Stage 2: Silver City to Mogollon Road Race

Men's 92 miles, 5,650' of climbing, uphill finish
Women's 70 miles, 4,530' of climbing, uphill finish

Thursday's race started in the cool mountain air in Silver City, from the start it was Trek/VW and Healthnet at the front looking to control the race. Soon after the turn into the beautiful valley containing the Gila Cliff dwellings, a 13 man break was away.

With Mike Sayers and three team mates in a ten plus break off the front, Gord Fraser and his team worked to control the front. Among the break was Frank Mapel (Specialized), Colby Pierce (5280/Subaru) and Ramos Torres (Tecos Turbos). Fifteen miles from the finish a crash in peloton brought down several riders; Rich Davis (Team Rio Grande) broke several ribs and did not finish.

Trek/VW in short order was to the front to limit the time gained by 1:25 to 2 minutes through the rollers and past the Cliff dwellings. Next was the approach to Buckhorn bonus sprint on ever-thinner mountain roads, the first climb to the Mule Creek Summit (1570 ft of climbing to the 5740 ft. summit) and across false flat of the Mogollon plateau. At the base of the ten mile climb to Mogollon Pass with 2100 ft of climbing ahead, 5280/Subaru's Colby Pierce attacked the break taking Mike Sayers (Health Net) and Ramos Torres (Tecos Turbos).  Without the legs to match the peloton led by Trek/VW All Stars and Drew Miller,  consumed was the brave early break shortly after the beginning of the climb.

As Frank Mapel put it on his website: "No surprises, no sneaking away, and the typical scenario of the pack rushing by in the last miles of the race came crashing down on the Mogollon climb. We had a pretty good group with a little dead weight but for the most part rolled along well together. Health Net was ambitious to give Mike Sayers a buffer for the climb and with three other team members offered the horse-power needed to stay away. I managed to swipe up some scrap sprinter points at the two designated sprint locations. Mike, Colby Pierce, and a some Tecos rider that never pulled the entire time jumped the group right before the base of the climb.

"This took three of the guys out of the pace line as the Health Net boys had done their job and had their man off in good position. Now it was up to 4 or five guys to pull and weary from the effort all day it just wasn’t there. We rolled up to the base of the final climb just seconds in front of the main pack. In an instant and what seemed like a freight train riders were whizzing past up the climb like it was just a small roller. Needless to say we struggled up the last climb with legs of lead trying to stay with small groups here and there. It was a gamble and this time it came out craps." Frank Mapel (Specialized ) is writing a diary for his site and you can read the rest of it here: http://www.frankmapel.com/

In the next ten miles in the air thinned and the road that seems to shrink with each steep turn. The final drama of the day saw Miller catch Sayers and put 33 seconds into him by the summit finish. Ubaldo Mesa followed shortly after at 47 seconds. The next seven riders were within two minutes of the riders. Hard riding by Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (RLX Ralph Lauren) and Blake Caldwell (5280/Subaru) brought them in within a minute of Miller's finish. As usual, the Mogollon shoke up the G.C. and Thursday was no exception and the Drew Miller (Trek VW All Stars) moving into the leader's jersey, with his new companion at the top, Mike Sayers (Health Net), and Ubaldo Mesa (Tecos Turbos) at second and third.

Gord Fraser dropped 2:16 to the young guns but at 1:51 can be happy in 5th place and his teammate Sayers in second at only :39 which puts Health Net Team firmly at the top of the Team standings. Michael Ley (Team Rio Grande) limited his loss finishing eighth on the Mogollon to move from third to eighth on the G.C.

The Womens Pro race was won by Genevieve Jeanson (Rona/Esker) as she attacked on the closing two miles of the Mogollon pass road, putting two minutes on fellow Canadian Manon Jutras (Saturn Cycling). Katrina Grove limited her loss on this tough mountain stage to 3:53 on the GC to move into third place. Katrina, unlike last year when she rode without her T-Mobile mates, has Susan Haywood and Kristin Johnson in the top ten with her at the finish of Thursday's stage. After Jeanson's effort  the G.C. shatters - the top ten riders are scattered across ten minutes; barring accident or a mechanical it will be a superhuman effort for the Saturn and T-Mobile riders to overcome the gap.

More details on the ladies' day courtesy of Giana Roberge (Saturn D.S.) and Daniel Larouche of RONA/Esker.

