May 14, 2005 (Fayetteville, Ark.) – The first stage of the Joe Martin stage race saw a super human effort put in by Monex rider Lyne Gaggioli. Gaggioli broke away from the main pack on Mount Gaylor and quickly bridged up to Quark riders Laura Van Gilder and Grace Fleury who had been out in front in a break. Behind Gaggioli’s effort, Colavita riders Dotsie Cowden and Sue Plamer-Komar, gave chase with Quarks Helen Kelly and Annette Beutler.

As Gaggioli caught the leading two, Grace Fleury attempted to stay with the continued pace set by the Monex rider but her efforts were in vain. She eventually dropped back and joined chase group which was driven by three Quark riders and two Colavita riders. Gaggioli continued to gain time on the climb and both Helen Kelly and Grace Fleury of Quark slipped back to a larger chase group behind. The three riders left continued to work in order to bring back Gaggioli but her gap continued to grow to 3:00 minutes.

Being out numbered Quark’s Annette Beutler starting sitting on the two Colavita riders, and waited for her teammates behind to catch up and help out. With six Quark riders and both Palmer-Komar and Cowden driving the pace with 15 miles to go it would seem that the corporation behind would signal the end of Gaggioli’s escape. At the finish line it was a lone rider coming across first as Gaggioli scored the win for Monex and was also able conserve 2:42 of her lead. In the sprint for second Quark’s Van Gilder took out the bunch gallop followed by her teammate Beutler.

Joe Martin Stage 1
1 Lyne Gaggioli Monex
2 Laura Van Gilder Quark Cycling Team
3 Annette Beutler Quark Cycling Team