Podium wins for Rolf Prima wheels at Elkhorn Classic Stage Race
With weather ranging from pelting torrential downpours and hail to partly sunny skies and moderate temperatures, the 8th annual Elkhorn Classic was one to remember. It started off with a 72-mile road race that led the group up and over the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Bobby Sweeting of Land Rover-Orbea, outsprinted a four-man breakaway on his Rolf Prima Vigor's, to take the win on day one. Day two was plagued with strong winds that made all fight for their finish in the 11-mile out and back time trial. Adrian Hegyvary of Hagen Bermans, also on Rolf Prima Vigor's, road the course only 0:01 slower than the winner, placing him ahead of Sweeting in the GC.
Stage three consisted of a six-corner, L-shaped criterium, centered in Downtown Baker City. Adding another stage race win, Sweeting pushed his way into the top five-man breakaway and held the lead through the last straightaway to claim the win.
Day three was due to be a 102-mile road race, but with reports of coming snow, the road race was cut to a 12-mile out of town stretch, followed by seven-miles of climbing. Taking the lead early was Kevin Rowe of Bob's Bicycle.com. Sweeting later admitted his mistake in letting the Bob's Bicycles.com rider go, saying he was caught up in the rush up the hill and with the rider in front of him on GC (Hegyvary), that he didn't realize a threat to his own GC spot had ridden up the road. Rowe held his lead to win the final stage, with Sweeting and Hegyvary only 33-seconds behind. Final GC standings placed Hegyvary winning the Elkhorn Classic and Sweeting at 0:31- taking third giving Rolf Prima representation at 1st and 3rd.