Saturday’s final stage of the Tour de Nez, the Reno Criterium, was filled with surprises and upsets. Successful Living’s Curtis Gunn outsprinted Christian Valenzuela (Monex) for the win, while Tony Cruz (Toyota-United) took the field sprint for third, earning the points needed to secure the omnium victory.

Karl Menzies (Health Net-Maxxis), who crashed in the field sprint, wound up second in the omnium. Chris Baldwin (Toyota-United) took third.

The 90-minute finale featured a 0.8-mile course through downtown Reno. Each lap, riders negotiated 10 turns, including a downhill chicane that led into the final straightaway to the finish line, a notoriously treacherous area, that once again claimed victims.

Under balmy skies that kept temperatures from reaching the predicted low 100s, racers went out fast from the gun. Within the first 30 minutes, more than half the field had been dropped, leaving only 34 riders to finish; several crashes didn’t do racers at the back of the field any favors.

It was at this point that Gunn and Valenzuela slipped away. Focused on protecting Menzies’ omnium lead, Health Net-Maxxis let the breakaway roll, neutralizing all attacks from the field.

A crash at the front of the field an hour into the race slowed the pack considerably (all victims rejoined the race after a free lap) and the deal was sealed — the breakaway held a gap of between 40 seconds and a minute for the rest of the race.

Coming into the final sprint, Gunn attacked Valenzuela just before the chicane, taking a substantial gap going into the final straight and holding on for the win.

As the field roared to the finish, Menzies came flying through the chicane only to blow out his rear tire, crashing and taking Alex Candelario (Jelly Belly) down with him. This opened the door for Cruz to take the field sprint, which he did handily.

Tour de Nez
Stage 4: Reno Criterium
1. Curtis Gunn, Successful Living
2. Christian Valenzuela, Monex
3. Tony Cruz, Toyota-United
4. Robbie King, Priority Health
5. Aaron Olsen, Saunier Duval
6. Phil Zajicek, Navigators
7. Chris Baldwin Toyota-United
8. Andrew Bajadali, Jelly Belly
9. Andy Jacques-Maynes, Cal Giant-Village Peddler
10. Bernard Van Ulden, Webcor

Final overall standings
1. Tony Cruz, Toyota-United
2. Karl Menzies, Health Net-Maxxis
3. Chris Baldwin, Toyota-United
4. Aaron Olsen, Saunier Duval Pro Cycling
5. Andrew Bajadali, Jelly Belly
6. Chris Wherry, Toyota-United
7. Phil Zajicek, Navigators
8. Tom Zirbel, Priority Health
9. Curtis Gunn, Successful Living
10. Alex Candelario, Jelly Belly