Photo Courtesy, Kurt Jambretz

Sutherland Takes Stage #3 and Reclaims Overall

(May 16, 2008)

Race report filed by Health Net, presented by Maxxis

Hood River, OR - Rory Sutherland of the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis may have had his winning streak of stage race prologues snapped a couple days ago, but it didn't take him long to get back to winning races against the clock. Sutherland posted the fastest time in Stage 3 of the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, the 18-mile Scenic Gorge Time Trial, to not only win the stage but assume the overall race lead.

"I'm really happy with the result," said Sutherland, who has obviously carried over the good form that led him to the overall title of the Joe Martin Stage Race last week. "I'm a bit surprised, but the legs are good."

Sutherland will wear the leader's jersey for today's epic fourth stage, the Wy'East Road Race, which covers 101 miles and over 11,000 feet of climbing, ending in a 35-mile, 4,500-foot climb to the finish at the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort.

"We've got a really good group here, and a few of the guys, like Tim (Johnson) and Kirk (O'Bee) were with us last week in Arkansas and spent quite a bit of time on the front defending my lead there," Sutherland said. "And we have Phil (Zajicek) to help me in the mountains this week, as well. Phil is riding really well, especially given everything he's been through this year, and not racing very much. I know he was a bit disappointed in his TT Friday, but really, he put in a really strong ride and I know he's climbing well. I'm confident we'll be fine today."

Stage #3 Results:
1. Rory Sutherland, Health Net- Maxxis, 37.29:3
2. Ben Jacques-Maynes, Bissell, 37:54.9
3. Darren Lill, BMC, 38:0:9

For additional information regarding the Team, please visit www.teamhealthnet.com, or contact:

JEFF SOBUL, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Tel: 510.832.1616
Fax: 510.832.1618
Mobile: 510.334.3949
Email: jsobul@teamhealthnet.com

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