Ivan Dominguez Says He's Ready To Race
0 Comments Published by Unknown on Thursday, June 28, 2007 at 10:36 PM.
You wouldn’t know it by the sound of his voice, but it has been a frustrating six weeks for Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team’s Ivan Dominguez.
The Cuban super sprinter has been sidelined since a bizarre crash May 17 during Stage 1 of the Tri-Peaks Challenge in Arkansas. Dominguez had already crossed the finish line that day when his front wheel suddenly twisted sideways, tossing him headfirst over the handlebars.
The 5-foot-9, 160-pounder landed squarely on his back, bruising his ribs. He was off the bike for more than two weeks and still has trouble sleeping at night.
“If I am riding real hard, I feel the pain in my back,” Dominguez said.
So what are his expectations for his return to racing this Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix?
“It’s hard to say,” he said Thursday. “I stopped for a month and although I feel good training, racing is a lot different.”
The crash at Tri-Peaks forced Dominguez to miss the “Philly Week” races earlier this month. The series of single-day races have previously showcased his sprinting ability, including the second place he scored at the International Championship last year in Philadelphia.
But while Dominguez has won eight races this season (his last victory was May 11 at the Joe Martin Stage Race), Toyota-United has continued its winning ways without him, racking up 11 first place finishes.
“Some teams only have one guy who can win. Our team has many,” Dominguez said. “It’s made me feel more relaxed seeing them win.”
Dominguez will be joined by a host of talented teammates when he takes the start line for the 46th edition of the race that has seen its spot on the National Race Calendar moved up from its mid-August date of a year ago.
Last year’s race was won by Toyota-United’s J.J. Haedo while Dominguez finished fourth. In addition to Dominguez, Toyota-United riders Jose Manuel “Chepe” Garcia, Caleb Manion, Ryan Miller, Sean Sullivan, Henk Vogels and Chris Wherry will be racing in front of a crowd that traditionally numbers more than 10,000.
The 90-minute race will be broadcast live on the Internet by iBN Sports (www.ibnsports.com) and archived for later viewing.
The hot dog-shaped course for the expected field of more than 150 riders features a pair of long straightaways, two sweeping 180 degree turns and 50-feet of climbing per lap.
Making each 1.4-mile (2.2 km) lap most challenging is the 180-degree turn that comes 300 meters from the finish line.
“If you’re not in the top two or three places coming around that turn on the last lap, it’s going to be hard for you to win the race,” Dominguez said. “Every year, you have people crashing and getting all crazy.”
The Cuban super sprinter has been sidelined since a bizarre crash May 17 during Stage 1 of the Tri-Peaks Challenge in Arkansas. Dominguez had already crossed the finish line that day when his front wheel suddenly twisted sideways, tossing him headfirst over the handlebars.
The 5-foot-9, 160-pounder landed squarely on his back, bruising his ribs. He was off the bike for more than two weeks and still has trouble sleeping at night.
“If I am riding real hard, I feel the pain in my back,” Dominguez said.
So what are his expectations for his return to racing this Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix?“It’s hard to say,” he said Thursday. “I stopped for a month and although I feel good training, racing is a lot different.”
The crash at Tri-Peaks forced Dominguez to miss the “Philly Week” races earlier this month. The series of single-day races have previously showcased his sprinting ability, including the second place he scored at the International Championship last year in Philadelphia.
But while Dominguez has won eight races this season (his last victory was May 11 at the Joe Martin Stage Race), Toyota-United has continued its winning ways without him, racking up 11 first place finishes.
“Some teams only have one guy who can win. Our team has many,” Dominguez said. “It’s made me feel more relaxed seeing them win.”
Dominguez will be joined by a host of talented teammates when he takes the start line for the 46th edition of the race that has seen its spot on the National Race Calendar moved up from its mid-August date of a year ago.
Last year’s race was won by Toyota-United’s J.J. Haedo while Dominguez finished fourth. In addition to Dominguez, Toyota-United riders Jose Manuel “Chepe” Garcia, Caleb Manion, Ryan Miller, Sean Sullivan, Henk Vogels and Chris Wherry will be racing in front of a crowd that traditionally numbers more than 10,000.
The 90-minute race will be broadcast live on the Internet by iBN Sports (www.ibnsports.com) and archived for later viewing.
The hot dog-shaped course for the expected field of more than 150 riders features a pair of long straightaways, two sweeping 180 degree turns and 50-feet of climbing per lap.
Making each 1.4-mile (2.2 km) lap most challenging is the 180-degree turn that comes 300 meters from the finish line.
“If you’re not in the top two or three places coming around that turn on the last lap, it’s going to be hard for you to win the race,” Dominguez said. “Every year, you have people crashing and getting all crazy.”
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