Rock Racings Rodriguez Scores Top 10 Finish On Stage 1
Rock Racings Rodriguez Scores Top 10 Finish
Santa Rosa, Calif. (Feb. 18, 2008) Freddie Rodriguez earned Rock Racing a top 10 finish Monday in Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California.
Rodriguez and Rock Racing teammate Doug Ollerenshaw were among 73 riders in the lead pack as the race entered the streets of Santa Rosa for three laps of a finishing circuit. Coming into the final 500 meters, Rodriguez was well positioned for the sprint until near disaster struck.
I was riding right on (former world road race champion) Tom Boonens wheel and it looked like we had an opening to the right, Rodriguez said. But right at that moment, George Hincapie peeled off and Boonen hip checked him. I pretty much had to lock it up.
While Hincapie hit the pavement and Boonen slowed to finish 70th, Rodriguez remarkably re-accelerated and muscled his way back to score the third top 10 finish of his career at the Tour of California. Ollerenshaw finished in 21st place in the same time as Rodriguez and stage winner Juan Jose Haedo (CSC).
Rock Racings Victor Hugo Pena did a yeomans job in support of Rodriguez and teammate Mario Cipollini after the two found themselves in difficulty on the final climb of the day up Coleman Valley Road, about 30 miles from the finish. On separate occasions, Pena helped Rodriguez and teammate Mario Cipollini keep pace as other teams attacked.
It was not easy for me because the level off the race is very high and its been several years since Ive ridden professionally, Cipollini said. CSC, Slipstream and High Road are riding this race like its the Tour de France. On the last climb, the attacks and forcing of the pace was incredible. I couldnt do any better today, but I am hopeful I can do better tomorrow.
Pena went on to finish 37th in the same time as Rodriguez and Ollerenshaw, while Cipollini was 86th. Teammate Michael Creed, who was questionable to even start the stage due to illness, battled through to finish 129th.
The Rock Racing team remains the only squad in the race with a less than eight-rider roster following the decision by race organizers to exclude 2004 Olympic time trial gold medalist Tyler Hamilton, past world time trial champion Santiago Botero and former Tour de France best young rider winner Oscar Sevilla.
With six stages remaining in the 650-mile race, Rock Racing is in 10th place in the team standings.
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