Tour of America’s Dairyland Stage 11: June 27, 2010

Waukesha Carl Zach Cycling Classic

Stemper Nation Dominates Tour of America’s Dairyland Final Stage

The Carl Zach Cycling Classic in Downtown Waukesha on Sunday marked the final stage of the Tour of America’s Dairyland presented by Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. As fatigue became a reality tough to swallow for some of these athletes who raced up to 11 consecutive days, today’s stage winners and overall champions including Sarah Caravella (Team CARD) and James Stemper (Kenda Pro Cycling-GEARGRINDER) proved they had plenty of gas left in the reserve.

Heading into the final stage, there was a lot riding on the line, as Carrie-Cash Wootten (Team Vera Bradley Foundation) was just nine points back from Caravella for the yellow and white cow-print Overall Leader’s jersey.

Under blazing sun, two stories of bragging rights unfolded – the stage win and the Overall. With Caravella and Cash-Wootten in the main field, a break of four surfaced – Kristin Wentworth (Team Kenda), Jennifer Purcell (Team Hotel Jose), Kori Seehafer, (Team Type 1) and Tina Schoefield. (Z-Motion). Pushing with every ounce of effort, Purcell, recovering from a week-long stomach virus, was first to cross as Seehafer and Schofield went on to second and third. Third for the day, Schofield did secure the Oarsman Capital green jersey for best Overall Cat 2 amateur in the series.

But who would take the championship title from 2009 Overall Tour of America’s Dairyland winner Jessie MacLean (Verducci Breakaway)? One lap to go, Cash-Wootten and Caravella were on each other but the crowd would soon learn that Cash-Wootten suffered a flat on the backside of the course, out of the free lap zone, as she graciously came around to eventually cross the line, 10 points behind 2010 Overall Pro Women champion Sarah Caravella.

The caliber of athleticism and dedication in the Pro Women’s field, not to mention the Cat 3/4 Women’s fields, across the entire series, made for many an exceptional and exciting moment in women’s racing.

As the air got heavier and the mercury rose, Stemper and company were on deck for 90 minutes of the unknown. Hilton Clarke (UnitedHealthCare-Maxxis) and teammate Karl Menzies rocked Stage 10 hard but many on the line Sunday were hungry for victory.

From the gun, the race was off to a fast clip and never let down. By lap three, a star-studded break had developed which included Stemper and fellow rider Rob White (Kenda Pro Cycling-GEARGRINDER), Clarke and Menzies, Aurelion Passeron (Garneau), Mike Northey (Rubicon Orbea) along with teammate Jason Allen, and Adam Bergman (Texas Roadhouse).

2010 ToAD Overall Pro Women Champagne Podium, L-R: Carrie Cash (Team Vera Bradly Foundation), Sarah Caravella (Team CARD), Tina Schofield (Z-Motion)

With Stemper driving the break into the field, the mighty eight went off the front and lapped the field. Chaos ensued in the crowd as Stemper’s fans dubbed “Stemper Nation” by announcers Brad Sohner and Todd Busteed erupted.

After the breakaway caught the field, Jorge Espinoza (prerace.com), in Wisconsin for a wedding, launched off the front and locked in an incredible solo break just 30 minutes in, which he held for the remainder of the race, to hold down ninth place.

Back to the crazy eight as the prime bell announced an $800 Ultimate Lap courtesy of the Waukesha Business Improvement District. Clarke jets out to grab it with Mike Sherer (Verizon U25-ABD) tucked in behind and putting forth a valiant effort for the steal but falling a half wheel width short.

Three to go saw the groovy train of Kenda Pro Cycling-GEARGRINDER crossing the line at 1-2-3-4 followed UnitedHealthCare in 5-6-7-8 and 9-10-11-12 belonging to Rubicon Orbea. The crowd was out of their skin, pounding on dasherboards, bells clanking. Rinse, wash, and repeat with two to go as Texas Roadhouse also started to jockey around and elbow for better positioning. But it was all UnitedHealthCare making the move and taking the front.

The final field sprint of four-wide had the crowd almost leaping over the barricades as Menzies nailed it, with Northey and Clarke, right there at two and three, respectively.

Stemper, from Wauwatosa, Wis., landed in eighth for the day, more than ample placing to put him in the 2010 Tour of America’s Dairyland Overall yellow-and-white cow-print jersey before his frenzied fan club. Kenda Pro Cycling-GEARGRINDER teammate Hartley who won the Tour of America’s Dairyland Overall in 2009, placed second, with Northey rounding out the Overall three.

There will be some solid re-matches and no doubt some new and unknown challenges when the Tour of America’s Dairyland presented by Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board comes back around in 2011. View previous race reports in the archive.

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