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Nature Valley Grand Prix

Minnesota

Stage 1: Saint Paul Riverfront Time Trial

June 14, 2006
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O'Neill, Health Net smoke field in opening time trial at Nature Valley Grand Prix by James Lockwood

Waiting for an hour after posting the fastest time, Navigator Insurance's Bernard Van Ulden just shook his head as Health Net/Maxxis' Nathan O'Neill blazed through the finishing chute to post the winning time.

"I knew he would go fast," Van Ulden said. "If I had beaten him, you would have seen me doing back flips down the street here."

Still, the second year pro was good enough for second place at 8 minutes, 42 seconds, and he was the only rider who would spoil a Health Net sweep of both the podium and top five in the first stage of Great River Energy's Nature Valley Grand Prix.

"It makes a statement," O'Neil said of both his win and the team's performance in the St. Paul Riverfront Time Trial along the Mississippi River. The Australian national time trial champion beat Van Ulden by 13 seconds, coming in at 8:29, and stayed ahead of Greg Henderson, Karl Menzies, and Gord Fraser enough that he may be able to hold onto the leader's jersey for a bit.

That trio came in separated by about a half second, with Henderson clocking 8:48.52 and Fraser coming in at 8:49.07.

Whether the intermediate and finishing time bonuses are enough to pass the jersey around the team or he keeps the jersey, O'Neill said it is nice to have the options.

"The other three guys [on the team] behind me are all sprinters. It gives us a lot of options," O'Neill said.

"It puts us in a pretty good position," Fraser said.

Health Net's director sportif Jeff Louder was pleased with O'Neill's and the team's performance, but he wasn't surprised.

"Whether we are riding on good spirits or on the form from racing the past couple of weeks, it doesn't matter. It is finally good to be building some momentum," he said. With Henderson's wins at Mt. Hood, Reading and Philadelphia, O'Neill continues Health Net's success in the past couple of weeks.

However, Louder said given competition at this year's Nature Valley Grand Prix in the men's field – with several of North America's top teams fielding full squads – he was not as assured as his riders that the team would keep the jersey.

"The big dynamic here are the time bonuses," he said.

Van Ulden, who raced Nature Valley last year with only three other teammates, said this year having a full team will change the nature of the tactics for the team, as well as not having to defend the jersey going into stage two.

"I am not here to sit on some wheels,' he said. "I'm here to make something happen."

Whether that means taking the jersey in stage two is another story. Navigator's director sportif Ray Cippolini said on paper the 58.6-mile road race in stage two looks like a sprint fest, but he noted in the country, elements can play a big role.

"There's a lot of racing to be done yet this week," Cippolini said, not tipping his hat to any strategy the team may have to disrupt the Health Net momentum.

Frankie Andreau, directing Toyota-United in its first appearance at the Minnesota stage race, was a bit more direct about tactics heading into the week. "You focus more on a stage win," he said while sitting with his rider, Stefano Barberi, who walked away with the BMC Best Young Rider's jersey as well as the sixth fastest time at 8:58.

The Nature Valley Grand Prix heads to the Cannon Falls, Minn., on Thursday for a 58.6-mile road race for the second stage before returning to the Twin Cities for the Minneapolis Downtown Classic criterium on Friday. It finishes on Sunday in Stillwater, Minn.

