Talk about close finishes.

On the last day of the Cascade Cycling Classic, a circuit race held on a demanding 17-mile loop, Chris Wherry (Toyota-United) won a tiebreaker based on stage finishes against Jeff Louder (Health Net-Maxxis) to win the final overall classification.

Meanwhile, in the women’s race, Kristen LaSasso (Lipton) maintained her 23-second lead over teammate Kristen Armstrong to take the overall victory.

Men
In the men’s circuit race Neil Shirley (Jittery Joe’s) took the stage victory, out-dueling breakaway partners Glen Chadwick (Navigators), Aaron Olson (Saunier Duval-Prodir), and Scott Nydam (BMC).

The men raced five laps, totaling 80 miles, on a course that climbed a steep, stair-stepping road to Aubrey Butte, a large hill just North East of Bend, Oregon.

With three time bonus sprints of 15, 10, and 5 seconds available at the finish line each lap, it was evident the overall lead of the race would be decided on this stage. Coming into the dayLouder held only 10 seconds over Wherry and teammate Nathan O’Neill, who were tied on time.

"The very first sprint, I told the guys, ‘That’s the finish line for us,’" said Toyota-United director Harm Jansen.

As the field approached the first bonus sprint at 30 miles into the race, Toyota-United wound it up and sprinter Juan Jose Haedo dropped Wherry off for the sprint at 200 meters out. Gord Fraser (Health Net-Maxxis) beat Wherry, with Sergey Lagutin (Navigators) finished third and Louder fourth, one spot out of the bonus.

Thanks to the 10-second time gain, Wherry moved into a tie with Louder. Race officials said over race radio that the tie would be decided by highest stage placings, but still, confusion reigned on both teams as to who was actually in the lead.

Meanwhile, as the teams tried to decide their next move, the breakaway, containing eighth-placed GC rider Glen Chadwick, slipped off the front.

With Chadwick trying to make up his two-minute deficit in the overall, Nydam going for the KOM, and both Shirley and Olson going for the stage win, the group decided to drive the pace as hard as they could, said Shirley.

Back in the field, Health Net-Maxxis realized Louder’s lead was in jeopardy, and began to attack Toyota-United relentlessly. Their efforts helped bring the break back from a maximum of 3:20 to only 1:30 at the line, taking Chadwick out of overall contention.

"We were trying to isolate Chris or get a break away without him," said Louder. "But he was extremely strong and very powerful today – it was a hard task."

Health Net-Maxxis’ attacks whittled the chase group down to only 20-riders, but they were unable to get rid of Wherry, who secured Toyota-United’s second stage race win of the year.

Women
In the women’s 63-mile circuit race, a breakaway containing three riders, Amber Rias (Webcor-Platinum), Martina Patella (McGuire), and Kele Murdin (Velo Bella-Kona), escaped mid-way through the race and held on to the finish with Rias taking the sprint win.

Rias, who initially went off solo, was joined by Murdin and Patella shortly after the climb on the third of four laps. All three riders were no strangers to breakaways during the Cascade Classic. Rias was also in breakaways on the first two road race stages, while Murdin was in the break with Rias on Friday and with Patella in the criterium on Saturday.

"Kele Murdin and I were off the front almost every day. We were tired, but we were determined to make it work," said Rias. "This is my first NRC win and I’m pretty happy about it."

Another first-time NRC winner was LaSasso, who gained her first road-race victory on Thursday then finished solidly in the field on Sunday to secure her overall win.

"I’m usually in the support role, so it’s awesome having Kristen (Armstrong) and my teammates helping me win," said LaSasso. Armstrong, the road race national champion, controlled the attacks of third-, fourth-, and fifth-placed GC riders Mara Abbott (Rio Grande), Rachel Heal (Victory Brewing), and Dotsie Bausch (Colavita-Cooking Light).

Aubrey Butte Circuit Race
Men
1. Neil Shirley (Jittery Joe's), 2:56:35
2. Glen Chadwick (Navigators), same time
3. Scott Nydam (BMC Racing Team), s.t
4. Aaron Olson (Saunier Duval), s.t.
5. Tom Zirbel (Sports Garage), at 1:24
6. Sergey Lagutin (Navigators), s.t.
7. Chris Wherry (Toyota-United), s.t.
8. Jeff Louder (Health Net-Maxxis), s.t.
9. Peter Hatton (Jittery Joe's), s.t.
10. Austin King (Jittery Joe's), s.t.

Overall
1. Chris Wherry (Toyota-United), 14.47.26
2. Jeff Louder, (Health Net-Maxxis), s.t.
3. Sergey Lagutin, (Navigators), at 0:07
4. Glen Chadwick (Navigators), at 0:22
5. Scott Moninger (Health Net-Maxxis), at 0:25
6. Nathan O'Neill (Health Net-Maxxis), at 0:56
7. Cesar Grajales (Navigators), at 0:24
8. Scott Nydam (BMC Racing Team), at 1:46
9. Trent Wilson (Jittery Joe's), at 2.46
10. Tom Zirbel (Sports Garage), at 2:49

Women
1. Amber Rais (Webcor-Platinum), 2:50:56
2. Martina Patella (McGuire), s.t.
3. Kele Murdin (Velo Bella-Kona), at 0:09
4. Laura Van Gilder (Lipton), at 0:55
5. Dotsie Bausch (Colavita- Cooking Light), s.t.
6. Felicia Gomez (Webcor-Platinum), s.t
7. Betina Hold (Webcor-Platinum), s.t.
8. Lieselot Decroix (Velo Bella-Kona), s.t.
9. Marisa Asplund (CPT-Colnago), s.t.
10. India Sanjuan (Touchstone Climbing), s.t.

Overall
1. Kristen LaSasso (Lipton, 11:29:20
2. Kristin Armstrong (Lipton), at 0:14
3. Dotsie Bausch (Colavita- Cooking Light), at 1:32
4. Mara Abbott (Rio Grande-Sports Garage), at 1:34
5. Rachel Heal (Victory Brewing), at 1:40
6. Beverley Harper (Touchstone Climbing), at 1:59
7. Nicole Evans (FFKR Architects), at 2:31
8. Marisa Asplund (CPT-Colnago), at 2:32
9. Betina Hold (Webcor-Platinum), at 2:33
10. Felicia Gomez (Webcor-Platinum), at 2:36