June 5, 2005 — In the men’s race, some early splitting of the pack led to a large, 40-plus man break that gained more than seven minutes before the pack — led by CSC, which was underrepresented in the break — began to bite into the lead. That early mega-break included Canadian Ryder Hesjedal (Discovery) and Dominique Perras (Kodak/Sierra Nevada).

The group held together remarkably well until, with just under 40km to go, the second-to-last climb up the fearsome Manayunk Wall broke the lead group apart, definitively finishing off whatever momentum it had. Jelly Belly’s Danny Pate, who finished third at the USPRO in 2002, promptly attacked, probably hoping that he could draw out a smaller group and make good use of the advantage, which at that point was just under two minutes. His plan worked: Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) and Chris Wherry (HealthNet) chased up powerfully after the last climb of the Wall, and the three worked to maintain their slim advantage.

On the final lap of the short finishing circuit, Horner attacked aggressively and Wherry countered, with Pate resigned to chasing on. But finally with less than two kilometers remaining Wherry put in a final decisive attack. Horner and Pate were slow to react, and Wherry hung on grimly for the win.

Canada’s Dominique Perras (Kodak Sierra Nevada) placed 18th and was the top Canadian.

In the women’s race, the Liberty Classic, a 13-rider break that included Canada’s Erinne Willock (Webcor) formed after the first climb, and managed to stay away the entire race. The break stayed together despite some attacks, including a few last-ditch efforts by Judith Arndt (Nurnberger). A final lead-out by Tina Pic for teammate Laura Van Gilder wasn’t enough to give the Quark team the win when Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile) neatly passed Van Gilder and held off Regina Schleicher (Nurnberger) for the win.

Canada’s Amy Moore (Victory Brewing/Safi Pasta) was the top Canuck finishing 11th.

Men’s Results

1 Chris Wherry (USA) Health Net – Maxxis 6.01.16
2 Danny Pate (USA) Jelly Belly-Pool Gel
3 Chris Horner (USA) Saunier Duval – Prodir
4 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon Lotto 0.44
5 Kirk O’Bee (USA) Navigators Insurance
6 Max Vanheeswijk (Ned) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
7 Mark McCormack (USA) Colavita / Sutter Home
8 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC
9 Greg Henderson (NZl) Health Net – Maxxis
10 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre Caffita

18 Dominique Perras (Can) Kodak Sierra Nevada) .
21 Mark Walters (Can) Navigators Insurance s.t.
44 Charles Dionne (Can) Webcor Cycling Team 5.54
45 Geoff Kabush (Can) Jittery Joe’s s.t.
53 Gord Fraser (Can) Health Net – Maxxis 13.04
DNF Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
DNF Bruno Langlois (Can) Jittery Joe’s
DNF Ryan Mckenzie (Can) Subway-Express

Women’s Results

1 Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile 2.24.47
2 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger
3 Laura Van Gilder (USA) Team Quark
4 Oenone Wood (Aus) Equipe Nurnberger
5 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Nobili Rubinetteri
6 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Nobili Rubinetteri
7 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger
8 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Nobili Rubinetteri
9 Tina Pic (USA) Team Quark
10 Lynn Gaggioli (USA) East Coast Velo

11 Amy Moore (Can) Victory Brewing/Safi Pasta 0.53
17 Gina Grain (Can) Victory Brewing/Safi Pasta
33 Julie Belanger (Can) Diet Cheerwine
38 Rhonda Stickle (Can) Diet Cheerwine
40 Leigh Hobson (Can) Diet Cheerwine
47 Jennifer Stephenson (Can) Team Biovail
56 Felicia Greer (Can) Webcor Builders
58 Suzanne Macht (Can) Canadian National Team
60 Errine Willock (Can) Webcor Builders
61 Audrey Lemieux (Can) Team Quark
65 Kristen Robbins (Can) Victory Brewing/Safi Pasta

DNF Marie Per Bedard (Can) Canadian National Team
DNF Amanda Leigh Cox (Can) East Coast Velo
DNF Sandy Espeseth (Can) Victory Brewing/Safi Pasta
DNF Sheba Farrin (USA) Hub Racing
DNF Elisa Gagnon (Can) Team Lipton
DNF Genevieve Gagon (Can) Canadian National Team
DNF Anna Garnett (Can) Team Biovail
DNF Tracey Grimshaw (Can) Travelgirl Magazine
DNF Heather Lamson (Can) Canadian National Team
DNF Rebecca Nelson (Can) Team Biovail
DNF Sue Palmer Komar (Can) Colavita Cooking Light
DNF Lynn Patchett (Can) Amoroso’s Bicycle Therapy
DNF Amanda Shaw (Can) Team Biovail
DNF Lisa Sweeney (Can) Canadian National Team
DNF Jenney Trew (Can) Canadian National Team