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Morgan Hill Grand Prix
California, April 10, 2005
Thorburn & Zabriskie top MHGP
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Specialized Bicycles, one of the pioneering companies of the Mountain Bike, recently hosted a crowd of 1,000 spectators and entrants in its hometown for a warm Sunday filled with cycling entertainment. Some of the strongest pro cyclists and teams were breaking the speed limits of downtown Morgan Hill as men and women riders were rounding the 1.2-mile course at more than 35 mph in the revival of the once-famous race.
Webcor's women's team took tactical control of the Elite Women Pro 1/2/3 race. The green armada of riders controlled the pack as Christine Thorburn, a 2004 Olympian and Postdoctoral fellow in Rheumatology at Stanford University, cut the field for much of the competition. While the lower parts of the course were the most strategic to maneuver, the "Hill" proved to be the course's "body blow", the point where the race was actually lost for many riders. This was nearly Thorburn's fate as she wrestled the climb with Gina Grain, of Victory Brewing-Specialized, in pursuit. She managed to keep the lead down the stretch and secured a first place finish. Grain placed second and Webcor's Karen Brems took the podium in third.
"It ended very painfully," Thorburn said with a smile afterwards. "There were local racers we see on a regular basis and it was hats off to them. Morgan Hill is a fantastic venue and it's a great, fast course."
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Sponsor-city riders generally face more pressure, wanting a good showing at a hometown event. Billy Clark, of Morgan Stanley/ Specialized, started strong but was clearly no match for first place winner David Zabriskie of CSC. "With Webcor there, I knew I had to come out and be aggressive because I was by myself," Zabriskie stated. Kodak Gallery/ Sierra Nevada's Hayden Godfrey and Jackson Stewart managed to hold off the pack of Webcor riders, lead by David Clinger, and place second and third. Clinger and teammate John Kelly finished out the podium.
After competing in the pro road race, Liam Killeen and Sid Taberlay didn't have much rest before changing bikes and entering the the Fat Boy MTB race. The Specialized teammates worked together until the final 200m, finishing first and second.
The San Francisco Bay area continues to be a national hotbed for cycling, and with the "Lance Factor," the sport is currently enjoying a huge wave of popularity. The Specialized Morgan Hill Grand Prix was an extension of the sports surge in local interest and is another example of the company's continued commitment to the growth and accessibility of cycling.
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Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Rob O'Dea
- David Clinger (Webcor) at the start of Morgan Hill GP 2005
- David Clinger's pre-race pep talk
- Kodak/Sierra at the line
- Kodak/Sierra wrench Tim Brennan - ready for the start
- Shimano neutral support helps out a local fan
- Webcor out early
- Tough early chasing by the pack
- Kodak/Sierra marking Zabriski early
- Kodak/Sierra keeping the early pace high
- The famous Webcor bridge
- Kodak/Sierra manages the field enabling the key early split that ultimately decided the podium!
- The BIG climb
- Tim Larkin keeping the heat on over the climb
- Scott Zwizanski going over the top
- David Zabriski (CSC) breaks the race apart
- A heavyweight match taking shape between Godfrey & Zabriski
- Hayden Godfrey brings it back together
- Hayden Godfrey reels in David Zabriski on the climb
- Hayden Godfrey and David Zabriski battle on the climb
- Kodak/Sierra DS, Robin Zellner watches with anticipation
- Three podium riders together early - Godfrey, Clinger, Stewart
- Hayden Godfrey (Kodak/Sierra) makes an early move
- Hayden Godfrey over the top of the climb
- Webcor & Kodak trying to keep tabs on Zabriski
- A Lombardi rider survives rough crash on the climb
- David Clinger (Webcor) giving chase over the top of the climb
- Russel Hamby (Kodak/Sierra) marking a move
- The pace and the heat taking a toll on riders
- Jackson Stewart (Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada) shows his game face
- The peloton charges up the hill
- David Clinger (Webcor) lights up the afterburner to close the gap to Godfrey on the climb
- David Clinger (Webcor) leads all out up the big climb
- Scott Zwizanski (Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada) - pure concentration!