PLACE
BIB
NAME TEAM
TIME
GAP
PENALTY
1
17
Nathan O'Neill Health Net presented by Maxxis
.08'29"
2
47
Bernard Van Ulden Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
.08'42"
13"
3
12
Greg Henderson Health Net presented by Maxxis
.08'48"
19"
4
15
Karl Menzies Health Net presented by Maxxis
.08'48"
...
5
11
Gordon Fraser Health Net presented by Maxxis
.08'49"
20"
6
132
Scott Nydam Rio Grande/Sports Garage
.08'52"
23"
7
258
Doug Swanson Nature Valley Racing Team
.08'54"
25"
8
115
Reid Mumford ABD Cycling Team
.08'56"
27"
9
16
Kirk O,Bee Health Net presented by Maxxis
.08'57"
28"
10
21
Stefano Barberi Toyota-United Pro Cycling team
.08'58"
29"
11
114
Bryce Mead ABD Cycling Team
.08'59"
30"
12
37
Matt Rice Jelly Belly Cycling Team
.09'00"
31"
13
43
Hilton Clarke Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
.09'01"
32"
14
161
Chris Harkey Hincapie Sports/Bianchi/ Dasani
.09'01"
...
15
163
Scottie Weiss Hincapie Sports/Bianchi/ Dasani
.09'04"
35"
16
53
Frank Pipp TARGETRAINING
.09'06"
37"
17
44
Oleg Grichkine Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
.09'07"
38"
18
106
Justin Morgan Broadmark / Hagens-Berman
.09'07"
...
19
36
Nick Reistad Jelly Belly Cycling Team
.09'07"
...
20
283
Mike Olheiser MMW/CARVE
.09'07"
...
21
256
Ian Stanford Nature Valley Racing Team
.09'07"
...
22
13
Tim Johnson Health Net presented by Maxxis
.09'07"
...
23
5
Scott Zuizanski Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team
.09'08"
39"
24
121
Sharon Allpress TRIA
.09'08"
...
25
8
Jackson Stewart Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team
.09'08"
...
26
14
Mike Jones Health Net presented by Maxxis
.09'08"
...
27
25
Sterling Magnell Toyota-United Pro Cycling team
.09'09"
40"
28
222
Aric Hareland Hollywood Cycles/Silver Cycling
.09'09"
...
29
23
Jose Garcia Toyota-United Pro Cycling team
.09'10"
41"
30
144
Mark Hekman Abercrombie & Fitch p/b Inferno
.09'10"
...
31
31
Andrew Bajadali Jelly Belly Cycling Team
.09'10"
...
32
34
Caleb Manion Jelly Belly Cycling Team
.09'11"
42"
33
2
Jason Allen Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team
.09'12"
43"
34
26
Ivan Stevic Toyota-United Pro Cycling team
.09'13"
44"
35
125
Jason Klikna BMC Racing Team
.09'13"
...
36
46
T. Burke Swindlehurst Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
.09'13"
...
37
287
David Sachs Vision Quest
.09'14"
45"
38
32
Brian Jensen Jelly Belly Cycling Team
.09'14"
...
39
198
Dale Sedgwick Bianchi/Grand Performance
.09'16"
47"
40
45
Shawn Milne Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
.09'17"
48"
41
212
Michael Grabinger Grandstay/Out N About Gear
.09'17"
...
42
134
Jacob Rosenbarger Rio Grande/Sports Garage
.09'18"
49"
43
107
Chad Nikolz Broadmark / Hagens-Berman
.09'18"
...
44
244
Ryan Nenninger Mercy-Specialized
.09'19"
50"
45
172
Alexander Boyd VMG Racing
.09'20"
51"
46
33
Brice Jones Jelly Belly Cycling Team
.09'20"
...
47
194
Pete Hanna Bianchi/Grand Performance
.09'20"
...
48
81
Guy East CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25
.09'20"
...
49
127
Osvaldo Olmos BMC Racing Team
.09'21"
52"
50
211
Daniel Casper Grandstay/Out N About Gear
.09'22"
53"
51
193
Peter Fairbanks Bianchi/Grand Performance
.09'22"
...
52
241
Paul Deninger Mercy-Specialized
.09'22"
