San Diego, CA - With the Amgen Tour of California just two weeks away, the small Southern California Boulevard Road Race found itself playing host to a surprisingly strong field Saturday, with the full Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis tour squad taking on full teams from Toyota-United, Slipstream and a strong contingent from Jelly Belly.

Health Net Presented by Maxxis showed its strength all day, right up until the finish when newcomer Russell Downing sprinted across the line first ahead of Heath Blackgrove (Toyota-United) out of a late break of 20 riders. Rory Sutherland of Health Net Presented by Maxxis came third.

"It was a tough course under tough, windy conditions," noted team directeur sportif Jeff Corbett. "But it was a good day all around: a lot of hard work with a good result in the end."

The outcome seemed in doubt for much of the race. Nathan O'Neill of Health Net Presented by Maxxis made the main break of the day, but found himself outnumbered by two Toyota-United riders, as well as one each from Slipstream and Jelly Belly.

"We didn't like the odds, so we went to the front and began to chase it down," Corbett said. Still, the break stayed away for 55 of the race's 90 undulating miles, achieving a maximum advantage of three minutes. By the final 22.5-mile lap, the race had come back together, only to blow apart once again.

A group of 20 riders, including five from Health Net Presented by Maxxis, broke away on the final lap. Despite a series of attacks and shake-ups in the break, the front group came to the line mostly intact. Health Net Presented by Maxxis lined up the mini train, with Karl Menzies and Ryder Hesjedal handling lead-out for the comparatively diminutive Downing, who sealed the win in the sprint.

1. Russell Downing (GBR) Health Net pb Maxxis
2. Health Blackgrove (NZL) Toyota-United
3. Rory Sutherland (AUS) Health Net pb Maxxis

GRITTERS THIRD IN RED TROLLEY

Local boy Kyle Gritters of Health Net Presented by Maxxis finished third in the Red Trolley Criterium Sunday behind Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United) and Taylor Tolleson (Slipstream). Downing finished just behind Gritters in fourth place. The Red Trolley gave the team another opportunity to stretch its legs and get in some hard training ahead of the Tour of California.

1. Ivan Dominguez (CUB) Toyota-United
2. Taylor Tolleson (USA) Slipstream pb Chipotle 
3. Kyle Gritters (USA) Health Net pb Maxxis
4. Russell Downing (GBR) Health Net pb Maxxis