Baldwin moves up to 3rd overall on first of three critical stages of Cascade Classic

Bend, OR - The list of contenders for the overall title of the 2009 Cascade Classic got a much clearer and shorter during Stage 2, which ended with the first major climb of the race, a long slog up to the Three Creeks Snow Park.

Chris Baldwin was one of the animators on the final climb, waiting out a couple of attacks early on the 10-mile finishing climb before launching his own attack to bridge across to a four-rider break containing teammate Pat McCarty, with Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla in tow.

“We got up to the break, and (David) Vittoria (Rock Racing) drilled it for Sevilla,” Baldwin said. “I stayed with him and we traded pulls for a while, but I overheated a bit and had to drop off.”

Sevilla continued on for the stage win, while Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin) held on for 2nd place on the stage.

As Baldwin rode tempo toward the finish, Sevilla’s teammate Francisco Mancebo bridged up to him. “I basically dragged Mancebo to the line and he came around me to get 3rd place,” Baldwin said. “But I was more concerned about putting time on (Jeff) Louder (BMC) than anything.”

Louder was in the next group on the road, which also contained teammate Rory Sutherland. Baldwin and Sutherland both came into the stage just six seconds behind Louder. Sutherland took advantage of Louder’s need to chase to sit on his wheel for much of the finishing climb, attacking late to come around him for 5th on the stage, though the two riders finished equal on time.

Baldwin was able to finish 0:25 behind SEvilla, and 0:07 ahead of Louder to move up to 3rd overall, while Sutherland now sits 5th overall, just one second behind Louder in the standings. Sevilla took over the race lead, while Mancebo slotted into 2nd overall.

Break gives team a break

McCarty’s presence in the break that finally stuck took a bit of the pressure off the team and allowed the peloton to settle down for a bit.

“It took forever for the break to get going,” McCarty said. “The first part of the stage was pretty flat and there were a lot of attacks, but nothing stuck.”

Once the four-man break developed, they worked well together and opened a gap that reach over a 2:30 at one point. But by the time the main portion of the final climb had started, the gap was under a minute.

“If we had still had 2:30 starting the climb, I think I could’ve done something,” McCarty said. And he never really had a chance to help his teammates once the break blew. “Chris and Rory were already attacking when they came up to the break.”

Instead, he rode in a small group with teammate Cam Evans, who is showing already a good return to form after recovering from his crash at the Tour of the Gila. McCarty and Evans finished 1:07 behind the stage winner, taking 18th and 19th on the stage respectively, with Evans moving up to 11th overall. The stage one winner and race leader, Ben Jacques-Maynes, was a further 0:21 back and dropped to 7th overall.

“Chris and Rory rode really well today,” McCarty added. “It was a really good day for us.” Evans’ ride also helped move him into the top 10 overall.

Official Results

Photo: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us