Menzies, Powers open Toona with wins
- By VeloNews.com
- Published Jul. 25, 2006
Karl Menzies (Health Net-Maxxis) and Alison Powers (Advil-Chapstick) scored the opening victories on Monday as the International Tour de Toona got under way with the Altoona Beasley prologue in downtown Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Organizers welcomed a record number of pre-registered participants to central Pennsylvania for the evening 3.1-mile (5.6km) time trial, which saw riders leaving the start house every 30 seconds.
Just over five seconds separated the top five pro men contenders. Menzies turned the fastest time of the day, 5:09.19, followed by Shawn Milne (Navigators Insurance) in 5:13.53., Completing the podium in third place was Jeff Louder (Health Net-Maxxis), less than half a second slower than Milne.
Powers – a former downhill skier on the U.S. national team – powered to victory in 5:41.92. Kristin Armstrong (Lipton Team), recently crowned national champion in both the road race and time trial, took second with a time of 5:47.22, followed by dual national Canadian champion Alex Wrubleski (Biovail) in 5:51.59.
“I just learned that we climb up to the ski area [stages 3 and 6], so that’s very cool,” said Powers, who only started cycling in April of last year.
So far this year, the 26-year-old Boulder rider has already racked up four NRC stage victories, including the criterium in the Tour of the Gila as well as two stages at Mt. Hood.,
“I’m very green in the road races. I don’t know my tactics very well – to stay out of the wind to save my energy. So I have a lot to learn,” said Powers.
Tuesday’s stage is the Johnston circuit race, where both men and women will complete three laps on a relatively flat, 20-mile circuit.
Tour de Toona
Stage 1: Altoona time trial
Men (stage and overall)
1. Karl Menzies (USA), Health Net-Maxxis, 5.6km in 5:09:15
2. Shawn Milne (USA), Navigators Insurance, at 4:38
3. Jeff Louder (USA), Health Net-Maxxis, at 4:62
4. Bernard VanUlden (USA), Navigators Insurance, at 4:70
5. Greg Henderson (NZl), Health Net-Maxxis, at 5:11
6. Christopher Baldwin (USA), Toyota-United, at 5:43
7. Mark McCormack (USA), Colavita-Sutter Home, at 6:78
8. Davide Frattini (I), Colavita-Sutter Home, at 7:06
9. Nathan O’Neill (USA), Health Net-Maxxis, at 8:53
10. Friedick Mariano (USA), Toyota-United, at 8:76
Women (stage and overall)
1. Alison Powers (USA), Advil-Chapstick, 5.6km in 5:41:92
2. Kristin Armstrong (USA), Team Lipton, at 5:30
3. Alex Wrubleski (Can), Team Biovail, at 9:67
4. Laura Van Gilder (USA), Team Lipton, at 11:57
5. Kori Seehafer (USA), Team Lipton, at 12:45
6. Lauren Franges (USA), Victory Brewing, at 13:65
7. Katherine Sherwin (Can), Victory Brewing, at 15:62
8. Kristin Sanders (USA), Cheerwine, at 16:70
9. Felicia Gomez (USA), Webcor-Platinum, at 16:78
10. Katherine Carroll (USA), Victory Brewing, at 17:87
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FILED UNDER: Road