THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING
Health Net's Rory Sutherland wins Mt. Hood's time trial stage, takes the overall lead
Leah Goldstein wins women's race after Longo misses start
After two brushes with the top of the podium, Health Net-Maxxis rider Rory Sutherland got the stage win he was looking for Friday in the critical time trial stage of the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic in Oregon.
Sutherland won by about 25 seconds over Bissell's Ben Jacques-Maynes and more than 30 seconds over Thursday's stage winner, Darren Lill of BMC. Besides the stage win Sutherland moved into the race lead ahead of Jacques-Maynes and Lill.
Sutherland was third in the stage 1 criterium and second in the stage 2 circuit race.
"I was pretty hard on myself for not winning those because I think I could have won had I done things a bit differently. So I'm really happy to get this win," he said.
In the women's race, three-time Mt. Hood winner Leah Goldstein (ValueAct Capital) won the race and moved into second on the GC behind Julie Beveridge (Aaron's), who was second on the day.
The third best time of the day went to French rider Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli, who missed her start and started about a minute and a half late because her bike did not pass the UCI measurement check.
"Her bars were pointed downward, greater than 120 degree requirement and her arms were below horizontal with the ground. She was therefore required to raise the angle of the bars to meet the regulation," race spokesman Tre Hendricks said.
Longo said she use the same position in the prologue and officials approved it.
Longo finished fourth, 18 seconds behind Goldstein.
On the overall, Beveridge, who also leads the young rider competition, took over the lead from Joanne Kiesanowski (Tibco), who fell to sixth. Goldstein (ValueAct Capital) is now in second, 7 seconds behind.
After a tough hilly circuit race Thursday and a hilly time trial Friday, the race hits its hardest stage Saturday: the Wy'East Road Race. Men race 101.7 miles with about 11,000 feet of climbing, while women race 74 miles with 8000 feet of climbing.
Oregon has been getting hotter as the week wears on, too. Temperatures Saturday are expected in the low 90s — near record highs for the day. Sutherland said he's prepared for a long day.
"It is a very difficult course and we're going to have to deal with a lot of stuff being thrown directly at us. I have a great group of guys who will take care of me, but it's going to come down to my responsibility at the end."
In the women's race, ValueAct team manager Lisa Hunt said the hotter is better for Goldstein.
"She loves the heat," Hunt said. Hunt predicted a tough day for the young race leader, who is likely to face attacks from Goldstein and Longo.
"It should be a good show, I think it will be a very aggressive stage."
