Merced, CA - Karl Menzies of the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis took advantage of a powerful lead-out from teammate Shawn Milne to win the Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic Road Race Sunday. With 500 meters to go, Milne drilled it up the short hill, giving he and Menzies a gap going into the slightly downhill 250-meter run to the line, and a clear victory for the big Tasmanian.

Behind them, Rory Sutherland of Health Net Presented by Maxxis was dialing up his own lead-out for teammate Russell Downing. The lanky Australian had the diminutive Downing glued to his wheel heading up the rise. Coming down the finishing straight, it was Downing drag-racing with Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United), winner of Saturday's Merco Downtown Criterium. Downing and Dominguez battled to the line, with the Brit finishing a half-wheel ahead of Dominguez to take the second step on the podium. After his fine lead-out of Menzies, Milne had the speed to hold on for 5th.

"This type of finish doesn't suit Ivan too well," Health Net Presented by Maxxis directeur sportif Jeff Corbett noted of Dominguez, who rode in Health Net - Maxxis colors in 2005. "That little uphill took some of the snap out of him."

The win erased a bit of frustration from the previous day's criterium. "We were definitely the strongest team Saturday," Corbett said, "but we just didn't get it right the last couple laps. We needed to mix things up a bit on the lead-outs and today it worked out."

In Sunday's road race, the field remained mostly intact until the last significant climb of the day with about 5 km to go. A series of attacks narrowed the field to 50 riders by the time the bunch read the 1 km to go mark. From there, Milne and Menzies took care of business.