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Nature Valley Grand Prix
Minnesota

Stage 2: Cannon Falls Road Race

June 15, 2006
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Two podium places, fourth straight road race win, leader's jersey: Happy birthday Health Net director
By James Lockwood

Health Net/Maxxis' director sportif, Jeff Corbett, was in good spirits Thursday evening.

His New Zealand sprinter had just won his fourth road race in as many races. His Tasmanian rider gave Health Net a second podium with a third place finish. And his Aussie national time trial champion held onto the leader's jersey after the second stage of Great River Energy's Nature Valley Grand Prix.

Oh, yeah, and it was his birthday, as Menzies proudly announced after delivering his teammate Greg Henderson to the line and holding for the podium spot in the 58.5-mile Cannon Falls Road Race.

"That was gold," Menzies said with the day's finish.

Henderson, who just nipped Navigator Insurance's Oleg Grichkine for his fourth straight road race victory, was a bit more subdued, although not less modest.

"It just shows how strong we are," he said after finishing with four of his teammates in the final selection of 16.

Corbett, who wasn't announcing his age, was still all smiles knowing that his riders had blown the race wide open with good tactics, good survival skills, and phenomenally strong riding.

"These guys just salivate for days like today. They don't get to ride in such open, windy conditions often in United States," he said. "They relish this."

In what turned out to be almost a carbon copy of 2005's stage four of the Nature Valley Grand Prix, Health Net and Navigator's put on a clinic of team strength and smart riding to whittle down the final contenders to only a handful of the more than 160 riders. Racing on some of the same roads from last year, the two juggernauts put their riders up front for survival first, and then used the strong crosswinds across the open farm fields to blow the peloton to pieces after only 10 miles.

At first, about 30 riders made the initial selection.

"We didn't try to drill it," Corbett said. "In fact, we said, 'Don't drill it, just put it on stun.'"
But when O'Neill led the group onto a gravel dirt road three miles later, his instincts and form took over, and the group of 30 started to split even further.

"Nathan was going crazy in the gravel," Henderson said. "I was pushing 650 watts just trying to keep up."
At first, not everyone did keep up, and by the time O'Neill led the other riders back onto pavement two miles later, there were only five still on his wheel. He said that was not his intention to split the group.

"I was really riding up front to stay safe," he said. 'I figured, if I was to crash, I was going down myself and not because of anyone else."

It left others straggling just to hold on, and O'Neill said he could hear the complaints behind him.
A chase of 10 finally formed, and before the second King of the Hills line, the chase caught the front six to form the final selection: Health Net's O'Neill, Menzies, Henderson, Tim Johnson and Gord Fraser; Navigator's Grichkine, Hilton Clarke (who took the Jelly Belly Kind of the Hills Jersey), Shawn Milne, and Bernard Van Ulden; Jelly Belly-Aramark's Caleb Manion and Matt Rice; Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada's Martin Gilbert (winner of the day's SportsPro Most Aggressive Rider Jersey) and Jackson Stewart; ABD Cycling's Reid Mumford; TargeTraining's Frank Pipp; and Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home's Jonathan Page.

"It was 16 guys that should have been there," said Navigator's director sportif Ray Cipollini.

With the selection made, including contenders for general classification for most of the big teams except Toyota-United, the riders began working together smoothly, each rotating through for a share of the workload and slowing just enough when others looked to be having trouble, such as when Stewart developed rear mechanical issues 36 miles in. When O'Neill flatted about four miles later, Stewart was able to resolve his issues, and the 16 continued to work to increase their lead.

By the time the group entered the 1.8-mile finishing circuit, they had more than a 4-minute lead on the rest of the peloton and were able to finish their first lap before the first chase group entered the circuit.
It was a waiting game from there, as others in the pack knew that Health Net was too numerous and too powerful to attack anywhere short of the finish.

"If you tried to do some move, you knew that they would be able to cover," Grichkine said of Health Net's number's.

The Russian sprinter also was left without one of his teammates, as Clarke flatted in the middle of the second lap and was not able to catch back on.

