Former Spanish national champion Francisco Mancebo scooped victory in what is billed as America’s toughest one day event, the Tour of the Battenkill, outsprinting last year’s runner-up Jesse Anthony (Optum Pro Cycling/Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Bissell Pro Cycling’s Jeremy Vennell.
The Spanish Competitive Cyclist Team rider and his two breakaway companions were part of the day’s crucial move, infiltrating a fifteen man breakaway group, then pushing on together inside the final ten kilometres of racing.
Mancebo then attacked hard inside the final kilometre, catching the other two riders out and hitting the line two seconds clear.
His directeur sportif Gord Fraser enthused about what he saw, and the significance of Mancebo’s triumph.
“Epic is a word often used in describing a particularly tough and memorable race,” the former pro said. “I’ve seen many races that could be described this way, but after what I witnessed yesterday, I will need to redefine the word.”
Part of the reason for his reaction are the many dirt road stretches which form part of the route. Like the Strade Bianche race in Italy, these intermittent sections impose an additional physical and technical demand on the riders, and are a big part of making the race as tough as it is.
“The terrain was deceivingly hard and the dirt sections were chaotic,” he continued. “Some moments the dust was so thick it was impossible to see what was in front of you.”
The victory was Mancebo’s first of this season, and saw him end the day atop the men’s individual National Racing Calendar (NRC) standings. He’s got a nine point advantage over the previous leader, Kenda/5 Hour Energy p/b GearGrider’s Phillip Gaimon.
How it played out:
After Saturday’s huge, 3,000 rider pro/am and Sunday’ morning’s 35 kilometre ride with Greg LeMond, 153 pro riders lined out for the 200 kilometre men’s Tour of the Battenkill. As before, the race featured a mix of standard roads and also dirt sections, creating the environment for a very aggressive and technically demanding race.
On the second of two 100 kilometre laps a serious move slipped clear. The initial ten man group comprised Ben Day (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling), Tom Last (Team IG-Sigma Sport), John Murphy (Kenda/5-Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder), Devan Dunn (CashCall Mortgage), Bruno Langois (Garneau/Quebecor Cycling Team), Jeremy Vennell (Bissell Pro Cycling), Chad Beyer (Competitive Cyclist Racing Team), Joey Rosskopf (Team Type 1-Sanofi), Marsh Cooper and Mike Friedman (both Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies).
With the lead hovering just over half a minute, Francisco Mancebo (Competitive Cyclist Racing Team) realized that he had to seize the moment to bridge across. He jumped clear on a steep hill and was followed by four others, namely last year’s runner-up Jesse Anthony (Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) the current NRC leader Phil Gaimon (Kenda/5-Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder), Bissell’s Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling) and Jeff Louder of the UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling team.
They soon got across to the others and opened a two minute lead over the peloton. This spelled the end for all those who had missed the break, and meant that one of the fifteen would take the 2012 title.
Beyer was determined to try to put himself in a position to do that and surged clear on the Ferguson Road dirt sector. Langois was determined to mark anything dangerous and tagged along, building a strong lead over the Optum Pro Cycling-led group behind.
Gaimon’s NRC lead ensured he was highly motivated to do well but his morale was no shield against a mechanical issue which would force him to stop on several occasions, and ultimately saw him lost his place out front.
With approximately thirty kilometres left, Langois and Beyer’s bid for freedom was hauled back. They were caught by nine others and were gapped, but Langois managed to get back on and even went briefly clear again.
That ten man group raced on to the final climb of Stage Road, where Mancebo put in a big attack and drew Anthony and Vennell clear. They raced over the final ten kilometres to the finish, where the Spaniard jumped early and hit the line two seconds ahead.
The win was his first of the current season, and is a major success for both him and his team.
Meanwhile Tibco’s Veronique Fortin soloed to victory in the women’s 100 kilometre race, reaching the line 44 seconds ahead of Crystal Anthony (LadiesFirst Racing) and Alizee Brien (Specialized-Mazda-SGC) and a further second clear of Marti Shea (Destination Cycling).
Those riders opened serious time on those behind, with Evelyne Blouin (Real Deal Racing / La Bicicletta) three minutes back and a group of thirteen riders a further minute and 15 seconds behind.