Panorama Point- The 2005 Mt. Hood Cycling Classic kicked off Thursday evening with the Panorama Prologue- a 2.5 mile time trial. The course, located on a scenic eastside ridge overlooking the Hood River Valley, was windy but dry. A time trial is a race against the clock. Competitors start in 30-second intervals, so there is no pack racing or strategy, other than to travel the 2.5 miles as fast as possible.
MENS PRO CATEGORY 1/2
As anticipated, Canadian National Time Trial Champion Svein Tuft, of British Columbia, posted the best time of 5:00 minutes flat. The Symmetrics team rider averaged 30 miles-per-hour to set the pace. Finishing second, only seven seconds behind Tuft, was last year's overall champion Russell Stevenson of team Benaroya Research. In third place with a time of 5:09 was Oregon's Ryan Trebon, riding for team Kona Les Gets.
WOMENS CATEGORY 1/2
Chrissy Ruiter, of Bend, riding for team Ford Basis posted the fastest women's time with 5:42. Tied for second place with 5:44 were both Lisa Magness, Oregon- team Hutch's, and Cynthia Mommsen, California- The Olympic Club.
MENS CATEGORY 3
Tom Morgan, Oregon- team Bike n' Hike/Giant, sprinted to a commanding lead in the Men's Category 3 division with a time of 5:10. Morgan finished 19 seconds over second place finisher Steve Wagner, Washington- Benaroya Research. In third, with a time of 5:30 was Paul Carter, California-Pegasus/Allegiant Air.
MENS MASTERS 40+
Roger Worthington, California -team Labor Power, won the Men's Masters 40+ category with a time of 5:26. In second place was Brian McGuire (California), who finished only two seconds behind Worthington. Local rider David Zimbleman, White Salmon- team Excel Sports, finished in third place with a time of 5:34.
STAGE TWO
The next stage of the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic was on Friday morning. The Cooper Spur Circuit Race started and finished at Cooper Spur Mountain Resort.
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