With about 500 meters left, Page put in an attack that he hoped would catch the sprinters off guard. "I went early hoping to get a jump on the sprinters' teams."

Grichkine knew better, though. "That was not a serious move."

It left the Russian battling the Health Net train, originally led out by the yellow jersey of O'Neill and finally brought home by Menzies and Henderson.

The win moved Henderson into second place with the time bonus of 15 seconds, and moved Van Ulden back into third on GC. However, neither Van Ulden nor Cipollini were discouraged by the result.

"This is a race that suits my abilities," Van Ulden said. "This is one that I targeted for my season."

"We have some speed, too," Cipollini said. "We will play our cards when the time comes."

Health Net's riders, though, don't think many will get a chance to deal in with the way the team is riding.

"[Today's ride] was awesome," Menzies said. "It bodes well for the next few days."

STAGE 2 RACE RESULTS

Position
No.
 Rider Team
Time
Gap
Bonuses
1.  
12  
 Greg Henderson Health Net presented by Maxxis
2.11'46"  
  
15"  
2.  
44  
 Oleg Grichkine Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
2.11'46"  
  
10"  
3.  
15  
 Karl Menzies Health Net presented by Maxxis
2.11'46"  
  
6"  
4.  
53  
 Frank Pipp TARGETRAINING
2.11'46"  
  
  
5.  
4  
 Martin Gilbert Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team
2.11'46"  
  
  
6.  
45  
 Shawn Milne Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
2.11'46"  
  
  
7.  
281  
 Jonathon Page Colavita Olive Oil - Sutter
2.11'46"  
  
  
8.  
34  
 Caleb Manion Jelly Belly Cycling Team
2.11'46"  
  
  
9.  
47  
 Bernard Van Ulden Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
2.11'46"  
  
  
10.  
17  
 Nathan O'Neill Health Net presented by Maxxis
2.11'46"  
  
  
11.  
37  
 Matt Rice Jelly Belly Cycling Team
2.11'46"  
  
  
12.  
11  
 Gordon Fraser Health Net presented by Maxxis
2.11'46"  
  
  
13.  
115  
 Reid Mumford # ABD Cycling Team
2.11'46"  
  
  
14.  
8  
 Jackson Stewart Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team
2.11'46"  
  
  
15.  
13  
 Tim Johnson Health Net presented by Maxxis
2.11'46"  
  
  
16.  
43  
 Hilton Clarke Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
2.12'31"  
45"  
  
17.  
134  
 Jacob Rosenbarger # Rio Grande/Sports Garage
2.17'05"  
5'19"  
  
18.  
212  
 Michael Grabinger # Grandstay/Out N About Gear
2.17'05"  
...  
  
19.  
32  
 Brian Jensen Jelly Belly Cycling Team
2.17'08"  
5'22"  
  
20.  
152  
 Andrew Crater # Wheel & Sprocket
2.17'08"  
...  
  
21.  
286  
 Steve Tilford # Trek/Shimano
2.17'08"  
...  
  
22.  
107  
 Chad Nikolz # Broadmark / Hagens-Berman
2.17'08"  
...  
  
23.  
172  
 Alexander Boyd * VMG Racing
2.17'08"  
...  
  
24.  
131  
 Paul Esposti # Rio Grande/Sports Garage
2.17'08"  
...  
  
25.  
163  
 Scottie Weiss # Hincapie Sports/Bianchi/ Dasani
2.17'08"  
...  
  
26.  
197  
 Ben Raby # Bianchi/Grand Performance
2.17'08"  
...  
  
27.  
125  
 Jason Klikna # BMC Racing Team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
28.  
262  
 Hayden Brooks *# Subaru Cycling Team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
29.  
282  
 Jonathan Parrish *# LANDIS/TREK/VW
2.17'08"  
...  
  
30.  
258  
 Doug Swanson # Nature Valley Racing Team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
31.  
176  
 Rudy Robaina VMG Racing
2.17'08"  
...  
  
32.  
52  
 Andrew Guptill TARGETRAINING
2.17'08"  
...  
  
