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Dominguez, Pic tops at Winston-Salem
After losing valuable ground on the NRC front during Charlotte, North Carolina’s prize-rich Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium, Toyota-United’s Ivan Dominguez evened the score just up the road in Winston-Salem at the 2007 Hanes Park Classic. Dominguez sat comfortably in the field during most of Sunday’s 90-minute effort, content on waiting for the right moment to make up for a disappointing 15th place showing the day before.
“Yesterday I was a little tired but from the second lap, I told my guys ‘Hey, keep the race together because I feel good.’ And I love this heat.”
The extreme heat that greeted the race’s 30th anniversary was ideal for the Cuban sprinter who reveled in the 90 degree-plus weather. But the high temperatures combined with several days' worth of racing that began earlier in the week with this year’s Crossroads Classic series may have taken a toll on Dominguez’s competitors. Virtually every effort made over the 1.2 mile course did not have the horsepower required to stay away from the 130-plus group of riders.
While the speed at the front negated attacks, it also trimmed the field from the back. Navigator’s sprinter Hilton Clarke quickly checked-out because of a problem he was experiencing with his knee.
“It just wasn’t going to work out,” team director, Ed Beamon said later. “He tried to go for a quick start, but it wasn’t feeling right so he did the smart thing to quit.”
Saturday’s Presbyterian Invitational winner Frank Pipp (Health Net-Maxxis), was also forced to leave the race early when a sponsor banner on the race course was blown over the fencing and caught his handle bars. Pipp hit the deck hard but actually suffered more damage to his bike than he did to his person, leaving the race disappointed and with some minor road rash.
With heavy-hitters like Pipp and Clarke out of the race, it was largely left to other teams to vie for a shot at the win. Both Jonny Sundt (Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Priority- Health rider Scott Zwizanski showed their teams colors through the day’s racing.
“I wanted to ride aggressive and felt pretty opened up from the ride last night,” Zwizanski said afterwards. “With the heat, I felt like the attrition might kick and that a break might be able to get away.”
The rate of attrition did continue to eat into the field and as lap after lap counted down, soon there were only 68 left in the peloton to contest the eventual field sprint.
Jittery Joe’s was one of the few teams that seemed to be able to manage any real sort of last-minute organization on behalf of sprinter, Jeff “Lightning” Hopkins, but even that team's strong desire for a win couldn’t hold together.
“Yeah I think we were the most organized, but it’s such a long course and since we only had six guys it’s hard to do that.” Hopkins said. “In the end it was just me and Trent (Wilson). He got me in the right spot, and I fought for it going into the last corner, but Ivan was just too quick.”
As Hopkins and Dominguez came into the final 400 meters, they were joined by Dominique Rollin who survived a hail of sharp elbows as he worked his way through to the front. But Rollin could only manage fourth on the line as a Garneau-Crocs rider Klaber Ramos also fought his way himself into the mix and took the third podium spot. Dominguez, however, fully recovered and showing the same form he had during the recent Well Fargo Twilight Criterium in Boise, Idaho, timed his final effort perfectly and powered past Hopkins to take the win.
“Coming to the last corner, we got kind of stuck, but I went around and I took a good position from there all the way to the finish.”
The same could be said about Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) who expertly grabbed her second win in as many days, easily coming across the line during the women’s Pro-Am race ahead of her familiar rival, Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine).
Pic benefited from the work done for her by teammate Alison Powers who worked hard until she was caught during the final four laps of the 50-minute race.
“I thought that if I did that, it would allow my teammates to rest a little bit, but it was so hot that my jump and (the effort) to get away took so much out of me, it was really hard to recover.” Powers said.
Powers still had enough strength, however, to return to Pic’s aid and help set her up for the leadout to the final sprint.”
“She’s just a motor. Amazing,” said Pic.
Pic was glad to call it a day after beating out Van Gilder and Aaron’s Corporate Furnishing’s rider Kat Carroll, who placed third behind the pair. Her win combined with defending her 2006 title at the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium less than 24 hours before was a burden she was glad to be rid of.
“It’s been good racing this weekend, but I’m tired. There was a lot of pressure on me last night.”
Hanes Park Classic, Winston-Salem, NC
August 5Men’s Top 10
1. Ivan Dominguez, Toyota-United
2. Jeff Hopkins, Jittery Joe’s
3. Klaber Ramos, Garneau-Crocs
4. Dominique Rollin, Kodak Gallery-Sierra Nevada
5. Jeremiah Wiscovitch, Rock Racing
6. Ricardo Escuela, Successfulliving.com
7. Sebastian Haedo, Rock Racing
8. Anibal Borrajo, Rite Aid Pro Cycling
9. Uriel Rayo
10. Karl Menzies, Health Net-MaxxisWomen’s Top 10
1. Tina Pic, Colavita-Sutter Home
2. Laura Van Gilder, Team Cheerwine
3. Katharine Carroll, Aaron’s Corporate Furnishings
4. Gina Grain, Expresscopy.com
5. Kori Seehafer, TEAm Lipton
6. Erica Allar, Salamander Racing/Team Fuji
7. Lauren Franges, TEAm Lipton
8. Shannon Hutchinson-Krupat, Aaron’s Corporate Furnishings
9. Laura Yoisten, Webcor Builders
10. Amber Rais, Webcor Builders
