Joe McWilliams was in a two-man breakaway for more than 30 miles during Stage One. He is 13th overall, just one second behind the race leader. Photo by Mike Madcharo.
Beatrice, Neb. - Team Kaos is well-positioned for a tough Day Two at the inaugural edition of the Monumental Memorial Stage Race in Beatrice.
Three of its riders are in the top 10 of the Cat. I-II-III standings -- Jarred Berger (third), Chris Spence (ninth) and Tim Farnham (10th) -- heading into Sunday's dual stage day of a 20-mile time trial and 65-mile road race. No other team has as many racers in the top 10.
Team Kaos' Joe McWilliams, who is in 13th place, set up the bunch finish by teaming with Lincoln Plating-Lemond's Michael Munson. The pair broke away from the 25-rider pack and eventually gained a nearly three minutes' lead. Their tactic forced three teams to work hard to bring it all back -- Nature Valley/Penn Cycle, Grandstay/Out N About Gear and Team Manitoba/Woodcock Cycle. McWilliams and Munson were caught about eight miles from the finish.
As the field closed in on the finish line at Beatrice High School, Nature Valley/Penn Cycle’s Dan Swanson accelerated, staying clear of a charging field to win the stage. The 74-mile race took nearly four hours to complete, due in part to riders straying off course and winds gusting to more than 30 mph.
Fewer than 20 miles into the race, confusion between a course marshal and a lead vehicle sent the field off course. After several miles of neutral riding, officials restarted the race.
“Unfortunately, wires were crossed between the lead vehicle and a course marshal,” race promoter John Lefler, Jr. “But fortunately, we were able to quickly resolve a bad situation. I was impressed with the candor of the riders, considering the circumstances – and the heat.”
In the overall general classification, Berger is 11 seconds off the lead, while Spence, Farnham and McWilliams are 16 seconds back. A fifth rider from Team Kaos, Ian Robertson, finished 23rd on the day, while James Blake was involved in a crash and could not continue.
Click here to see results from Stage One.
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