App Gap, VT
September 6, 2009
Jamey Driscoll 2nd, Moves up to 3rd on the Overall, Eric in Green Jersey
Results: http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2009/09/06-Green-Mountain-Stage3.asp
“You mean Five” – Steve Weller
The guys showed why they were the best team entered in the event today. They were determined to pack any break and raced smart and aggressive from the first mile on. Eric was in the early move to collect sprint points and protect his green jersey lead. Alister, Dan, Thom and Steve were all in pursuit in small groups racing towards the bottom of Brandon gap. At the bottom of Brandon, a rider attempted to convince Steve that it would be in his best interest to help in the chase so that BikeReg.com / Cannondale would have 2 riders in the lead group. Without missing a beat, Steve replied, “you mean five.”
Needless to say, Steve did not chase. However, the team did have five of its nine riders in the front group of 20 by the top of Brandon and Jamey was tagged onto the next chase. Jamey’s group joined and the team took control of the break with the hope of launching Jamey on the final climb of App Gap. The break was caught at the base of App Gap, but the result was only more team riders in the lead out of Jamey.
Jamey and Josh then simultaneously attacked from opposite sides of the field on baby gap. They worked to stretch their lead, but the field was not letting them gain any more than a 5 sec advantage. Josh dropped back and disrupted the chase while Jamey flew up his home town climb. Out of nowhere a Columbian guest rider from Mengoni leapt out of the field and strait by Jamey. Jamey caught back on and they worked together for the Baby Gap and descent, but then the Mengoni rider left Jamey at the base of the proper Gap. Andres Diaz held a 20 sec advantage the entire climb. He took the overall. Jamey was third, 32 seconds behind going into the last day Criterium.
