Stefano Barberi Eyes King of the Mountain Title
0 Comments Published by Unknown on Friday, June 1, 2007 at 8:40 PM.
The Dalles, Ore. – Stefano Barberi of the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team can secure the King of the Mountains crown Saturday in the Stage 5 Wy’East Road Race at the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic.
The 89-mile (143.2 km) race features 9,200 feet of climbing to the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area. With three KOM sprint opportunities, Barberi needs only to retain his seven-point lead over teammate Burke Swindlehurst and 10-point margin over Jeff Louder (Health Net presented by Maxxis) to hang onto the special green and white jersey. (Sunday’s final stage is a criterium with no KOM points on the line.)
“He rode a little bit easy in the time trial today,” Toyota-United Team Director Kirk Willett said of the Brazilian. “His goal will be to win that first King of the Mountain sprint and lock it up.”
Points are available for the first five racers across each of three KOM sprint lines along Saturday’s race route. Point values range from seven (first) to two (fifth) for each sprint.
Saturday’s race begins with the Category 1 climb over Road 44 (at mile 12.9), followed by the ascent to Tygh Grade (mile 42.4) and, finally, a 35-mile, 4,500-foot climb to the mountaintop finish at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area. All three climbs are KOM sprints.
Willett said Toyota-United’s remaining goal for the six-day, six-stage race is to win a stage. Chris Baldwin has come the closest, finishing third in the opening time trial on Tuesday.
Baldwin had the best time of the Toyota-United team in Friday’s 18.5-mile (29.7 km) Best Western Hood River Inn Scenic Gorge Time Trial. But his result was only good enough for ninth place, two minutes and 28 seconds behind stage winner Nathan O’Neill (Health Net).
“Yesterday’s effort in the breakaway seemed to have an effect on Chris,” Willett said. “I think he’s a little tired. After doing so many months of racing, it’s finally starting to show this week.”
Justin England finished 11th in the time trial, 2:36 back, while Heath Blackgrove (pictured at right) was 12th (2:43 behind), Burke Swindlehurst was 36th (5:02 behind), Bobby Lea was 45th (5:42 behind) and Barberi was 57th (6:27 behind).
In the overall standings, Baldwin is ninth overall, 3:00 behind O’Neill, followed by England in 10th (3:03 back), Swindlehurst is 28th, Lea is 31st, Blackgrove is 38th and Barberi is 44th.
The 89-mile (143.2 km) race features 9,200 feet of climbing to the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area. With three KOM sprint opportunities, Barberi needs only to retain his seven-point lead over teammate Burke Swindlehurst and 10-point margin over Jeff Louder (Health Net presented by Maxxis) to hang onto the special green and white jersey. (Sunday’s final stage is a criterium with no KOM points on the line.)
“He rode a little bit easy in the time trial today,” Toyota-United Team Director Kirk Willett said of the Brazilian. “His goal will be to win that first King of the Mountain sprint and lock it up.”
Points are available for the first five racers across each of three KOM sprint lines along Saturday’s race route. Point values range from seven (first) to two (fifth) for each sprint.
Saturday’s race begins with the Category 1 climb over Road 44 (at mile 12.9), followed by the ascent to Tygh Grade (mile 42.4) and, finally, a 35-mile, 4,500-foot climb to the mountaintop finish at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area. All three climbs are KOM sprints.
Willett said Toyota-United’s remaining goal for the six-day, six-stage race is to win a stage. Chris Baldwin has come the closest, finishing third in the opening time trial on Tuesday.
Baldwin had the best time of the Toyota-United team in Friday’s 18.5-mile (29.7 km) Best Western Hood River Inn Scenic Gorge Time Trial. But his result was only good enough for ninth place, two minutes and 28 seconds behind stage winner Nathan O’Neill (Health Net).“Yesterday’s effort in the breakaway seemed to have an effect on Chris,” Willett said. “I think he’s a little tired. After doing so many months of racing, it’s finally starting to show this week.”
Justin England finished 11th in the time trial, 2:36 back, while Heath Blackgrove (pictured at right) was 12th (2:43 behind), Burke Swindlehurst was 36th (5:02 behind), Bobby Lea was 45th (5:42 behind) and Barberi was 57th (6:27 behind).
In the overall standings, Baldwin is ninth overall, 3:00 behind O’Neill, followed by England in 10th (3:03 back), Swindlehurst is 28th, Lea is 31st, Blackgrove is 38th and Barberi is 44th.
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