33.  
203  
 Adam Froemming # FLANDERS/MBRC
2.17'08"  
...  
  
34.  
283  
 Mike Olheiser # MMW/CARVE
2.17'08"  
...  
  
35.  
76  
 Stefan Rothe # Mercy Cycling
2.17'08"  
...  
  
36.  
21  
 Stefano Barberi * Toyota-United Pro Cycling team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
37.  
62  
 Jason Donald # Team Einstein's Cycling
2.17'08"  
...  
  
38.  
82  
 Johnny Hayes # CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25
2.17'08"  
...  
  
39.  
263  
 David Guttenplan *# Subaru Cycling Team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
40.  
264  
 Jed Schneider # Subaru Cycling Team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
41.  
153  
 Brandon Gavic *# Wheel & Sprocket
2.17'08"  
...  
  
42.  
234  
 Bill Stolte # HRRC/CollegePoint/Specialized/BikeSource
2.17'08"  
...  
  
43.  
3  
 Michael Dietrich Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
44.  
256  
 Ian Stanford # Nature Valley Racing Team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
45.  
183  
 Jon Randall # ALL9YARDS.COM CYCLING TEAM
2.17'08"  
...  
  
46.  
194  
 Pete Hanna # Bianchi/Grand Performance
2.17'08"  
...  
  
47.  
63  
 Jonathan Garcia # Team Einstein's Cycling
2.17'08"  
...  
  
48.  
222  
 Aric Hareland # Hollywood Cycles/Silver Cycling
2.17'08"  
...  
  
49.  
114  
 Bryce Mead # ABD Cycling Team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
50.  
36  
 Nick Reistad Jelly Belly Cycling Team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
51.  
28  
 Josh Thornton Toyota-United Pro Cycling team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
52.  
5  
 Scott Zwizanski Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
53.  
287  
 David Sachs # Vision Quest
2.17'08"  
...  
  
54.  
33  
 Brice Jones Jelly Belly Cycling Team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
55.  
132  
 Scott Nydam # Rio Grande/Sports Garage
2.17'08"  
...  
  
56.  
74  
 Brian Dziewa # Mercy Cycling
2.17'08"  
...  
  
57.  
196  
 Eric Marcotte # Bianchi/Grand Performance
2.17'08"  
...  
  
58.  
26  
 Ivan Stevic Toyota-United Pro Cycling team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
59.  
46  
 T. Burke Swindlehurst Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
60.  
192  
 Duane Dickey # Bianchi/Grand Performance
2.17'08"  
...  
  
61.  
254  
 Andy Minier # Nature Valley Racing Team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
62.  
42  
 Siro Camponogara Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
63.  
193  
 Peter Fairbanks # Bianchi/Grand Performance
2.17'08"  
...  
  
64.  
204  
 David Zimmerman *# FLANDERS/MBRC
2.17'08"  
...  
  
65.  
14  
 Mike Jones Health Net presented by Maxxis
2.17'08"  
...  
  
66.  
244  
 Ryan Nenninger # Mercy-Specialized
2.17'08"  
...  
  
67.  
31  
 Andrew Bajadali Jelly Belly Cycling Team
2.17'08"  
...  
  
68.  
201  
 Erik Dahl # FLANDERS/MBRC
2.20'09"  
8'23"  
  
69.  
198  
 Dale Sedgwick # Bianchi/Grand Performance
2.20'09"  
...  
  
70.  
25  
 Sterling Magnell Toyota-United Pro Cycling team
2.20'20"  
8'34"  
  
71.  
103  
 Owen Gue *# Broadmark / Hagens-Berman
2.28'17"  
16'31"  
  
72.  
127  
 Osvaldo Olmos # BMC Racing Team
2.28'17"  
...  
  
73.  
182  
 Ralph Henderson # ALL9YARDS.COM CYCLING TEAM
2.28'17"  
...  
  
74.  
111  
 Frank Dierking # ABD Cycling Team
2.28'17"  
...  
  
75.  
65  
 Jack Seehafer Team Einstein's Cycling
2.28'17"  
...  
  
