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Miller, Chodroff lead at Valley of the Sun

By Ophir Sefiha
Published: Feb. 14, 2009
Valley of the Sun Stage 2: After catching the break on the final lap, the peloton is intact around the final corner.
Valley of the Sun Stage 2: After catching the break on the final lap, the peloton is intact around the final corner.
Photo: Ophir Sefiha

Racers at Saturday's Landis Cyclery road stage at the Valley of the Sun stage race were greeted with sunshine, a moderate breeze and temperatures in the 60's. The stage, run on a 16-mile loop in the desert near Casa Grande, south of Phoenix, was largely flat with a moderate, big ring climb to the finish line. The men raced 89 miles and the women completed 57.

In the women's race, Evelyn Stevens won from a disintegrating pack of twenty riders to win the Landis Cyclery Road Race in a time of 2:36:30. Leah Guloien (Team BC) was second. The women's Pro, 1,2, race was marred by a number of crashes, one of which took down overnight leader Ruth Clemence (Simple Green) who limped home nearly four minutes behind the leading bunch. She now lies 25th, 3:53 back.

17th Annual Valley of the Sun Stage Race
Stage 2, Landis Cyclery Road Race. February, 14 (Men, 89 miles, Women, 57miles)



Men's Pro-1
Winner:Winner: Neutralized finish. Eighty eight riders finish in 3:40:40.
Leader: Jonathan Chodroff (OUCH p/b Maxxis) retains the leader's jersey and maintains his :45 second lead over Ben Kneller (Ciclismo Racing).
Peloton: 95 riders head into Sunday's criterium finale.

Women's Pro, 1,2.
Winner: Evelyn Stevens
Leader: Amanda Miller, time trial winner Ruth Clemence (Simple Green) drops to 25th place.
Peloton: 55 riders head into Sunday's criterium finale.

Moriah McGregor (Team BC) jumped from third to second overall by taking a 5 second time bonus and finishing safely in the lead pack while Heather Sbortz (Bicycle Haus) also ascended the GC rankings thanks to a third place result today plus a 10 second time bonus putting her into third overall just 1:10 back.

With the men's peloton in full flight less than 2km from the finish line, race organizers made the decision to neutralize the finish. A serious crash in the previous women's race had caused significant road congestion with multiple ambulances and emergency personnel at the finish line. The lead group of 88 riders rolled over the finish line uncontested, each receiving a time of 3:40:40.

With generous time bonuses throughout Sunday's Buckeye criterium, the final GC of the 2009 Valley of the Sun stage race will likely be decided by slimmest of margins.

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