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2006 Vuelta de Bisbee — Stage 1, 2 Team Biovail Reports

April 30, 2006 — Stage 1 – An early start greeted all riders yesterday as the first race rolled out just after 7am. The women were the last to leave at 7h30 and thankfully the weather was sunny and mild with light winds. The course rolled downhill for the first third of the 73km race but that did not stop a break of three escaping at the 15km mark with Team Biovail’s Stephanie Bourbeau represented. With no one working in the peloton, as all eyes were on race leader Felicia Gomez (Webcor) to take the initiative, the break gained 4 minutes within 10kms.

Finally the chase was on and by the 50km mark the break was caught as there were 6 or 7 women willing to lend a hand to Gomez, while team Biovail’s Anne Samplonius could sit back having a teammate up the road. With the group back together the attacks began as Diet Cheerwine, T-Mobile and Team Biovail all tried to shake the yellow jersey. It was a counter by Mari Holden (T-Mobile) off a blistering attack by Samplonius that was the one that stuck. Again all eyes were on Gomez to defend her jersey but with no reaction from the Webcor rider, Holden’s lead grew to 2 minutes and with 10kms remaining it looked to be the winning move.

With just over 5kms to the finish Dara Marks-Marino (Titus-Kenda), a professional mountain biker, slipped off the front with no reaction from the peloton and cruised in behind Holden, who took the stage win as well as the leaders jersey. The sprint for third, and the final time bonus seconds, was won by Anne Samplonius of Team Biovail. With the leaders jersey now on the back of the former world champion in the time trial, Mari Holden, it will be hard to wrestle that from her in the 12km time trial in the afternoon stage. Gomez slipped to 2nd overall, and Samplonius to third.

Stage 1: Sulphur Springs Road Race, 79.3 miles/127.6km

Women

1. Mari Holden (T-Mobile), 2.;27.;32
2. Dara Marksmarino (Titus/Kenda), at 1.;19
3. Anne Samplonius (Team Biovail), 1.;40
4. Cynthia Mommsen (Olympic Club)
5. Maatje Benassi (Excel Sports)
6. Gabriela Gonzalez-Ferrat (Team Biovail)
7. Felicia Gomez (Webcor/Alto Vel)
8. Jane Meneely (UNATT)
9. Michelle Beltran (Cheerwine Cycling)
10. Sarah Bamberger (Cheerwine Cycling), all s.t.
—-
19. Stéphanie Bourbeau (Team Biovail), 1.;50
23. Christine Misseghers (Mtn Bike City), 1.;58


Men

1. Joey Thompson (Rky Mt Choc Factory), 3.;01.;39
2. Daniel Vaillancourt (CCB/VW/Time)
3. Mike Telega (Calif. Giant)
4. Shane Peltonen (Eclipse Racing)
5. Andrew McDermid (Broadmk/Hagens), all s.t.
6. Jonathan Garcia (Team Einstein’s ), 0.;20
7. Andrew Edwards (Wild Oats-Al’s )
8. Phil Zajicek (Navigators Insurance)
9. Ben Bradshaw (Kahala LaGrange)
10. Kyle Colavito (Eclipse Racing), all s.t.


Stage 2
The winds did not remain calm for the afternoon time trial as the riders had to battle a course that was a gradual downhill for the outward portion and gradual uphill all the way back. Add a head/cross wind for the return section and it was a hard, tough grind for the last half of the course. With each rider at 30 second intervals there was no possibility for “out of sight out of mind” on this straight, out-n-back road smack dab in the Arizonian desert. The fastest 3 women in the race to this point set out in the final 3 spots, with Holden (T-Mobile) chased by Samplonius (Team Biovail) chased by Gomez (Webcor). It was a battle to the line as each had the other within their sight, and the final results attest to the strength of all 3: Samplonius crossed the line in first with both Holden and Gomez finishing in the same time, 13 seconds back. The win by Samplonius moved her into 2nd place in the overall with Holden keeping the leader’s jersey.

Gabriella Gonzalez-Ferrat, a Team Biovail guest rider, put in a strong performance to finish 4th showing that the team is ready for Tour of the Gila, a high caliber stage race immediately following La Vuelta de Bisbee. Rounding out the team’s results was Stephanie Bourbeau, finishing in 18th spot.

Stay tuned for the final epic stage of La Vuelta as Team Biovail attempts to overtake the overall.

Stage 2: Warren Time Trial, 8.3 mile/13.4km

Women

1. Anne Samplonius (Team Biovail), 16:28

2. Mari Holden (T-Mobile), at 0:13
2. Felicia Gomez (Webcor/Alto Velo), s.t.
4. Gabriela Gonzalez-Ferrat (Team Biovail), 0:34
5. Heather Sborz (ASU Cycling), 0:38
6. Catherine Dickson (Bicycle Ranch), 0:44
7. Maatje Benassi (Excel Sports), 0:46
8. Lisa Hunt (Olympic Club), 0:50
8. Cynthia Mommsen (Olympic Club), s.t.
10. Michelle Beltran (Cheerwine Cycling), 0:51
—-
16. Christine Misseghers (Mtn Bike City), 1:38
23. Stéphanie Bourbeau (Team Biovail), 2:20


Men A

1. Phil Zajicek (Navigators Insurance), 14:31
2. Curtis Gunn (Successful Living), at 0:14
3. Justin Morgan (Broadmk/Hagens), 0:22
3. Jeremy Powers (JellyBelly Cycling), s.t.
5. Kevin Rowe (Calif. Giant), 0:30
6. Drew Miller (Successful Living), 0:35
7. Daniel Ramsey (Successful Living), 0:41
8. Jason Donald (Team Einstein’s ), 0:44
9. Jonathan Garcia (Team Einstein’s ), 0:47
10. Dan Vinson (Kahala LaGrange), 0:48

Overall

Women

1. Mari Holden (T-Mobile), 2:57.09
2. Felicia Gomez (Webcor/Alto Velo), at 0:56
3. Anne Samplonius (Team Biovail), 0:5
8
4. Maatje Benassi (Excel Sports), 2:15
5. Gabriela Gonzalez-Ferrat (Team Biovail), 2:16
6. Michelle Beltran (Cheerwine Cycling), 2:53
7. Dara Marksmarino (Titus/Kenda), 2:57
8. Lisa Hunt (Olympic Club), 3:07
9. Heather Sborz (ASU Cycling), 3:08
10. Catherine Dickson (Bicycle Ranch), 3:31
—-
17. Christine Misseghers (Mtn Bike City), 4:24
18. Stéphanie Bourbeau (Team Biovail), 4:32


Men A

1. Phil Zajicek (Navigators Ins), 3:26:55
2. Jeremy Powers (JellyBelly Cycling), at 0:25
3. Curtis Gunn (Successful Living), 0:28
4. Drew Miller (Successful Living), 0:48
5. Kevin Rowe (Calif. Giant), s.t.
6. Jonathan Garcia (Team Einstein’s ), 1:00
7. Jason Donald (Team Einstein’s ), 1:08
8. Joey Thompson (Rky Mt Choc Factory), 1:12
9. Corey Collier (Rky Mt Choc Factory), 1:14
10. Andrew McDermid (Broadmark/Hagens), s.t.





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