May 18, 2003 (Hackettstown, NJ) – The three day 3-stage Tour of Connecticut finished up today with the final 200-Km (120-miles) circuit through the Housatonic Valley. This final stage was formerly the 1-day race titled the Housatonic Valley Classic, which was won by Navigators' Vassili Davidenko in 2001. The stage featured a lot of the rolling, scenic terrain that the valley in western Connecticut is known for, and contained nine points sprints as well as four KOM (King Of the Mountain) competitions.
This year, raced as a stage race, the dynamics of the event would surely change from the previous years. The Navigators' plan was to keep the pressure on the Prime Alliance squad as they held the top two spots on the overall classification. Barely 2-miles into the race, Navigators' Mark Walters attacked the peloton and was quickly joined by team mate Glen Mitchell as well as six other riders. The break was short-lived however as the Prime Alliance team saw the danger and increased their pace. Immediately, Mitchell attacked again and was joined by Jacob Rosenbarger (Jittery Joes) and Michael Sayers (Healthnet). With Mitchell doing the lion's share of the work, the escapees gained an advantage over the peloton that hovered at approximately 2:30, but increased to nearly four minutes at times. Over the next 85-miles Mitchell kept the pressure on until Rosenbarger dropped off the pace and Mitchell and Sayers reached the 4th and final KOM of the day. Nearing the top of the hill, the attacks began as the re-invigorated field now went on the offensive.
Completing the last 12-miles before hitting the 14-lap finishing circuits in downtown Danbury, the field was being attacked and re-grouping in a constant battle for an advantage. Once on the race reached the closing circuits, it was a constant string of attacks and counter-attacks that marked the race. The grip of the Prime Alliance riders was coming loose as one-by-one they peeled off the front of the field and called it a day after doing all they could to protect their leader. In the end, it was a group sprint that wound up for two full laps. As the racers hit the 500-meters to go mark, it was the Navigators' men-in-blue lining it up for speedster Vassili Davidenko. At the line it was Davidenko taking his second victory on this course in as many years, over Ivan Dominguez (Saturn) and Gord Fraser (Healthnet). For all of his hard work, Navigators' Glen Mitchell was rewarded with the Green Sprinter's Jersey as well as the Polka-Dot Climber's (KOM) Jersey. The overall classifications did not change.