Cascade Classic Finale

Meredith Miller (TIBCO) in the sweltering 4th lap

Sunday 25 July 2010, Bend Oregon. Stage 5, the Awbrey Butte Circuit. What culd be so hard about this you ask?

How about a long rolling back side, a flatish traverse to a long gliding descent. Turn right back toward town, and think ok it's up hill from here. In the words of one rider I pre-rode the stage with, "It's ok you get it back fairly quickly..." One hard 6% kick just beyond Tumalo State Park on O.B. Riley Drive, then the coup de grâce up Archie Briggs drive, with a short steep S curve leading into a grinding 10% ramp up on to Mt Washington Drive.

The Mens Field climbs away from the Deschutes River bottom on O.B. Riley Rd.

Archie Briggs

PS, it averaged 98º all day with temps hitting 100º at the feed zone atop the first climb.

Peanut Butter & Co 2012 held sway over the womens pack for 4 laps, only allowing a few non GC threats to have a go at it.  Mara Abbott supported by climbers Nichole Evans and Alisha Welsh, held on to her Yellow Jersey and the Polka Dots of top climber.  The circuit as tamed by Tara Whitten of Keller Rorhback Cycling Team who soloed across the line 42 seconds ahead of Cath Cheatly (Colavita/Baci Pro Cycling) and Abbott.  Womens GC finalized as Abbott, Cheatley, and Erinne Willock (Webcor Builders).  The winning time for the stage was 2:09:48,with only one rider H/D, and 4 drops.

Track star Tarra Whitten (Keller Rorhback) with an important road victory

On the men's side, Alex Dowsett (Trek/Livestrong) took away the stage win, while Rory Sutherland held his GC place.  The mens race was neutralized at one point to put a stop to the excessive bottle launching that had been going on all week.  Frank Pipp (Fly V Australia) and Andy Jacques-Maynes (Bissell) rounded out the mens stage podium.  The GC finished with Sutherland ahead of Ben Day and Darren Lil both of Fly V.  With temperatures in the triple digits 36 men dropped out of the race, and another handful DNF'd or were time cut.  There was one DQ, Morgan Schmitt of UHC, for undisclosed reasons.

Marc De Maar lends a helping hand on Archie Briggs