ben-jacques-maynes.jpg
Local boy and heavy-hitter, Ben Jacques-Maynes from Kodak Gallery.com/ Sierra Nevada, won the Men's Pro Race in a highly contested eight man sprint. He's also a super friendly guy... check out the interview.

Mount Hamilton Classic Road Race, May 28th 2006

70 photos and videos () by Steven Hill, Rebecca Heald, Chris Hipp and Charlotte Takemoto

Mt. Hamilton was part of the 2008 Tour of California

This report is by far our most extensive coverage of Norcal racing to date... probably more effort than it's worth. wink Thanks to my wife Rebecca, who I dropped off at the top of Mt Hamilton, for capturing the KOM footage before getting on her bike and cycling to the finish line. And thanks to Chris Hipp who followed the Pro-1-2 group and contributed significantly to this report. Unfortunately, the race officials were giving me hard time at the finish line... something about needing media credentials although there was no other media around. When I arrived at the finish line five minutes ahead of the pro-1-2 group I ditched my car in the pillions well past the finish line, but was vehemently told to move it. By the time I got back to the finish line I had just missed Ben Jacques-Maynes crossing the line but Charlotte Takemoto was nice enough to email her photos. Minutes later, I took hell for getting in the way while trying to find out what I missed. So after capturing the Cat 3 and Masters 35+ finishes I called it a day and decided to just hang out in the parking area and had a good time doing interviews with the winners. Between race coverage and interviews there is over 45 minutes of video () in this report. That's 45 minutes more than ESPN2, OLN and all local TV stations combined. The real media were off covering something more important this past weekend. Combined with more than the usual amount of photos, this report is much more extensive than it looks at first glance.

The Mount Hamilton Course Profile:
teamsanjose-graphic.jpg

The day of the Mount Hamilton Classic is always a big day for amateur racers in Northern California. For mere-mortals, it's a chance to test themselves on a great 64 mile/100k, point-to-point race course that tests endurance and every cycling skill. 100k is the proper distance for an amateur road race in my opinion. On this day, the goal is simple: scamper to the top of the big climb, stay upright on the descent, get the legs spinning again, collect a bottle in the feed zone, stretch out the cramps and then time trial to the finish over rolling hills, negotiate the final twisty descent and then sprint like mad to the finish. Oh... and show up early because this race always starts on time. Luckily, this tough, technical race seems blessed with great weather and today was no exception. — Steve, May 31, 2006

