Friday’s 110 mile road race came down to a field sprint and the time bonuses reshuffled the leader board giving Rory Sutherland (OUCH) the lead in the GC nine seconds ahead of Ben Jacques-Maynes (BISSELL). The early morning heavy rains created a menacing air going into the day’s race. In protection of their spots in the GC, BISSELL kept control of the race. The action of the day came at 50 when Alejandro Borrajo (Colavita) and Andrew Talansky (Amore & Vitta) successfully broke away from the group and built up 8 minute time gap. Pete Latham and Morgan Schmitt led BISSELL’s capture of the duo and brought them back just following the Mount Gaylor climb. The narrowing streets of downtown Fayeteville fouled up BISSELL’s plan for a lead out going into the uphill finish. “I came through the corner first with the intent of dropping off Kirk Obee,” said BISSELL’s Ben Jacques-Maynes. “Unfortunately he got bumped off my wheel on the way to the line. Lucas Haedo (Colavita) took the win with Rory Sutherland crossing in 2nd. Sutherland’s ten second time bonus gives him the race lead going into Saturday’s 92 mile circuit race. OUCH will have a tough day defending their lead with a charging BISSELL squad owning 3 riders in the top 10.
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