Hood winner Pitel takes second to Longo at French National Time Trial champs

The 2009 Mt. Hood Cycling Classic winner Edwige Pitel returned to France and placed second Thursday in the French National Time Trial Championships. Pitel finished 33 seconds behind cycling legend Jeannie Longo, who won her 56th French National Champion jersey.

Both Pitel and Longo were forced to adjust their bikes or ride different ones after UCI officials ruled their bike set-ups illegal, according to VeloNews.com. Longo, who faced a similar problem at the 2008 Mt. Hood Classic that forced her to miss her start time, adjusted her bike and made her start. Pitel rode a spare bike.

At the 2009 Mt. Hood race, Pitel won the Prologue and two stages on her way to taking the overall women's crown of the four-stage race June 3-7 in Hood River.

VeloNews.com has the complete story.

Mt. Hood - Pitel wins final stage and overall, Mach fights off Baldwin's challenge

Check out the complete 2009 Mt. Hood Cycling Classic race reports on VeloNews.com.





RESULTS
Stage 4, Full Sail Donwtown Hood River Criterium
June 7

Pro/1/2 Men Stage 4
1. Jamie Sparling (CAN), Trek Red Truck Racing-Mosaic Homes, in 1:09:19
2. Justin England (USA), California Giant-Specialized, same time
3. Aaron Olson (USA), OAKLEY-SIDI, s.t.
4. Corey Collier (USA), Rio Grande, s.t.
5. Adrian Hegyvary (USA), Hagens Berman Cycling, at 0:12

Pro/1/2 GC Final
1. Paul Mach (USA), Bissell Pro Cycling, in 9:54:34
2. Chris Baldwin (USA), OUCH-Maxxis, at 0:13
3. Corey Collier (USA), Rio Grande, at 1:59
4. Mike Olheiser (USA), Warp9bikes.com-Tristar, at 2:08
5. Rob Britton (USA), Trek Red Truck Racing-Mosaic Homes, at 2:09

Pro/1/2/3 Women Stage 4
1. Edwige Pitel (FRA), Sorella Forte, in 49:43
2. Robin Farina (USA), ValueAct Capital Cycling, s.t.
3. Alison Testroete (CAN), Total Restoration Cycling, s.t.
4. Patricia Bailey (USA), Wines of Washington, s.t.
5. Martina Patella (USA), ValueAct Capital Cycling, s.t.

Pro/1/2/3 Women GC Final
1. Edwige Pitel (FRA), Sorella Forte, in 10:51:02
2. Leah Goldstein (CAN), ValueAct Capital Cycling, at 0:18
3. Melissa Mcwhirter (USA), Veloforma, at 2:22
4. Robin Farina (USA), ValueAct Capital Cycling, at 2:48
5. Patricia Bailey (USA), Wines of Washington, at 3:25

Mt. Hood - Britton, Butler snatch road race wins; GC leaders hold on

RESULTS
Wy'East Road Race, 92 miles, June 6

Men Pro/1/2 Stage 3
1. Rob Britton (USA) Trek Red Truck Racing Pb Mosaic Homes, 4:07:31
2. Chris Baldwin (USA) Ouch Pro Cycling Team Presented By Maxxis at 0:00:01
3. Paul Mach (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling at 0:00:01
4. Corey Collier (USA) Team Rio Grande at 0:00:18
5. Dave Vukets (CAN) Trek Red Truck Racing Pb Mosaic Homes at 0:00:43

Men's GC
1. Paul Mach (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling, 8:44:41
2. Chris Baldwin (USA) Ouch Pro Cycling Team Presented By Maxxis at 0:00:13
3. Mike Olheiser (USA) Warp9bikes.com/tristar at 0:02:08
4. Rob Britton (USA) Trek Red Truck Racing Pb Mosaic Homes at 0:02:09
5. Morgan Schmitt (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling at 0:02:28

Women Pro/1/2/3 Stage 3
1. Sue Butler (USA) Monaviecannondale.com, 92 miles in 5:03:49
2. Edwige Pitel (FRA) Sorella Forte at 0:00:29
3. Gillian Moody (CAN) Total Restoration Cycling Team at 0:00:29
4. Alisha Welsh (USA) Pcim at 0:00:29
5. Teri Sheasby (USA) Bend Bike N Sport at 0:00:32

Women's GC
1. Edwige Pitel (FRA) Sorella Forte, 10:01:29
2. Leah Goldstein (CAN) Valueact Capital Cycling Team at 0:00:11
3. Melissa Mcwhirter (USA) Veloforma at 0:02:15
4. Robin Farina (USA) Valueact Capital Cycling Team at 0:02:44
5. Patricia Bailey (USA) Wines Of Washington at 0:03:15

Gone with the wind: blowing through the stage 2 time trial

(Oregon rider Karsten Hagen [ZteaM] is racing the Matsers 35+/45+ race at the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic. He sent Cycling Action this report from the Stage 2 Scenic Gorge Time Trial).

