Rock Racing’s Fred Rodriguez finished third in Philadelphia. Rodriguez scored his seventh top five finish in the
most prestigious one-day race in the United States.
"This is one of those races where you have to bide your time and try and play your cards right," Rodriguez said.
"As I came into the last lap, I felt good and I knew I had to be in the right place at the right time."
Rodriguez said he lost momentum when he rode over a steel grate at the 150-meter mark on the final stretch of Benjamin
Franklin Parkway.
"I hit the infamous pothole that’s been there every year since I started doing this race and it threw me off
balance for the finish," he said.
Rodriguez’s third place in the final race of the Commerce Bank 'Triple Crown of Cycling' follows a pair of
outright victories in the event that was once known as the USPRO Championship in 2001 and 2004, a second place finish
in 2000 (as the top American finisher), third place in 1996 and fourth in 2005.
Despite temperatures soaring into the upper 90s, thousands of fans turned out to watch the race at the Manayunk
'Rock Wall,' the decisive climb sponsored by Rock Racing that riders scaled 10 times during each 14.4-mile (23.1
km) lap of the circuit.
Earlier in the 156-mile (251 km) race, Rock Racing’s Tyler Hamilton was part of a seven-man breakaway that
gained a lead of more than five minutes. That move made it easier on the team, Rodriguez said.
"Oscar [Sevilla, editor] and I covered the Rock Wall every time up," Rodriguez said. "I was probably one of the
only sprinters following the move every time and it took a little energy out of me. But I couldn’t risk missing
the break."
In the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling series – recognized nationally and internationally as America’s
most prestigious series of professional road races – Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla tied for second with
Yuri Metlushenko (Amore & Vita-McDonald’s). Breschel was the overall winner.
"We proved ourselves this week on the biggest stage in domestic cycling," Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball. "It
was unfortunate that we didn’t get to field a full squad at the Tour of California and that we had such short
notice to race the Tour de Georgia. But this goes a long way toward making up for it and it shows our staying power."
During Sundays race, the US continental team announced an on-line photo contest that will give fans the opportunity to
share their favorite Rock Racing photos for a chance to win a full team kit and other popular Rock Racing gear.
"We’ve
experienced such an overwhelmingly passionate and positive response to Rock Racing since we entered the pro cycling arena
last year," said Ball. "We wanted to get the fans more involved and give them a platform to show us all the different
reasons why they love the team." You can find more information about the Rock Racing Photo Contest at: http://www.rockracing.com/photocontest/index.html
Team Type 1's Glen Chadwick was on the attack and formed a breakaway group with Svein Tuft (Symmetrics Pro Cycling
Team) and Francisco Matamoros (Tecos-Trek). The escapees gained a two-and-a-half-minute lead. "With one lap to go, I thought
we had it in the bag," Team Type 1 sports director Ed Beamon said. "I thought maybe 15 or 20 guys would make it over the top
of the climb the last time. Instead, it was 80 guys."
"It wasn't too early and that was the move that was setting up the guys later on," he said. "High Road had to do quite
a bit of work - along with Slipstream - to bring those guys back."
When Chadwick's move was reeled in, it was Chris
Jones' turn to force the pace.
"If we didn't do something, it was going to be a sprint," Beamon said. "(Ben) Brooks
was feeling really good. We wanted to keep him for the sprint. We needed (Valeriy) Kobzarenko to lead him out. So when we
went to Lemon Hill, we told Chris to be the guy and put in the first attack."
Only Rory Sutherland (Health Net presented
by Maxxis) could follow Jones' attack and the two quickly gained an advantage that looked good with fewer than 10 miles to
go. But the oppressive heat, which had the race on one of its slowest paces in 24 editions, actually kept the field intact
and led to a concerted chase.
Jones and Sutherland were swallowed up before the final ascent of Lemon Hill, leading
to the bunch sprint which was won by CSC's Breschel.
