our race coverage

September 7-13, 2009

The BISSELL Team showed why they are 2nd in the team classification as they turned themselves inside out to defend Tom Zirbel's 3rd place in the overall. Additionally, BISSELL has 4 riders in the top 20 with Ben Jacques-Maynes in 7th, Jeremy Vennell in 15th, and Pete Latham in 20th. Saturday's penultimate stage in the Tour of Missouri was the fastest stage in the history of the race with average speeds in excess of 30mph.

Attacking was the name of the game today. Jeremy Hunt (Cervelo) was the solo move of the day, and he got away at the 43 mile point building up a 3 minute gap before being brought back. As soon as he was reeled in, the attacking resumed with a fury. The aggressors were controlled until a Quickstep and Jelly Belly rider briefly got away causing alarm in the group. However, they were caught on the final ascent up the KOM.

The group was intact as they approached the streets of downtown St. Joseph. Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas) came around for the win with Thor Hushovd (Cervelo) taking 2nd and Sebastian Haedo (Colavita) coming across for 3rd. The GC was unaffected and BISSELL's goal for the final day is to defend Tom's 3rd place. Tomorrow could be an equally tough day for the guys who only have a second to play with in Tom's defense.

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Ben in peloton (Photo by Matthew Hicks)