February 20, 2007 — Here is the latest from the Vuelta Ciclista a Cuba 2007, running from Feb. 13-25, as recounted by Symmetrics manager Bruce Wenting.

Stage 7
Although the profile looked easy, the team was expecting a nasty day and with a storm blowing during the evening we were expecting high winds during the stage. The team is very conscious of the accumulation of time bonuses by the current leader and it was decided to try to isolate him if the wind conditions allowed. As it turned out, the same conversation must have been taking place in the Italian team room because in a strong head-cross wind area, they laid down some serious gutter action, at one point creating a split with the S boys on the wrong end. It took 5km for the yellow and black to drag back to the front leaving 39 riders in a rear group not to be seen again.

After the first passage through Santi Spiritus the race took a loop to the north of town, mostly on the AutoPista. It was along this section of strong side wind that Geoff Kabush lost contact and only a couple of very sticky Coke feeds put him back on a group to eventually rejoin the main bunch. It was total carnage along this section with the entire group lined up on the left side of a 4-lane highway with multiple riders flatting due to the gutter debris.

Just as Geoff got back, Svein flatted, receiving a quick change from Pinner as the car was still barraged. Once he was rolling, the boys dragged Svein back up to the bunch and Pinner took a change from the car. We loaded him with bottles and bid adios as we couldn’t wait for him. Imagine our shock when 20 km later, a grinning Pinner rolled back into the bunch sitting on a charging group of Cuban provincial riders going hell for leather. At every turn of the L-shaped boulevard circuit a different S-Team rider hit out, trying to force the Cuban nationals to chase. In the end Pinner got 4th and all riders were in the main group.

Tomorrow we have an early start rolling by bike 10 km to the start and a mountainous bit of riding to look forward to. The guys are still adjusting to the climate and very hard racing but are showing great team strength.

Stage 8
Symmetrics an eventful day on a very tough course; the profile doesn’t do it justice. The group rolled good tempo until the climbing started at km 76. The hill got unbelievably steep, around 15% in spots. By the first GPM, Pinner had joined the other sprinter types in the grupetto with the exception of an amazing Pedro Perez. The yellow jersey topped the climb only a minute behind Svein, Christian, Kabush and Randell, Marsh having been dropped already. With a group forming, we went to check on Svein and Christian, when Randell radioed that he had crashed. We went back for him, resulting in a fine finding Andrew on the side of the road being attended to by the race doctor. He was reasonably okay, but they shoved him into the ambulance to go to the finish. Pinner and Marsh rolled in within time limit, but hot and thirsty after 40km of no service.

The descent was straight from Hell, winding very rough uneven surface, several wash outs resulting in single lane traffic. The little old Peugeot we are rolling got a workout today.

Our first guys finished with the yellow jersey group behind Zarate of Team Tecos,with Perez in 4th gaining no time bonus today. Tomorrow is a shorter, flatter day so hopefully minds and bodies will be rested.

Fast Facts
– Currently Christian Meier is sitting 2nd in the U23. He is 2:29 behind a guy that finished 45th in last year’s TT. There is a chance that he can make this time back on Friday’s 30km TT.

– Also Svein is sitting 1:49 behind the leader and again Svein is a much stronger TT’r. Tomorrow and Thursday are flat stages (at least that is what the profiles say)

– Symmetrics is also sitting just 1:13 back in team GC.

