“Both events were really well attended and professionally done,” said new UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis directeur sportif Gord Fraser. “It was a shot in the arm for the team to see that we already have some good fans out there.”

TriSports.com and the Tucson Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau partnered to celebrate and reward the City of Tucson and local athletic community in its efforts to accommodate and encourage winter seasonal training, by proclaiming Tucson the “Winter Training Capital.” The designation will be used by local event promoters, athletic coaches and other tourism-based businesses to increase awareness and interest in selecting Tucson as a destination venue for winter training.

Fraser, who started training in the Tucson area in 1991 and has called Tucson home for over 12 years, knows full well how good the winter training is there.

“Tucson is one of the best cycling destinations, not just in winter, but all year round,” he said. “But certainly in the winter it’s hard to beat for weather. It’s usually pretty sunny. This has been the wettest it’s been in years here and we’ve only had one day of rain so far during camp. We may have another, but it’s perfect for what we need right now. Guys are getting what they need for training. Camp’s going really well.”

Special thanks to Zachary, our Media Artist, for making the message come alive in a funny, light-hearted way!

Murphy took advantage of exceptional work by his four teammates and succeeded in avoiding several crashes – including one by his own lead-out, Karl Menzies with less than half a kilometer remaining in the race – to cross the line as first American to take the national champion’s jersey.

TriSports.com sponsored OUCH rider John Murphy

“The team executed really well,” Murphy said. “We were a little shorthanded compared to the other main teams, but the guys rode today like they believed I could do it, and I did it.”

There were plenty of contributions from all four of his OUCH Presented by Maxxis teammates to help put Murphy in position to take the jersey. With a little more than two-thirds of the 61-lap race done, a dangerous three-rider group was up the road. Roman Kilun and Bobby Lea went to the front, and just those two riders rotating through brought back the break with five laps to go.

“From that point, Kelley Benefits took over the front and had seven guys lined up,” Murphy said. “Me, Karl and Pinner (Andrew Pinfold) were together right behind them. Then the last four guys in their train sat up and let the front three get a gap. Karl immediately took me up to them.”

The OUCH Presented by Maxxis duo was also joined by several other riders, including 2008 crit champion Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing), previous champion Tony Cruz (BMC) and Ben Kersten (Fly-V Australia), as well as Adam Myerson (Team Mountain Khakis).

TriSports.com sponsored OUCH rider John Murphy in the starts and stripes!

With half a lap to go, Menzies was on the front working to deliver Murphy to the final corner first. But with 0.4 km to go, he slid out on a slick turn, the result of intermittent rains that had caused the start of the race to be delayed twice.

“Over the top of the last climb, Karl took over,” Murphy said. “When he crashed I barely missed going over him, by maybe a few millimeters. I tagged back on the group and with two turns to go, I took the inside line to move up. On the final corner, Bahati and Cruz came around me but Bahati overcooked it and crashed. I went through the turn at a good speed. Kersten came inside me and I thought he had good momentum going into the finish sprint, and I thought if he could keep that up it would be tough. I just went for it from there. I got close, and the outright win would’ve been great, but I’m really happy to get the jersey.”

1. Video taping from the back seat isn’t all that fun.
2. Posting on our Twitter while doing switchbacks is probably not the best idea. 
3. Watching a guy on the team you sponsor pass two riders (one of them was Tom Boonen) on the TT is really cool to see!

Here is a video to show you the fun:

1. Video taping from the back seat isn’t all that fun.
2. Posting on our Twitter while doing switchbacks is probably not the best idea. 
3. Watching a guy on the team you sponsor pass two riders (one of them was Tom Boonen) on the TT is really cool to see!

Here is a video to show you the fun:

After spending a wonderful night in El Centro (Great town, great town…), we drove up the 4,000 feet or so to the mountain town of Boulevard.  Didn’t know I was going into a the great white north of Socal.  After struggling to put my kit on in the freezing, wet cold, some warming gel, and a couple curses, we hit the start line.  On the 2nd lap of 4, I attacked on the climb and went off the front with 3 other guys including Missingsaddles own (Carson Miller) chasing 2 guys up the road. I worked for 15-20 miles together, then my teammate Cam Evans, 3 virgin-blue guys, and Sheldon. I was suffering pretty bad from the cold. Legs were just zapped, frozen. So hard to eat and drink. Shivering… Worked with them for another 15-20 miles, then my teammate attacked a long ways out with 20 mi to go and I just couldn’t respond. Done… Rode by myself for 10 mi or so, then the remnants of the peloton about 25 guys or so (including my teammates Floyd, Rory, and Murphy) finally caught me and I rolled with them to the finish. Finished off a respectable 19th place. A bit disappointed I wasn’t able to hang on to support my teammate.  Although outnumbered by the 4 virgin-blue riders, Cam was able to hold on for 2nd.  All said and done, it was a satisfying day in the saddle for sure.

Bike Race? Your joking, right?

Get a tour with John Murphy

Tucson Apartment View

Team camp just took place a couple weeks ago in Temecula. As a neo-pro, I was full of emotions. Nervous, excited, over-whelmed, awe-struck. However, once I met the guys on the team and management, I knew I had a great support belt under me. The crew is tight-knit and professional. On the riding end, everyone was riding super strong. Being the local, Floyd took us on steepest climbs I had ever seen. Grinding your 39×25 at 40 cadence doing 400-500 watts just to stay upright. Even the photo-shoot was rebranded the “hour of power.” Those are actual faces of grimace. No stage acting necessary. Floyd made sure we had a steady diet of dirt/sand climbs. I ate a lot of dirt that day. A lot… The mechanics loved when we came rolling into the parking lot with our bikes covered in mud. After washing up and digging the dirt out of our ears, we hit the “happening” town of Temecula. Karaoke was the name of the game. The notable act of the night was Floyd’s Kid Rock rendition of “Cowboy.” But, my encore performance of the “Thong Song” severely outclassed him. Now, I have one more nickname to my name “Thong Song.”

Floyd Rockin'

Team guys singing who knows what.....

Floyd in the candy store

But, the good times had to end and now I am back in the desert. However, I will be skipping town in a couple weeks before the desert heat takes its toll on me.