Nature Valley Grand Prix
Saint Paul, MN

June 08, 2005

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STAGE 1: Saint Paul Time Trial

Baldwin takes win, Advantage Benefits sets tone in first stage of NVGP

Chris Baldwin knew the pressure was on him to perform today in the first stage of the Nature Valley Grand Prix.

His wife, Kimberly Baldwin of the T-Mobile squad, already had taken second in the 4.5-mile time trial along the St. Paul riverfront.

"It's not good if your wife does better than you all the time," the Navigator's time trial specialist said with a laugh.

Not only did he best his wife, though, he dominated the field with an 8-minute, 40-second time that was 10 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor. It was a time and a victory that provided a needed morale boost for the team.

"Everybody was thrilled," Baldwin said of his four other teammates. "After [Tour of] Connecticut and Wachovia Week last week, it would be good to have a strong couple of days."

And with sprinter Kirk O'bee and former Nature Valley stage winner Ciaran Power, Navigators could find the weekend pleasing. However, with only five riders here, Baldwin said it is not likely the team will be able to defend the leader's jersey he took with Wednesday's win.

"I don't think four or five guys are enough to control a race," he said. " It is not enough to cover the attacks and breaks."

Few teams, though, brought a full team to this year's race - with only Jelly Belly-Pool Gel fielding more than five riders - and that could lead to a few surprises, one of which emerged today with Advantage Benefits/Endeavor Cycling Team rounding out the men's podium with second and third.

Before Baldwin's winning time near the end of the day, Advantage Benefits' Karl Menzies held the top spot of the day midway through the field with a time of 8:50. His teammate, Garrett Peltonen - a Midwest native from nearby Ashland, Wis. - followed 20 minutes later with a time of 8:54.

Peltonen said it was not a bad way to finish the day that started without pancakes - his breakfast of choice - because of a power outage in the Twin Cities. "It puts us in a great spot," he said with the team's two-three finish. His teammate, Brent Bookwalter, also came in the top 10.

"The team is really motivated for this tour," Australia's Menzies said. "You've got a lot of strong guys from the top teams here. We are excited to punch it home this week."

Health Net/Maxxis director Jeff Corbett said he was not surprised by Menzies' performance. "Menzies has been a hot rider in our sights all year."

And despite the fact that the Health Net/Maxxis squad was shut out of a podium spot - with Greg Henderson, John Lieswyn, and Tyler Farrar finishing seventh, eighth, and tenth, respectively - Corbett said the way the day turned out without the leaders jersey was favorable.

"We're glad not to have it on our back," he said. "With only four guys here [including Gord Fraser] we wouldn't have been able to defend it."

Still, with only one major climb in the next four days and sprint time bonuses peppered throughout the courses, Baldwin said the overall title could come down to those time bonuses instead of long breakaways.

"It makes for an exciting race with a format like this," Baldwin said.

Lea takes two jerseys with performance

NCAA champion and track pursuit specialist Bobby Lea, riding for Team Northwestern Mortgage, took both the top amateur's jersey as well as the top young rider's jersey. In fact, his time of 8 minutes, 59 seconds he clocked as the day's fifth rider was top for more than half the day until Menzies came in nearly 45 minutes later.

"I figured I could have a reasonable time here," he said. However, finishing with the two jerseys and sixth overall on the day was a bit of a surprise. "I figured if I came in the top 20, it would be a good ride."
Despite the strong start, without a team supporting him and with a tough climb on the last stage of the race in Stillwater, Minn., he said realistically he is unlikely to take the best young rider's jersey, tipping his hat to Tyler Farrar.

"I wouldn't expect to hold onto the jersey," he said.

Race report and results courtesy of James Lockwood