March 31, 2005 (Redlands, CA) — As it did two weeks earlier at the San Dimas Stage Race, the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis opened the Pool Gel Redlands Classic with a strong showing in the opening prologue. Chris Wherry took the top spot on the podium for the 5km Mt. Rubidoux Time Trial with a time of 8:49. San Dimas prologue and overall winner Scott Moninger finished second, :10 behind Wherry’s time.

Both Mike Jones and John Lieswyn also put in strong performances, with Jones coming 5th (:13) and Lieswyn 8th (:18). In addition, Justin England finished just outside the top 10 with a time of 9:11.

“It sets us up well for the stage up to Oak Glen,” said Health Net Presented by Maxxis directeur sportif Jeff Corbett. “The time gaps aren’t that big, so we’re not going to blow up the team trying to defend a 13-second lead. We just want to get our guys to the bottom of Oak Glen fresh and in good position. From there, we’ll try to make it hard early and maybe whittle it down to a group of 10. And if five of them are our guys, then we should be in good shape. Obviously, our guys are going uphill well right now.”

The Pool Gel Redlands Classic continues Friday with the 172 Km Sun Oak Glen Road Race, which ends with what is often the decisive climb up Oak Glen.

Mt. Rubidoux Time Trial Results

1. Chris Wherry (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis 8.49
2. Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis 0.11
3. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada 0.13
4. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling
5. Mike Jones (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis
6. Giancarlo Cheechi (USA) Monex 0.15
7. Brian Sheedy (USA) Advantage Benefits Endeavour
8. John Lieswyn (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis 0.18
9. Todd Herriott (USA) Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home
10. Ryan Trebon (USA) Aerospace Engineering 0.20