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Friedman wins stage, Menzies holds lead at ‘Toona

Published: Jul. 26, 2007

American Mike Friedman of the Slipstream-Chipotle team out sprinted his breakaway companions to take the Hollidaysburg Circuit race, the fourth stage of the 2007 Tour de Toona. Mark Walters (Kodakgallery-Sierra Nevada), Scott Nydam (BMC), Trent Wilson (Jittery Joe’s) and Christopher Jones (Nerac) collected the second through fifth spots on the day. Australian Karl Menzies of the Health Net-Maxxis team finished with the group, 1:37 in arrears, to hold his overall lead.

Walters opened the initial gap on the first of three 20-mile circuits, dangling a minute off the front. But Friedman, a talented track sprinter and all-rounder, bridged to the Canadian with him six others. With no GC threats in the move, Health Net gave the break a long leash, and it gained a maximum advantage of four minutes.

Friedman, who sat out the opening six months of the 2007 season with a pulmonary embolism, played defense in the breakaway, chasing down attacks on the final lap. Coming into the uphill sprint, the Slipstream-Chipotle rider led into a series of turns and then hit the breaks, allowing Nydam and Walters to slide by. With the advantage of sprinting from behind, Friedman pounced forthe win.

With three stages remaining in Pennsylvania’s biggest stage race, Health Net holds the advantage with Menzies and Aussie Rory Sutherland sitting 1-2. But Toyota-United’s is nipping at the heels of the men in green, and occupy the third through seventh spots on with GC threats Chis Baldwin and Chris Wherry only 19 seconds behind Menzies.

Taking the women’s stage was Cheerwine’s marquee sprinter Laura Van Gilder, who out dueled Alison Testroete (Symmetrics) and Katharine Carroll (Aarons’) in the uphill sprint. Team Lipton’s Kori Seehafer currently holds a 1:15 advantage over Felicia Gomez (Aaron’s) in the overall general classification.

2007 Tour de Toona
Stage 4: Holidaysburg CircuitMen
1. Mike Friedman, Slipstream-Chipotle, 2:12:51
2. Mark Walters (Can), Kodakgallery.com-Sierra Nevada
3. Scott Nydam, BMC, 4. Trent Wilson (Aus), Jittery Joe’s
Chris Jones, Nerac, all at s.t. Women
1. Laura Van Gilder, Cheerwine, 2:26:33
2. Alison Testroete (Can), Expresscopy.com
3. Katharine Caroll, Aaron’s
4. Kristin Armstrong, Lipton
5. Brooke Miller, Tibco, all at s.t.General ClassificationMen
1. Karl Menzies (Aus), Health Net-Maxxis, 8:16:58
2. Rory Sutherland (Aus), Health Net-Maxxis, at 0:08
3. Chris Baldwin, Toyota-United, at 0:19
4. Chris Wherry, Toyota-United
5. Caleb Manion (NZ), Toyota-United, all at s.t. Women
1. Kori Seehafer, Lipton, 9:24:14
2. Felicia Gomez, Aaron’s, at 1:15
3. Christine Thorburn, Webcor, at 3:12
4. Mara Abbott, Webcor
5. Amber Rais, Webcor, all at s.t.