- Dave Zabriski (CSC) shows off National Champ time trial skills
- Hayden Godfrey on the attack in the final laps
- Hayden Godfrey on the attack in the final laps
- Godfrey making a final, solo chase on the last laps
- A Robins Wheel team member looking strong in the pack
- It was a closely officiated race
- Tim Brennan Kodak/Sierra wrench celebrates with the 2nd place bike
- Race winner David Zabriski (CSC)
- David Clinger (Webcor)
- 4th Place David Clinger's race face coming off the podium
- Hayden Godfrey gives an interview
- 2nd Place rider Hayden Godfrey is interviewed on the podium
- Godfrey & Stewart discuss the race with the crowd
- Kodak/Sierra Serotta Speed Machine at the podium
- Dave Zabriski shows the podium how it's done!
- The Podium - Zabriski, Godfrey, Stewart, Clinger
- Podium celebration
- Hayden Godfrey enjoys the spoils
Results
Men 1 David Zabriskie (CSC) 2 Hayden Godfrey (Kodak Gallery/ Sierr) 3 Jackson Stewart (Kodak Gallery/ Sierr) 4 David Clinger (Webcor Builders) 5 John Kelly (Webcor Builders) 6 Nathan Miller (Team Money) 7 Michael Hutchmoor (Team Spine) 8 Billy Clark (Morgan Stanley/Spec) 9 Dean Laberge (GS Lombardi Sports) 10 Sid Taberlay (Specialized) 11 Patrick Briggs (Cal Giant-Vlg Pedlr) 12 Sterling Magnell (Monex) 13 Roman Kilyn (McGuire/Larsdale) 14 Russel Hamby (Kodak Gallery/ Sierr) 15 Tim Larkin (Kodak Gallery/ Sierr) 16 Liam Killeen (Specialized) 17 Takumi Shimomira (3 BRT) 18 Chris Hipp (Labor Power) 19 Horace McFarlane (RH Villa.com) 20 Robert Campbell (The Valley Athletic) 21 Ben Jacques-Mayne (Kodak Gallery/ Sierr) 22 Mike Hoffman (Cal Giant/Vlg Pedlr) 23 Bernard Van Ulden (Webcor Builders) 24 J.F. Moustirats (RSV Unna) 25 Dirk Copeland (Arts Action Sport) 26 Brian Bosch (Central Valley Cycli) 27 Daniel Holloway (Lombardi Sports) 28 Frederic Stamm (McGuire) 29 John Knotts (LGBRC/Easton-Special) 30 Zach Walker (McGuire/Larsdale) 31 Chris Crawford (Club One/PMax Racing) 32 Skye Kraft (EastsideCycles/Marin) 33 Paul Perez (RH Villa.com) 34 Colin Beardsley (McGuire/Larsdale) 35 Daniel Martin (Safeway/G.A Comm.) 36 Max Spirin (McGuire Cycling) 37 Keith Szolusha (Delta Velo) 38 Mike Buckley (Team Spine) 39 John Staroba (Eastside Cycles) 40 Randy Bramblett (McGuire Cycling) 41 Ben Haldeman (Webcor Builders) 42 Nate Rogers (Webcor/Alto Velo) 43 Troy Barry (GS Lombardi) 44 Chris Greene (Unattached) 45 Gregor Mraz (Club One/PMax Racing) 46 Steve Alvarez (Club One/PMax Racing) 47 Dylan Suguin (Solano/Art's Auto) 48 Jesse Mendonca (Webcor/Alto Velo) 49 Gavin Chilcott (Dewar's Racing Team) 50 James Mattis (Webcor Builders) 51 Tim Brackett (Unattached) 52 Rob Evans (Village Peddler) 53 Ted Huang (Webcor Builders) 54 