Team report filed by Jeff Sobul of Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis

Oakland, CA – The Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis will be looking to build on its early season success as it heads into the San Dimas Stage Race, March 17-19. Following the team’s sweep of the McLane Pacific races March 4-5, as well as Gord Fraser’s Stage 3 win and overall omnium title at the Central Valley Classic last weekend in Fresno, the roster features a number of riders who have already tasted success early in the season.

Fraser will lead in the sprints, while, for the overall title, the team has several options to go to as the race develops, including last year’s San Dimas winner, Scott Moninger.

“This team gives us a lot of cards to play,” said team directeur sportif Jeff Corbett. “We have three or four guys who other teams won’t be able to ignore.”

Mike Jones, winner of this year’s McLane Pacific Downtown Criterium, as well as Karl Menzies, who finished third overall at San Dimas in 2005, are also solid threats for the GC.

The Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis roster for the San Dimas Stage Race:

Gord Fraser
Tim Johnson
Mike Jones
Roman Kilun
Karl Menzies
Scott Moninger
Garrett Peltonen
Alberto Tiberio


Star of Swiss TV

A TV crew from the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation will be chronicling Alberto Tiberio throughout the San Dimas Stage Race. The station will air the feature on Tiberio in his native Switzerland.


Riders hunting hardware at Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games kicked off Thursday in Melbourne, Australia. Three riders from the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis will be hunting medals in the games.

Australian Nathan O’Neill is a strong favorite for the time trial, March 21st. New Zealanders Hayden Roulston and 2004 scratch race world champion Greg Henderson will compete both on the track and in the road race during the games, which go through March 26. Henderson is also considered a favorite again in the scratch race.

Riders and Events

Nathan O’Neill, Australia
- Road Time Trial March 21
Hayden Roulston, New Zealand
- Individual Pursuit March 16th (8th place)
- 40 Km Points Race March 17
- Road Race March 26
Greg Henderson, New Zealand
- 40 Km Points Race March 17
- 20 Km Scratch Race March 19
- Road Race March 26

Also, Lyne Bessette, the wife of Health Net Presented by Maxxis rider Tim Johnson, will compete in the games for Canada. Originally scheduled to compete in three events – the time trial and road race, as well as the XC mountain bike race – her participation in the time trial and XC races are in doubt after a crash during training a couple days ago.