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Monterey,
Calif. (April 16, 2005) - Over one minute ahead of a small chase group
with ten miles to go, Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada's Tim Larkin was in
a great position near the finish of today's Fort Ord Road Race, the final
stage of the Sierra Nevada/Kodak Gallery Road Stage Race at the Sea Otter
Classic.
Last month, Larkin won the Copperopolis
Road Race in Northern California, an event similar in distance and
terrain to today's stage, in a three-rider breakaway with David Zabriskie
(CSC) and Eric Wohlberg (Symmetrics Cycling).
But perhaps still feeling the effects of an illness that forced him to
withdraw from the Redlands Classic and sidelined him for most of last
week, Larkin was unable to stay with breakaway companion and eventual
stage and overall race winner Doug Ollerenshaw (Health Net-Maxxis).
The two went clear of the lead group of around fifteen riders, which also
included Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada's Jackson Stewart, shortly after
the feed zone with 1.5 laps remaining on the tough circuit through the
former Fort Ord military base. Almost exactly one lap later, Larkin could
no longer follow Ollerenshaw's pace.
"I hit my limit," Larkin said, adding, "I did a lot of
work early on."
Shortly afterwards, a group of four riders caught Larkin and towed him
up to Ollerenshaw, but the Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada rider was unable
to stay in the group of five.
Further back, Stewart found himself in a small chase group that broke
apart on the finishing circuits. Nonetheless, it was a strong ride for
the young sprinter, currently enjoying the finest season of his career.
Midway through the 105 mile race consisting of 9 nine of the Fort Ord
loop and two finishing circuits on the Laguna Seca racetrack,
Larkin's and Stewart's lead group in the men's race opened up a gap of
over six minutes as the main field was neutralized after passing and then
being passed by the lead group of the women's race.
Both Larkin and Stewart finished between 10th and 20th unofficially, as
riders on different laps of the Laguna Seca finishing circuit crossing
the line simultaneously led to confusion at the finish.
Full results will be posted at www.seaotterclassic.com
Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada's photo gallery from today's stage is viewable
at:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=sg2d9w6.w794jve&x=0&y=-n2bgii
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