March 19, 2006 (San Dimas, CA) — Karl Menzies made the most out of the help his Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis teammate Tim Johnson gave him during the final lap of today’s second stage of the San Dimas Stage Race – Hospital Road Race, 96 miles.

With 1.5 laps (12 miles) remaining in the 96-mile stage and the peloton mostly intact, Johnson instigated what would be the winning move of the day by attacking solo. Just before the beginning of the bell lap, four other riders, including Menzies, Health Blackgrove (Toyota-United), Trent Wilson (Jittery Joe’s) and Glen Mitchell (Priority Health), bridged up to Johnson and opened a gap that hovered near 30 seconds for the remainder of the stage.

“Wilson and Mitchell were driving the break because they were looking to move up on GC,” Johnson noted, adding that Blackgrove, riding for the team of race leader Chris Baldwin, sat on the break and kept his workload to a minimum.

Coming over the final climb, Wilson made a solo attempt for the stage, but the group countered and brought him back. “Just as we were catching Wilson, Karl launched his sprint,” Johnson said. “He really smoked the sprint.”

“Karl didn’t have to do too much work that last lap,” said Health Net Presented by Maxxis directeur sportif Jeff Corbett. “Tim did a bit more work, and that allowed Karl to sit back and save his legs a bit for the finish.”

With just a criterium stage remaining to finish out the race Sunday afternoon, Corbett noted that making a run at Blackgrove, who now sits atop of the general classification, would be difficult. “But we’ll still have a go at it,” he added.

Stage 2 – San Dimas Hospital Road Race

Men 158 km
1. Karl Menzies (Healthnet / Maxxis) 3:54:43
2. Glen Mitchell (Priority Health Cycl)
3. Heath Blackgrove (Toyota – United Pro)
4. Trent Wilson (Jittery Joes Pro Cyc) all s.t.
5. Tim Johnson (Healthnet / Maxxis) 0:12
6. Scott Moninger (Healthnet / Maxxis) 0:20
7. Mark Walters (Navigators Insurance)
8. Tommy Nankervis (Priority Health Cycl)
9. Gord Fraser (Healthnet / Maxxis)
10. Evan Elkin (Jittery Joes Pro Cyc)
—
21. Dominique Perras (Kodak Gallery.Com/Si)
33. Bruno Langlois (Aeg – Toshiba – Jetn)
89. Buck Miller (Fiordi Frutta Cyclinng)


Overall

1. Heath Blackgrove (Toyota – United Pro) 4:05:59
2. Gord Fraser (Healthnet / Maxxis) at 2:19
3. Chris Baldwin (Toyota – United Pro) 2:29
4. Trent Wilson (Jittery Joes Pro Cyc) 2:35
5. Justin England (Toyota – United Pro) 2:53
6. Scott Moninger (Healthnet / Maxxis) 2:55
7. Glen Mitchell (Priority Health Cycl) 2:58
8. Karl Menzies (Healthnet / Maxxis) 2:59
9. Peter Hatton (Jittery Joes Pro Cyc) 3:05
10. Brent Bookwalter (Priority Health Cycl) 3:12
—-
18. Dominique Perras (Kodak Gallery.Com/Si) 4:06
22. Mark Walters (Navigators Insurance) 4:11
39. Bruno Langlois (Aeg – Toshiba – Jetn) 5:36
83. Buck “Moose” Miller (Fiordi Frutta Cyclin) 15:31

Women 118km

1. Grace Fleury (Team Lipton) 2:36:31
2. Kristin Armstrong (Team Lipton)
3. Kimberly Anderson (T Mobile)
4. Kimberly Baldwin (T Mobile)
5. Alisha Lion (Velo Bella-Kona)
6. kelli Emmett (Ford Cycling)
7. Katherine Lambden (Team Lipton) all s.t
8. Rachel O’Connell (Bicycle John’s Serio) 4:32
9. Rebecca Larson (Cycle Science)
10. Nicky Wangsgard (CPT – Colnago)
—-
12. Lisa Sweeney (CPT – Colnago)
16. Moriah MacGregor (Dizzy Chicks)
19. Jenny Trew (Team Kenda Tire)
25. Anne Samplonius (Team Biovail)

Overall

1. Kristin Armstrong (Team Lipton) 2:51:22
2. Kimberly Baldwin (T Mobile) at 0:34
3. Alisha Lion (Velo Bella-Kona) 1:02
4. Grace Fleury (Team Lipton) 1:11
5. Kimberly Anderson (T Mobile) 1:39
6. kelli Emmett (Ford Cycling) 2:21
7. Katherine Lambden (Team Lipton) 3:03
8. Anne Samplonius (Team Biovail) 6:17
9. Mari Holden (T Mobile) 6:39
10. Maria Monica (McGuire Cycling Team) 7:02
—
16. Moriah MacGregor (Dizzy Chicks) 8:04
33. Lisa Sweeney (CPT – Colnago) s.t
36. Jenny Trew (Team Kenda Tire) 9:52