July 10, 2005 – With less than 20 seconds separating HealthNet’s Scott Moninger from the three Navigators Insurance riders that followed him on general classification, today’s 13-mile circuit at Aubrey Butte provided an excellent opportunity for the Navigators squad to try to break away.

The six laps of a rolling course that featured three short climbs is a moderately difficult circuit to control, and the Navigators team was prepared to create an aggressive race. The 1st lap started fast as the Navigators team launched one attack after another, and the HealthNet team struggled to keep its support riders together.

After a dangerous break by TT powerhouses Nathan O’Neill and fourth placed Chris Baldwin was brought back, Moninger’s squad was separated and struggling to regain control. A counter attack by third placed Jeff Louder was matched by Colavita’s Olson, Jittery Joe’s , Tim Johnson, Ian MacGregor of TIAA Cref, and Webcor’s van Ulden. HealthNet could not respond, and paused to re-set their train. The five leaders slowly built a 1’30” advantage, as Moninger’s lads organized a steady pace in the field.

By the start of the fourth lap, the chasers were beginning to grow weary as Farrar dropped back and Fraser was forced to increase his contribution. The leaders were able to keep their advantage to over 1 minute, but the stress of the demanding course was starting to take its toll up front as well. Van Ulden was the first to drop as the gap came under the minute mark, but HealthNet was down to three riders, and Louder, Johnson, and Olson were still riding strong. As the field finished the fourth lap, Moninger took a turn on the front to keep the momentum going, and it appeared that HealthNet was about to fold. Then, with just under two laps remaining, Sea Silver, with virtually nothing to gain, began to aid the HealthNet chase.

The added horsepower seemed to infuse the remaining HealthNet gang, and Fraser, Ollerenshaw, and the hard working Wherry dug in for another lap. The Sea Silver riders brought well rested legs to the chase, and they rode a hard pace that kept the chase alive, and brought the gap down to 45 seconds.

As the peloton began the final lap, many riders in the field could sense an opportunity for stage glory, and repeated attacks started to swallow up the breakaway’s advantage. Wherry and Ollerenshaw were dropped, and Fraser hung precariously at the back, so Moninger was isolated. But time was running out, and the course’s main challenges were behind them. Moninger was able to match the Navigators’ attacks on the flatter roads of the final 10km, and the break was caught about 3 km from the finish. O’Neill and Baldwin tried a last chance attack at the bottom of the finishing climb, but they could not shake Moninger as the road leveled, and a sprint set up at the front. Taylor Tolleson (Cal-Giant) was the surprise winner in the sprint, as Moninger rolled in for second, just in front of Grajales.

The race finishes on Sunday afternoon with a 60-minute criterium.

Stage 5 Results

Men

1. Taylor Tolleson (Cal-Giant)
2. Scott Moninger (HealthNet)
3. Cesar Grajales (Navigators Insurance)

Women
1 Kimberly Baldwin (T-Mobile) 2.23.10
2 Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile)
3 Kori Seehafer (T-Mobile)


Overall GC:
Men
1. Scott Moninger (HealthNet)
2. Cesar Grajales (Navigators Insurance) @ :11
3. Jeff Louder (Navigators Insurance) @ :25

Women
1 Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile) 7.04.58
2 Kimberly Baldwin (T-Mobile) 0.42
3 Kori Seehafer (T-Mobile) 1.29