Riders will climb 35,000 feet (10 668 meters) over 400 miles (643.7 kms) in the Mt Hood Cycling Classic, while racing in one prologue, one circuit race, one time trial, two road races and one criterium over the course of 6 days, starting May 29 ending on June 3.

by Lyne Lamoureux

Mt. Hood Cycling Classic
Photo c. Mt Hood Cycling Classic

Racing over the course of 6 days, the riders will climb 35,000 feet (10 668 meters) over 400 miles (643.7 kms) in the Mt Hood Cycling Classic. This year’s race serves up a new crowning stage that covers nearly 10,000 feet (3 048 meters) of vertical over 92 miles (148 kms) and finishes at the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area on the flanks of Mt. Hood. To add to the challenge, the organizers have reformatted the time trial to make it a point-to-point adventure through the Columbia River Gorge that measures 18.5 miles (30 kms), during which the riders will face 1950 feet (594 m) of climbing. Factor in headwinds, diversity of terrain, the strongest pro field in its history, and the scenic splendor of the Gorge and Mt. Hood, and this race is without question an epic one.

In just 4 years, the organizers have transformed the event from a mere dream of a few avid racers in the area into an established pro sanctioned race that has been selected as one of the National Racing Calendar (NRC) stops in 2007. Backed by great sponsors and tremendous community support, the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic attracts some of the strongest riders in North America and abroad. National, World and Olympic champions all come to test themselves and earn national ranking points.

Returning to defend his 2006 overall win, and also winner of the 2006 prologue and time trial stages is Australian Nathan O'Neill with his Health Net presented by Maxxis teammates including Canadian Ryder Hesjedal winner of the KOM at the Tour de Georgia. He will face strong competition from the the Navigators Insurance Cycling team led by Phil Zajicek who finished second in 2006 and New-Zealander Glen Chadwick. Hoping to finish on the first step of the podium is Chris Baldwin from Toyota-United Pro Cycling team hunting for his first stage race win in 2007 after finishing second at Tri-Peaks Challenge and Tour of the Gila and third at Joe Martin Stage Race and Central Valley Classic. Other contenders include current NRC leader Ben Jacques-Maynes leading his Priority-Health presented by Bissell team, Aaron Tuckerman from Team Rubicon who finished a surprising third at Tri-Peaks stage race. Domestic teams bringing full squads and hoping to make their marks include California Giant/Specialized, Team Rio Grande, Team Bobs-Bicycles.com, Hagens Berman, LLP with 2006 KOM winner Adrian Hegyvery, and Fiordifrutta Elite Cycling Team.

Of note is the presence of Team Rwanda, a development team of 5 African riders sponsored as part of the Project Rwanda effort. Project Rwanda was founded by Tom Ritchey after he visited Rwanda in 2005, out of his passion for cycling, a love of Rwanda’s natural beauty, and the inspiring stories of hope of the Rwandan people.

Leah Goldstein, winner of the 2006 and 2005 Mt Hood Cycling Classic and 2006 QOM, is hoping to defend her title with only one Symmetrics Cycling teammate Marni Hambleton. She will face strong challenges from teams such as Aaron's Pro Cycling Team led by Joe Martin Stage Race overall winner Kat Carroll, Bicycle John's Serious Cycling, Team TIBCO, PROMAN/paradigm, Wachovia/IBC and Wines of Washington.

In addition to the pro/elite racing the event also hosts several different amateur categories. Over 500 riders showed up to race in 2006 making it the largest competitive road or mountain biking event in the Northwest this year.

Stage previews

Tuesday, May 29 - Stage 1 - Panorama Point Prologue Presented by The Fruit Company

Stage 1 Profile
Photo c. Mt Hood Cycling Classic

This 3-mile (4.8 km) course begins with a short hill, and then dips to a left-hand turn. From there the road is straight and a gradual downhill slope. The course ends with a sharp left to an uphill finish at Panorama Point.

