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IVAN DOMINGUEZ DELIVERS TOYOTA-UNITED TO THRILLING VICTORY IN FINAL STAGE OF 2007 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA
Win in Long Beach Is Only By A
Domestic Team at the Tour of California
Henk Vogels Places 8th Giving Team Four Top 10 Finishes
The rider known as “The Cuban Missile” outsprinted Graeme Brown (Rabobank) and Gerald Ciolek (T-Mobile) at the end of the 77.5 mile (124.7 km) circuit race. His victory was the only one by a non-Pro Tour team at this year’s race and marks the second straight year that Toyota-United has captured at least one stage win at the Amgen Tour of California.
“Ivan didn’t just win, today he blew the doors off,” Toyota-United Team Director Harm Jansen said. “That’s the thing I’m amazed about. I know he can win, but the way he wins is phenomenal.”
Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United) outsprinted the ProTour
sprinters to claim victory in Long Beach.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / www.clintonphoto.com
Dominguez said he remained patient as field stormed down the finishing straight on Shoreline Drive. With teammate Henk Vogels leading the way, Dominguez slotted in behind the wheel of Brown who won the Stage 1 field sprint in Sausalito on Monday.
“We were going really fast in the last 100 meters, so it wasn’t easy to pass him (Brown),” Dominguez said. “This win was very satisfying, perhaps the biggest of my career.”
Brown finished second while Ciolek was third. All three received the same time of two hours, 39 minutes and 28 seconds. Toyota-United’s Henk Vogels, who was instrumental in Dominguez’s win, was 8th, giving the team its fourth top 10 finish of the Tour. At an average speed of 29.15 miles an hour, this stage was the fastest road race of this year’s tour.
Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United) , Graeme Brown (Rabobank),
and Gerald Ciolek (T-Mobile) placed first through third respectively
in Long Beach. photo © ironstring.com
Toyota-United Team Director Harm Jansen said the team perfectly executed its pre-race game plan: Chris Wherry would get Dominguez and Vogels to the front late in the race while teammates Justin England, Caleb Manion and Chris Baldwin marked the other teams’ moves.
“It played out exactly the way we planned it,” says Jansen. “It doesn’t get better than that.”
Sunday’s victory was particularly sweet considering Dominguez missed out on participating in two other bunch sprints earlier this week. In Stage 4, he got a flat tire with five kilometers to go and in Saturday’s Stage 6, he was dropped when the peloton split and never regained the field.
“We’ve been waiting all week for this opportunity,” Toyota-United Kirk Willett said. “We actually had our eyes on winning this stage as far back as a month ago.”
Before Dominguez’s heroics, one of his Toyota-United teammates figured prominently in a nearly race-long breakaway. Sean Sullivan was part of a seven-rider group that rolled off the front of the pack on the first of 10 laps of a 7.5-mile circuit. At the halfway point of the race, Sullivan’s group held a nearly three minute lead. It was not until the final lap – fewer than five miles from the finish – that the breakaway group was caught.
Sullivan was also part of the longest breakaway in this year’s race on Stage 4. During the 132-mile race from Seaside to San Luis Obispo, the Australian was part of a seven-man group that was in the lead for nearly 110 miles.
Levi Leipheimer (Discovery Channel Pro Cycling) won the race overall, finishing 21 seconds ahead of Jens Voigt (CSC). Leipheimer’s teammate, Jason McCartney, was third, 54 seconds behind the winning time of 24 hours, 57 minutes and 24 seconds.
Amgen Tour of California Stage 7
Results:
- Ivan Dominguez, TUP
- Graeme Brown, RAB
- Gerald Ciolek, TMO
- Luco Paolini, LIQ
- Robert Forster, GST
- Levi Leipheimer, DSC
- Jens Voigt, CSC
- Jason McCartney, DSC
- Bobby Julich, CSC
- Stuart O’Grady, CSC
About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.: Toyota established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates ten manufacturing plants including one under construction. There are more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships in the U.S. which sell more than 2 million vehicles a year. Toyota directly employs over 32,000 in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $13 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design.
About United Pro Cycling Team, L.L.C.
Based in Newport Beach, California, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Cycling, L.L.C, United Pro Cycling Team is owned and operated by Sean Tucker. Comprised of some of the top cycling talent in the country, it is positioned to be the premier cycling team in America. In addition to its racing team, United Cycling, L.L.C, wholly owns and operates United Bicycles, L.L.C. The team has also designated the United Cycling Foundation, Inc. as its designated charity, committed to raise awareness and funds for American causes including homelessness and the environment.
Additional Toyota-United Sponsors:
In 2007, The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team is exclusively sponsored by, Bicycling Magazine, Bontrager, Champion System, Fuji Bicycles, Shimano, SockGuy, Tifosi Optics, and United Bicycles, in addition to title sponsor Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.