Guillaume Boivin claims his second top 10 with today’s 10th place result
Modesto, CA: On what many expected to be the last day for the true sprinters to display their prowess during the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, team SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy’s young Canadian fastman Guillaume Boivin collected his second top ten finish of the week when he arrived on the damp roads of Modesto in tenth place. Stage 4 (195.5 kilometers), which began in San Jose, was won by Italian Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas-Doimo) just ahead of Juan Jose Haedo (Saxo Bank) and sprint points competition leader Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia). No change at the top of the General Classification, thus David Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions) will take the start tomorrow cloaked in the yellow leader’s jersey.
Starting the stage under warm, sunny skies that later turned to sprinkles, a seven-man break – Lars Boom (Rabobank), Jurgen Van de Walle (Quick Step), Rob Britton (Bissell), Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly), Ryan Anderson (Kelly Benefit Strategies), Scott Stewart and Davide Frattini (Team Type 1) – got away after a handful of kilometers on the nearly six-kilometer Sierra Road climb. Stewart and Frattini lost their grip on the break and Anderson cut the cord after collecting maximum points on the second King of the Mountains climb on Mines Road. The now four-man break’s advantage peaked at 6:30 before Cervelo TestTeam and Liquigas lead the chase for their sprinters.
A key moment occurred when the peloton was assaulted by crosswinds. The attentive RadioShack squad drilled it, which put Zabriskie under pressure when he was gapped. But he managed to claw his way back and after a turn, the wind direction changed allowing the field, which had shattered, to regroup. With the break’s advantage whittled down to a minute with seventeen kilometers left, Boom attacked his compatriots. The attempt failed, but he tried again with ten kilometers left before the start of two circuits on rain-slick roads in downtown Modesto. No dice. The break was caught and HTC-Columbia’s train assumed the helm of the peloton. As the field crossed the finish line to start the first circuit, Team SpiderTech amassed at the front, but it proved to be a bit too soon. Fly V Australia battled HTC-Columbia for control during the circuits, but in the end, Chicchi rocketed past Haedo for the victory. Boivin, who finished sixth in Stage 1, claimed tenth place.
“It was a pretty hard day. We rode tempo all day. It was a free-for-all at the end during the final two circuits to maintain our position. We blew a couple of bullets early and it cost us the final sprint. Still, we’re happy to get our fourth top ten,” said Boivin, who will turn twenty-one next week (May 25).
“Perhaps it was expected to be a day where the peloton cruised to a bunch sprint, but I could see a race of tempo and gradual fatigue on the riders,” said Team SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy director Steve Bauer. “It was a tough day. Our team raced hard to place our sprinters – (Martin) Gilbert and Boivin – in front for the final surge. Gilbert admitted he was battling too early for position and hit the wind too often. Boivin landed a nice top ten finish, but the boys are not content. They believe they can do better and I appreciate their enthusiasm to improve.”
Continuing the southern trek through the Golden State, Thursday’s Stage 5 moves from Visalia to Bakersfield, passing through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains along the 195.6-kilometer route. After a couple of early sprints, the peloton will ascend the twisty Old Stage Road and a second King of the Mountains climb (Round Mountain Road) before tackling several short, steep ramps that lead to the finish at Bakersfield College.
The eight-day, 1280-kilometer Amgen Tour of California is regarded as one of the most important races on the international calendar comprised of sixteen professional teams from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, and the U.S. For further information, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.
Stage 4 results:
1. Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas-Doimo)
2. Juan Jose Haedo (Saxo Bank)
3. Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia)
10. Guillaume Boivin (SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy)
