Dominguez Finishes Second In Return From Injury
0 Comments Published by Unknown on Sunday, July 1, 2007 at 4:12 PM.
Manhattan Beach, Calif. — Ivan Dominguez’s will to win was strong Sunday at the 46th edition of the Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix. But after a month-and-a-half of rehabilitating a back injury, his legs were not quite fast enough to deliver him first to the finish line at the end of the 90-minute race.
“I wanted to win badly because so many people came out to see me,” Dominguez said after finishing second to Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing). “But I just didn’t feel fast enough today. I only had two weeks of real riding.”
Dominguez was quick to add that Bahati – a former junior national criterium and road champion – won the field sprint impressively. Bahati’s teammate, Kayle Leo Grande, also made the podium with his third-place finish.
“Bahati was 10 kilometers faster than me,” Dominguez said. “He’s riding good and this was good for him because his team owner put a lot of resources and backing into the race.”
Toyota-United Team Director Harm Jansen said Dominguez’s result should instill some confidence in the Cuban super sprinter. Dominguez won eight races in the first three-and-a-half months of the season before being sidelined following a crash after the finish of Stage 1 at the Tri-Peaks Challenge on May 17.
“Of course you always want to win, but second place isn’t bad,” Jansen said.
With five other teammates in the race Sunday, Dominguez was able to sit in the back of the peloton and periodically test his legs for what would ultimately be a dash to a 180-degree corner that sets the riders up for a final 300-meter sprint to the finish.
“I did a few sprints in the back to see how my legs were going and I knew then that I was not 100 percent,” Dominguez said.
Sunday’s race, in front of an estimated crowd of more than 7,500 spectators, was also streamed live over the Internet by iBN Sports. On-line viewers saw Dominguez’s Toyota-United teammates Ryan Miller, Jose Manuel “Chepe” Garcia (shown at left), Chris Wherry, Sean Sullivan, Caleb Manion and Henk Vogels massed at the front with three 1.4-mile laps remaining.
Sullivan said what viewers at home could not see in the closing laps was a “messy and dangerous” battle as dozens of riders fought their way to be in the front.
“The way the wind was blowing today, it was a pretty easy ride so at the finish, everyone was really fresh,” he said.
The aggressive racing came to a head with half-a-lap to go when Wherry nearly crashed.
“Chris basically got pinched out and it nearly took out all the spokes in his front wheel,” Jansen said. “Until that point, we had everything set up perfectly with Chris on Sullivan’s wheel and Henk and Ivan right behind him. They had to come back from 20 guys so it really disrupted their whole rhythm.”
Still, Vogels was able to tow Dominguez up to the front and he was first to dive into the final 180-degree turn.
“As soon as you make the U-turn, you have to go,” Dominguez said. “I went but Bahati made it seem like I was standing still when he went by me.”
Next up for Dominguez and Toyota-United is the Infineon Cougar Mountain Classic at the Infineon, Calif., Raceway July 7-8. Both the criterium on Saturday and circuit race on Sunday will utilize the 12-turn, 2.52-mile twisting and turning course.
“It’s all about Ivan next weekend,” Jansen said. “With the guys’ help, he has to go out there and make it happen.”
“I wanted to win badly because so many people came out to see me,” Dominguez said after finishing second to Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing). “But I just didn’t feel fast enough today. I only had two weeks of real riding.”
Dominguez was quick to add that Bahati – a former junior national criterium and road champion – won the field sprint impressively. Bahati’s teammate, Kayle Leo Grande, also made the podium with his third-place finish.“Bahati was 10 kilometers faster than me,” Dominguez said. “He’s riding good and this was good for him because his team owner put a lot of resources and backing into the race.”
Toyota-United Team Director Harm Jansen said Dominguez’s result should instill some confidence in the Cuban super sprinter. Dominguez won eight races in the first three-and-a-half months of the season before being sidelined following a crash after the finish of Stage 1 at the Tri-Peaks Challenge on May 17.
“Of course you always want to win, but second place isn’t bad,” Jansen said.
With five other teammates in the race Sunday, Dominguez was able to sit in the back of the peloton and periodically test his legs for what would ultimately be a dash to a 180-degree corner that sets the riders up for a final 300-meter sprint to the finish.
“I did a few sprints in the back to see how my legs were going and I knew then that I was not 100 percent,” Dominguez said.
Sunday’s race, in front of an estimated crowd of more than 7,500 spectators, was also streamed live over the Internet by iBN Sports. On-line viewers saw Dominguez’s Toyota-United teammates Ryan Miller, Jose Manuel “Chepe” Garcia (shown at left), Chris Wherry, Sean Sullivan, Caleb Manion and Henk Vogels massed at the front with three 1.4-mile laps remaining.Sullivan said what viewers at home could not see in the closing laps was a “messy and dangerous” battle as dozens of riders fought their way to be in the front.
“The way the wind was blowing today, it was a pretty easy ride so at the finish, everyone was really fresh,” he said.
The aggressive racing came to a head with half-a-lap to go when Wherry nearly crashed.
“Chris basically got pinched out and it nearly took out all the spokes in his front wheel,” Jansen said. “Until that point, we had everything set up perfectly with Chris on Sullivan’s wheel and Henk and Ivan right behind him. They had to come back from 20 guys so it really disrupted their whole rhythm.”
Still, Vogels was able to tow Dominguez up to the front and he was first to dive into the final 180-degree turn.
“As soon as you make the U-turn, you have to go,” Dominguez said. “I went but Bahati made it seem like I was standing still when he went by me.”
Next up for Dominguez and Toyota-United is the Infineon Cougar Mountain Classic at the Infineon, Calif., Raceway July 7-8. Both the criterium on Saturday and circuit race on Sunday will utilize the 12-turn, 2.52-mile twisting and turning course.
“It’s all about Ivan next weekend,” Jansen said. “With the guys’ help, he has to go out there and make it happen.”
Labels: Caleb Manion, Henk Vogels, Ivan Dominguez, Sean Sullivan
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