July 8, 2005 – Scott Moninger of the Health Net Pro Cycling Team presented by Maxxis survived several attacks by three Navigators teammates on the final climb of Stage 2 of the Cascade Classic before putting in his own charge to the line with 300 meters remaining to earn the win. The stage win was the second in a row for Health Net Presented by Maxxis, after Gord Fraser won the opener Wednesday, and moved Moninger up into second overall behind Cesar Grajales (Navigators). Chris Baldwin (Navigators) finished third on the day, and moved into third on GC.

Moninger came out of a select group of seven riders on the final climb up to Mt. Bachelor, which itself came out of a large front group that formed mid-way through the race.

The peloton began to split apart relatively early when a five-man break initiated by Baldwin and Navigators teammate Jeff Louder and including Doug Ollerenshaw of Health Net Presented by Maxxis, went off the front about 25 miles into the 90-mile stage.

Over the next 20 miles, several chase groups bridged up to the front group. First, a group of 12 including Tyler Farrar of Health Net Presented by Maxxis joined. Then seven more riders, including Fraser, bridged up. Another group of seven made it’s way to the front end of the race, finally establishing two main groups on the road, each about 40 riders, separated by about 2:30.

The front group rolled along intact until the beginning of the final climbs, with about 12 km to go. Attacks started almost immediately at the base of the climb, with Burke Swindlehurst (Seasilver) the first to have a go. The bunch quickly began to disintegrate.

But it wasn’t until Baldwin and Louder put in a series of attacks that the final decisive move formed. The two Navigators riders were joined by teammate Grajales, as well as Moninger and Ollerenshaw, plus John Tarkington (Vitamin Cottage) and David Robinson (TIAA-CEFF).

The Navigators riders set tempo for the rest of the climb until the final 2 km stretch to the finish. Ollerenshaw was the first to try to get off the front. When he was caught, Moninger countered and Baldwin and Grajales followed. The three rode together until the final 300 meters, when Moninger put in one last push to finish a few seconds ahead of the two Navigators.

“Scott’s really strong right now,” Health Net Presented by Maxxis directeur sportif Jeff Corbett said. “I think he can get into the leader’s jersey after tomorrow’s time trial we can probably defend the lead to the finish. But he has to make up around 35 seconds on Cesar, and hold off Baldwin, who’s another 35 seconds or so behind him.”

Baldwin, a specialist in the race against the clock, recently won the national time trial championship for the second time. But Moninger is a strong time trialist in his own right. Friday’s time trial is only about 12 km, so making up time could prove difficult.

Corbett also commended Ollerenshaw on his riding Thursday. “Doug’s riding well right now,” he said. “He had to cover a lot of attacks by the Navigators guys today right from the opening climb. He was on the rivet on the last climb, but he really helped Scott to the win.”

The second main group on the road, which included USPRO Champion Chris Wherry of Health Net Presented by Maxxis and Navigators’ Nathan O’Neill — both potential favorites for the overall win and both top five on GC coming in — gave up the chase at the base of the final climb. Wherry and O’Neill marked each other, neither wanting to bring the other to the front group. As a result, they finished around 10 minutes behind the stage winner.

Stage 2 Results

Men’s
1. Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis
2. Cesar Grajales (Col) Navigators
3. Chris Baldwin (USA) Navigators

Women’s
1. Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile) 3.40.33
2. Kristin Danielson (Ford-Basis) 0.02
3. Erin Mirabella (Bicycle Johns)

Overall after Stage 2

Men’s
1. Cesar Grajales (Col) Navigators
2. Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis
3. Chris Baldwin (USA) Navigators

Women’s

1. Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile) 3.40.33
2. Kristin Danielson (Ford-Basis) 0.02
3. Erin Mirabella (Bicycle Johns)