Sutherland runs Health Net - Maxxis road stage win streak to three at Nature Valley
Mankato, MN - Rory Sutherland ran the team's winning streak in road stages of the Nature Valley Grand Prix to three after taking Saturday's 91-mile Mankato Road Race.
"The boys were amazing again today," Sutherland said. "They were all motivated, and worked hard. It's a true testament to team work for all the stage wins here so far."
Sutherland's win follows Kirk O'Bee's victories in Stages 2 and 4. Stage 3 was an individual time trial, while the Stage 1 criterium in Minneapolis was neutralized due to rain while O'Bee was off the front solo.
The win also put Sutherland into the race lead, returning the yellow jersey to the team, after O'Bee took the lead following his win in Stage 2.
"I felt good today," Sutherland added. "The boys kept me out of the wind all day, and at the same time helped whittle down the peloton in the wind. I felt strong on the circuits, and truly, after the way the boys rode, there isn't a choice. You have to finish.
"And after (Karl) Menzies crashed out in Reading, again, no choice. We all have picked up the slack. It proves that you can't buy a team, you have to build one. And we've done that here."
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