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Zirbel wins Tour de Nez prologue

By Cherie Turner, Special to VeloNews
Published: Jun. 22, 2006

Tom Zirbel (Priority Health) won the prologue time trial as the 14th annual Tour de Nez kicked off Thursday morning in Verdi, Nevada.

Zirbel posted a time of 6:02 for the 5km prologue, run under warm conditions, a welcome change from last year’s weather, which ranged from cold and windy to pouring rain to snow.

Chris Baldwin (Toyota-United) was second at two seconds back followed by teammate Tony Cruz, a further four seconds behind.

In its fourth year on the NRC, the three-day, four-race Tour de Nez has drawn its most stellar field to date. Last year’s overall champion, Scott Moninger (Health Net-Maxxis) is back to defend his title, backed by teammates Karl Menzies, Kyle Gritters, Roman Kilun, Doug Ollerenshaw, and Garrett Peltonen.

"You can’t let that guy (Moninger) get an advantage," said Cruz.

Racing was to continue Thursday evening with an hourlong criterium in nearby Truckee, California.

Tour de Nez
Verdi, NA
Top 10
1. Tom Zirbel (Priority Health), 5km in 6:02
2. Chris Baldwin (Toyota-United), at 0:02
3. Antonio Cruz (Toyota-United), at 0:06
4. Curtis Gunn (Successful Living), at 0:08
5. Karl Menzies (Health Net-Maxxis), at 0:10
6. Brian Buchholz (Webcor), at 0:12
7. Bernard Van Ulden (Navigators), s.t.
8. Phil Zajicek (Navigators), at 0:13
9. Randy Reichardt (Bang Salon-HART), s.t.
10. Heath Blackgrove (Toyota-United), at 0:14