Wednesday, May 30 - Stage 2 - Columbia Hills Road Race Presented by Embarq

Stage 2 Profile
Photo c. Mt Hood Cycling Classic

The Stage 2 Columbia Hills Road race course runs over flat terrain with only one category 5 climb per loop, the men will race 110 miles (177 kms) or 4 laps with a total of 6000 feet (1829 m) of climbing , and the women 84 Miles (135.2 kms) or 3 laps with 4500 feet (1372 m) of climbing. The 28-mile (45 km) lap begins with a fast run-out on a flat road with tailwinds likely, climbing at the Kelly Cut-off. After the feed zone at the top of the climb, the road descends to an extremely acute right hand turn onto a narrow and twisty road through Eightmile Canyon and then right turn to start the loop again.

Thursday, May 31 – Stage 3 - Cooper Spur Circuit Race Presented by Giant Bicycles

Stage 3 Profile
Photo c. Mt Hood Cycling Classic

The Cooper Spur Circuit Race course set right on the climatic transition zone, works its way through the fertile farmland and orchards of the upper Hood River Valley and into an alpine setting at Cooper Spur Resort. The stage starts in Toll Bridge Park at the foot of Mt. Hood and finishes at the Cooper Spur Mountain Resort, with nearly 8 miles of twisting descent. With 18.7 miles (30.1 km) per lap and 1750 feet (533 m) of climbing per lap, this stage will be the first big test of the riders’ fitness and climbing prowess. The men will ride 4.5 laps for a total of 87 miles (140 km) and 9000 feet (2743m)of climbing and the woman will ride 3.5 laps for a total of 66 miles (106 kms) and 7150 feet (2 179 m) of climbing.

Friday, June 1 - Stage 4 - Scenic Gorge Time Trial Presented by Best Western Hood River Inn

Stage 4 Profile
Photo c. Mt Hood Cycling Classic

The re-designed 18.5 miles (29.8 km) Scenic Gorge Time Trial provides more elevation gain and more flat power sections than last year. After riding on a flat five-mile (8 km) terrain, the riders will face the 2-mile (3.2 km) category 3 climb up the Rowena Loops winding its way up to the top of the Columbia River Plateau. Once on top, the course gradually descends into the town of Mosier and then climbs back up a category 4 climb to the Historic Mosier Tunnels. Once through the tunnels, the riders will snake through five miles )8 km) of the Columbia River Highway State Park’s flat to rolling terrain and finish at the Park’s West entrance.

Saturday, June 2 - Stage 5 - Wy'East Road Race Presented by Gorge Delights

Stage 6 Profile
Photo c. Mt Hood Cycling Classic

Brand new this year, the Wy'East Road Race replaces the flood ravaged Three Summits Road Race from last year. The name for this stage, Wy’East, originates from the Native American name for its Mt. Hood summit finish, at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area.

The racers will begin the 89-mile (143 km) stage from Cooper Spur Mountain Resort with a 5-mile (8 km) descent tat brings them to the category 1 climb with the first KOM (QOM) points of day at the summit, followed by a long 15-mile (24 km) descent into the small town of Dufur. After the first feed zone, the course climbs back up to the second KOM (QOM) points at the top of the category 2 Tygh Ridge Summit. Another plunge in elevation brings the riders to the 35-mile (56 km), 4500 foot (1372 m) ascent to the summit finish at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort. The final 2-mile (3 km) stretch to the ski resort has an average gradient of 10%, including sections that approach 12 percent.

Sunday, June 3 - Stage 6 - Downtown Hood River Criterium Presented by Cramer's Mortgage Services

The one-mile (1.6 km) Downtown Hood River Criterium loop starts going uphill before taking a sharp right hand turn and then immediately descends into a left hand curve followed immediately by a sharp right hand turn coming back nearly 120 degrees. A long flat straight stretch allows riders to pick up serious speed before entering into a four corner square block that drops the riders back onto the finishing stretch 200 meters from the finish line. The men will race over 60 minutes and the women will race 50 minutes.