Joshua Snead (RH Villa.com) 55 Mike Margraf (Rocknasium/CBE) 56 Herman Johnson (Lombardi Sports) 57 Darin Divine (Lombardi Sports) 58 Ryan Wong (LGBRC/Easton-Special) 59 Todd Weitzenberg (Dewar's Racing Team) 60 Christopher White (Unattached) 61 Mark Shimahara (BikeZen.com) 62 Marc Hagenlocher (Webcor Builders) 63 Brian Heneghan (LGBRC/Easton-Special) 64 JD Bergmann (McGuire) 65 Anastasia Flores 66 Nick Height-Huf (Webcor/Alto Velo) 67 Scott Zwizanski (Kodak Gallery/ Sierr) 68 Eric Riggs (Lombardi Sports) 69 C.Montague-Breakwell (Club One/PMax Racing) 70 Michael Ma (Safeway/G.A Comm.) 71 Carlos Casillas (Davis Bike Club) 72 Dennis Hopp (LGBRC/Easton-Special) 73 Mike Smartt (RH Villa.com) 74 John Hunt (Cal Giant/Vlg Pddlr) 75 Shawn Oliver (Morgan Stanley/Spec) 76 Mike Hernandez (Team Spine) 77 Marc Collard (Webcor Builders) 78 Chris Black (Unattached) 79 Robert Newman (GS Lombardi Sports) 80 Forrest Kornig (Solano Avenue) 81 Kalen Gruber (LGBRC/Easton-Special) 82 Billy Innes (GS Lombardi Sports) 83 Ben Stafford (Webcor Builders) 84 Paul Sumner (GS Lombardi Sports) 85 Dan Smith (Morgan Stanley) 86 Bubba Melcher (Team Clover) 87 Emmet Hogan (McGuire) Women 1 Christine Thorburn (Webcor Builders) 2 Gina Grain (Victory Brewing/Spec) 3 Karen Brems (Webcor Builders) 4 Laura Charameda (Unattached) 5 Carmen D'Aluisio (Webcor Builders) 6 Felicia Greer (Webcor Builders) 7 Kim Cunningham (Morgan Stanley/Spec) 8 Starr Falk (LGBRC/Easton/Special) 9 Cynthia Mommsen (The Olympic Club) 10 Cindy Carroll (Dewar's Racing Team) 11 Sarah Baumberger (Touchstone Climbing) 12 Mo Devlin (Touchstone Climber) 13 Brenna Wolford (Velo Bella) 14 Kristin Drumm (Morgan Stanley/Spec) 15 Melodie Metzger (Unattached) 16 Kelly Bartholomew (Morgan Stanley/Spec) 17 Betina Hold (Webcor Builders) 18 Erinne Willock (Webcor Builders) 19 Cat Malone (Webcor Builders) 20 Katheryn Curri (Webcor Builders) 21 Taitt Sato (LGBRC/Easton-Special) 22 Jen Joynt (McGuire Cycling) 23 Helene Drumm (Morgan Stanley/Spec) 24 Kate Sherwin (Victory Brewing/Spec) 25 Christine Vardarro (Velo Bella) 26 Stefani Graeter (Webcor Builders) 27 Chrissy Ruiter (Ford-Basis) 28 Holly Borowski (Sierra Express Racin) 29 Sara Ellis (Village Peddler) 30 Sara Bresnik-Zocch (Ford Cycling) 31 Sarah Kerlin (Vello Bella) 32 Lisa Hauck (Santa Cruz Spokesman) 33 Julie Adams (PABW) 34 Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing/Spec) 35 Tracey Ford (Velo Bella) 36 Lisa Hunt (The Olympic Club) 37 Kristin Caldwell (Morgan Stanley/Spec) 38 Martina Patella (Easton/Specialized) 39 Erin Alders (Team Tamarack) 40 Linda Jackson (Palo Alto Women Bike) 41 Ashlee Zimmer (Eastside Cycles) 42 Kimberley Boester (Webcor Builders)