And the beat goes on - Jeanson wins second consecutive stage Saturn's Jutras second by Giana Roberge

The second stage of the Tour of the Gila took the riders out of Silver City into the mountains of the Gila Park. Looking impenetrable in the distance, the climb up to Mogollon Pass stood, austere, 70 miles from the start. With over 2100 feet of climbing in the last 10 kilometers, and grades of 14%, the strongest climbers were quick to come to the fore, and at the top it was Genevieve Jeanson furthering her lead on her nearest competitor.

The race began at a leisurely pace with the women taking time to work off the chill of the morning. Saturn's Ina Teutenberg animated the race for the first 60 kilometers in a solo break before she was lead astray with the motor taking a wrong turn. Once everyone realized the mistake a brief reorganization saw Teutenberg back off the front by herself. Teutenberg's teammate Megan Elliott bridged up to her to join in the fun, however, the Rona team would have none of that and brought the two Saturn riders back to the fold.

Through the feed zone, the peloton was compact at mile 48.5. However, on the approach into the climb, the two strongest women in the race splintered off the front, with Jeanson pushing the pace and second place Manon Jutras sitting tucked on her wheel, patiently waiting for the final climb.

An unfortunate crash in the town of Glenwood split the remainder of the field, however, most of the competitors were up and back on their bikes without any severe causality. Up the road, Jeanson set the pace ahead of Jutras, continuing to put more leverage on the pedals and forcing the speed higher. Jutras was able to respond, and the two had 1:30 on the field at the base of the climb.

At the two mile to go mark, Jutras lost contact with Jeanson, and no matter how hard she fought and how deep she dug, the Saturn rider could not come to terms with her fellow Canadian. Jeanson finished solo for another strong win over Jutras. Over a minute later was Katrina Grove for third, who finished over a minute up on Leah Goldstein. Her strong ride moved her into third in the overall.

Tomorrow is yet another hilly race through the Mimbres valley. With plenty more elevation gain, the overall classification should see more time gained by Jeanson and Jutras.

The view of the race - RONA/Esker  by Daniel Larouche

Silver City, NM, May 1, 2003 – Canadian Geneviève Jeanson of the RONA/Esker cycling team won the second stage of the Tour of the Gila, beating her fellow Canadian and ex-teammate Manon Jutras, now with Saturn, by about two minutes and a half. She increased her overall lead over Jutras to about 4 minutes.

Americans Katrina Grove of T Mobile and Lynn Gaggioli (Velo Bella) finished third and fourth respectively, about 4 minutes behind Jeanson. Today’s stage was a 113-km point-to-point race, with a mountaintop finish following a long, 1st category climb. The stage was highlighted by a break by Saturn’s Ina Teutenberg, eventually joined by her teammate Megan Elliott. With a strong headwind, the RONA/Esker team paced the peloton to manage the gap within a 30-second range most of the time. Then at the 85 km mark RONA/Esker reeled in the two Saturns. About 15km from the finish, RONAS/Esker’s Karen Bockel led out her leader Jeanson out of the man field and Jeanson followed through with an attack of her own. Manon Jutras took Jeanson’s wheel. In the last very steep 5 km Jeanson opened a 2’ 30’’ gap between her and Jutras.

“The team executed the strategy perfectly today, everything unfolded exactly as planned”, said Jeanson after the race. “Meshy (Holt), Karen (Bockel), Andrea (Hannos), Erinne (Willock) and Carrie (Tuck) gave me great protection and I just had to follow through in the last kilometres."

Friday's race will loop 73 miles from Fort Bayard for both the men and womens peloton, with a bit less climbing. But in no way a day off for the women or men. The first obstacle will be getting away from Fort Bayard without flatting at the start with the Gila thorns that get blown on the roads in the first mile of the race. Last year Chuck Coyle had to give up a wheel ten feet from the start line - started the race chasing. Likely the attacks will continue in the mens race with climbs that once again can change the G.C. About this time I am sure the riders are looking forward to Saturday and the criterium.

