KGSN image
ncnca home
store about team equipment journals photos news sponsors schedule

NEWS

DEC 04  |   JAN  |   FEB  |   MAR  |   APR  |   MAY  |   JUN  |   JUL  |   AUG  |   SEP  |   OCT  |   NOV  |   DEC


JACQUES-MAYNES MAKES A STATEMENT, TAKES 16TH IN PROLOGUE

San Francisco (February 19, 2006) Ð Taking on arguably the most competitive field of cyclists ever assembled in the U.S., Ben Jacques-Maynes of the Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team rode to a solid 16th place in front of a huge crowd at todayÕs 1.9-mile prologue stage of the Amgen Tour of California.

Jacques-MaynesÕ time of 5Õ08Ó was 15 seconds off the pace of stage winner Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner), whose mark of 4Õ53Ó was a full five seconds faster than that of second-place Bobby Julich (Team CSC).

ÒI hit it hard and gave it everything,Ó Jacques-Maynes commented, Òso I have to be happy with my result. IÕm still in the mix and right up there with some great riders.Ó

Ben warming up under ideal conditions
Indeed, Jacques-Maynes finished less than 4 tenths of a second behind former USPRO Champion Fred Rodriguez (Davitamon-Lotto) and ahead of time trial specialists like two-time U.S. champion Chris Baldwin (Toyota-United), seven-time Australian champion Nathan OÕNeill (Health Net p.b. Maxxis), and three-time world champion Michael Rogers (T-Mobile).

With his wife Goldi and 4-month-old son Chase on hand, Jacques-Maynes, 27, anchored the Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada team, which also got a boost from Martin GilbertÕs second-place result in the California Travel and Tourism KOM competition.

With ridersÕ time splits from the last 600m of the prologue determining the KOM leader, the young French Canadian held back over the flat portions of the course and sprinted up the final few uphill blocks to Coit Tower.

ÒIÕm not a climber,Ó said Gilbert, Òso this may be as close as I get to the climberÕs jersey for a while. IÕm a bit disappointed that I didnÕt get the result that I wanted, but I feel good about my first race as a professional.Ó

Another Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada rider making his pro debut, Mike Dietrich recorded the teamÕs second-fastest time of 5Õ29Ó. Dominique Perras was next in 5Õ31Ó, followed by Scott Zwizanski in 5Õ34Ó, Jackson Stewart in 5Õ38Ó, Gilbert in 5Õ44Ó, Pete Lopinto in 5Õ47Ó, and David Robinson in 5Õ52Ó.

Racing Manager Jonas Carney added, ÒThe event itself ran very smoothly and it was really an ideal debut for the Amgen Tour of California. All our riders felt good and Ben showed that heÕs very competitive at this level, so weÕre looking forward to seeing what we can do over the next couple days.Ó




Contact | Media
Copyright © 2005 Principal Sports Management Group LLC