September 17, 2003 – Ontario's Andrew Pinfold has just returned from a 2-week stint racing for the American Health Net squad. The 25-year-old from Woodbridge, Ontario, who normally races with the Canadian Atlas Cold – Italpasta squad, was offered the chance to ride as a “stagiaire”, or apprentice, with Gord Fraser's green and grey team. Pinfold headed down to California for the last big races of the US circuit. We caught up with Andrew to find out about his stint with Health Net.

Pedal: Andrew you rode as a stagiare with the American Health Net squad last week – how did it go overall?

Pinfold: Well, to be honest I am a little disapointed about how things went for me. The first race with the team was the Manhattan Beach GP the weekend before last. I worked pretty hard for Gord but he had gear trouble and only finished third. I personally would have been happy with third in a major race but we're talking about Gord Fraser, the best sprinter in North America, so he wasn't too pleased. The team was happy with the help I provided in the leadout, although it is not something I am not used to doing so I'll need a little more practice to nail it down. Gord and Mike Sayers have been riding together for years and know each other so well that Mike's leadouts are exactly what Gord wants. The next weekend was San Rafeal Grand Prix, followed by the big one, the San Franscisco Grand Prix. At San Rafael I was involved in a bit of a crash, the one that took down Gord as well, and bruised my knee. Starting my after my free lap I couldn't put any pressure on the pedals and had to drop out. The knee problem dogged me the next day. I covered some early moves before Gord and Jason Lokkesmoe (also with Health Net) got away. After that it was just survival mode, as well as trying to help Mike (Sayers) as much as I could. I lasted until 60k to go until climbing up the steepest stuff I have ever gone up, it just became too painful. Ride-wise I did my best for the team but I didn't really get a chance to show them want I can be like when I am firing on all cyclinders. However I did get along really well with the riders and the management and sometimes that can make all the difference.

Pedal: What are the differences between Health Net, and say your previous team Atlas Cold?

Pinfold: Well the biggest difference would of course be the role that I play in Health Net versus Atlas. With Healthnet I am without a doubt riding for Mike Sayers or Gord, whereas with Atlas many times I was the team leader and the guys helped me. In terms of budget the two teams this year were probably quite similar however next year Health Net is going to be very big. Next year Health Net is combining with most of the 7-UP program. They are also hiring some very big shooters like Scott Moninger among others. I am not going to give every thing away but it looks like this team will be the best squad in North America next year. I know they plan on winning 100 UCI/NRC races, the way Mecury used to.

Pedal: What was it like riding for such a renowned rider like Gord Fraser?

Pinfold: First off I owe Gord for this opportunity to ride with Health Net this fall. I know that he pulled for me to be included in these races and for that I am forever thankful. Gord is pretty unreal. He has won so many big races and is so consistent that you have 100% confidence that if the team does its job and it's a bunch finish, Gord will win. He is fair and expects 100%, but understands that everyone has there physical limits. As long and you give the team your all, Gord is happy. Even in this one week with the team, I have learned a considerable amount from being around him that will help me in the future.

Pedal: And next year?

Pinfold: We'll see. I have not signed a contract for next year and I am not counting on being a part of the program. The team knows what I'm about and I am keeping my fingers crossed and will probably know by the end of the week if I have a shot a the team next season. If not, it was a great experience that I'll always remember.

Pedal: Thanks Andrew, and all the best.

Pinfold: Thanks a lot.

June 16, 2003 (Saint Georges de Beauce, Quebec) – As well as providing stories and results from the Grand Prix de Beauce, June 17-22, Andrew Pinfold (Atlas Cold/Italpasta) will be reporting on some of the “inner workings” of the peloton.  The race started today and here's Andrew's first report:

1. Rumour has it that Healthnet's Gord Fraser will *not* be racing the Canadian Nationals, as he does not feel the course suits him.

2. Prime Alliance's Jon Vaughters, climber extraordinaire, will not be racing at Beauce due to a bug he picked up in Philly. The same goes for Mike Sayers of Healthnet.

3. Today's first stage is set to completely shatter the peloton, and many riders will be using the “Megantic gears” (39 X 23 or 25) for the stage. It takes place right in Quebec City and is said to go up and down the escarpment through downtown and appears to be a killer course.

June 19, 2003 – Atlas Cold/Italpasta rider Andrew  Pinfold had a far better day yesterday, managing to stay upright and finish in the top-ten. Here's what is cooking in the pack:   

1. The big story was, and still is, the Maestro-Nella team. The rumour is that Bruno Nella, a co-sponsor and rider on the team, had a difficult first stage and informed the team that he was leaving the race and heading home with the bikes and staff. This lead to difficulties with several riders who had not planned on an early departure from the race. 

2. The stage yesterday went remarkably well for 7-Up. The squad allowed the break to get up the road to a point where it could then ride tempo and keep it at bay. At the end, 7-Up rode  exceptionally well to bring the break back to a few minutes, where the  sprinter's teams then took up the chase. Gord Fraser's Healthnet squad,  lacking a few key leadout men like Mike Sayers, isn't as strong as usual so  Fraser has had to be craftier. Essentially, Fraser was riding the other  wheels of the other sprinters and then swept by at the finish. 

3. For Atlas Cold/Italpast and Jetfuel, yesterday  went well. Andrew Pinfold and Joe Giulliano finished in the mix in the top  15, and yesterday's break-rider Jeff Hansen covered a few good moves and proved his legs weren't that tired — he too finished up there at the end: 25th. National champion Andrew Randell (Jetfuel) is showing his legs are certainly  coming around, being fairly agresssive in the final kilometers.  

4. After the stage yesterday, all the riders' minds  quickly turned to Mont Megantic. It's a long stage, and a long climb, and  anything can happen…

June 17, 2003 – Our apologies for the delay, but Atlas Cold/Italpasta's Andrew Pinfold has one heck of a good excuse for not reporting as timely as usual. Pinfold crashed hard yesterday in the sprint for the finish. “I hit the deck at 65km/h,” he says, “But thankfully, apart from some nasty road rash and some bike breakage, I came out ok.” Notes from the pack:

1. The Maestro-Nella team has completely forfeited the race. Just packed their bags and left, apparently due to squabbles within the team. Two of the riders called it quits the day before, and yesterday's stage saw the rest of the riders as DNS: Did Not Start. No one has the full story, but everyone is talking about it.

2. The crash before the finish wiped out a number of sprinter's chances, including Pinfold and Healthnet's Gord Fraser. After the break was caught, (which included Pinfold's teammate Jeff Hansen) the pace was fast and furious to the line, but a huge crash 1,500 metres before the finish effectively stopped half the pack in its tracks.

3. It was super-hot yesterday and the prognosis seems the same for the rest of the week. Beauce veterans are a bit dazed: it's supposed to be the traditional 10 degrees and rainy!

4. Comeback kid Czeslaw Lukaszewicz is racing the GP de Beauce, and rumour has it that he is hungry to win the road Nationals in a week's time!