November 2, 2005 -The Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis has spent the past two seasons as the top team on the NRC calendar. The results of the Team during the 2005 campaign were perhaps the most dominating ever by a domestic professional team, and the Team is likewise gunning for a third consecutive NRC title. According to Team Director Jeff Corbett, “We’ve put together a roster that once again positions us as the team to beat in North America.” The 2006 Team Roster includes:

-Gord Fraser, Canada
-Kyle Gritters, USA
-Greg Henderson, New Zealand
-Tim Johnson, USA
-Mike Jones, USA
-Roman Kilun, USA
-Jeff Louder, USA
-Karl Menzies, Australia
-Scott Moninger, USA
-Kirk O’Bee, USA
-Nathan O’Neill, Australia
-Doug Ollerenshaw, USA
-Garrett Peltonen, USA
-Mike Sayers, USA
-Alberto Tibero, Switzerland

The Team signed several marquee talents in the off-season to supplement an
already strong core of returning riders. The Team added Australian veteran Nathan O’Neill, the seemingly perennial Australian National Time Trial Champion, who won the overall title at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Beauce in 2005. O’Neill is joined by two of his Navigators teammates: all-around threat Jeff Louder, as well as strong man Kirk O’Bee. Louder placed second at U.S. Time Trial Nationals and posted podium finishes at the Cascade Classic and G.P. Beauce in 2005. O’Bee finished 5th in the USPRO Championship in Philadelphia in 2005, and also took two stage wins each in the Cascade Classic and BC Superweek.

The Team also added one of the revelations of the 2005 season, Australian Karl Menzies, who finished 6th in the individual NRC standings in just his first full season as a professional in North America. Tim Johnson is another key off-season addition. He was added as much for his leadership skills as for his riding ability, which obviously is good enough for him to ride at the highest levels of cycling. Johnson, who in 2004 rode for Pro Tour Team Saunier Duval/Prodir, is also one of the best cyclo-cross racers in U.S. history, having won national championships at every level he’s ridden.