Past Winners

Women
2006 - Leah Goldstein, Symmetrics Cycling
2005 - Leah Goldstein, Trek/Red Truck Beer Racing Team
2004 - Lisa Magness, Wells Fargo / Ragatz

Men
2006 – Nathan O'Neill, Health Net
2005 – Svein Tuft, Symmetrics
2004 - Russell Stevenson, Benaroya Research Institute

Start List – Women

201 Leah Goldstein (ISR) Symmetrics
202 Marni Hambleton (CAN) Symmetrics
203 Sharon Allpress (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
204 Lisa Hunt (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
205 Martina Patella (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
206 Katie Mactier (AUS) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
207 Hannah Banks (AUS) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
208 Courtenay Brown (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
209 Alice Pennington (USA) Desalvo Custom Cycles
210 Gabriela Gonzalez-Ferrat (MEX) Bicycle John's Serious Cycling
211 Carine Bester (USA) Bicycle John's Serious Cycling
212 Marg Fedyna (CAN) Bicycle John's Serious Cycling
213 Michelle Beltran (USA) Bicycle John's Serious Cycling
214 Megan Elliott (USA) Bicycle John's Serious Cycling
215 Emily Van Meter (USA) Wachovia/IBC
216 Amy McGuire (USA) Wachovia/IBC
217 Samantha VanGerbig (USA) Wachovia/IBC
218 Suz Weldon (USA) Wines of Washington
219 Dana Robertson-Halter (USA) Wines of Washington
220 Jeanie Bihlmaier (USA) Wines of Washington
221 Lea Stralka (USA) Wines of Washington
222 Lise Grace (USA) Wines of Washington
223 Tricia Bailey (USA) Wines of Washington
224 Maria Monica (USA) Touchstone Climbing
225 Jill McLaughlin (USA) Touchstone Climbing
226 Tracie Nelson (USA) Touchstone Climbing
227 Holly Borowski (USA) Touchstone Climbing
228 Allison Beall (USA) Ti Cycles/Avanti Racing
229 Carrie Eller (USA) Ti Cycles/Avanti Racing
230 Elizabeth Nettles (USA) Ti Cycles/Avanti Racing
231 Katie London (USA) Team TIBCO
232 Yukie Nakamura (USA) Team TIBCO
233 Flavia Oliveira (USA) Team TIBCO
234 Katharine Carroll (USA) Aaron's Pro Cycling Team
235 Kristin Sanders (USA) Aaron's Pro Cycling Team
236 Michelle Kiesanowski (NZL) Aaron's Pro Cycling Team
237 Carmen McNellis (USA) Aaron's Pro Cycling Team
238 Felicia Gomez (CAN) Aaron's Pro Cycling Team
239 Abby Lyn Cooper (USA) PROMAN/Paradigm
240 Kate Ligler (USA) PROMAN/Paradigm
241 Kristina Seley (USA) PROMAN/paradigm
242 Brenna Lopez-Otero (USA) Velo Bella-Kona
243 Rebecca Gross (USA) Velo Bella-Kona
244 Teri Sheasby (USA) Bend Bike N Sport
245 Heather Clark (USA) Bend Bike N Sport
246 Jill Waskom (USA) Bend Bike N Sport
247 Jeanne Rumps (USA) Team Bobs-Bicycles.com
248 Sarah Barber (USA) Team-BobsBicycles.com
249 Julie Beveridge (CAN) Bicisport
250 Irene Beyerlein (USA) Colavita Sutter Homes
251 Ally Stacher (USA) Etna Brewing Co./DeSalvo Cycles
252 Chellie Terry (USA) Fitzgerald's Bicycles
253 Jen Joynt (USA) Metromint Cycling
254 Monique Hein (USA) Monstr Healthcare
255 Sue Butler (USA) River City Bicycles
256 Laura Brown (CAN) Team Integrale
257 Beverley Harper (USA) Webcor Builders
258 Hilary Billington (USA) Nike

