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Viviani Sprints to Win USA Pro Challenge Stage 4, Canada’s Anderson 10th – Report, Results

release by USA Pro Challenge

August 22, 2014 (Colorado Springs, CO) – In a circuit race through Colorado Springs that included everything from flat sprints through the city streets to challenging climbs in picturesque Garden of the Gods, Elia Viviani (ITA) of Cannondale Pro Cycling emerged victorious in Stage 4 of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge after catching Jens Voigt (GER) of Trek Factory Racing following a solo breakaway. Tejay van Garderen (USA) of BMC Racing Team held onto the overall lead and has a 20-second advantage leading into the fifth day of racing tomorrow.

Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale  © USA Pro Challenge

“Today worked out better than we could have imagined,” said van Garderen. “With such a short stage, we thought there could be attacks all day. Thankfully we were able to keep it controlled.”

A third year host city, Colorado Springs featured a challenging 70-mile circuit race today that included four Sierra Nevada KOM competitions and three Lexus sprint lines. After a ceremonial start at the world-famous Broadmoor, the race headed into town and joined up with a 16-mile circuit that would be raced four times. In addition to some flat sections, the stage featured climbs through Garden of the Gods, Mesa Rd. and the infamous Ridge Rd., which hits grades of nearly 17 percent.

“Colorado Springs always has huge crowds that are some of the most enthusiastic we see during the Pro Challenge,” said Shawn Hunter, CEO of the Pro Challenge. “There were so many great vantage points along the route today, from Garden of the Gods to the finish, and the fans really took advantage of that. We only have three more days of racing and this is still anyone’s race. The riders have really been showing they are here to win and it’s going to be exciting to watch these final days unfold.”

“The crowds were absolutely incredible,” added van Garderen. “Every year the crowds rival any race we do, including the Tour de France. It’s hard to beat crowds like this anywhere.”

Almost immediately after they started racing, 11 riders broke away in an attack that would last for quite a while. The group included Voigt and Laurent Didier (LUX)of Trek Factory Racing, Gregor Mühlberger (AUT) of Team NetApp-Endura, Adam Phelan (AUS) of Drapac Professional Cycling, Danny Summerhill (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, Martijn Verschoor (NED) of Team Novo-Nordisk, Rob Britton (CAN) of Team SmartStop,Oscar Clark (USA) and Tims Skujins (LAT) of Hincapie Sportswear Development Team, Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) of Jamis-Hagens Berman, Steve Fisher (USA) of Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis and Ruben Zepuntke (GER) of Bissell Development Team.

At just more than 10 miles into the race, the riders in the break, traveling 38 mph, had already gained three minutes and 10 seconds over the field. Approaching the first of three KOM competitions in the stage at Garden of the Gods, a picturesque national landmark, Jacques-Maynes hit the top first, followed by Voigt and Summerhill. Traveling at 40 mph, the gap increased to four minutes.

Heading into the second lap and just 5K away from the second KOM of the day at Garden of the Gods, Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies took the lead on the chase and cut the gap down to three and a half minutes. At the first Lexus Sprint Line of the day, Summerhill sped off to cross the line first, followed by Zepuntke and Britton.

With UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team and Team Garmin-Sharp taking the lead on the chase, the gap continued to drop leading into the second KOM of the day. Jacques-Maynes pushed it to hit the top first and build a lead in the KOM jersey competition. He was followed by Voigt and Summerhill.

Halfway into the stage and approaching the second and final sprint line of the day, Summerhill took max points, building a lead in the sprint jersey competition. He was followed by Skujins and Zepuntke.

With 40K to go approaching the third KOM of the day, Voigt launched an attack and took Jacques-Maynes with him. At the top of the climb Jacques-Maynes kicked into gear and crossed the line first, but then fell back to the chase group. Voigt reached the top second and later, from the group behind, Summerhill third. Simultaneously Didier and Verschoor fell off the back of the break and Verschoor would eventually fall of the chase as well and was reabsorbed.

With about 30K left in the race, Voigt had opened up a one minute gap on his chasers and almost three minutes on the field. As the riders crossed the line to head into the final circuit lap of the race, the chase and the field started to come together to go after Voigt. As he crossed the summit of the last KOM, Voigt had about one minute and 20 seconds on his chasers. When the group reached the top, Lucas Euser (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team crossed the line second and Peter Stetina (USA) of BMC Racing Team in third.

