Training Camp

Pre-Season Training Camp and Tour of San Luis in Argentina

Jamis/Sutter Home Men’s Cycling Team presented by Colavita Makes 2010 Racing Debut in Argentina at Tour de San Luis (UCI 2.1)

Fresh from a brief, pre-season training camp in the sunshine of Argentina, the riders of the Jamis/Sutter Home Men’s Cycling Team presented by Colavita lined up for the seven-day Tour de San Luis.  Running from January 18th through the 24th, the UCI 2.1 category event is the highest ranked race in South America.  The team’s roster for the race includes Demis Aleman (ARG), Tyler Wren (USA), Andy Guptill (USA), Ivan Dominguez (USA), Frank Travieso (USA), Nick Frey (USA), Anibal Borrajo (ARG), and Guido Palma (ARG).  Alejandro Borrajo, who had been on the podium at the Tour de San Luis in previous years, did not race due to injuries sustained during training camp.  He will re-join the squad in early February.

Andy Guptill, one of the most promising young cyclists racing in the North American peloton and a three-year veteran with the Jamis/Sutter Home squad, is the team’s race commentator for the 2010 season.  Here is his first report from the Tour of San Luis.....

Stage 1 (January 18), 2010):  Cloudy skies and strong winds greeted the riders at the start of the flat, 160-kilometer stage.  After a short neutral procession through the streets of San Luis, racing began in earnest and Jamis/Sutter Home riders were active from the start.  Guido Palma bridged to a short-lived break early before a group of five riders finally distanced themselves from the field. Nick Frey, Demis Aleman, and Guido Palma put in tremendous efforts to drop Anibal Borrajo in a favorable position with less than a kilometer to go.  Anibal more than held his own in the hectic sprint, crossing the line in an impressive sixth.   A promising start to what is sure to be a very successful season!

Stage 2 (January 19, 2010; Road Race):  The sun was back and the temperatures were high for the start of Stage 2.  The 157-kilometer/97.5 mile stage saw the riders tackle what seemed like an endless number of short, steep climbs, before finishing on top of Mirador del Potrero, a 5-kilometer/3.1-mile mountain pass.  With no neutral start to today’s stage, racing was fast an aggressive right from the gun.

Knowing the finishing climb would be where the race was won or lost, Demis Aleman and rest of the Jamis/Sutter Home squad did their best to shelter Tyler Wren, the team’s top climber at the race.  From the bottom, it was a full-on drag race with riders being dropped by the dozens, and within the first kilometer the front group had already disintegrated to about 30 riders.  Tyler hung tough and stayed with the group even as riders were attacking off the front and increasing the pace even more. Overall, an outstanding effort for a rider coming from the cold winter climate of the US to South America to compete against riders in the heart of their competitive cycling season.  

Stage 3 (January 20, 2010; Road Race):  More sun, steady winds, and temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit were the setting for the flat, 199.7km/124 mile third stage of the Tour de San Luis.  Often it’s long, flat, mid-race stages like this when the major GC contenders try to conserve energy and breakaways can slip through with better chances of staying ahead for the win.  With that in mind, Team Jamis/Sutter Home Demis Aleman, Frank Travieso, Andy Guptill, Anibal Borrajo, and Guido Palma took turns attacking and covering from the start. The stage also included two intermediate sprints, offering time bonuses and points for the sprint competition for the top three riders.  Andy took third and second in the sprints, putting him in sixth overall in the competition. 

Once a field sprint was certain, Nick Frey, Demis, and Guido worked together to bring Anibal to the front of the field. Anibal gave everything he had and finished an impressive 6th, matching his stage 1 performance. 

Unfortunately, a crash in the field with just 15 kilometers remaining took down several riders, including Jamis/Sutter Home’s Tyler Wren and Ivan Dominguez.  Tyler was able to rejoin the group and finish the stage, but Ivan was forced to abandon, as doctors feared his wrist was broken. Directeur Sportif Sebastian Alexandre reported later that x-rays showed no broken bones.  Sebastian said Ivan will be back on the bike as soon as his road rash heals.

Stage 4 (January 21, 2010; Individual Time Trial):  The 19.8km/ 12.3 mile individual time trial marked the midway point of the Tour de San Luis.  After three days of long road races, the shorter time trail was a welcome change but was by no means less taxing on the riders as the out-and-back course was characterized by stiff headwinds in some sections.  The stage offered a great opportunity for former U23 National Time Trial Champion Nick Frey to test his form and further dial in his position on his Jamis T2 time trial bike.  Nick had a solid ride and his time stood as second fastest of the day until the race’s top GC riders took to the course.

Stage 5 (January 22, 2010; Road Race):  Bright sunshine and scorching hot temperatures continued for the 157km/ 97.3 mi road race, which included a 20km/12.4 mile climb. On either side of the climb, the road was crisscrossed with small streams, forcing the riders to ride through water and slick surfaces.  The climb itself turned out to be much steeper than many riders anticipated, with a narrow serpentine road tracing an impossibly steep mountainside.  On some of the more aggressive switchbacks, team cars that stopped to service their riders could not regain momentum and had to back down the road to a flatter section before advancing again.  Jamis/Sutter Home’s Tyler Wren put everything he had into the climb and reached the summit with a strong group of riders.

Stage 6 (January 23, 2010; Road Race): The hot temperatures and bright sun began to take their toll on the Jamis/Sutter Home riders, who, coming from colder climates, had limited hours in the saddle prior to the race. While the 150km/93 mile road race is among the shorter stages of the 2010 Tour de San Luis, it is also one of the most difficult with a Category 2 climb early and a mountaintop finish. Attacks started right from the gun and the run-in to the climb was fast and aggressive.  The Jamis/Sutter Home squad did a great job keeping Tyler Wren protected and in good position.  Climbing well as he has all week, Tyler maintained contact with the front group and turned in a strong finish for the stage.

Stage 7 (January 24, 2010): The 167 km/103.5 mile stage began with a neutral procession through the center of San Luis, followed by three laps around a challenging, undulating loop on the outskirts before returning to the city streets for the finish.  Sunny and hot (again), the racing was aggressive from the start with every team looking for one last result.  Team Jamis/Sutter Home was of the same mind and had every rider covering moves and attacking from the start. The break that managed to get away included several high-placed GC riders so the pace never slowed and the entire peloton was under pressure to ride at an uncomfortable pace the entire day.  At roughly 5 kilometers/3.1 miles from the finish, the pace accelerated to breakneck speeds and the breakaway was finally reeled in.  With a field sprint certain, the Jamis/Sutter Home squad began to move sprinter Anibal Borrajo into position.  Nick Frey showed his strength and lead-out prowess, hitting the front of the field with just under a kilometer to go to fly the Jamis/Sutter Home colors in front of the thousands of spectators lining the road.  Anibal sprinted well for an 11th place on the stage. 

Overall, it was a very successful race with several top 10 finishes and aggressive racing.  With such perfect weather and long stages, it was a perfect tune-up for the racing season ahead.