June 19/01 12:04 pm - Beauce Stage 1 Story

Posted by Editor on 06/19/01
 

G.P. Cycliste de Beauce, Stage 1

Poland's Piotr Chmielenski has taken the lead after the first stage of the Grand Prix Cyclist Poste Canada de Beauce. The 7 day, 8 stage race is the only UCI sanctioned race (2.4) in Canada.

The first stage followed a unique format, with each team covering a 13.3 km circuit in a team time trial formation. The race was staged around the historic Plains of Abraham in Quebec City . The fastest team then nominated a member who would wear the yellow leaders jersey for the next stage.

Piotr Chmielenski's Mroz team finished 8 seconds ahead of the Saturn squad and 19 seconds in front of Mercury. Both Saturn and Mroz had riders go off course after one of the turns, and a number of teams expressed concern about the open (to traffic) roads.

"This is a very good race," said one member of the Mroz team "but this stage is too dangerous if they do not close the roads."

The race continues tomorrow with a 173 km stage in the Beauce region south of Quebec City and concludes on Sunday after over 900 km of racing.