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San Francisco (February 19, 2006) Ð Taking on arguably
the most competitive field of cyclists ever assembled in the U.S., Ben Jacques-Maynes
of the Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team rode to a solid 16th
place in front of a huge crowd at todayÕs 1.9-mile prologue stage of the
Amgen Tour of California.
Jacques-MaynesÕ time of 5Õ08Ó was 15 seconds off the pace of stage winner
Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner), whose mark of 4Õ53Ó was a full five seconds
faster than that of second-place Bobby Julich (Team CSC).
ÒI hit it hard and gave it everything,Ó Jacques-Maynes commented, Òso I
have to be happy with my result. IÕm still in the mix and right up there
with some great riders.Ó
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Ben warming up under ideal conditions |
Indeed, Jacques-Maynes finished less than 4 tenths
of a second behind former USPRO Champion Fred Rodriguez (Davitamon-Lotto)
and ahead of time trial specialists like two-time U.S. champion Chris Baldwin
(Toyota-United), seven-time Australian champion Nathan OÕNeill (Health Net
p.b. Maxxis), and three-time world champion Michael Rogers (T-Mobile).
With his wife Goldi and 4-month-old son Chase on hand, Jacques-Maynes, 27,
anchored the Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada team, which also got a boost
from Martin GilbertÕs second-place result in the California Travel and Tourism
KOM competition.
With ridersÕ time splits from the last 600m of the prologue determining
the KOM leader, the young French Canadian held back over the flat portions
of the course and sprinted up the final few uphill blocks to Coit Tower.
ÒIÕm not a climber,Ó said Gilbert, Òso this may be as close as I get to
the climberÕs jersey for a while. IÕm a bit disappointed that I didnÕt get
the result that I wanted, but I feel good about my first race as a professional.Ó
Another Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada rider making his pro debut, Mike
Dietrich recorded the teamÕs second-fastest time of 5Õ29Ó. Dominique Perras
was next in 5Õ31Ó, followed by Scott Zwizanski in 5Õ34Ó, Jackson Stewart
in 5Õ38Ó, Gilbert in 5Õ44Ó, Pete Lopinto in 5Õ47Ó, and David Robinson in
5Õ52Ó.
Racing Manager Jonas Carney added, ÒThe event itself ran very smoothly and
it was really an ideal debut for the Amgen Tour of California. All our riders
felt good and Ben showed that heÕs very competitive at this level, so weÕre
looking forward to seeing what we can do over the next couple days.Ó
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