July 9, 2005 — The Stage 3 Tumalo Time Trial was the first stage of the Cascade Classic that the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis didn’t win. But the team came out of it with a bigger prize. Scott Moninger used a solid fourth-place finish to grab the overall lead from Cesar Grajales (Navigators). Moninger finished behind three of Grajales’ Navigators teammates: stage winner Nathan O’Neill, the multiple Australian national time trial champion; Chris Baldwin, current U.S. time trial champion; and Jeff Louder.

“I was mostly trying to limit my losses to Baldwin and Louder without turning myself inside out,” Moninger said. “I didn’t expect to put any time into them. I think I only lost four seconds to Louder, and maybe 20 or 25 to Baldwin. It’s pretty impressive that Navigators swept the podium, but with guys like O’Neill and Baldwin it’s not too surprising.”

Gord Fraser of Health Net Presented by Maxxis, who won the opening stage and came into the ITT sitting 6th overall, also put in a strong ride this morning to move up a place to 5th.

Though official times were not yet available, Health Net Presented by Maxxis directeur sportif estimated that Moninger’s lead over Baldwin was about 17 seconds. With a criterium this evening, as well as in the final stage Sunday, the Navigators’ only opportunity to get time on Moninger might be Saturday’s difficult, 82-mile Awbrey Butte Circuit Race.

But Moninger noted that this evening’s criterium course is technical, and the race is run at night, with an 8 p.m. local start time. “It is possible to get lost in the crowd,” Moninger added. “It would be nice to open things up and get some extra time on those guys. But we have two very good sprinters here in Gord and Tyler (Farrar), so if we’re controlling the front tonight, we might just want to dial it up and go for the win with one of those guys.”

Corbett expects the Navigators to throw everything they can at the team to try to get Baldwin or Louder in the leader’s jersey, but he pointed out that with Fraser sitting 5th overall, Navigators will have to be attentive and not let him get away. “Gord gives us one more card to play,” Corbett said.

The Cascade Classic continues this evening with a 60-minute plus five-lap criterium, which begins at 8 p.m. PT.

Stage 3 Results

Men

1. Nathan O’Neill (AUS) Navigators
2. Chris Baldwin (USA) Navigators
3. Jeff Louder (USA) Navigators
4. Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis

Overall
1. Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis
2. Chris Baldwin (USA) Navigators
3. Jeff Louder (USA) Navigators

Women

1. Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile) 15.32
2. Kimberly Baldwin (T-Mobile) 0.18
3. Mari Holden (T-Mobile) 0.47

Overall

1. Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile) 3.55.50
2. Kimberly Baldwin (T-Mobile) 0.47
3. Erin Mirabella (Bicycle Johns) 1.01