June 18 - Tour of Nevada City, Nevada City
Race website and Results

A not so brief history of the Nevada City Classic, by Charles Howe and others

Race photos: AbbiOrca, Kevin King and DenisonDesign

MONINGER, DRUMM SOLO WINNERS AT NEVADA CITY

Nevada City, Calif. (June 19, 2006) - In yesterday's 46th Nevada City Classic, Scott Moninger (Health Net presented by Maxxis) forced the early selections and then rode away from a small group to win in Nevada City for the fourth time in his career.

After the notoriously difficult 1.1-mile course whittled down the field to a group of roughly 20 riders almost instantaneously, Moninger's attack after 30 minutes of the 90-minute race proved to be decisive, and he steadily built a lead while the chase groups splintered behind him.

By the finish, he had lapped all but six other riders.

Behind Moninger, New Zealand national champion Gordon McCauley (Successfulliving.com-Parkpre) took second from Tony Cruz (Toyota-United).

Aaron Olson (Saunier Duval), who made his Grand Tour debut at the Giro d'Italia in May, finished fourth ahead of Andy Jacques-Maynes (Cadence Performance Cycling Centers), 50-year-old cycling legend Ned Overend, and Moninger's teammate Roman Kilun.

In the women's race, local amateur Helene Drumm (PROMAN/Paradigm) scored an upset over the pros, beating Kim Anderson (T-Mobile) and a trio of Webcor-Platinum riders, Amber Rais, Karen Brems and Cat Malone.

After Moninger and several other racers noted the number of spectators lining the course, race organizer Duane Strawser commented, "This was the best event and the biggest crowd we've had in the last ten years. We're thrilled, and we're already looking ahead to 2007."

Other winners at Nevada City were Aren Timmel (Team Chico) in the Cat 3 men's race, Dan Martin (Safeway/GA Communications) in the Masters 35+ field and Larry Nolan (Discovery Channel Masters) in the 45+ race.

The juniors races, part of the Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Race Series, went to Micah Herman (Alta Alpina) for 17-18 boys, Taylor Kuphaldt (Team Spine) for 15-16, Davis Bentley (Team Swift) in the 13-14 age group and Joseph Oliveri (EMC/Vellum) for 10-12.

The 46th Nevada City Classic was the fourth of nine races in the Northern California/Nevada Cycling Association's 2006 NCNCA Premier Series, which continues on Sunday with the Fidelity Investments Burlingame Criterium presented by NAIBT Commercial.

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