April 19, 2008 (Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA) – The pro women’s NCR road race today covered 22 laps of 3.52km/2.2 mile circuit on the Laguna Seca racetrack, complete with its corkscrew turns dipping down into impossibly sharp and dangerous curves. Although it started off in a bluster of side-sweeping winds kicking dirt in their faces, the women were content with the dust rather than the hailstorm and cold winds which brought a premature end to the same race last year.

This year’s strongest teams showed up in experience and age, but it was the young 19-year-old climber from Austrailia, Tiffany Cromwell (Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Homes) who stole the show winning by almost 3 minutes at 2:23:42.4, while the next five places were fiercely contested with 1.1 seconds separating the finishers.

Veteran riders like Shelly Olds, and favorites Tina Pic, Brooke Miller and Laura Van Gilder were stunned at Cromwell’s audacious ride, leaving them all wondering how she pulled it off against an experienced field, pulling away and never looking back. “It was ugly out there, but I’m a climber, and this suited me so well-it’s so fantastic, this win for me,” said an elated Cromwell.

The men’s field broke up quickly, due largely to last year’s winning team, Successful Living, acting as the mover and shaker with attack after attack. The strategy was gold. Successful Living succeeded in placing three men in a four-man breakaway, consisting of Michael Grabinger Jr., Brian Jensen and Bradley White, along with Rock Racing’s David Clinger. Together they careened away, like a runaway train that couldn’t be stopped.

A ravaging head wind stirred up dust, but held down determined chasers Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home, who finally realized the futility of it all when the gap kept growing, and the break eventually lapped the field. Colavita settled in and focused on the race for fifth, although they were edged out by John Murphy (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis.

In the end, Successful Living set up the final sprint, with Grabinger taking first, teammate, Jensen second, and Rock’s Clinger third.

Pro 1-2 Women

1. Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome 2:23:42
2. Shelley Olds (USA) Proman Women’s Racing 2:26:33
3. Rachel Heal (Gbr) TIBCO 2:26:33
4. Catherine Cheatley (USA) Cheerwine 2:26:34
5. Dotsie Bausch (USA) Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome 2:26:34
6. Stacy Marple (USA) Cheerwine 2:26:34
7. Tina Pic (USA) Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome 2:28:43
8. Brooke Miller (USA) TIBCO 2:28:43
9. Virginia Perkins (USA) Proman Women’s Racing 2:28:44
10. Laura Van Gilder (USA) Cheerwine 2:28:44
11. Coryn Rivera (USA) 2:28:44
12. Nichole Wangsgard (USA) Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome 2:28:45
13. Rushlee Buchanan (USA) TIBCO 2:28:45
14. Amanda Eaken (USA) Metromint 2:28:45
15. Kristina Seley (USA) Proman Women’s Racing 2:28:45
16. Robin Farina (USA) Cheerwine 2:28:45
17. Jenn Halladay (USA) Bob’s Bicycles 2:28:45
18. Jane Despas (USA) KLEIN REAL ESTATE 2:28:45
19. Megan Hottman (USA) DFT-QA3 2:28:45
20. Helene Drumm (USA) Proman Women’s Racing 2:28:46
21. Rachel Lloyd (USA) Proman Women’s Racing 2:28:46
22. Helen Kelly (Aus) TIBCO 2:28:51
23. Martina Patella (USA) ValueAct Capital 2:28:52
24. Flavia Oliveira (USA) Vanderkitten 2:28:53
25. Sarah Bamberger (USA) Cheerwine 2:28:54
26. Alison Rosenthal (USA) TIBCO 2:28:55
27. Jennifer Reither (USA) 2:28:55
28. Morgan Kapp (USA) 2:28:56
29. Beverley Harper (USA) 2:28:57
30. Tracy Kubas (USA) Bicycle John’s 2:29:01
31. Kate Sherwin (USA) Advil Chapstick 2:29:12
32. Ruth Clemence (USA) 2:30:05
33. Melodie Metzger (USA) Proman Women’s Racing 2:32:07
34. Jennifer Joynt (USA) Metromint 2:32:10
35. Lara Kroepsch (USA) ValueAct Capital 2:32:10
36. Jennifer Wilson (USA) 2:32:10
37. Victoria Bastide (USA) TIBCO 2:32:10
38. Kristin Drumm (USA) Proman Women’s Racing 2:32:10
39. Jadine Riley (USA) 2:32:11
40. Holly Borowski (USA) Touchstone Climbing Cycling 2:32:11

Pro 1/2 Men

1. Michael Granbinger Jr (USA) Team Successful Living
2. Brian Jensen (Den) Team Successful Living
3. David Clinger (USA) Rock Racing
4. Bradley White (USA) Team Successful Living
5. John Murphy (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
6. Anibal Borrajo (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome
7. Evan Oliphant (Gbr) Plowman Craven
8. Alejandro Borrajo (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome
9. Sid Taberly (Aus) Hobart Wheels
10. Allessandro Bazzana (Ita) Team Successful Living
11. Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome
12. Kyle Gritters (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
13. Adam Switters (USA) Rock Racing
14. Markus Weinberg (USA) Kahala La Grange
15. Caleb Manion Aus Toyota-United
16. Morgan Schmitt (USA) Bissell Pro Cyclng
17. Adam Livingston (USA) Team 5 Star/Waste Veg Oil
18. Ben King (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast
19. Alex Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast
20. Adrian Gerrits (USA) Kahala La Grange
21. Daniel Ramsey (USA) Time Pro Cycling
22. David Gittneplan (USA) Time Pro Cycling
23. Luis Amaran (Cub) Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome
24. Andrew Bajadali (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast
25. Max Jenkins (USA) California Giant Strawberries
26. Neil Coleman (Gbr) Plowman Craven
27. Ken Hanson (USA) California Giant Strawberries
28. Joao Correia (Por) Bissel Pro Cycling
29. Simon Gaywood (GBr) Plowman Craven
30. Cody O’Reilly (USA) Successful Living
31. Roman Kilun (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
32. Michael Easter (USA) Time Factory Team
33. Justin Kerr (USA) Liquid Cycling
34. Paul Mach (USA)
35. Bryson Perry (USA) American RAAD
36. Mark Shimahara (USA)
37. Daniel Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast
38. Roman Vanuden (USA) Team Rubicon
39. Vincent Owens (USA) Sierra Pacific Racing
40. James Mattis (USA) California Giant Strawberries
41. Tyler Dibble (USA) California Giant Strawberries
42. Logan Hunn (USA) Team Rubicon
43. Jesse Moore (USA) California Giant Strawberries
44. Graham Howard (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
45. Rudolph Napolitano (USA) Rock Racing
46. Jeremiah Wiscovitch (USA) Rock Racing
47. Kyle Wamsley (USA) Colavita Olive Oil/Sutterhome