2010 Tour de l’Abitibi

The riders leaving Rouyn-Noranda.

The starting line for Friday’s Stage 5 was in the town or Rouyn-Noranda which is about 60 miles west of Val-d’Or. The riders would ride east to Val-d’Or and complete 3 laps of the circuit through Val-d’Or before finishing in front of the town hall. The total distance the riders will race today is 71miles.

The riders lined up for the race at 4:30 PM. There was a light rain, but once again, the clouds were breaking up and it was looking like the pavement would be dry by the time the riders were going through the corners on the final laps in Val-d’Or.

The photograph above was taken by Paul Brindamour. Used with permission.

As the start of Stage 5 draws near, the driver of the team support car will be in the vehicle. As the riders are lined up to start, the team support cars are getting lined up, forming a caravan behind the the riders. Charlie Rabinowitz, the ProChain driver, waits in the team car below for the start of the race.

While Charlie is getting the team car in the 9th place position in the caravan, team mechanic Cory St Clair is walking around our team as they are waiting at the starting line. Cory is ready in case a last minute mechanical problem arises. He tops off water bottles, collects warm up jackets and waits until the starting gun goes off. Then Cory sprints for the team car and jumps in. The team car immediately speeds off with the rest of the caravan chasing the departing riders.

Below, the communications car, escort motorcycles, riders and following caravan of team cars roll out of Rouyn-Noranda in a light rain. Police cars lead the riders and follow the riders creating a “rolling enclosure” that blocks both lanes of traffic and keeps the riders safe from cars ahead and cars behind.

The photograph above was taken by Paul Brindamour. Used with permission.

The new race plan that took shape while eating pizza last night emerged on the road between Rouyn-Noranda and Val-d’Or today. The picture below sums up the new plan nicely. Taylor Gaines attacked early in the race and all of the team made the effort ride at the front to be in a position to start a breakaway or join one.

The photograph above was taken by Paul Brindamour. Used with permission.

The riders were too busy initiating and responding to attacks at the front of the pack to notice, but the road between Rouyn-Noranda and Val-d’Or took the Tour de l'Abitibi through some beautiful country.

The photograph above was taken by Paul Brindamour. Used with permission.

When the break Taylor Gaines was in got caught, Johnathan Freter (below) moved to the front and got away. His sore arm injured in Stage 1 is wrapped in saran wrap in an effort to keep the bandages underneath dry.

The photograph above was taken by Paul Brindamour. Used with permission.

Johnathan’s solo break was also caught but he ended up with one of the longest rides of the day in front of the pack.

The photograph above was taken by Paul Brindamour. Used with permission.

Below, Nathaniel Beams is recovering in the pack after moving one of our riders to the front.

The photograph above was taken by Paul Brindamour. Used with permission.

Below, Neal and Graham are going to the front here to get something going.

The photograph above was taken by Paul Brindamour. Used with permission.

Graham is getting away here about 2/3’s of the way into town with a small group that was eventually caught.

The photograph above was taken by Paul Brindamour. Used with permission.

The pavement was wet and there was a light rain most of the way in to Val-d’Or. There were several crashes but our team missed them all today. We rode hard. Our team’s increased presence at the front of the pack was reported over the race radio and is documented in these photos that a professional photographer takes while riding a motorcycle at the front of the peleton. Once the race hit the 3 lap circuit into town, Graham, moving up on the right in the picture below, was able to get 4th in the sprint. Everyone moved up today in the general classification and the Team moved from 9th place overall up to 8th. It was a great day.

The photograph above was taken by Paul Brindamour. Used with permission.

• Stage 5 Individual Results
• Individual General Classification After Stage 5
• Team General Classification After Stage 5

The team had their best day. Everyone moved up in the general classification. Here are our individual results for Stage 5.

ProChain Junior Cycling Team Individual Results For Stage 5

Place	Rider Name	Elapsed Time	Time Behind the Leader
4th	Graham Dewart	02:02:50	00:09
42nd	Brian Lark	02:02:50	00:09
43rd	Taylor Gaines	02:02:50	00:09
69th	Nathaniel Beams	02:02:50	00:09
80th	Neal Forbes	02:02:50	00:09
95th	Johnathan Freter	02:30:04	27:23