With teams of sprinters chasing him behind, Voigt’s gap started to whittle away in the last 15K to the finish. The rest of the Trek Factory Racing Team was doing all they could on the front of the field to break up other team’s attempts to organize a chase and help their leader to a stage win in the final race of his career, but unfortunately, at 5K to go, the gap had been cut to only 35 seconds. With the Cannondale Pro Cycling, Hincapie Sportswear Development Team and Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies teams pushing the pace on the front of the chase, it would come down to the final stretch of the race to determine the stage winner.

In the end, Voigt’s effort wouldn’t be enough to pull out the win and he was caught with only 1K to go.

“We put it all on the line today. We hoped for the best and there are no regrets about it,” said Voigt. “I did my best and I don’t think I could have done better. I took as much risk as I would have dared to take and I was all in today. I would like a stage win here, but no one is going to give it to me. There is no such thing in cycling.”

In a final sprint to the finish Viviani charged across the line to take first, followed by Martin Kohler (SUI) of BMC Racing Team. Taking third in the stage for the second day in a row was Serghei Tvetcov (ROM) of Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis.

“It was a huge win today. It was perfect for me,” said Vivianni. “My perfect sprint is 200 meters and when I saw the 200 meter mark, I went with maximum power. I had a great and beautiful experience in 2011 and now I’ve come back three years later and it’s still such a beautiful place. I like to race here so much, but it’s really difficult.”

Jacques-Maynes took over the Sierra Nevada King of the Mountains Jersey today. Voigt was awarded the FirstBank Most Aggressive Rider Jersey for his impressive solo breakaway. With the rest of the jerseys remaining unchanged, van Garderen kept the Smashburger Leader Jersey and the Colorado National Guard Best Colorado Rider JerseyKiel Reijnen (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team held onto the Lexus Sprint Jersey as didClement Chevrier (FRA) of Bissell Development Team to the Colorado State University Best Young Rider Jersey.

Results
1. Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale 2:28:52
2. Martin Kohler (Sui) BMC Racing Team
3. Serghei Tvetcov (Rou) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
4. Tyler Magner (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development
5. Kiel Reijnen (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
6. Jure Kocjan (Slo) Team SmartStop
7. Alex Howes (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp
8. Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
9. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team
10. Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
11. Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
12. Rasmus Guldhammer (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
13. Zachary Bell (Can) Team SmartStop
14. Joseph Rosskopf (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development
15. Tanner Putt (USA) Bissell Development Team
16. Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) Team Netapp-Endura
17. Michael Schär (Sui) BMC Racing Team
18. Daniel Alexander Jaramillo Diez (Col) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home
19. Gavin Mannion (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp
20. Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo
21. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team
22. Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing Team
23. Tom Moses (Gbr) Rapha Condor JLT
24. Clement Chevrier (Fra) Bissell Development Team
25. Bruno Pires (Por) Tinkoff-Saxo
26. Dion Smith (Nzl) Hincapie Sportswear Development
27. Benjamin King (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp
28. Carter Jones (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
29. Ian Crane (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home
30. Pawel Poljanski (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo
31. Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
32. Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp
33. Matthew Busche (USA) Trek Factory Racing
34. Peter Stetina (USA) BMC Racing Team
35. Jose Joao Pimenta Costa Mendes (Por) Team Netapp-Endura
36. Cameron Wurf (Aus) Cannondale
37. Tiago Machado (Por) Team Netapp-Endura
38. Patrick Konrad (Aut) Team Netapp-Endura
39. Javier Megias Leal (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk
40. Markel Irizar Aranburu (Esp) Trek Factory Racing
41. Robbie Squire (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home
42. Frank Schleck (Lux) Trek Factory Racing
43. Thomas Dekker (Ned) Team Garmin-Sharp
