by Lyne Lamoureax

Fifteen miles into the Cannon Falls Road Race, with the skies darkening overhead the men’s peloton, Stage 3 of the Nature Valley Grand Prix was canceled. The cause was simply mother nature, or more precisely an advisory from the National Weather Service of strong winds, heavy rain and hail and tornado warnings.

After a quick conversation with race officials, chief referee Bonnie Walker made the call. The decision, including the location of a safe turnaround, was quickly relayed to all team cars but the riders still had to be informed. With no race radios, the riders had to be told verbally.

“A moto official came rolling through telling everyone, that there was a tornado warning and we were stopping the race. What are you going to do?” laughed overall race leader Scott Zwizanski (Kelly Benefit Strategies). “You never know and if there is a warning, it’s better safe and sorry. They could have kept racing us and what happens if there is a tornado?”

Jonas Carney, Directeur Sportif of the Kelly Benefit Strategies squad also agreed that it was a good decision to cancel the stage.

Once the call to turn around was made, the officials debated about still holding a shortened stage, with the 15 miles back to Cannon Falls and the finishing circuits. The shortened stage was something Carney was not in favor of. “Other directors agreed with me,” said Carney. “If you turn around because of the weather, then you shouldn’t be racing in that weather.”

Soon thereafter, information was relayed that the finish area was pulled down and the stage was then officially canceled. Riders made their way back to the start/finish area, some jumping in team cars, some jumping in team vans that drove up and some just riding back.

While race radios were not needed to stop the riders for the turnaround, they certainly would have helped to relay the information about the cancellation of the stage. And the radios could have come into play had the bad weather hit with riders off the back of the field.

Riders were obviously disappointed as they were expecting a hard fought battle on the tough stage but agree with the decision to call the stage.

“I think it was in the back of a few guys mind that we could get some severe weather but we were just preparing for a big fight in the possible crosswinds so it ended up being kind of a letdown,” said Zwizanski, who then added “People were upset because of the letdown, I don’t think they made a wrong decision.”

With no changes in the overall classification, the racing continues on Friday evening with the Uptown Minneapolis Criterium. New in 2009, this race saw huge crowds lining the entire course and some incredible racing. The course has teams racing past Calhoun Square on a .88 kilometer course that comprises six tight corners and a furious race to the finish line.