THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING »

Get the VeloNews Email Newsletter FREE

  Learn More | Archive
Home » Top Stories » Road » Valley of the Sun

Chodroff and Clemence fastest at Valley of the Sun Opener

By Ophir Sefiha
Published: Feb. 14, 2009
Peter Salon (Felt- Holowesko Partners-Garmin) prepares for the 22.5km Time Trial
Peter Salon (Felt- Holowesko Partners-Garmin) prepares for the 22.5km Time Trial
Photo: Ophir Sefhia

Jonathan Chodroff (OUCH p/b Maxxis) blazed a 28:57 and Ruth Clemence (Simple Green) posted a 33:28 to take their respective leaders jerseys in the first stage of Arizona's Valley of the Sun stage race.

The fast, flat 22.5km individual time trial frequently sees the top ten riders packed within minute of the winning time. However on this occasion only last year's winner Ben Kneller (Ciclismo Racing) and Bissell's Graham Howard were able to stay within a minute of the on-form Chodroff. In just his second ride on the team's new Kuota time trial machines, Chodroff was pleased with the result and despite having only three teammates Chodroff was confident going into tomorrow's road race. "We'll do what we can. Roman's (Kilun) in fourth and Bobby's (Lea) in 15th so we have other cards to play."

Bissell will be looking to take advantage of their strength in numbers with six riders including Graham Howard sitting in third place just 58 seconds back.

17th Annual Valley of the Sun Stage Race
Stage 1, Town of Buckeye Time Trial, 22.5km



Men's Pro-1
Winner: Jonathan Chodroff (OUCH p/b Maxxis)
Ten riders are within 1:30 of the leader's jersey.
Peloton: 96 riders head into Saturday's 89 mile road race.
No KOM points offered in the time trial

Women's Pro, 1, 2
Winner: Ruth Clemence (Simple Green)
Eight riders are within 1:00 of the leaders jersey
Peloton: 66 riders head into Saturday's 57 mile road race.
No QOM points offered in the time trial.

Southern Californian Ruth Clemence (Simple Green) has much closer company with eight riders within a minute of her winning time. Amanda Miller (Lip Smacker) lies second just 14 seconds back and Moriah Macgregor (Team BC) rounds out the podium 20 seconds in arrears. Asked about her strategy for tomorrow's stage, Clemence said, "I only have one teammate but I'm used to racing with not a lot of teammates, so I'll just have to watch dangerous breaks and hope I go with the right one."

Saturday brings the Landis Cyclery Road Race near Casa Grande. Elite men will race 89 miles on the rolling, 16-mile circuit; the women race 57 miles.