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Written by Monte Hamilton |
| Friday, 09 March 2007 |
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March 9: Central Valley Classic California Raymond Granite Road Race Toyota-United?s Chris Baldwin made the decisive break of the race to place sixth, 19 seconds behind winner Ben Jacques-Mayne (Priority Health) in Friday?s 102-mile (163 km) Raymond Granite Road Race. Five other Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team riders (Ivan Stevic, 10th; Henk Vogels, 20th; Justin England, 41st; Jose Manuel ?Chepe? Garcia 59th; Caleb Manion, 61st) finished in the main pack, which rolled in 58 seconds after the winner. A five-mile climb on each of the three laps of a 34-mile circuit split the field on the opening lap, with three Toyota-United riders making the group. But on the windy, difficult course, the break was swallowed up 15 miles later. Baldwin?s group made its escape the final time up the climb, starting as a group of a dozen riders, but eventually dropped to seven by the finish.
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| Chris Baldwin was Toyota-United?s top finisher in sixth place, 19 seconds behind the winner. |
Baldwin rolled across the finish line 18 seconds behind Ben Jacques-Mayne (Priority Health) and Eric Wohlberg (Symmetrics Cycling). |
| photo © Veronika Lenzi |
photo © Veronika Lenzi |
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Baldwin integrated himself into the final breakaway group that finished 37 seconds ahead of a 66-rider peloton.
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Multiple breaks got away during the windy, 102-mile race, including this one with Toyota-United?s Chris Wherry.
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| photo © Veronika Lenzi |
photo © Veronika Lenzi |
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| With three teammates up the road as part of a 16-man breakaway, Toyota-United?s Stefano Barberi monitored the peloton. |
Justin England was one of five Toyota-United riders who finished in the main peloton, 58 seconds behind the winner. |
| photo © Veronika Lenzi |
photo © Veronika Lenzi |
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Vogels, who is still riding himself into shape, finished 13th in the field sprint and 20th overall.
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Toyota-United?s Jose Manuel ?Chepe? Garcia also finished in the main pack, 58 seconds behind the winner.
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| photo © Veronika Lenzi |
photo © Veronika Lenzi |
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One day shy of his 34th birthday, Toyota-United?s Burke Swindlehurst finished 76th.
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After the race, Ivan Stevic (left), Justin England and Chris Baldwin ponder what lies ahead in Saturday?s 16.5-mile time trial.
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| photo © Veronika Lenzi |
photo © Veronika Lenzi |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 16 January 2008 ) |
