 Ryan Dewald Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma Bar 2.27'01" 1'08"
97. 67 Reid Mumford Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 2.27'01" 1'08"
98. 182 Jared Gilyard Wheel & Sprocket 2.27'01" 1'08"
99. 151 Brady Gibney Nature Valley Cycling Team 2.27'01" 1'08"
100. 118 Lang Reynolds Hagens Berman LLP Cycling Team 2.27'01" 1'08"
101. 143 Ron Jensen Team Waste Management 2.27'01" 1'08"
102. 181 Shane Braley Wheel & Sprocket 2.27'01" 1'08"
103. 103 Toby Marzot Fiordifrutta 2.27'01" 1'08"
104. 156 Brian Toone Nature Valley Cycling Team 2.27'01" 1'08"
105. 131 David Duncan TIME Pro Cycling 2.27'01" 1'08"
106. 44 Curtis Gunn Successful Living.com P/B Parkpre 2.27'01" 1'08"
107. 133 Jered Gruber TIME Pro Cycling 2.27'01" 1'08"
108. 85 Daniel Holt Team Type 1 2.27'01" 1'08"
109. 184 Craig Luekens Wheel & Sprocket 2.27'44" 1'51"
110. 8 Chris Wherry Toyota-United 2.28'00" 2'07"
111. 125 Zak Grabowski THF Racing 2.28'14" 2'21"
112. 155 Mark Shimahara Nature Valley Cycling Team 2.28'23" 2'30"
113. 191 Gregg Brant Bianchi / Grand Performance 2.28'54" 3'01"
114. 194 Eric Marcotte Bianchi / Grand Performance 2.28'54" 3'01"
115. 107 Steve Weller Fiordifrutta 2.28'54" 3'01"
116. 183 Joseph Kukolla Wheel & Sprocket 2.29'00" 3'07"
117. 162 Stolte Bill HRRC / Trek Stores 2.29'00" 3'07"
118. 76 Scott Tietzel Jelly Belly Pro Cycling 2.29'00" 3'07"
119. 74 Matt Rice Jelly Belly Pro Cycling 2.29'00" 3'07"
120. 204 David Zimmerman Flanders/MBRC 2.29'00" 3'07"
121. 213 Dan Swanson Grandstay Hotels 2.29'00" 3'07"
122. 142 Stevie Cullinan Team Waste Management 2.29'00" 3'07"
123. 163 Nicholas Coil HRRC / Trek Stores 2.29'00" 3'07"
124. 214 Doug Swanson Grandstay Hotels 2.29'00" 3'07"
125. 144 Sean Mazich Team Waste Management 2.29'30" 3'37"
126. 165 Adam Mills HRRC / Trek Stores 2.31'01" 5'08"
127. 113 Dan Harm Hagens Berman LLP Cycling Team 2.31'01" 5'08"
128. 201 Jake Boyce Flanders/MBRC 2.31'01" 5'08"
129. 53 Peter Dawson Rock Racing 2.31'01" 5'08"
130. 46 Cody O'Reilly Successful Living.com P/B Parkpre 2.32'31" 6'38"
131. 84 Joe Eldridge Team Type 1 2.33'00" 7'07"
132. 3 Hilton Clarke Toyota-United 2.34'53" 9'00"
133. 153 Jonathan Jacob Nature Valley Cycling Team 2.35'11" 9'18"
134. 152 Jeff Hartman Nature Valley Cycling Team 2.46'37" 20'44"
135. 136 Tom Soladay TIME Pro Cycling 2.54'25" 28'32"

Abandons:
72 Bryce Mead Jelly Belly Pro Cycling
121 Austin Allison THF Racing

1. Toyota-United 7.17'39"
2. Team Healthnet Presented by Maxxis 7.17'39"
3. Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 7.17'39"
4. Colavita Sutter Home 7.17'39"
5. Bissell Pro Cycling Team 7.17'39"
6. Team Type 1 7.17'48" 9"
7. Successful Living.com P/B Parkpre 7.17'48" 9"
8. Team Waste Management 7.17'48" 9"
9. Rock Racing 7.17'48" 9"
10. Jelly Belly Pro Cycling 7.18'06" 27"
11. HRRC / Trek Stores 7.18'21" 42"
12. Hagens Berman LLP Cycling Team 7.18'22" 43"
13. TIME Pro Cycling 7.18'22" 43"
14. Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma Bar 7.18'22" 43"
15. Fiordifrutta 7.18'22" 43"
16. IS Corp Cycling Team 7.19'05" 1'26"
17. Nature Valley Cycling Team 7.19'05" 1'26"
18. THF Racing 7.19'05" 1'26"
19. Wheel & Sprocket 7.21'46" 4'07"
20. Bianchi / Grand Performance 7.21'57" 4'18"
21. Flanders/MBRC 7.22'03" 4'24"
22. Grandstay Hotels 7.22'28" 4'49"

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