May 18 , 2008

The Successful Living Pro Cycling Team continued its stellar season with another strong showing at the Mt. Hood Stage race in Hood River,
Oregon.

First to strike was Italian Alessandro Bazzana in the Stage 1 Mt. Tabor Criterium in Portland. After a race riddled with attacks it all came back
together for a slow uphill sprint. Bazzana found himself perfectly placed at 500-meters but was forced to sprint early because of a lull at the
front of the race.

He attacked with 300-meters to go and was neck-and-neck with B-World Champion, Ivan Stevic. With 50-meters to go, Bazzana ran out of
gas just shy of the line and finished a respectable 5th place to Hilton Clarke (Toyota-United).

With the top 100-riders only separated by 30-seconds, Stage 2’s Copper Spur Circuit Race was going to be a decisive day. A 10-rider break
formed early into the stage and looked like it was going to stick with both JR Grabinger and Brad White making the move. Unfortunately the
break was disorganized and White flatted out of the move, dooming the break to be re-absorbed. Both White and Grabinger still had a great
day finishing within 8-seconds of eventual winner Darren Lill.

The Stage 3 Scenic Gorge Time Trial is turning out to be one of the most epic time trials on the US calendar. The 18.2-mile point-to-point
course with over 2000’ of elevation gain is impossible to fake and proves to be the end of many riders GC hopes. Rory Sutherland (Health
Net) bested everyone but it was Brad White who placed in the top 10 flying the Successful Living Team colors.

Due to snow-blocked roads a new course was made for Stage 4. This Queen Stage of the race was 101-miles with a leg-breaking 8000’ of
climbing. With most riders wanting to get away in an early break it was Alessandro Bazzana and JR Grabinger who made the final 8-man
break after nearly 30-miles of consistent attacking. Grabinger had his hands full trying to control Andy Bajadali, both were going for the
coveted KOM Points, while Bazzana was sacrificing himself to drive the break up to a 5-min advantage. One the sloped of the final climb the
gap had come down significantly but Grabinger had enough gas in the tank to hold on to a solid 4th place finish on the stage moving him
into the top 10.

With the field whittled down to 90-riders from the original 143 and many overall contenders dropping out of the race the final stage, a 1k
criterium around downtown Hood River, was fast and furious. 15 minutes into the race Bazzana again found himself in a 10-man break
away.

In the last lap two Rock Racing riders crashed, Bazzana was caught behind and was forced to chase. He managed to catch back on to Ivan
Stevic’s (Toyota) wheel. Stevic was not keen on pulling Bazzana to the line and slowed in the final corner. This was just enough time for
Andrew Pinfold (Symmetrics) to get a gap and win the race while Bazzana secured a great finish on the podium.

1 Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net/Maxis
2 Darren Lill (RSA) BMC Pro Cycling Team
3 Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling Team
4 Edward King (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling Team
5 Michael Creed (USA) Rock Racing
6 Bradley White (USA) Successful Living
7 Phil Zajicek (USA) Health Net/Maxis
8 Andrew Bajadali (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast
9 Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota-United
10 Michael Grabinger (USA) Successful Living