Stage 1 Report & Results

Reigning USPRO Champion Mark McCormack, Colavita Olive Oil Team, put in a stunning performance in the first stage of the Tour of Connecticut winning the 137 mile race in 5:38:16 .   Shawn Milne, Fior di Frutta came in second at 28 seconds and Mark Walters, Navigators Insurance at 35 seconds behind.

The stage opened with a 117 mile opening loop around historic and scenic Litchfield County, with the start and finish in Torrington.   The day threatened rain, but instead provided beautiful sunshine for the 120 cyclists at the start.  

After just five miles, a nine man break went away and forged a 4.5 mile lead on the field by mile 20.   Olympic Champion Marty Nothstein, Navigators, won the first and second sprints of the day just before the break was caught at mile 42.  

Dominique Perras, Team Ofoto, and Todd Herriott, Colavita, broke away on the very steep climb out of Sharon, opening up a two minute gap.   The two held off the 50 strong pack that was shattered on the 4K Carter Road climb with inclines at 22%.   Perras took the King of the Mountain (KOM) in Kent, and remained away until Mike Jones, Healthnet, bridged the two minute gap alone by mile 87.

The three men kept the 2 minute lead constant into Torrington, when Perras was seized by cramps, and was forced to pull off the road, and dive into a convenience store for something to drink on the 2-mile finishing circuits.   He finished the race in 25 th and claimed the best Climber Jersey for the day.   Back in the action, Harriot and Jones, pursued by the Naviagators, having chased for over 40 miles, saw their lead drop to 20 seconds with 6 laps to go of the 10 lap finishing circuit in Torrington.

One lap later, they were caught and Colavita sent Argentinian Juan Jose Haedo on the attack.   Burke Swindlehurst followed, continuing the Navigator/Colavita battle in company with Melito Heredia, Toga Bikes.

They in turn were caught by McCormack (Colavita) who made the decisive break with Mark Walters, Navigators, and Shawn Milne, Fior di Frutta, before leaving them behind with 3 laps to go for the solo win.   Milne also won the Chanler Lewis Best Amateur Jersey for the stage, repaying his teammates for all the hard work they had done for him early in the race.

View a highlight video at ARIATV.com

See more photos at jsmcelvery.com or velocityshots.com

Read Mark McCormack's Diary entry for the Tour

Read a race report by JP Partland at bike.com