2013 San Dimas Stage Race, Stage 2: Down and Out...

Race Leader, Phil Gaimon, in good company while surrounded by his

teammates on the hilly portion of the course

That's out as in unconscious. About half way through the men's pro/cat 1 race, Yellow Jersey wearer, Phil Gaimon went down hard along the finish straight. He was apparently briefly knocked out, and was a little confused when he did come to. As a result he was taken away to hospital. It was a hard day all around for Gaimon's Bissell Team, as two of the leader's teammates who stayed by his side after the crash were, I believe, due to be disqualified and out of the race as well. Needless to say, my best wishes to Phil and his Bissell team.

unfortunately, Gaimon's day would end early at the side of the road

When the men's pro race came down to the finale, it was a clean sweep for the Jamis - Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home Team, with Luis Amaran and Ruben Companioni taking 1st and 2nd after riding away from a long breakaway of five riders, and J.J. Haedo finishing 3rd, ahead of the charging field. The dramatics during the day meant that Janier Acevedo (Jamis-Hagens Berman) has moved into the Yellow Jersey, 9 seconds up on Matthew Cooke (Champion Systems), and 26 seconds ahead of Carter Jones (Bissell). Dion Smith (Full Circle) leads the U24 competition by 3 seconds from Luis Davila (Jelly Belly), and 20 seconds over Ruben Companioni. Janier Acevedo has secured the KOM competition. With 45 points, Amaran leads the Sprint competition ahead of Dion Smith, Francesco Mancebo and Cody O'Reilly, each with 20 points.

Amaran (76) and Companioni (80) on their way to the line

Juan Jose Haedo clear of the field for 3rd

The women's pro/1/2/3 race suffered a similar mishap. The crash ripped apart the field and bloodied both the Polka Dot Jersey, Tayler Wiles, and the Yellow Jersey, Mara Abbott. Unlike the men's race though, both women recovered to finish the stage in the top ten, with Abbott retaining her hold on the race lead. Brianna Walle (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) won the day, ahead of Amber Neben (The Dare to Be Project) and Joanne Kiesanowski (Team Tibco). On GC, Abbott leads by 9 seconds over Neben, and 32 seconds over Walle. Tayler Wiles leads the U24 competition, ahead of Addy Albershardt (the Dare to Be Project) and Kristabe Doebel-Hickok (SPY-Giant). Besides winning the day, Walle also heads the Sprint competition with 35 points, ahead of Kathryn Donovan (NOW and Novartis) with 30 points, and Alexis Ryan (NOW and Novartis) with 25 points. Lex Albrecht (NOW and Novartis) and Courteney Lowe (Optum) both have 30 points in the QOM competition, while Brianna Walle and Mara Abbott both have 25 points.

Blood at elbow and knee, Mara Abbott takes on fresh water in the feed zone

with all three jersey-wearers close behind, Brianna Walle

celebrates victory in the stage 2 road race

One of the other highly competitive categories is the Masters 35+. The day's road race was won by Michael Easter (TIME - Velo Pasadena), ahead of Gary Douville (MRI Endurance Elite Masters) and Frederick Bottger (Rokform / Rock 'N Road). As a result, Easter leads the GC by 8 seconds ahead of Douville, and is a comfortable 2:31 ahead of the leader after stage 1, Rudolph Napolitano. The battle for that 3rd podium spot is tight as several riders including Chris McDonald, Craig Nunes, Derek Brauch and Matthew Carinio are all within a few seconds of one another heading into the deciding circuit race in downtown San Dimas. Those same top three riders - Easter, Douville and Napolitano also are the top three in the Sprint competition. Adam Livingstone has secured the KOM, with 30 points, ahead of Napolitano with 25 points, and Douville  and McDonald, each with 20 points.

A few more photos are below, and a select 96 photos can be seen by clicking this link.

Jrs. 17/18 victor, Ansel Dickey

fun before the race

Cat 4's along Fairplex Drive

i don't believe there was a neutral feed, so i nominate this ExergyTWENTY16 sognieur

for the all around good guy award for helping Heather Nielson with a severe leg cramp

NOW and Novartis for MS rider Kathryn Donovan was in a solo break for at least two laps before finishing 32nd

Team SmartStop - Mountain Khakis warm up in the hills

everyone knows Charon Smith for his sprinting ability. not so much climbing though, so when he topped the KOM for the final time in the 35+ race his fist clenching exclamation said it all - "I made it to tomorrow!"

led by Full Circle Cycling's [Dion Smith],a break in the

pro field tops the little rise after crossing the dam

Cat 2's, Lee Peters (201) and Erick Sobey (243), racing through Bonelli Park

a buddy once said to me, that if you aren't exhausted after a race, you didn't do enough