Pro Men's Stage 2 Results

1  Drew Miller  Trek/VW All-Stars  Phoenix, AZ  3:50:58
2  Sayers, Michael  HealthNet  Tucson, AZ  3:51:31
3  Estepa, Ubaldo Mesa  Tecos  Columbia  3:51:45
4  Horgan-Kobelski, Jeremy  RLX Ralph Loren  Boulder, CO  @ 01:08
5  Caldwell, Blake  5280/Subaru  Boulder, CO  @ 01:20
6  Wells, Todd  Hyundai Mongoose  Durango, CO  @ 01:27
7  Hestler, Andreas  Canadian Cycling Associ  Canada  @ 01:52
8  Moran, Hugh  Construction Zone  Mesa, AZ  @ 01:57
9  Brown, Nic  LeMond Fitness/Captain  Austrailia  @ 02:03
10  Swenson, Carl  RLX Ralph Lauren  Park City, UT  @ 02:11
11  Fraser, Gord  Healthnet  Tucson,AZ  @ 02:16
12  Duggan. Timmy  Duane Duggan Remax/Pake  --  @ 02:24
13  Cate, Steve  Mathis Brothers  Norman, OK  @ 02:26
14  Price, Scott  Trek/VW All-Stars  Calgary, CAN  @ 02:26
15  Ley, Michael  Team Rio Grande  Fort Collins,  @ 02:33
16  Hunt, John D  HealthNet  Fairfax, CA  @ 02:33
17  Jacques-Maynes, Andy  Sierra Nevada/Clif Bar  Berkeley, CA  @ 02:33
18  Allan, Calvin  Broadmark Capital Cycti  Upland, CO  @ 02:42
19  Chavez, Antonio Aldape  Tecos  Mexico  @ 02:42
20  Ollerenshaw, Doug  Broadmark Capital Cycti  Corvallis, OR  @ 02:50
21  Blickem, Ryan  Border Bandits  Albuquerque, N  @ 02:52
22  Stierwalt, Jon  Team Rio Grand  Boulder, CO  @ 02:52
23  Federau, Ricky  Canadian Cycling Associ  Canada  @ 02:55
24  Toulouse, Matt  Canadian Cycling Associ  Canada  @ 03:02
25  Torres, Florencio Ramos  Tecos  Mexico  @ 03:12
26  Hariott, Todd  Healthnet  New York, NY  @ 03:12
27  Kozlov, Alex  Healthnet  Belavusas  @ 03:24
28  Nicol, Kevin  Team Rio Grande  Lafeyette, CO  @ 03:25
29  Sullivan, Patrick  GS Ciao  Boulder, CO  @ 03:34
30  Langley, Russ  Team Snow Valley  Washington, DC  @ 03:34
31  Herrera, Javier Paniagua  Tecos  Mexico  @ 03:39
32  Osguthorpe, John  Healthy Choice/Guru's  Salt Lake City  @ 03:44
33  Crater, Andy  LeMond Fitness/Captain  Greenboro, NC  @ 03:48
34  Ceja, Jose Luis Castel  Tecos  Mexico  @ 03:55
35  Robles, Irving Aguilar  Tecos  Mexico  @ 03:55
36  Matter, Brian  Saturn Development  WI  @ 03:55
37  Murphy, Eric  Healthy Choice/Guru's  Apopka, FL  @ 04:02
38  Fidelus, Bartek  Celo Pacific  Escondido, CA  @ 04:04
39  Palmer, Leigh  LeMond Fitness/Captain  Austrailia  @ 04:04
40  Zwizanaki, Scott  Team Snow Valley  Spring City, P  @ 04:04
41  White, Troy  Sierra Nevada/Clif Bar  Sacramento, CA  @ 04:16
42  Dille, Ian  Team Snow Valley  Alexandria, VA  @ 04:25
43  Schouten, Tristan  Saturn Development  Sheboygan, WI  @ 04:25
44  Perry, Bryson  Healthy Choice/Guru's  Sandy, UT  @ 04:36
45  Janelle, Michael  Tokyo Joes  Avon, CO  @ 04:45
46  Beall, Rusty  Healthnet  --  @ 04:55
47  Sheppard, Chris  Canadian Cycling Associ  Canada  @ 04:55
48  McGovern, Chris  Healthnet  Nevad City, CA  @ 04:55
49  Mapel, Frank  Specialized  Boulder, CO  @ 05:04
50  Avila, Joel Alamillo  Tecos  Mexico  @ 05:06
51  Vargas, Carlos  Saturn Development  Columbia  @ 05:25
52  Huerta, Aron  Mathis Brothers  Chicago  @ 05:50
53  Moreman, Mitch  Dean  Durango, CO  @ 05:50
54  Schanning, Brian  Saturn Development  Madison, WI  @ 05:55
55  Olheiser, Michael  Veloclips  Huntsville, AL  @ 05:59
56  Pearce, Colby  5280/Subaru  Boulder, CO  @ 06:05
57  Beck, Josh  Sportsbook.com  Carlisle  @ 06:05