2006 Event Results
Last year's 2005 Mount Hamilton Coverage
still-cat3-kom.jpg
Click the pic to watch
Extensive coverage of the Cat 3 KOM competition
womens-movie
Click the pic to watch
Coverage of the Womens and Masters 35+ 1-2-3 KOM competitions
pro-1-2-movie
Click the pic to watch
Interview with the Pro-1-2 winner:
Kodak Gallery.com/ Sierra Nevada's, Ben Jacques-Maynes
womens-movie
Click the pic to watch
Interview with the Womens winner
Webcor-Platinum's, Karen Brems
masters35-movie
Click the pic to watch
Interview with the Masters 35+ winner
Team Spine's, Michael Hutchinson
jesse-moore-movie
Click the pic to watch
Interview with Mt Hamilton Mr. Consistent:
Davis Bike Club's, Jesse Moore
pro-1-2 - Pre-game show starring Cal Giant's Matt Willinger.jpg
pro-1-2 - Pre-game show starring Cal Giant's Matt Willinger
Davis Bike Club recently won the Collegiate Nationals thanks largely to Stephen Dey and Jesse Moore.jpg
UC Davis recently won the Collegiate Nationals thanks largely to Stephen Dey and Jesse Moore
Warming up before the big climb is important but don't over do it.jpg
Warming up before the big climb is important but don't over do it
Cal Giant were first to the start line.jpg
Cal Giant were first to the start line
Legendary Socal climber, Chris Walker from Labor Power, resetting his computer.jpg
Legendary Socal climber, Chris Walker from Labor Power, resetting his computer
Listen up gentlemen (the pro-1-2 race instructions).jpg
"Guys, Listen up" (the pro-1-2 race instructions)
Scenery1.jpg
Scenery1
MtHamilton_06005.jpg
MtHamilton_06005
7 miles to go.jpg
7 miles to go
pro-1-2 - Riders falling off the back.jpg
pro-1-2 - Riders falling off the back
Scenery3.jpg
Scenery3
pro-1-2 - It's not really that steep.jpg
pro-1-2 - It's not really that steep
pro-1-2 - Catching back on.jpg
pro-1-2 - Catching back on
Scenery 3 - San Jose.jpg
Scenery 3 - San Jose
Lick Observatory.jpg
Lick Observatory
MtHamilton_06023.jpg
MtHamilton_06023
pro-1-2 - Webcor's Ted Huang loses the end of the train.jpg
pro-1-2 - Webcor's Ted Huang loses the end of the train
The view keeps getting better and better.jpg
The view keeps getting better and better
Ben Jacques-Maynes steps it up with five others in tow.jpg
Ben Jacques-Maynes steps it up with five others in tow
pro-1-2 - Forcing these riders into the red.jpg
... forcing these riders into the red
Switchback.jpg
Switchback
5k to the top.jpg
5k to the top
pro-1-2 - Clawing back on.jpg
pro-1-2 - Clawing back on
pro-1-2 - Chris Walker laboring as he powers out of the saddle.jpg
pro-1-2 - Chris Walker laboring as he powers out of the saddle
Scenery 5 - this all a blur on race day.jpg
Scenery 5 - this all a blur on race day
pro-1-2 - Ben Jacques-Maynes enjoying the view.jpg
pro-1-2 - Ben Jacques-Maynes enjoying the view
Looking down on the switchbacks.jpg
Looking down on the switchbacks
Looking up at the final 500m to the KOM.jpg
Looking up at the final 500m to the KOM
pro-1-2 - Davis' Jesse Moore taking a turn at the front.jpg
pro-1-2 - Davis' Jesse Moore taking a turn at the front
pro-1-2 KOM - BJM surges for the KOM just ahead of BMC's Osvaldo Olmos in about 1.15.00 (timed from the start line).jpg
pro-1-2 KOM - BJM surges for the KOM just ahead of BMC's Osvaldo Olmos in about 1.15.00 (timed from the start line)
pro-1-2 - Easing up after taking the KOM.jpg
pro-1-2 - Easing up after taking the KOM
pro-1-2 - Starting the treacherous descent.jpg
pro-1-2 - Starting the treacherous descent
pro-1-2 - The chase group crests 1 minute and 20 seconds behind the leaders.jpg
pro-1-2 - The chase group crests 1 minute and 20 seconds behind the leaders
pro-1-2 descent - Socal climbing veteran, Chris Walker leads the way... watch the pros descend.jpg
pro-1-2 descent - Socal climbing veteran, Chris Walker leads the way... watch the pros descend
pro-1-2 descent - rRsking everything to catch back on.jpg
pro-1-2 descent - Risking everything to catch back on
Cat 3 KOM winner (no cash just glory) - ZTeam's Chris Phipps crests in 1.20.00 (timed from the start), 5 minutes slower than the pros.jpg
Cat 3 KOM winner (no cash just glory) - ZTeam's Chris Phipps crests in 1.20.00 (timed from the start), 5 minutes slower than the pros
