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. 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:

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

Click the pic to watch Extensive coverage of the Cat 3 KOM competition	Click the pic to watch Coverage of the Womens and Masters 35+ 1-2-3 KOM competitions
Click the pic to watch Interview with the Pro-1-2 winner: Kodak Gallery.com/ Sierra Nevada's, Ben Jacques-Maynes	Click the pic to watch Interview with the Womens winner Webcor-Platinum's, Karen Brems
Click the pic to watch Interview with the Masters 35+ winner Team Spine's, Michael Hutchinson	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	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
Cal Giant were first to the start line	Legendary Socal climber, Chris Walker from Labor Power, resetting his computer	"Guys, Listen up" (the pro-1-2 race instructions)
Scenery1	MtHamilton_06005	7 miles to go
pro-1-2 - Riders falling off the back	Scenery3	pro-1-2 - It's not really that steep
pro-1-2 - Catching back on	Scenery 3 - San Jose	Lick Observatory
MtHamilton_06023	pro-1-2 - Webcor's Ted Huang loses the end of the train	The view keeps getting better and better
Ben Jacques-Maynes steps it up with five others in tow	... forcing these riders into the red	Switchback
5k to the top	pro-1-2 - Clawing back on	pro-1-2 - Chris Walker laboring as he powers out of the saddle
Scenery 5 - this all a blur on race day	pro-1-2 - Ben Jacques-Maynes enjoying the view	Looking down on the switchbacks
Looking up at the final 500m to the KOM	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)
pro-1-2 - Easing up after taking the KOM	pro-1-2 - Starting the treacherous descent	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	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
Cat 3 descent - ZTeam and 4th place finisher, Chris Phipps, leads the way	... with the eventual winner Roaring Mouse just behind	pro-1-2 - 2nd group over a cattle guard and chasing
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	A short movie while trailing the lead group with Jacques-Maynes on the front
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	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	The Webcor - Alto Velo support crew out riding and waiting near the finish	Finish line scenery
The finish line tent	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 ahead of Billy Innes, Lombardi Sports
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	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!"	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
The Pro-1-2 podium	Masters 35+ 1-2-3 - 1st Michael Hutchinson, Team Spine	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	Joselyn's Mark Faulkner was second in his last race as a Cat 4	Cat 4 podium
45+ pre-podium shot - Worried about helmet hair and waiting for the handicap ramp	Masters 45+ podium	The QOM and 2nd place finisher, McGuire's Stacy ? and Womens winner, Karen Brems, Webcor
	Cat 4s are GREAT... Cat 3s SUCK!