44. Richard Handley (Gbr) Rapha Condor JLT
45. Jai Crawford (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
46. Julian Kyer (USA) Team SmartStop
47. Riccardo Zoidl (Aut) Trek Factory Racing
48. Michael Cuming (Gbr) Rapha Condor JLT
49. James Oram (Nzl) Bissell Development Team
50. David de la Cruz Melgarejo (Esp) Team Netapp-Endura
51. Ruben Zepuntke (Ger) Bissell Development Team
52. Gregory Daniel (USA) Bissell Development Team
53. Daniel Eaton (USA) Bissell Development Team
54. Robin Carpenter (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development
55. Jordan Kerby (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
56. Chris Butler (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development
57. Lucas Euser (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
58. Jesse Anthony (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
59. Kirk Carlsen (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
60. Travis McCabe (USA) Team SmartStop
61. Eric Marcotte (USA) Team SmartStop 00:23
62. Edward Beltran Suarez (Col) Tinkoff-Saxo
63. Lachlan Norris (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 00:25
64. Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek Factory Racing 00:27
65. Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 00:38
66. Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale 00:50
67. Jens Voigt (Ger) Trek Factory Racing 00:52
68. Oscar Clark (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development 01:33
69. Tom Zirbel (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 01:59
70. Michael Torckler (Nzl) Team SmartStop
71. Ian Burnett (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 06:01
72. Leopold König (Cze) Team Netapp-Endura
73. Scott Ambrose (Nzl) Team Novo Nordisk
74. Kristian House (Gbr) Rapha Condor JLT
75. Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
76. Edward King (USA) Cannondale
77. Michael Rogers (Aus) Tinkoff-Saxo
78. Hayden Roulston (Nzl) Trek Factory Racing
79. Calvin Watson (Aus) Trek Factory Racing
80. Bjorn Selander (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
81. Luis Enrique Davila (Mex) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
82. Rob Britton (Can) Team SmartStop
83. Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing Team
84. Ivan Basso (Ita) Cannondale
85. Cristiano Salerno (Ita) Cannondale
86. Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale
87. Matej Mohoric (Slo) Cannondale
88. Joonas Henttala (Fin) Team Novo Nordisk
89. David Lozano Riba (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk
90. Gregor Muhlberger (Aut) Team Netapp-Endura
91. Jesper Hansen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
92. Elliott Porter (Gbr) Rapha Condor JLT
93. Yannick Eijssen (Bel) BMC Racing Team
94. Steve Fisher (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
95. Adam Phelan (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
96. Caleb Fairly (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp
97. Keegan Swirbul (USA) Bissell Development Team
98. Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col) Team Garmin-Sharp
99. Phillip Gaimon (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp
100. Michael Mørkøv (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
101. Jeffry Louder (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
102. Joseph Lewis (Aus) Hincapie Sportswear Development
103. Hugh Carthy (Gbr) Rapha Condor JLT
104. Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
105. Johnathan Freter (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
106. Stephen Leece (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home 06:15
107. Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team Netapp-Endura
108. Martijn Verschoor (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk
109. Mike Friedman (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
110. Charles Planet (Fra) Team Novo Nordisk
111. Alexander Candelario (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
112. Daniel Summerhill (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
113. Luis Romero Amaran (Cub) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home
114. Carson Miller (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home
115. Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
116. Benjamin Day (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
117. Aaron Perry (Nzl) Team Novo Nordisk
118. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home
119. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
120. Matt Cooke (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home
121. Toms Skujins (Lat) Hincapie Sportswear Development
122. Nathan Van Hooydonck (Bel) Bissell Development Team
OTL Isaac Bolivar Hernandez (Col) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 13:06