By Karsten Hagen

We left the start house facing headwinds so strong I was considering starting in my small ring. Nevertheless, my goal was to keep Jeff Bannink (Team Type1) from passing me. I mean, I haven't had this much horsepower nipping at my heels since I threw a water balloon at a guy on a Harley when I was 8.

Everyone in our race had the same goal; break up the GC and score some extra time. Dave Zimbelman (ZteaM) was an angry man after cramping up and getting shelled yesterday. He more than made up for it today by storming the course showing everyone else out there how to time trial. Paul Bourcier and Bannink rounded out the top three (yep, Jeff passed me).

Tomorrow, the time gaps in the GC will be measured in five and 10 minute chunks rather than seconds. But I'll think about that then.

Mt. Hood - Baldwin takes Scenic Gorge Time Trial, Pitel regains lead

RESULTS
Mt. Hood Cycling Classic
Stage 2 Scenic Gorge Time Trial, June 5

Women Pro/1/2/3 Stage 2 Time Trial
1. Edwige Pitel (Sorella Forte) 50:05.01
2. Leah Goldstein (ValeAct Capital) +.05
3. Patricia Bailey (Wines of Washington) +1:42
4. Melissa McWhirter (Veloforma) +2:18
5. Robin Farina (ValueAct Capital) +2:37

Wome Pro 1/2/3 GC
1. Edwige Pitel (Sorella Forte) 4:57.17
2. Leah Goldstein (ValeAct Capital) +.02
3. Melissa McWhirter (Veloforma) +2:06
4. Patricia Bailey (Wines of Washington) +2:22
5. Robin Farina (ValueAct Capital) +2:27

Men Pro/1/2 Stage 2 Time Trial
1. Chris Baldwin (OUCH-Maxxis)42:44.67
2. Paul Mach (Bissel Cycling Team) +.03
3. John Chodroff (OUCH-Maxxis) +.35
4. Mike Olheiser (warp9bikes.com/tristar) +1:00
5. Nathaniel English (ZteaM) +1:11

Men Pro/1/2 GC
1. Paul Mach (Bissel Cycling Team) 4:37.13
1. Chris Baldwin (OUCH-Maxxis) +.15
3. Morgan Schmitt (Bissell Cycling Team) +1:22
4. Mike Olheiser (warp9bikes.com/tristar) +1:22
5. John Chodroff (OUCH-Maxxis) +1:44

Mt. Hood amusement park open for business

(Oregon rider Karsten Hagen (ZteaM) is racing the Matsers 35-45 race at the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic. He sent Cycling Action this report from the Cooper Spur Circuit Race).

By Karsten Hagen

HOOD RIVER -- Today's Masters race was a 3rd rate amusement park haunted house ride through every kind of weather June can throw at humanity. At first, we flew on rails through shimmering 90 degree heat and slick humidity. Attacks were active and quite noble; my teammates got involved often and we put a good face on the race. There was the usual bitching and complaining about heat and lack of feedzones. But when it came time to race, we got after it.

Then, everything changed.

The sky became bruised and sullen and the wind reminded us that the Gorge is no place for complacency. The temperature dropped 30 degrees and hail pelted us as if it were being shot by malicious kids in the bushes. Our amusement park ride became slow, choppy and full of irritated, middle aged men.

For every attack, there was a response, but no counterattack. It was as if nobody felt motivated to hang by themselves in what was becoming a hail and wind driven maelstrom worthy of a Wagenerian opera.

But why am I talking about Opera at midnight on a Thursday?

I, myself, got sick of being batted around by a field that was moving slower than a funeral procession in New Orlens. I made a move, got joined by someone from River City Bicycles and forged one of those fleeting and wordless partnershps that breakaway compatriots have enacted in countless races since the turn of the 20th century. We slogged it out and were joined by John Browning (Cyclepath Racing), a superhuman being from another planet.

The three of us tried our best to put time on the field in what I thought was a sure bid for victory. We worked through the switchbacks up to Cooper Spur with some semblence of efficiency and finished the lap with no field in sight.

Unfortunatley for me, as we crossed the line at the top of the climb, I realized we still had a lap to go. My legs seized up in thermonuclear powered cramps almost immediately and it took every ounce of willpower my mama gave me to put any effort into the descent.

But that descent is sure fun!

We were summarily caught and executed by the chasing field at the bottom of the hill and rode our way into another tempestuous headwind. My seeapost managed to work its way down about 5mm during the race and my legs felt like death had come to them at least 40 years early.

The finish was uneventful, but very, very hard. I managed to hang onto the main field; pretty good for a 200 pound dude!

