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Sea Otter Pro NRC Road Race - (NE)
Monterey, California, USA, April 19, 2008
Results Mountain Bike Coverage Past winners 2007 Results Live Coverage
Successful Living mounts breakaway clinic at Sea Otter
By Steve Medcroft in Monterey, California
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Three Team Successful Living teammates worked with Rock Racing's David Clinger in a four-man breakaway that lapped the field at the Sea Otter NRC Men's Circuit Race on Saturday. Brian Jensen, Michael Grabinger Jr and Bradley White worked smoothly with Clinger for all but three of the 31 laps on the 2.1-mile Laguna-Seca International Raceway to build an insurmountable lead and set up victory for the team.
Grabinger was the ultimate beneficiary of Successful Living's dominance of the event when his team-mates were able to box Clinger out of a sprint on the final straighaway giving him a clear shot to the line.
Behind the break, a peloton shattred by stiff and shifting winds never could mount a successful chase even though ultra-strong riders like Allejandro Berrajo (Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome) and Rory Sutherland appeared to rally the troops for a try. But beyond a two-lap chase by Health Net's John Murphy, no-one could gain any ground on the break.
After working with his breakmates for almost two hours, Clinger held on for third on the day behind Brian Jensen in an impressive show of veteran savvy and strength.
Aussie teen surprises women's field
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Nineteen year old Tiffany Cromwell (Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome) surprised a ten-woman break in the women's race to solo away for her first NRC victory.
Cromwell says her solo breakaway was the product of opportunity rather than perfect pre-race strategy; in the break with teammate Dotsie Bausch, Cromwell was asked to "drive the pace" by her team manager when dangerous sprinter and breakmate Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) slipped to the back and appeared to be struggling.
Northern California rider Shelly Olds (Proman Women's Racing), who just recently upgraded into the pro category, outsprinted the remaing chase group of Rachel Heal (TIBCO), Catherine Cheatley (Cheerwine), Dotsie Bausch (Cheerwine) and Stacey Marple (Cheerwine) to take second.
Also see: Live coverage of the 2008 Sea Otter NRC Pro Men's Circuit Race
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by www.brightroom.com
- Australian Tiffany Cronwell (Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome) claimed victory in the women's race.
- Michael Granbinger Jr (Team Successful Living) beat David Clinger (Rock Racing) to the finish line.
Results (provisional)
Men 1 Michael Granbinger Jr (Team Successful Living) 2 Brian Jensen (Team Successful Living) 3 David Clinger (Rock Racing) 4 Bradley White (Team Successful Living) 5 John Murphy (Health Net) 6 Anibal Borrajo (Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome) 7 Evan Oliphant (Plowman Craven) 8 Alejandro Borrajo (Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome) 9 Sid Taberly (Hobart Wheels) 10 Allessandro Bazzana (Team Successful Living) Women 1 Tiffany Cronwell (Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome) 2 Shelly Olds (Proman Women's Racing) 3 Rachel Heal (TIBCO) 4 Catherine Cheatley (Cheerwine) 5 Dotsie Bausch (Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome) 6 Stacy Marple (Cheerwine) 7 Tina Pic (Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome) 8 Brooke Miller (TIBCO) 9 Virginia Perkins (Proman Women's Racing) 10 Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine)
Past winners
Men
One-day race
2007 Daniel Ramsey (USA) Team Successfulliving.com
2006 Matt Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly
Stage race
2005 Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis
2004 Chris Horner (USA) Webcor Builders
2003 Nathan O'Neill (Aus) Saturn
2002 Chris Horner (Prime Alliance)
2001 Trent Klasna (USA) Saturn
2000 Gord Fraser (Can) Mercury
1999 Frank McCormack (USA) Saturn
Women
One-day race
2007 (Cancelled due to heavy rain)
2006 Tina Pic (USA) Colavita/Cooking Light Cycling Team
Stage Race
2005 Kristin Armstrong (USA) T-Mobile
2004 Lyne Bessette (Can) Quark
2003 Genevieve Jeanson (Can) Rona
2002 Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn
2001 Anna Millward (Aus) Saturn-Timex
2000 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn
1999 Anna Wilson (Aus) Saturn
Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com