GC after Stage 4

1. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 13:03:45
2. Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo 00:20
3. Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing Team 00:23
4. Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp 00:34
5. Serghei Tvetcov (Rou) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 00:37
6. Matthew Busche (USA) Trek Factory Racing 00:46
7. Carter Jones (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 00:49
8. Joseph Rosskopf (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development 00:55
9. Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) Team Netapp-Endura 01:09
10. Julian Kyer (USA) Team SmartStop 01:22
11. Clement Chevrier (Fra) Bissell Development Team 01:23
12. Alex Howes (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp 01:45
13. Bruno Pires (Por) Tinkoff-Saxo 02:28
14. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 02:37
15. Riccardo Zoidl (Aut) Trek Factory Racing 02:47
16. Pawel Poljanski (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo 04:06
17. Lucas Euser (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 04:10
18. Frank Schleck (Lux) Trek Factory Racing 05:20
19. Ruben Zepuntke (Ger) Bissell Development Team 07:00
20. Daniel Alexander Jaramillo Diez (Col) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home 07:28
21. Michael Schär (Sui) BMC Racing Team 12:00
22. Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col) Team Garmin-Sharp 12:03
23. Jens Voigt (Ger) Trek Factory Racing 13:14
24. Tanner Putt (USA) Bissell Development Team 14:08
25. Javier Megias Leal (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk
26. Chris Butler (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development 14:14
27. Peter Stetina (USA) BMC Racing Team 14:20
28. Lachlan Norris (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 14:34
29. Benjamin King (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp 14:57
30. Tiago Machado (Por) Team Netapp-Endura 15:08
31. Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 15:21
32. Robbie Squire (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home 15:23
33. David de la Cruz Melgarejo (Esp) Team Netapp-Endura 15:54
34. Tom Zirbel (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 17:27
35. Rob Britton (Can) Team SmartStop 19:16
36. Rasmus Guldhammer (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo 19:49
37. Phillip Gaimon (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp 20:18
38. Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek Factory Racing 22:22
39. Hugh Carthy (Gbr) Rapha Condor JLT 24:08
40. Michael Rogers (Aus) Tinkoff-Saxo 24:26
41. Jesse Anthony (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 24:51
42. Gregor Muhlberger (Aut) Team Netapp-Endura 27:02
43. Kiel Reijnen (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 29:52
44. Dion Smith (Nzl) Hincapie Sportswear Development 30:28
45. Jose Joao Pimenta Costa Mendes (Por) Team Netapp-Endura 30:44
46. Richard Handley (Gbr) Rapha Condor JLT 31:06
47. Patrick Konrad (Aut) Team Netapp-Endura 31:58
48. Michael Torckler (Nzl) Team SmartStop 32:14
49. Edward Beltran Suarez (Col) Tinkoff-Saxo 32:22
50. Robin Carpenter (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development 32:49
51. Oscar Clark (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development 33:12
52. Benjamin Day (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 35:25
53. Cameron Wurf (Aus) Cannondale 36:00
54. Carson Miller (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home 36:17
55. Tyler Magner (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development 36:27
56. Ivan Basso (Ita) Cannondale 36:49
57. Caleb Fairly (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp 37:13
58. Keegan Swirbul (USA) Bissell Development Team 38:53
59. Bjorn Selander (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 38:54
60. Martin Kohler (Sui) BMC Racing Team 39:34
61. Jeffry Louder (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 40:31
62. Daniel Eaton (USA) Bissell Development Team 40:49
63. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home 41:04
64. Markel Irizar Aranburu (Esp) Trek Factory Racing 41:06
65. James Oram (Nzl) Bissell Development Team 41:07
66. Joseph Lewis (Aus) Hincapie Sportswear Development 42:35
67. Travis McCabe (USA) Team SmartStop 42:36
68. Ian Burnett (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 42:41
69. Ian Crane (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home 42:43
70. Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 42:51
71. Matej Mohoric (Slo) Cannondale 43:00
72. Adam Phelan (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
73. Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 43:27
74. Daniel Summerhill (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 43:51
75. Thomas Dekker (Ned) Team Garmin-Sharp 44:02
76. Gregory Daniel (USA) Bissell Development Team 44:24
77. Hayden Roulston (Nzl) Trek Factory Racing 44:36
78. Jai Crawford (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 44:53
79. Matt Cooke (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home 44:54
80. Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale 45:15
81. Luis Enrique Davila (Mex) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 45:49
82. Gavin Mannion (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp 45:55
83. Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 45:58
84. Edward King (USA) Cannondale 46:16
85. Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 46:52
86. Zachary Bell (Can) Team SmartStop 47:20
87. Kirk Carlsen (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 47:21
88. Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 47:22
89. Michael Cuming (Gbr) Rapha Condor JLT
90. Alexander Candelario (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 47:23
91. Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 47:35
92. Yannick Eijssen (Bel) BMC Racing Team 48:04
93. Stephen Leece (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home 49:02
94. Joonas Henttala (Fin) Team Novo Nordisk 49:38
95. Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 50:04
96. Charles Planet (Fra) Team Novo Nordisk 50:13
97. Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale 50:56
98. Toms Skujins (Lat) Hincapie Sportswear Development 50:59
99. Jordan Kerby (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 51:06
100. Tom Moses (Gbr) Rapha Condor JLT 51:25
101. Calvin Watson (Aus) Trek Factory Racing 51:29
102. Kristian House (Gbr) Rapha Condor JLT 51:30
103. Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team Netapp-Endura 52:00
104. David Lozano Riba (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk 52:21
105. Cristiano Salerno (Ita) Cannondale 53:19
106. Elliott Porter (Gbr) Rapha Condor JLT 53:21
107. Steve Fisher (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 53:23
108. Leopold König (Cze) Team Netapp-Endura 53:24
109. Jesper Hansen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
110. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 53:39
111. Luis Romero Amaran (Cub) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home 53:51
112. Eric Marcotte (USA) Team SmartStop 54:24
113. Jure Kocjan (Slo) Team SmartStop 54:38
114. Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale 55:41
115. Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing Team 56:52
116. Martijn Verschoor (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk 1:00:14
117. Mike Friedman (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
118. Nathan Van Hooydonck (Bel) Bissell Development Team 1:02:02
119. Michael Mørkøv (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo 1:05:18
120. Scott Ambrose (Nzl) Team Novo Nordisk 1:05:19
121. Johnathan Freter (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 1:05:54
122. Aaron Perry (Nzl) Team Novo Nordisk 1:08:39





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