March 4, 2007 (Merced, CA) — Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United) and Brooke Miller (Team Tibco) won the men’s and women’s events respectively at yesterday’s Stage 1, Downtown Grand Prix p/b McLane Pacific, at the Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic, running March 3-4, 2007 in Merced, CA. Canada’s Dominique Rollin (Kodak Gallery Pro Cycling Team) was fourth in the men’s race

Kodak Gallery Pro Cycling Team Report

In the first National Racing Calendar event of the season, the Kodak Gallery Pro Cycling Team, presented by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. made an impressive showing riding at the front of the peloton in the MERCO Cycling Classic, collecting six primes and placing riders fourth and ninth overall.

Team co-owner Robin Zellner put the team’s performance in context, “our team demonstrated today that we not only come to race, but we have the depth, talent and hunger to control races at the highest levels.”In the race’s opening laps, Kodak Gallery – Sierra Nevada riders Ben Raby, Pete Lopinto and Mike Dietrich launch attacks that immediately made the team’s presence felt.

For the rest of the sunny afternoon the spotlight shone on Kodak Gallery’s Josh Thornton who escaped off the front of the field with Health Net’s Rory Sutherland after capturing one of his five primes. The pair stayed away for much of the race as the field chased in vain. In the closing laps, Kirk Obee of Health Net joined the duo. Despite the added horsepower, the field caught the breakaway on the final lap with Toyota-United’s Ivan Dominguez, fresh off a final stage win at the Tour of California, taking the field sprint.

In reflecting on the day’s effort, Thornton said, “I felt good today – I was very consistent. For only my third race of the year, it’s great to feel in the zone like I did today. I was also impressed with how well my teammates all looked. Today’s was a great event.” Thornton finished 16th,

Kodak Gallery – Sierra Nevada rider Dominique Rollin, the reigning Canadian National Road Champion, looked strong all day. Half way through the race, Rollin came through the pack to take the day’s 8th prime. “I wanted to test my legs so I just followed some wheels and went for it coming out of the last corner,” Rollin explained.

As the race drew to a close, Rollin exploded through the field to capture 4th place. “I was isolated after a crash in the last corner took out the guy I was supposed to lead out. I tried to place myself, but after shielding guys from the wind for the last few laps, it was tough to get through on my own.”

In his first year riding for the Kodak Gallery Pro Cycling Team, Jamiel Danesh worked hard to make a name for himself. The effort paid off with a 9th place finish in the field sprint. “I was very excited by the team’s performance in our first race together. We were in every break and rode at the front all day. This bodes well for an exciting 2007.”

Team co-owner and operations manager, Kurt Stockton was pleased with what he saw on the road today. “Our guys raced as a cohesive team better than any of the other teams I’ve been involved with – they executed the race plan perfectly. We brought the race today and forced all of the other teams to respond. Josh Thornton was on another planet today and that was fun to watch!”

Elite Men

1. Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United)
2. Recardo Escuela (Successful Living)
3. Dan Shmatz (BMC)
4. Dominique Rollin (Kodak Gallery Pro Cycling Team)

Elite Women

1. Brooke Miller (Team Tibco)
2. Suzanne De Goede (T-Mobile)
3. Laura Kreopsch (TEAm Lipton)