76.  
245  
 John Olney # Mercy-Specialized
2.28'17"  
...  
  
77.  
133  
 Barkley Robinson # Rio Grande/Sports Garage
2.28'17"  
...  
  
78.  
224  
 Tim Mulrooney # Hollywood Cycles/Silver Cycling
2.28'17"  
...  
  
79.  
35  
 Dave Mccook Jelly Belly Cycling Team
2.28'17"  
...  
  
80.  
145  
 Abraham McNutt # Abercrombie & Fitch p/b Inferno
2.28'17"  
...  
  
81.  
191  
 Terry Beenken # Bianchi/Grand Performance
2.28'17"  
...  
  
82.  
41  
 Ben Brooks Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
2.28'17"  
...  
  
83.  
171  
 Spencer Beamer * VMG Racing
2.28'17"  
...  
  
84.  
54  
 Matt Shriver TARGETRAINING
2.28'17"  
...  
  
85.  
51  
 Josh Bezecny TARGETRAINING
2.28'17"  
...  
  
86.  
257  
 Dan Swanson # Nature Valley Racing Team
2.28'17"  
...  
  
87.  
161  
 Chris Harkey # Hincapie Sports/Bianchi/ Dasani
2.28'17"  
...  
  
88.  
162  
 Shane Weaver # Hincapie Sports/Bianchi/ Dasani
2.28'17"  
...  
  
89.  
284  
 Philip Wikoff # Team Hotel San Jose
2.28'17"  
...  
  
90.  
81  
 Guy East *# CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25
2.28'17"  
...  
  
91.  
83  
 Chris Kuhl *# CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25
2.28'17"  
...  
  
92.  
126  
 Owen Laine *# BMC Racing Team
2.28'17"  
...  
  
93.  
121  
 Kyle Barbary # BMC Racing Team
2.28'17"  
...  
  
94.  
123  
 Ken Hanson # BMC Racing Team
2.28'17"  
...  
  
95.  
261  
 Brian Bibens # Subaru Cycling Team
2.28'17"  
...  
  
96.  
16  
 Kirk O,Bee Health Net presented by Maxxis
2.28'17"  
...  
  
97.  
116  
 John Puffer # ABD Cycling Team
2.28'17"  
...  
  
98.  
211  
 Daniel Casper # Grandstay/Out N About Gear
2.28'17"  
...  
  
99.  
216  
 Jarred Berger # Grandstay/Out N About Gear
2.28'17"  
...  
  
100.  
272  
 Cole House *# Endeavour
2.28'17"  
...  
  
101.  
142  
 Ryan Gamm # Abercrombie & Fitch p/b Inferno
2.28'17"  
...  
  
102.  
93  
 Thomas Soladay # LSV/Kelly Benefit Strategies
2.28'17"  
...  
  
103.  
77  
 Mat Stephens # Mercy Cycling
2.28'17"  
...  
  
104.  
6  
 David Robinson Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team
2.28'17"  
...  
  
105.  
128  
 David Rodriguez # BMC Racing Team
2.28'17"  
...  
  
106.  
22  
 Ivan Dominguez Toyota-United Pro Cycling team
2.28'17"  
...  
  
107.  
215  
 Matt Williams # Grandstay/Out N About Gear
2.28'17"  
...  
  
108.  
23  
 Jose Garcia Toyota-United Pro Cycling team
2.28'17"  
...  
  
109.  
112  
 Mike Ebert # ABD Cycling Team
2.28'17"  
...  
  
110.  
226  
 Jason Snider # Hollywood Cycles/Silver Cycling
2.28'17"  
...  
  
111.  
155  
 Morgan Wiswall # Wheel & Sprocket
2.28'17"  
...  
  
112.  
223  
 Jay Henderson # Hollywood Cycles/Silver Cycling
2.28'17"  
...  
  
113.  
233  
 Thomas Luke # HRRC/CollegePoint/Specialized/BikeSource
2.28'17"  
...  
  
114.  
85  
 Chris Ruhl *# CRCA/Sakonnet