April 15 (Posted July 14)...
Post race thoughts from Team Director Gary Casella..  Part 2 of 2

Stage 6 was from Salto to Paysandu, the hometown of Uruguayan Olympian and 2000 Sydney Silver medalist, and 2003 double Pan American game Gold medalist, Milton Wynants.  Milton wasn't in this years Vuelta as he was competing in the UCI Track World Cup events to qualify for the 2004 games in Athens later this summer.  The Vuelta and the event at the Manchester indoor velodrome in England were going on during the same time.  I talked to Milton at a race prior to the Vuelta and he impressed me as a very nice, humble, down to earth guy.  He is a national hero in Uruguay obtaining the country's first Olympic medal in over 36 years.  
 
This stage was the one we were waiting for...a breather from the crosswinds and teams attacking from the gun.  Though it wasn't all that great with Mike and Chris out with injury and crashes, and myself and now Tad time cut. 
 
Tad's time cut was within the rules but due to the weather and that we were told that every finisher would start the next day...so Tad just kept it rolling.  If over 250 solo kms in two days wasn't bad enough, but to get cut after we were promised that ... was like salt on a wound.  I protested with the UCI official who was unaware of the promises to the riders.  So out of the Vuelta Tad and a few others were.  He could have used this easy day to recover and get back into it.
 
Tad is a trooper and a class act.  He learned a ton of Spanish and came down really fit to race.  He is always the first to lend a hand and also leads by example.  Tad is worthy of being our team Captain..  He'll be the first to tell you that if given the chance he's ready to go back and finish the Vuelta next time. 
 
So the stage went pretty steady and easy for the first part of the day and then as we approached Paysandu the attacks came.  With about 30Km to go to the finish Eric attacked and countered a move that seemed to be tough to bring back.  Eric immediately got clear and up the road a few hundred yards.  Nobody really bridged up to him and thus he was out solo for w few kilometers that later he said cooked him more than he thought it would. 
 
Given the fact that he had 5 days of racing and over 750 kms in his legs in that time...it gives one new appreciation to the Grand Tour riders who even just finish a 2 or three week event...much less place in the top 10 or win the overall.  You need everything to go well.  Luck, rest, recovery, food, hydration, sleep, mechanical...its all got to go smooth to not struggle as one oversight can set you in a tailspin that you can't bounce back from easily.  Given this was a new and longest stage racing experience for us...we were learning fast many of these little things that I know down the road will pay off.
 
At then end of the day there was a small move that got away and Esteban followed wheels and took another top 20 for the day finishing 16th.
 
Stage 7 was from Paysandu to Mercedes, 159 Km.  Another pretty relaxed day as the riders all knew the GC was going to be decided the next day at the Individual Time trial so not much action until the very end of the stage. 
 
There were plenty of aggressive attacks and riding to get riders to come in alone but in the end it was the first field sprint since Stage 2.  As you came into town you went over a bridge and down this main street that went along the river where the finish was about 800 meters from down the road.  The peloton was strung single file as the crossed the bridge and headed to the main road.  I see Eric and Esteban at the front end of the field and I'm getting goose bumps.  Eric soon got his own taste of bumps...riding in the grass as he was bumped while jockeying for position for a good shot at the sprint finish.  Esteban and Eric dash for the line and they cross next to each other in the top 15.  Eric was in his 11 going as hard as he could and was impressed with the amazing finishing speed of the other riders and the aggressive yet controlled riding as they got closer to the finish.  Great job for Eric and Esteban to be there at the end fighting it out. 
 
Stage 8 was the one all the GC contenders were waiting for.  In Uruguay Time trialing is what makes and defines you if you are to be a GC threat at the Vuelta or the Rutas de America the other National 10 day stage race in Uruguay usually in late February.  They have some guys that can flat out TT we heard.  Well, we now had the chance to see them.  I can say they are wicked fast. 
 
I followed Eric as he did his ride and put one of the fastest times of the day when he arrived.  The course was from Mercedes to Fray Bentos 35 km and about 750 feet of climbing...but basically rolling the whole time.  There was a bit of a cross tail wind that would favor powerful riders who could chug a big gear.  As the riders towards the top of the GC came in...the times simply were faster and faster.  The winning time was simply amazing at an average speed of well over 50kph and minutes faster then Eric or Esteban.  A bit disheartening as Eric did put everything into his ride.  Its fair to say that Eric due to an injury suffered at the Valley of the sun Stage race in Tucson, wasn't at his top form....he gave it his all today.
 
Stage 9- Fray Bentos to Trinidad.  191 Km.  This stage was now pretty much a stage for the opportunists as the GC was pretty solid but the top three were pretty close so they would be watching each other closely. The stage had many little rollers in it as well.  Many of the people in the peloton were complaining they had stomach problems, and it seems where we all ate had an "effect" on everyone though out the night.  Eric was no expection and midway through the stage his legs were like rubber and he was done.  One stage away from the finish, but he rode valiantly all the way through. 
 
A small group split away as the entered Trinidad and Esteban took the field sprint for 11th place, one of his best finishes.  His form was coming around and he was looking to finish the Vuelta well.  He was our last rider to head into Montevideo tomorrow.
 
That night Eric and I hit the town a little bit and had some fun as we looked back on the great experience this 61st edition of the Vuelta was for us.
 
Stage 10-Trinidad to Montevideo. 202 Kms.  The last stage and on the way it went through San Jose de Mayo, Esteban's hometown.  Amazing as the race went right in front of his fathers house all his family were there cheering him on.  He made them proud as the field entered Montevideo the capitol city of Uruguay with over 1 million people in the city limits. 
 
People lined the last 10 kilometers like 5+ deep on each side of the road.  Cheering and waving banners and flags as the publicity caravan cars went by and then when the riders entered the city they went crazy, cheering even louder than before.  Everyone was listening to the live radio broadcast of the race with their little hand held radios to their ears.  The play by play if you will of the race. 
 
Uruguay's Vuelta is during Semana Santa or Semana de Turismo ( week of Tourisim) and its vacation or holiday time for everyone...so whether you are a cycling fan or not...during that week one out of every two Uruguayans listen to the Vuelta live over the radio...its tradition and it is simply amazing to see and hear. 
 
Esteban attacked the field as they entered the city and stayed away almost all the way to the finish at the velodrome.  He was caught a few kilometers away but carried on to finish 12th for the day.  An epic ride and a tremendous thank you to the team as I told him to race smart and aggressive as they entered Montevideo as he was finding his legs stronger each day.  Esteban definitely made me proud as he raced towards the finish and the radio announcers calling his name and that of iomega-Orbea!
 
After the finish at the Velodrome it was like a party with all the teams and all their supporters and fans coming out to see their riders who made it all the way through.
 
The 61st Vuelta de Uruguay will be an experience I will never forget and draw upon I think for many years to come.  The lessons learned are priceless, and the people and the fans were simply amazing.  I know that our luck could have been better but overall I think everyone who made the trip was touched by the experience and the passion of the people there in Uruguay and of the Vuelta.
 
I'd like to thank Mario Carames and the Uruguayan Cycling Federation for the invitation and the opportunity to compete in the Vuelta de Uruguay, as well as our loyal sponsors: iomega zip drives, Orbea, Profile Design, Kenda Tires, CarbBoom, Cheetah Bars, and Idaho Mountain Touring.  Also of course all the people that e-mailed and checked in and supported us back home as your support was priceless to everyone on the team.