...
53
82
Johnny Hayes CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25
.09'23"
54"
54
6
David Robinson Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team
.09'23"
...
55
196
Eric Marcotte Bianchi/Grand Performance
.09'23"
...
56
63
Jonathan Garcia Team Einstein's Cycling
.09'23"
...
57
3
Michael Dietrich Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team
.09'23"
...
58
171
Spencer Beamer VMG Racing
.09'23"
...
59
192
Duane Dickeyü Bianchi/Grand Performance
.09'24"
55"
60
42
Siro Camponogara Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
.09'24"
...
61
174
Phillip Gaimon VMG Racing
.09'25"
56"
62
286
Steve Tilford Trek/Shimano
.09'26"
57"
63
28
Josh Thornton Toyota-United Pro Cycling team
.09'26"
...
64
175
Jared Faciszewski VMG Racing
.09'27"
58"
65
162
Shane Weaver Hincapie Sports/Bianchi/ Dasani
.09'28"
59"
66
123
Ken Hanson BMC Racing Team
.09'28"
...
67
74
Brian Dziewa Mercy Cycling
.09'28"
...
68
242
Brian Eppen Mercy-Specialized
.09'29"
1'00"
69
54
Matt Shriver TARGETRAINING
.09'29"
...
70
83
Chris Kuhl CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25
.09'30"
1'01"
71
284
Philip Wikoff Team Hotel San Jose
.09'30"
...
72
216
Jarred Grandstay/Out N About Gear
.09'31"
1'02"
73
173
Chase Fullerton VMG Racing
.09'31"
...
74
126
Owen Laine BMC Racing Team
.09'31"
...
75
76
Stefan Rothe Mercy Cycling
.09'32"
1'03"
76
84
Lee Rosenthal CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25
.09'32"
...
77
133
Barkley Robinson Rio Grande/Sports Garage
.09'33"
1'04"
78
224
Tim Mulrooney Hollywood Cycles/Silver Cycling
.09'33"
...
79
102
Andrew Fischer Broadmark / Hagens-Berman
.09'34"
1'05"
80
38
Corey Steinbrecher Jelly Belly Cycling Team
.09'35"
1'06"
81
233
Thomas Luke HRRC/CollegePoint/Specialized/BikeSource
.09'36"
1'07"
82
243
John Meehan Mercy-Specialized
.09'37"
1'08"
83
128
David Rodriguez BMC Racing Team
.09'37"
...
84
234
Bill Stolte HRRC/CollegePoint/Specialized/BikeSource
.09'37"
...
85
264
Jed Schneider Subaru Cycling Team
.09'38"
1'09"
86
52
Andrew Guptill TARGETRAINING
.09'38"
...
87
221
Tone Coughlin Hollywood Cycles/Silver Cycling
.09'38"
...
88
201
Erik Dahl FLANDERS/MBRC
.09'40"
1'11"
89
254
Andy Minier Nature Valley Racing Team
.09'41"
1'12"
90
183
Jon Randall ALL9YARDS.COM CYCLING TEAM
.09'43"
1'14"
91
145
Abraham Mcnutt Abercrombie & Fitch p/b Inferno
.09'43"
...
92
181
Lane Anderson ALL9YARDS.COM CYCLING TEAM
.09'43"
...
93
195
Pat Lemieux Bianchi/Grand Performance
.09'44"
1'15"
94
4
Martin Gilbert Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team
.09'44"
...
95
93
Thomas Soladay LSV/Kelly Benefit Strategies
.09'44"
...
96
282
Jonathan Parrish LANDIS/TREK/VW
.09'45"
1'16"
97
176
Rudy Robaina VMG Racing
.09'45"
...
98
153
Brandon Gavic Wheel & Sprocket
.09'45"
...
99
51
Josh Bezecny TARGETRAINING
.09'46"
1'17"
100
232
Jason Knight HRRC/CollegePoint/Specialized/BikeSource
.09'46"
...
101
281
Jonathon Page Colavita Olive Oil - Sutter
.09'46"
...
102
261
Brian Bibens Subaru Cycling Team
.09'47"
1'18"
60"
103
204
David Zimmerman FLANDERS/MBRC
.09'49"
1'20"
104
65
Jack Seehafer Team Einstein's Cycling
.09'49"
...
105
111
Frank Dierking ABD Cycling Team
.09'51"
1'22"
106
223
Jay Henderson Hollywood Cycles/Silver Cycling
.09'52"
1'23"