General Classification after Stage 2

1  Drew Miller  Trek/VW All-Stars  Phoenix, AZ  4:27:40
2  Sayers, Michael  HealthNet  Tucson, AZ  @ 00:39
3  Estepa, Ubaldo Mesa  Tecos  Columbia  @ 01:19
4  Caldwell, Blake  5280/Subaru  Boulder, CO  @ 01:48
5  Fraser, Gord  Healthnet  Tucson,AZ  @ 01:51
6  Wells, Todd  Hyundai Mongoose  Durango, CO  @ 01:53
7  Hestler, Andreas  Canadian Cycling Assoc  iat Canada  @ 02:39
8  Ley, Michael  Team Rio Grande  Fort Collins, CO  @ 02:51
9  Horgan-Kobelski, Jeremy  RLX Ralph Loren  Boulder, CO  @ 03:01
10  Jacques-Maynes, Andy  Sierra Nevada/Clif Bar  Berkeley, CA  @ 03:21
11  Brown, Nic  LeMond Fitness/Captain  Cr Austrailia  @ 03:25
12  Blickem, Ryan  Border Bandits  Albuquerque, NM  @ 03:55
13  Hunt, John D  HealthNet  Fairfax, CA  @ 03:56
14  Cate, Steve  Mathis Brothers  Norman, OK  @ 04:16
15  Langley, Russ  Team Snow Valley  Washington, DC  @ 04:35
16  Moran, Hugh  Construction Zone  Mesa, AZ  @ 04:37
17  Allan, Calvin  Broadmark Capital Cyct  ing Upland, CO  @ 04:56
18  Chavez, Antonio Aldape  Tecos  Mexico  @ 05:04
19  Nicol, Kevin  Team Rio Grande  Lafeyette, CO  @ 05:05
20  Kozlov, Alex  Healthnet  Belavusas  @ 05:17

