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Leah Kirchmann powers to Joe Martin Stage 1 victory

Leah Kirchmann
April 24, 2015
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Canadian road champion Leah Kirchmann (Optum) out-kicked her rivals to take Friday’s first road stage of the 2015 Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In the men’s 177-km contest American John Murphy of United HealthCare grabbed a sprint victory soon after the remnants of the day’s Canadian-packed breakaway were lassoed.

The women started at kilometre 78 of the men’s course, which meant that the peloton had to climb the 16-km Mount Gaylor in spitting rain. Back in Fayetteville, and soon after reeling in late solo escapee Whitney Schultz (USA/Colavita-Bianchi), Kirchmann–sixth in Thursday’s time trial prologue–easily outsprinted Coryn Rivera (USA/United HealthCare) and American Mandy Heintz of Fearless Femme up the 350-metre, 6% finishing ramp.

Fifth on the day, Lauren Stephens (USA/Tibco-SVB) continues to lead the women’s side. Kirchmann moved up to fourth, 27-seconds behind Stephens.

In the men’s race, the day’s breakaway didn’t gel until the 65-km mark. Then nine riders, including Canadians Jordan Cheyne (Isagenix), Ben Perry (Silber), Ryan Macdonald and Bailey McKnight (H&R Block), Kris Dahl (Team SmartStop) stole away. Though they lost one or two breakmates, the gang stayed ahead of the peloton that didn’t give the fugitives more than three minutes.

By the 10-km mark there was only Macdonald and Oscar Clark (USA/Hincapie) left with 50-seconds to a minute’s lead. The duo surrendered in the final kilometres and a feisty bunch sprinted for the glory with John Murphy getting the better of the Hincapie boys Ty Magner (USA) and Kiwi Dion Smith. Ryan Roth of Silber was top Canadian in sixth and is also sixth on GC.

Prologue winner Gregory Brenes (Costa Rica/Jamis-Hagens Berman) keeps the yellow jersey, while Murphy dons the points jersey and Dion Smith slips on the young rider kit.

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