107
245
John Olney Mercy-Specialized
.09'52"
...
108
182
Ralph Henderson ALL9YARDS.COM CYCLING TEAM
.09'54"
1'25"
109
215
Matt Williams Grandstay/Out N About Gear
.09'54"
...
110
152
Andrew Crater Wheel & Sprocket
.09'56"
1'27"
111
143
Jered Gruber Abercrombie & Fitch p/b Inferno
.09'56"
...
112
7
Dan Schmatz Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team
.09'57"
1'28"
113
262
Hayden Brooks Subaru Cycling Team
.09'57"
...
114
101
Adam Curry Broadmark / Hagens-Berman
.09'58"
1'29"
115
185
Chad Vandelune ALL9YARDS.COM CYCLING TEAM
.09'58"
...
116
202
Chris Doig FLANDERS/MBRC
.09'59"
1'30"
117
257
Dan Swanson Nature Valley Racing Team
.09'59"
...
118
41
Ben Brooks Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
.10'00"
1'31"
119
91
Matt Cooke LSV/Kelly Benefit Strategies
.10'00"
...
120
122
Justin Hale BMC Racing Team
.10'03"
1'34"
121
263
David Guttenplan Subaru Cycling Team
.10'03"
...
122
231
Derek Goerke HRRC/CollegePoint/Specialized/BikeSource
.10'04"
1'35"
123
103
Owen Gue Broadmark / Hagens-Berman
.10'04"
...
124
62
Jason Donald Team Einstein's Cycling
.10'04"
...
125
77
Mat Stephens Mercy Cycling
.10'04"
...
126
112
Mike Ebert ABD Cycling Team
.10'05"
1'36"
127
155
Morgan Wiswall Wheel & Sprocket
.10'06"
1'37"
128
104
Pleasure Jackson Broadmark / Hagens-Berman
.10'07"
1'38"
129
151
John Acker Wheel & Sprocket
.10'08"
1'39"
130
94
Andrew Wulfkuhle LSV/Kelly Benefit Strategies
.10'13"
1'44"
131
142
Ryan Gamm Abercrombie & Fitch p/b Inferno
.10'14"
1'45"
132
271
Michael Anderson Endeavour
.10'15"
1'46"
133
61
Kyle Colavito Team Einstein's Cycling
.10'15"
...
134
191
Terry Beenken Bianchi/Grand Performance
.10'16"
1'47"
135
85
Chris Ruhl CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25
.10'17"
1'48"
136
116
John Puffer ABD Cycling Team
.10'18"
1'49"
137
105
Evan Lawrence Broadmark / Hagens-Berman
.10'18"
...
138
154
Shawn Willard Wheel & Sprocket
.10'21"
1'52"
139
251
Andy Kruse Nature Valley Racing Team
.10'22"
1'53"
140
214
Troy Scherer Grandstay/Out N About Gear
.10'22"
...
141
92
Brian Fouche LSV/Kelly Benefit Strategies
.10'23"
1'54"
142
141
David (Shawn) Adams Abercrombie & Fitch p/b Inferno
.10'23"
...
143
226
Jason Snider Hollywood Cycles/Silver Cycling
.10'23"
...
144
225
Banning Ostrow Hollywood Cycles/Silver Cycling
.10'23"
...
145
272
Cole House Endeavour
.10'24"
1'55"
146
203
Adam Froemming FLANDERS/MBRC
.10'29"
2'00"
147
184
Kurt Refsnider ALL9YARDS.COM CYCLING TEAM
.10'32"
2'03"
148
253
Matt Henry Nature Valley Racing Team
.10'34"
2'05"
149
113
Dylan Lewis ABD Cycling Team
.10'45"
2'16"
150
280
Shawn Brick Birchwood\GIS
.10'49"
2'20"
151
213
Chia Kung Grandstay/Out N About Gear
.11'03"
2'34"
152
35
Dave Mccook Jelly Belly Cycling Team
.11'10"
2'41"
153
252
Jake Defresne Nature Valley Racing Team
.11'19"
2'50"
154
197
Ben Raby Bianchi/Grand Performance
.11'21"
2'52"
155
255
Matt Muyres Nature Valley Racing Team
.11'39"
3'10"
156
86
Jonathon Swain CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25
.11'40"
3'11"
157
131
Paul Esposti Rio Grande/Sports Garage
.12'48"
4'19"
158
22
Ivan Dominguez Toyota-United Pro Cycling team
.12'57"
4'28"
159
64
Ryan Hamity Team Einstein's Cycling
.17'36"
9'07"

 

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