Oakland, CA - For the third straight year, the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis has won the NRC team championship. "It's a thrill to win the title again," said team directeur sportif Jeff Corbett. "It was a major goal for the season."
Health Net Presented by Maxxis (5,255 points) won the team title by a strong 702-point margin over Toyota-United (4,553). Navigators Insurance (4,390) rode a solid second half to nearly overtake Toyota for second place.
Though Health Net Presented by Maxxis steamrolled through the 2005 NRC schedule and earned the team title by a margin approaching 2,000 points over Colavita-Sutter Home, Corbett notes that the 2006 title was even more satisfying.
"Last year we faced some good teams," he said, "but this year was definitely more challenging. We faced stiffer competition than in previous years. It made our job harder, but at the same time, it was more appreciated because it makes winning more rewarding."
Nearly every week, Health Net Presented by Maxxis went toe-to-toe with Navigators and Toyota. "To go up against two other very strong teams all season, win consistently and end up on top of the NRC standings again is an accomplishment that everyone on the team is proud of.
"This is how it should be," he continued, "having two or three or even four teams within a thousand points of each other at the end of the season. It's good for fans and it's good for race promoters, too. Not just this year, but for future years."
Corbett noted that this title also comes in a year that included the team's first forays into international racing, with a successful trip to Europe, as well as a win at the Tour of Taiwan. "It's a testament to the organization we've built that the team has the depth to race internationally and also win the NRC title at home," Corbett said. "We plan on continuing our international racing program, and we have every intention of bringing home a fourth consecutive NRC title."
Menzies leads three of top four on individual standings
A strong performance by Karl Menzies at the final NRC race of the season, the Parker Mainstreet Omnium, helped him jump up to second place in the final individual standings with 1,253, just 17 points behind leader Floyd Landis (Phonak), after finishing 5th overall in 2005.
Those points included his first ever overall title of an NRC stage race, the Nature Valley Grand Prix, and 13 wins in total. In all, he stepped onto the podium 28 times this season.
"Second place in the NRC standings is a great result for Karl, but at the same time, it's bittersweet because he came so close to the top spot," Corbett said. "Karl rode his heart out at every race, and he earned every one of his points."
Menzies said that the top of the individual NRC rankings wasn't something he set out as a goal for the season, "but the team NRC ranking is the best measure of the most successful team in the country, an accomplishment Health Net Presented by Maxxis achieved again this season. I'm proud to have contributed to that title."
Health Net Presented by Maxxis riders also occupied the third and fourth spots in the final NRC rankings. Greg Henderson (1,189) came within 100 points of winning the title despite missing all of April and May with a fractured femur. But when he returned to racing, he did so with a vengeance, winning a stage at the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic while helping Nathan O'Neill to the overall title, then showing his true form by winning the Reading Classic and the Philadelphia International Cycling Championship - the final two legs of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown - four days apart.
O'Neill (1,180) was also a model of consistency throughout the season. He started strongly with a 5th overall at the Amgen Tour of California, which he followed up by winning the overall title of the Redlands Classic. In addition, O'Neill won his 7th Australian National Time Trial Championship, as well as a gold medal in the ITT at the Commonwealth Games in March.
"For me, having three of us finish 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the individual rankings is just an extension of the team's efforts," Menzies said. "Without the awesome teammates and staff we had throughout the year, these achievements would not have been possible. Knowing that you're representing the whole Health Net Presented by Maxxis team - not only teammates but sponsors, staff and fans - definitely keeps you motivated throughout the year."
Gord Fraser (832) finished 13th overall in his final season of racing while Scott Moninger (801) moved up to 15th overall after winning a stage and finishing 2nd overall to Menzies at the Parker Omnium.
