April 11, 2005 (Morgan Hill, CA.) – Specialized Bicycles, one of the pioneering companies of the Mountain Bike, recently hosted a crowd of 1,000 spectators and entrants in its hometown for a warm Sunday filled with cycling entertainment. Some of the strongest pro cyclists and teams were breaking the speed limits of downtown Morgan Hill as men and women riders were rounding the 1.2-mile course at more than 35 mph in the revival of the once-famous race.

Webcor Women’s took tactical control of the Elite Women Pro 1/2/3 race. The green armada of riders controlled the pack as Christine Thorburn, a 2004 Olympian and Postdoctoral fellow in Rheumatology at Stanford University, cut the field for much of the competition. While the lower parts of the course were the most strategic to maneuver, the “Hill” proved to be the course’s “body blow”, the point where the race was actually lost for many riders. This was nearly Thorburn’s fate as she wrestled the climb with Gina Grain, of Victory Brewing-Specialized, in pursuit. She managed to keep the lead down the stretch and secured a first place finish. Grain placed second and Webcor’s Karen Brems took the podium in third.

“It ended very painfully,” Thorburn said with a smile afterwards. “There were local racers we see on a regular basis and it was hats off to them. Morgan Hill is a fantastic venue and it’s a great, fast course.”

Sponsor-city riders generally face more pressure, wanting a good showing at a hometown event. Billy Clark, of Morgan Stanley/ Specialized, started strong but was clearly no match for first place winner David Zabriskie of CSC. “With Webcor there, I knew I had to come out and be aggressive because I was by myself,” Zabriskie stated. Kodak Gallery/ Sierra Nevada’s Hayden Godfrey and Jackson Stewart managed to hold off the pack of Webcor riders, lead by David Clinger, and place second and third. Clinger and teammate John Kelly finished out the podium.

After competing in the pro road race, Liam Killeen and Sid Taberlay didn’t have much rest before changing bikes and entering the the Fat Boy MTB race. The Specialized teammates worked together until the final 200m, finishing first and second.

The San Francisco Bay area continues to be a national hotbed for cycling, and with the “Lance Factor,” the sport is currently enjoying a huge wave of popularity. The Specialized Morgan Hill Grand Prix was an extension of the sports surge in local interest and is another example of the company’s continued commitment to the growth and accessibility of cycling.

About Specialized Bicycles
Specialized Bicycles, founded in Morgan Hill, CA in 1974, designed and manufactured the first production mountain bike, which now resides in the Smithsonian Institute. Specialized is a company of devout cyclists obsessed with creating cutting edge, functional and technically advanced products that provide a performance benefit for the cycling enthusiast. Specialized products are available exclusively through Specialized dealers, or on the Web at www.specialized.com.

About Webcor Builders
Webcor Builders is ranked as the largest contractor in San Francisco and consistently listed among the ENR Top 400 General Contractors in the country. Webcor Builders is headquartered in San Mateo with offices in San Francisco, Hayward, Los Angeles, San Diego and Anaheim. Thirty-three years of working for such clients as Starwood Lodging, Lucas Films, Oracle Corporation, The California Academy of Sciences and Electronic Arts has secured its position as a builder for high profile, large-scale projects. With over 850 employees, Webcor currently has over $1.3 billion of contracts in place. On the cycling side, Webcor Builders has been an ever-growing supporter of the sport over the past 6 years. The upcoming season marks the third year that Webcor is fielding a team in the UCI professional arena. Visit www.webcor.com for more information.