McWhirter, Mach take Cooper Spur wins, overall leads at 2009 Mt. Hood Cycling Classic

RESULTS
Mt. Hood Cycling Classic
Stage 1 Cooper Spur Circuit Race, June 4

Women Pro1/2/3 Stage 1
1. Melissa McWhirter
2. Robin Farina
3. Gillian Moody
4. Leah Goldstein
5. Alisha Welsh

Women Pro/1/2/3 GC
1. Melissa McWhirter 4:07:00 0:00:00
2. Robin Farina 4:07:02 0:00:02
3. Leah Goldstein 4:07:09 0:00:09
4. Edwige Pitel 4:07:12 0:00:12
5. Alisha Welsh 4:07:27 0:00:27

Men Pro/1/2 Stage 1
1. Paul Mach
2. Morgan Schmitt
3. Justin England
4. Rob Britton
5. Corey Collier

Men Pro/1/2 GC
1. Paul Mach 3:54:26 0:00:00
2. Morgan Schmitt 3:54:34 0:00:08
3. Chris Baldwin 3:54:44 0:00:18
4. Rob Britton 3:54:44 0:00:18
5. Mike Olheiser 3:54:51 0:00:25

Olheiser, Pitel strike first at Mt. Hood Cycling Classic

RESULTS
Prologue Time Trial, 3.1 miles, June 3

1. Mike Olheiser (Warp9) 06:12.63
2. Paul Mach (Bissell) 06:14.47
3. Chris Baldwin (OUCH-Maxxis) 06:14.57
4. Morgan Schmitt (Bissell) 06:18.14
5. Roman Kilun (OUCH-Maxxis) 06:18.54

1. Edwige Pitel (Sorella Forte) 07:20.05
2. Robin Farina (ValueAct Capital) 07:23.36
3. Leah Goldstein (ValueAct Capital) 07:24.77
4. Gillian Carleton (Total Restorarion Cycling Team) 07:27.47
5. Melissa McWhirter (Veloforma) 07:27.62

Baldwin signs with OUCH-Maxxis, will ride Mt. Hood Classic

Chris Baldwin, One of the country's top domestic riders, will start the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic Wednesday in the OUCH-Maxxis team kit after the former Rock Racing rider signed with the team this week. VeloNews.com has the complete story.

Mt. Hood Women's Cat. 3/4 field will race three days

After taking input from OBRA's Cat 3 and 4 women, Mt. Hood Cycling Classic promoter Chad Sperry reduced the Women's Cat 3/4 race to three stages over three days instead of a four-day race as originally planned.

The race will start Friday, June 5, with the 42-mile Scenic Gorge Time Trial. It will continue Saturday with the Wy’East Road Race and finish Sunday with the Hood River Criterium.

Registration fees for that field have been reduced to $80. Anyone who has already registered will be refunded the difference.

Pacific Power agrees to sponsor June's Mt. Hood Cycling Classic

HOOD RIVER, Ore. -- This year’s Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, presented by Pacific Power, will take place Wednesday, June 3 through Sunday, June 7. Oregon’s top stage race, it draws professional riders from around the country who compete for $20,000 in cash and merchandise.

Last year, 500 riders participated and the race drew crowds of more than 15,000. The 2009 race features many of the traditional courses that have made the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic the toughest and most scenic race in the country and culminates with a new criterium in downtown Hood River.

2009 STAGES:
Panorama Point Prologue - Wednesday, June 3*
*Pro/1/2 Women, Pro/1/2 Men only
Stage 1: Cooper Spur Circuit Race - Thurs., June 4
Stage 2: Scenic Gorge Time Trial - Friday, June 5
Stage 3: Wy’East Road Race - Saturday, June 6
Stage 4: Hood River Criterium - Sunday, June 7

Not only is the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic a great chance for people to see a world-class race in their Pacific Northwest backyard, but cyclists of all ages and abilities can also get in on the action. New this year is the Tour de Hood, which runs June 6-7. This event offers recreational riders and the general public the chance to ride two of the same courses that challenge elite racers in the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic stage race: the legendary Wy’East professional course (90 miles) and the Scenic Gorge Time Trial course (42 miles). Riders can go at their own pace and receive full mechanical support, plus food and drinks, along the route. For complete information and registration, go to www.tourdehoodride.com.

Kicking off the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic on Sunday, May 31 is the Second Annual Mt. Hood Cycling Classic Kid's Race, presented by Mid Columbia Medical Center, in downtown The Dalles. Young riders from training wheels to 12 years old will take part in this fun criterium race. Registration opens at 1 p.m. on race day; the race begins at 3 p.m. The event is free. Free bike check and helmet fits will be provided and any child that does not have a helmet will be given one free by the MCMC trauma nurses.

The Mt. Hood Cycling Classic is open to amateur racers. Riders can register online or via mail. Standard registration ends May 20 at midnight. Riders registering after May 20 will pay an additional $25 and can register up to midnight on June 1.

CATEGORIES
* Pro/1/2 Men
* Masters Men 35+/45+
* Pro/1/2/3 Women
* CAT 3 Men
* CAT 4 Men
* CAT 3/4 Women

Mt. Hood Cycling Classic Video

The 2009 Mt. Hood Cycling Classic is just about a month away.
Here's some video of last year's race to get you ready: