March 02, 2013 (Merced, CA) – The Merco Credit Union Classic got underway on Thursday with the 131.4km MID Road Race on Lake McClure Road won by Phillip Gaimon (Bissell Pro Cycling) with the top Canuck Garrett McLeod (Team H&R Block) in 18th. The Merced Boosters Time Trial, 19.22km, was won by Ben Jacques-Maynes (Jamis-Hagen Berman) with David Stephens (Team H&R Block) leading the Canadians in 11th. Ken Hanson (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) won the Stage 3 McDonald’s Downtown Grand Prix. Gaimon is the race leader after three stages.

Results (brief)

Stage 1 – Feb. 28 – MID Road Race 131.4km
1. Phillip Gaimon (Bissell Pro Cycling)    3:11:46
2. Kirk Carlsen (Ind)  0:55
3. Ben Jacques-Maynes (Jamis-Hagen Berman)
4. Geoffrey Curran (Get Crackin)
5. Chad Haga (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)    1:01
6. Fred Rodriguez (Team Fast Freddie)    1:15
7. Jose Alfredo Aguirre Infante (MRI Endurance Elite Juniors p/b Monster Media Racing)
8. Michael Weicht (CashCall Mortgage)
9. Andrew Dahlheim (Bissell Pro Cycling)
10. Jesse Anthony (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)

18. Garrett McLeod (Team H&R Block)
36. Jesse Reams (Trek Red Truck Racing Pb Mosaic Homes)
42. David Stephens (Team H&R Block)
58. Nic Hamilton (Jelly Belly p/b Kenda)
74. Stuart Wight (Hagens Berman Cycling)    4:34

Stage 2 – March 1 – Merced Boosters Time Trial – 19.22km  
1. Ben Jacques-Maynes (Jamis-Hagen Berman)    0:24:36.760
2. Chad Haga (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)       0:05
3. Tom Zirbel (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)     0:05
4. Jonathan Teeter (Marc Pro-Strava)       0:08
5. Phillip Gaimon (Bissell Pro Cycling)       0:11
6. Kirk Carlsen (Ind)       0:23
7. Jeremy Vennell (Bissell Pro Cycling)      0:24
8. Michael Torckler (Bissell Pro Cycling)        0:27
9. Serghei Tvetcov (Full Circle powered by Pure Gear)       0:32
10. Logan Loader (CashCall Mortgage)        0:38

11. David Stephens (Team H&R Block)     0:41
15. Nic Hamilton (Jelly Belly p/b Kenda)        0:54
29. Garrett Mcleod (Team H&R Block)       1:24
70. Jesse Reams (Trek Red Truck Racing Pb Mosaic Homes)       2:45
120. Stuart Wight (Hagens Berman Cycling)     4:29

Stage 3 – March 2 – McDonald’s Downtown Grand Prix – 64.4km
1.     Ken Hanson (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)     1:23:25
2.     Fabrizio Von Nacher (CashCall Mortgage)
3.     Benjamin Swedberg (California Giant/Specialized)
4.     Daniel Holloway (Team Mike’s Bikes p/b Incase)
5.     Michael Weicht (CashCall Mortgage)
6.     Eamon Lucas (California Giant/Specialized)
7.     Tyler Brandt (Get Crackin)
8.    Orlando Garibay (SC Velo MRI Endurance Elite U23)
9.    Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (Jamis-Hagen Berman)
10.     James Laberge (Team Mike’s Bikes p/b Incase)

55.     Nic Hamilton (Jelly Belly p/b Kenda)
66.     David Stephens (Team H&R BLOCK)
92.     Jesse Reams (Trek Red Truck Racing Pb Mosaic Homes) 0:35
110.     Stuart Wight (Hagens Berman Cycling) 0:46

GC after Stage 3
1.     Phillip Gaimon (BISSELL Pro Cycling)     4:59:48
2.     Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (Jamis-Hagen Berman)     0:00:50
3.     Chad Haga (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)     0:01:05
4.     Kirk Carlsen     0:01:11
5.     Tom Zirbel (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)     0:01:19
6.     Jeremy Vennell (BISSELL Pro Cycling)     0:01:38
7.     Michael Torckler (BISSELL Pro Cycling)     0:01:41
8.    Serghei Tvetcov (Full Circle powered by Pure Gear)     0:01:46
9.     Jonathan Teeter (Marc Pro-Strava)     0:01:52
10.     Logan Loader (CashCall Mortgage)

11.     David Stephens (Team H&R BLOCK)
14.     Nic Hamilton (Jelly Belly p/b Kenda)     0:02:08     
65.     Jesse Reams (Trek Red Truck Racing Pb Mosaic Homes)     
89.     Stuart Wight (Hagens Berman Cycling)     0:09:48