The 2008 Cascade Classic is expected to be one of the toughest races in the NRC this season with a very strong field. The BISSELL Pro Cycling Team is sending a powerful roster including Aaron Olson, Ben Jacques-Maynes, Burke Swindlehurst, Ted King, Jeremy Vennell, Morgan Schmitt, Omer Kem, and Tom Zirbel. With their exclusion from the Tour de France, Astana riders, Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner, will be maintaining their form at Cascade while Garmin-Chipotle led by Tom Danielson and BMC will each have an 8 man roster in the race. Rory Sutherland with his Health Net Team and Rock Racing with Santiago Botero will also be raising the level of play.
The race opens on Wednesday with the Prineville Road Race. This stage favors neither climber nor sprinter but the overall racer with power and endurance. The 78.5 mile stage 2 Three Creeks Road Race will definitely test the climbers with the finish at the top of 3 Creeks. Skyliners TT is a 15 mile time trial occurring on Friday and will definitely suit the BISSELL time trial specialists. The Downtown Crit comes next and is a familiar flat and fast course as it is the same as in past years consisting of 6 corners in downtown Bend. The signature course of the Cascade Classic, the Cascade Lake Road Race, is the 83 mile stage 5. This incredibly scenic course celebrates fantastic road conditions as it climbs the infamous Sparks Lake and finishes at the Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort. The final stage of the Cascade Classic is a circuit race and features a bit of everything with short quick descents and a KOM. As in past years, this stage is expected to shake up the GC with breaks and time bonuses.
The BISSELL Pro Cycling Team is definitely focused on having a great race and is excited by the high level of competitors in the field.
|