Pro Womens Stage 2 Results

1  Jeanson, Genevieve  Rona Esker  Canada  3:27:24
2  Jutras, Manon  Saturn Cycling Tea  Canada  @ 02:26
3  Grove, Katrina  T-Mobile  Fort Collins, CO  @ 03:53
4  Gaggioli, Lynn  Velo Bella  Santa Rosa, CA  @ 04:04
5  Marks, Dara  Mountain Velo / Su  Flagstaff, AZ  @ 04:07
6  Quick, Rhonda  Vaniqa/Red S. Raci  San Diego, CA  @ 04:33
7  Haywood, Susan  T - Mobile  Davis, WI  @ 04:44
8  Wilson, Jennifer  Mtn. Velo/Supergo  El Paso, TX  @ 04:53
9  Goldstein, Leah  Victory Brewing-Am  Israel  @ 05:10
10  Johnson, Kristin  T-Mobile  Durango, CO  @ 05:18
11  Bockel, Karen  Rona Esker  Germany  @ 05:43
12  Buick, Johanna  Hornby Cycling Clu  New Zealand  @ 05:51
13  Bisaro, Kiara  Canadian Cycling  Canada  @ 06:08
14  Ourada, Brooke  Team Goldys  Boise, ID  @ 06:21
15  Grigson, Mary  Subaru-Gary Fisher  Australia  @ 06:27
16  Moore, Amy  Saturn Cycling Tea  Canada  @ 06:27
17  Fedyna, Marg  Vaniqa/Red S. Raci  Edmonton, Canada  @ 06:28
18  Reeves, Gretchen  Rocky Mountain  Boulder, CO  @ 06:33
19  McQuaid, Melanie  Ford / Outfitters  Canada  @ 06:43
20  Kopasz, Christy  ICO  Rico, CO  @ 07:03
21  Emmett, Kelli  Hillenbrand Racing  Colorado Springs  @ 07:10
22  Redden, Chrissy  Canadian Cycling  Canada  @ 07:13
23  Shimada, Hiroko  --  Milford, CT  @ 07:19
24  Matlock, Lisa  Ford Outfitters  Goulden, CO  @ 07:45
25  Scheffenacker, Kri  Team Snow Valley  Baltimore, MD  @ 07:54
26  Begosh, Elizabeth  Team Snow Valley  Millville, PA  @ 07:54
27  Buller, Ginger  Velo Bella  Monterey, CA  @ 07:58
28  Ruiter, Chrissy  Fort Lewis  Durango, CO  @ 08:32
29  Baum, Nina  Lenz Sport  Albuquerque, NM  @ 08:44
30  Hannos, Andrea  Rona Esker  Canada  @ 09:00
31  Kroepsch, Lara  T-Mobile  Boulder, CO  @ 09:04
32  Thomas, Melissa  Ritchey K2  Boulder, CO  @ 09:24
33  Koerber, Willow  RLX Polo Sport  Asheville, NC  @ 09:24
34  Phillips, Jessica  Saturn Cycling Tea  Missoula, MT  @ 09:30
35  Magness, Lisa  ICO  Bend, OR  @ 09:47
36  Kneeland, Mary  ICO  Fort Collins, CO  @ 09:53
37  Molina, Maria  Pollo Rey  Guatemala  @ 09:55
38  Willock, Erinne  Rona Esker  Canada  @ 10:32
39  Campbell, Rook  Hi Tech Bikes  San Diego, CA  @ 10:52
40  Trapp, Sima  Goldy's  Boise, ID  @ 10:58
41  Lustby, Allison  --  Boulder, CO  @ 11:27
42  Nicholson, Samanth  Ciclismo  Canada  @ 11:38
43  Rosado, Marie  Pollo Rey  Puerto Rico  @ 11:42
44  Rachetto, Liza  ICO  Boise, ID  @ 11:46
45  Armstrong, Heather  Colorado Velo/Denv  Denver, CO  @ 12:11
46  Acaron, Fabioal  Pollo Rey  Puerto Rico  @ 13:03
47  Sanborn, Melissa  ICO  Eugene, OR  @ 13:16
48  Benassi, Maatje  ICO  Netherlands  @ 13:19
49  Castaneda, Maria  Pollo Rey  Guatemala  @ 13:27
50  Schmidt, Laura  Terry Precision  Syracuse, NY  @ 13:29
51  Holt, Melissa  Rona Esker  New Zealand  @ 13:38
52  Tuck, Carrie  Rona Esker  Canada  @ 13:38
53  Koch, Jody  Ford Outfitters  Ann Arbor, MI  @ 13:43
54  Elliott, Megan  Saturn Cycling Tea  Toma, IA  @ 14:12
55  Teutenberg, Ina  Saturn Cycling Tea  Germany  @ 14:12
56  Hunt, Lisa  The Olympic Club  Fairfax, CA  @ 14:32
57  Koinrad, Sarah  Basis  Laramie  @ 14:50

Pro Women's GC after Stage 2

1  Jeanson, Genevieve  Rona Esker  Canada  4:07:12
2  Jutras, Manon  Saturn Cycling Tea  Canada  @ 03:57
3  Grove, Katrina  T-Mobile  Fort Collins, CO  @ 06:31
4  Goldstein, Leah  Victory Brewing-Am  Israel  @ 06:53
5  Gaggioli, Lynn  Velo Bella  Santa Rosa, CA  @ 07:38
6  Quick, Rhonda  Vaniqa/Red S. Raci  San Diego, CA  @ 08:49
7  Haywood, Susan  T - Mobile  Davis, WI  @ 10:15
8  Wilson, Jennifer  Mtn. Velo/Supergo  El Paso, TX  @ 10:27
9  Bisaro, Kiara  Canadian Cycling  Canada  @ 10:31
10  Bockel, Karen  Rona Esker  Germany  @ 10:38
11  Emmett, Kelli  Hillenbrand Racing  Colorado Springs,  @ 10:42
12  Moore, Amy  Saturn Cycling Tea  Canada  @ 10:54
13  Reeves, Gretchen  Rocky Mountain  Boulder, CO  @ 11:01
14  Ourada, Brooke  Team Goldys  Boise, ID  @ 11:10
15  Marks, Dara  Mountain Velo / Su  Flagstaff, AZ  @ 11:47
16  Johnson, Kristin  T-Mobile  Durango, CO  @ 11:49
17  Scheffenacker, Kri  Team Snow Valley  Baltimore, MD  @ 12:14
18  Buick, Johanna  Hornby Cycling Clu  New Zealand  @ 12:19
19  Ruiter, Chrissy  Fort Lewis  Durango, CO  @ 12:39
20  McQuaid, Melanie  Ford / Outfitters  Canada  @ 12:42