McLane Pacific Cycling Classic XIII
America's Spring Classic returns for its 13th edition March 4th & 5th one week after the finish of the Tour of California. Top Pro Teams vie for the first Single Day Classic Road Race and Criterium Victory.

The usual suspects return each Spring for the first carnival of speed for duo of one day races of racing in Merced California. With $21,000 at stake it draws the cream of the North American pros and other lower class riders every year.
Saturday is the Downtown Criterium a 40 miles on a .08 circuit racing through downtown Merced with both women and men's pro teams competing to add their names to a list of familiar names of some of the best talent and teams in North America. Gord Fraser of Healthnet has stamped his name indelibly on this criterium with multiple wins; denying Juan Jose Haedo (Colavita) twice in the last two years.

Colavita drives the sprint train near the finish 2005 McLane Pacific Criterium.

The Women are as determined as the men to strike the first victory of the season and add their names to the list that include past winners in this fast paced event: Tina Pic, Sarah Uhl, Ina Teutenberg, Lyne Bessette and Dede Barry.

Webcor pushes the pace with Quark and T-Mobile hanging on.

March 5th, Sunday the Foothills Classic race is a race often influenced by the Central Valley of California's variable Spring weather that could provide a wet and windy 120 miles with 5 laps on the 24 mile rolling circuit that climbs on a closed course. Notables in the past that have stood on the podium the mens event include: Baden Cooke, Chris Horner, Charles Dionne, Mike Sayers, Tony Cruse, and Kirk Willet. The Women's road race has as enviable list though prettier podiums including: Lyne Bessette, Manon Jutras, Ina Teutenberg, Nicole Freedman, and Tina Mayolo Pic among others.

The peloton approaches on one of the many steep hills on the 24 mile circuit.

Race Updates and Announcements:
McLane Pacific Cycling Classic Lifts 8-Man Rider Limit
The 13th Annual McLane Pacific Cycling Classic reigns as the first non-stage race of the year for the United States Cycling Federation National Racing Calendar.

Breaking with tradition, the planning committee initially implemented the suggested eight-man rider limit for participating teams. After discussions with team directors and amongst themselves, the McLane Cycling Classic Committee has decided not to cap the maximum number of riders eligible to race from each team for this year¹s event.

The Peloton passes in a scene that could be a Spring Classic in France.

"Part of what has made McLane great is the "come one, come all" nature of the event, says co-coordinator and family man Doug Fleutsch. "You¹ve got this huge, hard racing crowd owning the streets and a captivated capacity crowd of families and fans."

Anxious cyclists and enthusiastic crowds will converge in Merced the weekend of March 3-5, to see first-hand who the breakout teams and individuals will be this year.

Down Town Grand Prix
The blowout weekend for the pros begins with the Downtown Grand Prix. Saturday, March 4th, internationally acclaimed Pro cyclists will scream around a .8 mile downtown track in full view of the crowd for the first crit contest of the season.

Sunday, March 5th, the Foothills Road Race will engage all of the athletes training and abilities, as they jockey for top finishes during a 24 mile rolling loop on a closed course.
"I call it the 'wake up race' because it's like the alarm clock going off after a season of training," laughs Brian Sheedy of Priority Health Cycling Team. "It always hurts going to McLane because it¹s really fast."

Gord Fraser hefts his Sierra Nevada Cobble Trophy overhead 2005 flanked by Colavita.

Most notable among big-name riders coming to compete again at McLane this year include four-time Grand Prix Champion Gord Frasier of the Health Net team.

The results from McLane Pacific will enable teams to gauge their strengths and standings for the upcoming season.

Merced is a racing town, with numerous scenic trails snaking their way through its quaint location 70 miles southwest of Yosemite National Park. It boasts a number of young top and amateur racers on the cycling circuit, including Jason Klikna and Justin Hale, both representing BMC team this year.

"Everyone wants to win this race," says Merced native and returning racer Justin Hale.

Over 1200 riders are expected to make their mark in Merced at the McLane Pacific Cycling Classic.

Cycling enthusiasts of all ages will come out Saturday, March 4th for the Family Fun Day and cycling events. There will be a picturesque Summerton Homes Foothills Century ride for cycling enthusiasts.
The Downtown Grand Prix will be the main attraction for spectators all morning long. Families will enjoy the Educational Employees Credit Union Breakaway Zone for kids, featuring bounce houses, bike rodeo, Firehouse Brewpub beer garden, vendors, and more. Small cyclists love the opportunity to ride like the pros in their very own Sun-Star Pee Wee Classic Parade that afternoon.
For more information about the race, visit the website at www.mclanepacificcyclingclassic.com

Juan Jose Haedo Colavita Oil celebrates his victory 2005

Some collected Podiums Men:

Classic Road Race:
2005
1 Juan Jose Haedo Colavita
2 Gord Fraser Healthnet
3 Charles Dionne Webcor
2004
1 Gord Fraser HealthNet
2 Jonas Carney Jelly Belly
3  Juan Jose Haedo Colavita Bolla
2003
1 Chris Horner Saturn
2 Gord Fraser HealthNet
3 Syne Lionel Webcor
2002
1 Jay Sweet Saturn
2 Charles Dionne 7up / Nutra Fig
3 Gord Fraser Mercury
2001
1 Baden Cooke Mercury
2 Harm Jansen Saturn
3 Jamie Drew Mercury

Merced Criterium
2005
1 Gordon Fraser (Healthnet)
2 Juan Jose Haedo (Colavita Oil)
3  Sebastian Alexandre (Colavita Oil)
2004
1 Gord Fraser HealthNet
2 Jonas Carney Jelly Belly
3  Juan Jose Haedo Colavita Bolla
2003
1 Gord Fraser HealthNet
2 Miquel Meza Schroeder Iron
3 Jonas Carney Prime Alliance

2002
1 Gord Fraser Mercury
2 Harm Jansen Saturn
3 Charles Dionne 7-Up / Nutra Fig
2001
1 Baden Cooke Mercury
2 Gordon Fraser Mercury
3 Ivan Dominquez Saturn

Women
Merced Criterium
2005
1 Ina Yoko Teutenberg T-Mobile
2 Laura Van Gilder Quark Cycling
3 Gina Grain Victory Brewing
2004
1 Tina Pic Genesis Scuba
2  Sarah Uhl Quark Cycling Team
3  Nicole Freedman
2003
1 Ina Teutenberg Saturn Cycling
2 Dede Barry T-MOBILE
3 Carla Koehler Minute Maid/Dasani/La Grange
2002
1 Tina Mayolo-Pic Diet Rite
2 Lyne Bessette Saturn
3 Dara Rogers Helens Trek

Foothills Road Race:
2005
1 Ina Yoko Teutenberg T-Mobile
2 Sarah Uhl Quark Cycling
3 Michelle Beltran 
2003
1 Manon Jutras Saturn
2 Mari Holden T Mobile
3 Laura Van Gilder Saturn
2002
1 Lyne Bessette Saturn
2 Tina Mayolo-Pic Diet Rite
3 Nicole Freedman Rona