Stage 8 Results

1. Jesus Zarate (Jal) 4:11:04:000
2. Gianluca Cavalli (Cin) 0:00:20
3. Jose Contreras (Ven)
4. Joel Solenzal (Ssp)
5. Pedro Pablo Perez (Cub)
6. Cristian Meier (Sym)
7. Carlos Ochoa (Ven)
8. Oleksandr Kvachuk (Cin)
9. Francisco Matamoros (Jal)
10. Pedro Sibila (Isc)
11. Yoandry Freire (Cfg) 0:01:00
12. Svein Tuft (Sym)
13. Bernardo Colex (Jal)
14. Arnold Alcolea (Cub)
15. David Salomon (Mex)
16. Adonis Cardoso (Cub)
17. Nicolai Schwarz (Ger)
18. Geoffon Kabush (Sym)
19. Sergio Padilla (Cro)
20. Vicente Zanabria (Mtz)
21. Antonio Cosme (Cro)
22. Stefan Poll (Den)
23. Yordenis Crespo (Mtz)
24. Gianluca Coletta (Cin)
25. Lizardo Benitez (Cub)
26. Marcelino Esparza (Mex)
27. Raul Granjel (Isc) 0:00:23
28. Yovani Caceres (Cfg) 0:13:36
29. Rodolfo Fernandez (Mex) 0:13:47
30. Luis Macias (Jal)
31. Yoerlan Marrero (Mtz)
32. Lisuandy Alonso (Cfg)
33. Eduardo Treto (Cfg)
34. Fredy Buergos (Cav)
35. Eliodis Griñan (Gtm)
36. Alien Garcia (Isc) 0:15:47
37. Yosvani Barea (Hol) 0:13:47
38. Yasmani Martinez (Cub)
39. Jan Carlos Arias () 0:14:47
40. Reldy Perez (Isc) 0:13:47
41. Alexey Shchebelin (Cin)
42. Juan Magallanes (Mex)
43. Reinier Cardoso (Cha) 0:16:20
44. Jorge Rojas (Ssp) 0:19:43
45. Noslen Funes (Cfg)
46. Dayron Mendez (Cha)
47. Lazaro Moreno (Pri)
48. Surley Leon (Pri)
49. Michel Suarez (Cha)
50. Marcelo Leiva (Pan)
51. Wilmer Rodriguez (Cfg)
52. Vladimir Smirnov (Cin) 0:20:04
53. Igor Pugaci (Cin)
54. Emilio Barreras (Cav) 0:22:33
55. Salvador Aranda (Scu)
56. Osniel Duarte (Pri)
57. Carlos Arias (Cha)
58. Yulien Rodriguez (Hab)
59. Neorlan Ramos (Hab)
60. Alberto Grana (Hol)
61. Hector Yamay (Scu)
62. Jair Suira (Pan)
63. Michael Gaubiteer (Den)
64. Freddy Parra (Jal)
65. Martin Mata (Cro)
66. Cuitlahuac Ayala (Cro)
67. Victor Gomez (Cro)
68. Juan Padron (Pri)
69. Yenier Lopez (Cub) 0:22:51
70. Jose Rodriguez (Vcl) 0:23:48
71. Seranis Gallardo (Gtm) 0:25:13
72. Agustin Martinez (Vcl)
73. Leinier Padilla (Hab)
74. Odel Caballero (Hol)
75. Eduardo Morejon (Mtz)
76. Ernesto Cano (Isc)
77. Hinolt Hidalgo (Pan)
78. Nico Graf (Ger)
79. Pedro Portuondo (Scu)
80. Jose Medina (Ven)
81. Anthony Brea (Ven)
82. Wilmen Bravo (Ven) 0:28:03
83. Victor Tellez (Hol) 0:31:17
84. Carlos Puente (Ssp)
85. Carlos Hernandez (Mex)
86. Reinier Vazquez (Mtz)
87. Roberto Fernandez (Cav)
88. Mario Couso (Scu)
89. Carlos Fidalgo (Gtm)
90. Yosvani Carrasco (Vcl)
91. Guillermo Miranda (Pan)
92. Roberto Menendez (Cha)
93. Rodolfo Avila (Mex)
94. Eduard Fucks (Den) 0:39:36
95. Yunier Alonso (Hab)
96. Jose Mojica (Hab)
97. Roilan Sena (Pri)
98. Roger Rodriguez (Pri)
99. Dayren Lagrana (Mtz)
100. Danger Angulo (Ssp)
101. Jose Rodriguez (Cav)
102. Bruno Antero (Cro)
103. Marlon Gonzalez (Cav)
104. Marsh Cooper (Sym)
105. Maikel Trujillo (Pan)
106. Javier Rodriguez (Hol)
107. Andrew Pinfold (Sym)
108. Duany Rivero (Vcl)
109. Angel Castillo (Cha)
110. Digider Gonzalez (Vcl)
111. Jose Carballo (Hab) 0:47:06
112. Alejandro Gonzalez (Vcl) 0:49:06
DNF Andrew Randell (Sym)
DNF Yoelvis Martinez (Gtm)
DNF Emilio Garcia (Scu)
DNS Christoph Pfingsten (Ger)
DNS Phillip Seubert (Ger)