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McCormack fights back to take Tour of Connecticut

Published: May. 22, 2005
Baldwin and Davidenko chasing McCormack, but they are down to three chasers with about 3 laps to go.
Baldwin and Davidenko chasing McCormack, but they are down to three chasers with about 3 laps to go.
Photo: Casey B. Gibson

Torrington, CT, May 22—Defending champion Mark McCormack, (Colavita-Sutter home), took both the final stage and the overall victory in the 137-mile Litchfield Hills stage of the Tour of Connecticut.

McCormack fights back to take Tour of Connecticut
McCormack fights back to take Tour of Connecticut

With 14 miles remaining, it looked like the Navigators team had the win sewn up for race leader Vasili Davidenko, as the team was setting tempo on the finishing circuit.

It was at this point, McCormack realized, “I had nothing to lose.”

A cheeky Tim Duggan rides to the front of the peloton and waves at them to come along
A cheeky Tim Duggan rides to the front of the peloton and waves at them to come along
Photo: Casey B. Gibson

McCormack and Todd Wells (Capital Velo) attacked and rode away from both the field and the entire Navigators team. With the gap at over a minute, the time bonus for the stage win would take the victory for either man. McCormack took the sprint, and won his second straight Tour of Connecticut.

It was a successful weekend for the Colavita-Sutter Home team, as Sebastian Alexandre won the sprint jersey. Bryan Smith of TIAA-CREF won the mountains prize, and Webcor’s Lucas Euser took home the white jersey of the best young rider.

With one lap to go, only Grishkin and Davidenko are left in the chase, and the gap is getting bigger.
With one lap to go, only Grishkin and Davidenko are left in the chase, and the gap is getting bigger.
Photo: Casey B. Gibson

Stage Results 137mi
1 Mark McCormack Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home 5:43:00
2 Todd Wells Capital Velo Club-Pig Iron Sports
3 Juan Jose Haedo Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home at 1:07
4 Charles Dionne Webcor Builders St
5 Jason Allen McGuire-Langdale St
6 Vassili Davidenko Navigators Insurance St
7 Anthony Colby TARGETRAINING St
8 Peter Baker Snow Valley Presented by Seal-On St
9 Erik Saunders McGuire-Langdale St
10 Greg Wolf TARGETRAINING StFinal GC
1 Mark McCormack Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home 8:23:14
2 Todd Wells Capital Velo Club-Pig Iron Sports, at 00:04
3 Vassili Davidenko Navigators Insurance, at 00:36
4 Davide Frattini Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home, at 00:40
5 Chris Baldwin Navigators Insurance, at 00:44
6 Dominique Perras Kodak Gallery-Sierra Nevada, at 00:48
7 Charles Dionne Webcor Builders, at 01:19
8 Peter Baker Snow Valley Presented by Seal-On, at 01:19
9 Mike Dietrich Fiordifrutta, at 01:19
10 Tyler Wren Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home, at 01:19
Sprint GC-Sebastian Alexandre, Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter HomeKoM
Bryan Smith, TIAA-CREFU23
Lucas Euser, Webcor

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