Cat 3 descent - ZTeam and 4th place finisher, Chris Phipps, leads the way.jpg
Cat 3 descent - ZTeam and 4th place finisher, Chris Phipps, leads the way
Cat 3 descent - with the eventual winner Roaring Mouse just behind.jpg
... with the eventual winner Roaring Mouse just behind
pro-1-2 - 2nd group over a cattle and chasing.jpg
pro-1-2 - 2nd group over a cattle guard and chasing
Cal Giant and others chasing.jpg
Cal Giant and others chasing
Pro-1-2 - Webcor's Peter Cazelet finds himself in no man's land after cramping and losing the lead group.jpg
Pro-1-2 - Webcor's Peter Cazelet finds himself in no man's land after cramping and losing the lead group
A short movie while trailing the lead group with Jacques-Maynes on the front.jpg
A short movie while trailing the lead group with Jacques-Maynes on the front
pro-1-2 - Ben Jacques-Maynes takes a dig 15 miles from the finish with James Mattis close behind.jpg
pro-1-2 - Ben Jacques-Maynes gives a dig 15 miles from the finish with James Mattis close behind
but the rest of the lead group wouldn't let him get away.jpg
...but the rest of the lead group wouldn't let him get away
pro-1-2 - Cal Giant's James Mattis driving the pace with 12 miles to go.jpg
pro-1-2 - Cal Giant's James Mattis driving the pace with 12 miles to go
pro-1-2 - Matt Willinger patrolling the back of the lead group.jpg
pro-1-2 - Matt Willinger patrolling the back of the lead group
The Webcor - Alto Velo support crew out riding and waiting near the finish.jpg
The Webcor - Alto Velo support crew out riding and waiting near the finish
Finish line scenery.jpg
Finish line scenery
The finish line tent.jpg
The finish line tent
pro-1-2 finish - A scary moment as the riders battle it out among themselves and an oncoming Hummer.jpg
pro-1-2 finish - A scary moment as the riders battle it out among themselves and an oncoming Hummer
pro-1-2 finish - Ben Jacques-Maynes wins the sprint.jpg
pro-1-2 finish - Ben Jacques-Maynes wins the sprint ahead of Billy Innes, Lombardi Sports
pro-1-2 finish - Davis' Jesse Moore loses 3rd place in the final 10 feet of the race.jpg
pro-1-2 finish - Davis' Jesse Moore loses 3rd place in the final 10 feet of the race to Aliaksandr Sinelnikau, Pillar
Pro-1-2 finish - Webcor's Ted Huang was first in the 2nd group for 10th overall.jpg
Pro-1-2 finish - Webcor's Ted Huang was first in the 2nd group for 10th overall
Masters 35 1-2-3 finish - Safeway's Dan Martin charges hard and almost beats Spine's Michael Hutchinson in a bike throw photo finish.jpg
Masters 35 1-2-3 finish - Safeway's Dan Martin charges hard and almost beats Spine's Michael Hutchinson in a bike throw photo finish
Cat 3 finish - 1st Christon DeWan. Oh yeah! Nice race!.jpg
Cat 3 finish - 1st Christon DeWan. "Oh yeah! Nice race!"
Cat 3 finish - Pegasus's Paul Carter won the field sprint for 8th place.jpg
Cat 3 finish - Pegasus's Paul Carter won the field sprint for 8th place
The usual zoo of riders in the parking area past the finish line.jpg
The usual zoo of riders in the parking area past the finish line
The Pro-1-2 podium.jpg
The Pro-1-2 podium
Masters 35+ 1-2-3 - 1st Michael Hutchinson, Team Spine.jpg
Masters 35+ 1-2-3 - 1st Michael Hutchinson, Team Spine
Masters 35+ 1-2-3 - 2nd Dan Martin, Safeway.jpg
Masters 35+ 1-2-3 - 2nd Dan Martin, Safeway
The Cat 4 winner is a cycling newbie... a good, young natural athlete it would seem.jpg
The Cat 4 winner is a cycling newbie... a good, young natural athlete it would seem
Joselyn's Mark Faulkner was second in his last race as a Cat 4.jpg
Joselyn's Mark Faulkner was second in his last race as a Cat 4
Cat 4 podium.jpg
Cat 4 podium
45+ pre-podium shot - Worried about helmet hair and waiting for the handicap ramp.jpg
45+ pre-podium shot - Worried about helmet hair and waiting for the handicap ramp
Masters 45+ podium.jpg
Masters 45+ podium
The QOM and 2nd place finisher, McGuire's Stacy ? and Womens winner, Karen Brems, Webcor.jpg
The QOM and 2nd place finisher, McGuire's Stacy ? and Womens winner, Karen Brems, Webcor
Cat 4s are GREAT... Cat 3s SUCK!.jpg
Cat 4s are GREAT... Cat 3s SUCK!