Start List – Men

1 Nathan O' Neill (AUS) Health Net presented by Maxxis
2 Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis
3 Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Health Net presented by Maxxis
4 Roman Kilun (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis
5 Matt Crane (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis
6 Jeff Louder (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis
7 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
8 Michael Wolf (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
9 Matt Cooke (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
10 Glen Chadwick (NZL) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
11 David Rodriguez (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
12 David OLoughlin (IRL) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
13 Darren Lill (RSA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
14 Bernard VanUlden (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
15 Ian McKissick (USA) BMC Racing
16 Ryan Trebon (USA) Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada
17 James Mattis (USA) California Giant/Specialized
18 Devon Vigus (USA) California Giant/Specialized
19 Chris Lieto (USA) California Giant/Specialized
20 Jesse Moore (USA) California Giant/Specialized
21 John Hunt (USA) California Giant/Specialized
22 Max Jenkins (USA) California Giant/Specialized
23 Patrick Dunaway (USA) California Giant/Specialized
24 Osvaldo Olmos (USA) California Giant/Specialized
25 Michael Olheiser (USA) Memphis Motor Works
26 Brent Miller (USA) Kenda/ Titus/ X-Fusion MTB Team
27 Collin Becker (USA) Team Rio Grande
28 Brad Cole (USA) Team Rio Grande
29 Brad Bingham (USA) Team Rio Grande
30 Allen Krughoff (USA) Team Rio Grande
31 Dan Workman (USA) Team Rio Grande
32 Phil Mann (USA) Team Rio Grande
33 Ryan Morris (CAN) Team Rio Grande
34 Taylor Kneuven (USA) Team Rio Grande
35 Matt Weyen (USA) Team Bobs-Bicycles.com
36 Mark Santurbane (USA) Team Bobs-Bicycles.com
37 Justin Rose (USA) Team Bobs-Bicycles.com
38 Justin Mayfield (USA) Team Bobs-Bicycles.com
39 Eric Rumps (USA) Team Bobs-Bicycles.com
40 Derik Archibald (USA) Team Bobs-Bicycles.com
41 Michael Gallagher (USA) Team Bobs-Bicycles.com
42 Robert Campbell (USA) Team Bobs-Bicycles.com
43 Andrew Fischer (USA) Hagens Berman, LLP
44 Adrian Hegyvery (USA) Hagens Berman, LLP
45 Adam Curry (NZL) Hagens Berman, LLP
46 Jakob MacArthur (USA) Hagens Berman, LLP
47 Sam Johnson (USA) Hagens Berman, LLP
48 Nick Weighall (USA) Hagens Berman, LLP
49 Owen Gue (USA) Hagens Berman, LLP
50 Ulrich DeYoung (USA) Hagens Berman, LLP
51 Marco Rullo (ITA) Rock Racing
52 Greg Drake (USA) Unattached
53 Barry Wicks (USA) Kona
54 Christopher Jones (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling
55 Erik Tonkin (USA) Kona
56 Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling
57 Bobby Lea (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling
58 Chris Baldwin (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling
59 Justin England (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling
60 Stefano Barberi (BRA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling
61 Heath Blackgrove (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling
62 Brian Buchholz (USA) BPG/ Montano Velo
63 Christian Kearney (USA) BPG/ Montano Velo
64 Evan Lawrence (USA) BPG/ Montano Velo
65 Jesse/Andy Mendonca (USA) BPG/ Montano Velo
66 Matthew Willinger (USA) BPG/ Montano Velo
67 Uthman Ray IV (USA) BPG/ Montano Velo
68 Sean McBride (USA) BPG/ Montano Velo
69 Omer Kem (USA) Priority Health/Bissell
