Cyclingheroes

Health Net Presented by Maxxis returns strong core

“The guys we’ve re-signed for ’08 were instrumental to the success of the team in 2007,” states Team Directeur Sportif Mike Tamayo. “Building the squad around these guys will ensure the team is just as strong next season.”

Anchoring the returning group is individual NRC title winner Rory Sutherland. In his first season racing in North America, the 25-year-old from Canberra, Australia showed consistency throughout the season, wracking up numerous wins and podiums, including two stage wins at the Redlands Classic and a stage and overall title at the Joe Martin Stage Race.

“Rory started out the season strong and just got better as the season progressed,” Tamayo said. Sutherland also proved to be a valuable teammate, turning into one of the primary lead-out men for another returning rider, Tasmanian Karl “Ten” Menzies.

Menzies had another strong season, finishing fourth in the individual NRC standings, despite missing part of the season to attend to family business. Menzies won three stages and the overall title of the International Tour de ‘Toona in July. His other major NRC wins included two stage wins at the Joe Martin Stage Race, as well as the MERCO Foothills Road Race. He also showed himself in the international arena, winning the opening stage of the prestigious Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under and holding the race leader’s jersey for three days. He went on to finish second overall.

“Karl is simply one of the strongest riders out there,” Tamayo said. “He can get over climbs that you might not expect someone his size to be able to do. And then he can smack you in the sprint to the line. There’s no question he’ll contend for podiums all next season.”

The Team also will return veteran strong-man Frank Pipp, who continues to demonstrate that he’s one of the country’s top-tier riders. Pipp took one of his biggest wins in Charlotte, N.C., at the Presbyterian Healthcare Invitational. He also won the notoriously difficult sixth stage of the Nature Valley Grand Prix, as well as finished third at the challenging Lancaster Invitational during Philly Week. He improved steadily all season to finish 13th in the NRC competition.

“Frank was our go-to guy on a number of occasions and delivered for us,” Tamayo notes. “He’s also been a key component of our lead-out train, and a good tactical strategist. We know we can rely on Frank to be a consummate teammate.”

For 2008, the Team will once again be led by team captain and super-domestique Tim Johnson. Johnson’s contributions to the team often go unnoticed by the general population, but his work ethic and knowledge of racing make him an invaluable member of the team.

“Tim sacrifices himself for teammates at every race he rides,” Tamayo said. “His selflessness and experience give us a team leader that we can all rely upon, myself included.”

The Team also returns two young veterans of the squad, sprinter and criterium specialist Kyle Gritters and all-arounder and super-domestique Roman Kilun. Gritters missed the second half of the 2007 season after being hit by an SUV during a training ride on the eve of the Philadelphia Cycling Championship. He has returned to health and will be even more motivated to generate results in ’08, again targeting the National Criterium Championship. Kilun showed his value in helping the team to a number of stage race overall wins, including the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic.

The two youngest members of the ’07 squad, John Murphy and Matt Crane, also will be back for more in 2008. Despite being looked upon as developmental riders in 2007, both have contributed solid results, as well as the hard work necessary to earn wins for the team.

Menzies was particularly impressed with the young duo’s work in preserving his overall win at Altoona. “Those guys stepped up more than anyone,” he said. “They’re just kids, but they rode like bloody superstars. They were super impressive.”

Both riders have posted some solid results, as well, with Murphy earning his first NRC win by taking the Stage 4 individual time trial at the Tri Peaks Challenge in May. The two are expected to continue their development under the tutelage of their more experienced teammates.

New Faces for ‘08

In addition to the eight returning riders, Health Net Presented by Maxxis is adding three new riders to the ’08 roster, headlined by former Navigator Phil Zajicek. Over the past few years, Zajicek has been one of the most consistent stage racers in North America. In 2007, he finally broke through with a long sought-after overall win at the Cascade Classic, as well as achieving podium finishes at Mt. Hood and Redlands. In 2004, he won the difficult Tour of Qinghai Lake in China.

“I’m excited to have Phil on board for ’08,” said team captain Tim Johnson. “He’s great in the time trials, he’s a strong all-arounder and races aggressively. He gives us another card to play in stage races, and he’ll fit in well on the team. We’re all friends off the bike as well.”

Zajicek is joined by Navigators teammate Matt Cooke. In his first year as a pro in 2007, Cooke achieved good results, but was better known for shepherding teammates, including Zajicek, in the hillier portions of stage races. He helped Zajicek to podium finishes at Redlands and the San Dimas Stage Race, while also scoring top 10s in stages of both races.

Completing the 2008 roster is neo pro Corey Collier, who rode for the elite Einstein’s Bagels squad in ’07. The 25-year-old Coloradoan is another strong all-arounder, with good abilities in the mountains.

“Corey is someone we had our eye on most of the 2007 season,” Tamayo said. “He put up some impressive results, and always seemed to be in the mix in tough races.” Those results included finishing 8th overall at the Joe Martin Stage race, just 0:21 behind race winner and new teammate Sutherland. He also scored a pair of top-ten stage finishes at the Cascade Classic, and won the top amateur classification at the Nature Valley Grand Prix en route to 12th overall.

The Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis will convene for the first time at training camp in late January, in preparation for the first major goal of the season, the Amgen Tour of California.

Health Net Presented by Maxxis riders returning for 2008:

Matt Crane, USA
Kyle Gritters, USA
Tim Johnson, USA
Roman Kilun, USA
Karl Menzies, TAS
John Murphy, USA
Frank Pipp, USA
Rory Sutherland, AUS

Health Net Presented by Maxxis new riders for 2008:

Corey, Collier, USA
Matt Cooke, USA
Phil Zajicek, USA

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