Green Mountain Stage Race: Prologue - Individual Time Trial
Warren, VT – Instead of the usual mass-start up hill time trial, the 2008 edition of the Green Mountain Stage Race introduced a new prologue time trial course that reshuffled the deck to be more in favor of all-around riders rather than benefiting just the fastest climbers. Along with this new time trail course, the race this year is not using the usual omnium format; the General Classification will be determined by a cumulative time format, like the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic Stage Race earlier this year in July. The individual time trial had the riders starting at 30 second intervals and the first 2 km climbed about 500 meters (about an 8% grade) before rolling along the ridge at high speeds (30mph+ average), Then a quick drop and a final wall of a climb.
John Broussard was the top NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental rider in the Cat 3 race, finishing just 34 seconds off the leader, in perfect position going into the second day. Scott Brooks was next at 42 seconds back, with Mark Theeman, Justin Howe, and Greg Brown rounding out the Cat 3s.
In a tough Pro/1/2 field, Peter Bradshaw brought NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental’s highest placing at +1’20”, next was Roy Van Cleef just 5 seconds off Bradshaw’s pace, and Todd Rowell was another 2 seconds behind Roy.
The team is positioned very well going in to the second day circuit race, which is also a new course this year due to heavy rain fall which has left many of the roads on the circuit race unsafe.