70 Morgan Schmitt (USA) Priority Health/Bissell
71 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Priority Health/Bissell
72 Cameron Wurf (AUS) Priority Health/Bissell
73 Garett Peltonen (USA) Priority Health/Bissell
74 Chris Rozdilsky (USA) Fiordifrutta Elite Cycling Team
75 Cory Burns (USA) Fiordifrutta Elite Cycling Team
76 Hayden Brooks (AUS) Fiordifrutta Elite Cycling Team
77 Jamey Driscoll (USA) Fiordifrutta Elite Cycling Team
78 Josh Dillon (USA) Fiordifrutta Elite Cycling Team
79 Todd Nordblom (USA) Fiordifrutta Elite Cycling Team
80 WILL Rieffelmacher (USA) Fiordifrutta Elite Cycling Team
81 Aaron Tuckerman (USA) Team Rubicon
82 Brad Payne (USA) Team Rubicon
83 Dan Harm (USA) Team Rubicon
84 Kirk Carlsen (USA) Team Rubicon
85 Logan Hunn (USA) Team Rubicon
86 Matt Brandt (USA) Team Rubicon
87 Richard Speer (USA) Team Rubicon
88 Abraham Ruhumuriza (RWA) TEAM RWANDA
89 Adrien Niyonshuti (RWA) TEAM RWANDA
90 Nyandwi Uwase (RWA) TEAM RWANDA
91 Rafiki Jean de Dieu Uwimana (RWA) TEAM RWANDA
92 Nathan Byukusenge (RWA) TEAM RWANDA
93 Joseph Wiley (USA) Axley USA.com
94 Lang Reynolds (USA) Axley USA.com
95 Nathan Smith (USA) Axley USA.com
96 Jamie Stangeland (USA) Axley USA.com
97 Chris Daifuku (USA) First Rate Mortgage
98 Tyler Stetson (USA) First Rate Mortgage
99 Kenny Williams (USA) First Rate Mortgage
100 David Richter (USA) Ital Pasta - Transport Belmire
101 Philippe Abbott (CAN) Ital Pasta - Transport Belmire
102 Thorben Wieditz (CAN) Ital Pasta - Transport Belmire
103 Brock Curry (USA) NOW MS-Society
104 Daniel Stevens (USA) NOW MS-Society
105 Johnny Rondash (USA) NOW MS-Society
106 Patrick Zahn (USA) Recycled Cycles
107 Ben Rohdes (USA) Recycled Cycles
108 Jimmy Lingwood (USA) Recycled Cycles
109 Galen Erickson (USA) Recycled Cycles
110 Mitch Moreman (USA) Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
111 Ben Kneller (USA) Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
112 Grant Berry (USA) Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
113 John Eisinger (USA) Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
114 Alex Rock (USA) Contender Bicycles
115 Evan Hepner (USA) Contender Bicycles
116 Nate Page (USA) Contender Bicycles
117 Andy Schultz (USA) Bear Naked/Cannondale
118 Erik Slack (USA) BYRDS
119 Zach Winter (USA) Capitol Subaru Cycling
120 Mitchell Trux (USA) DBC Elite
121 Stephen Dey (USA) DBC Elite
122 Luke Pennington (USA) Desalvo Custom Cycles
123 Stephen Ferris (CAN) ERTC/Red bike
124 Jason Thompson (CAN) Escape Velocity
125 Ian Burnett (USA) Fort Lewis College
126 Joey Thompson (USA) Fort Lewis College
127 Carl Decker (USA) Giant Bicycles
128 Nicolas Andrichuk (CAN) H&R Block
129 Bruce Copeland (CAN) Juventus/River Valley Cycle/Kona
130 Shaun Adamson (CAN) Juventus/River Valley Cycle/Kona
131 Trevor Connor (CAN) La-Z-Boy Cycling
132 Andrew Kulmatiski (USA) Logan Race Club
133 Chris Swan (USA) Lombardi Sports
134 Jarred Gilker (USA) Mercy Cycling
135 Bill Reuss (USA) Owens Healthcare
136 Quinn Keogh (USA) Paul's Bicycle Way of Life
137 Steven (Sandy) Perrins (USA) Sienna Development - Goble Knee Clinic
138 Daniel Vinson (USA) Team 5 Star Fish
139 Matthew Johnson (USA) Team 5 Star Fish
140 Aren Timmel (USA) Team Chico
141 Patrick McGlynn (USA) Team Einstein's
142 Kyle Barbary (USA) Team Spine
143 Michael Hutchinson (USA) Team Spine
144 Jason Williams (USA) Team Zoka
145 Jesús Ilundáin (USA) Unattached
146 Eric Schuman (USA) Unattached
147 Brian Kendall (USA) Unattached
148 Ryan Barthel (USA) Unattached
149 Ross Berger (USA) Vitamin Cottage
150 Eric Barlevav (USA) VRC-MSVRC-MS Society
151 John Lackey (USA) ZOKA