March 27, 2003 (Hackettstown, NJ) – The 2003 Solano Bicycle Classic kicked off today in the northern California city of Fairfield with 171 riders on the line. On tap was an 87-mile road stage that had all of the elements of a quality road race; several KOM climbs, flat, twisty and wind-swept roads, and demanding sections that seemed to go up-and-down without letup. All of the domestic squads were in attendance as this 4-day, 4-stage event is the first of three back-to-back multi-day events that define the Spring Season for American cycling.
The racing action started in earnest as the field was split by alternating head and cross winds as the peloton traversed the flat sections that characterized the first half of the point-to-point course. After a general re-grouping as the second sprint-line approached, followed immediately by an ascent to the second KOM, several small groups of riders noodled off the front to form a breakaway of 13. Over the next 20-miles, the gap grew to over 4-minutes as all of the major teams were represented and apathy set in with the main peloton.
The action picked up again with about 25-miles remaining in the race, including a 2-mile climb that would greet the riders just 2-miles from the finish line. As several teams were driving the pace, most notably the 7Up squad, the gap to the leaders was brought down quickly heading into the final climb. On the climb, the peloton detonated rapidly with Saturn's Chris Horner the first to hit the top, followed by Ben Brooks (Jelly Belly) and Jonathan Vaughters (Prime Alliance), and Glen Mitchell (Navigators) in a small group just behind. Heading down the run-in to the finish, the order didn't change and it was Horner taking the stage win, followed by Brooks, Vaughters and Mitchell. Tomorrow's 7.7-mile uphill time trial, disguised as a road stage, is sure to shake up the overall standings.
Overall Standings:1) Chris Horner (Saturn) 3:46.56
2) Ben Brooks @1:07
3) Jonathan Vaughters @1:12
4) Glen Mitchell @1:46
Navigators Riders:
17) Burke Swindlehurst @ 2:23
31) Justin Spinelli @ 3:20
75) RYan Guay @ 5:39
85) Marty Nothstein @ 6:49