merco program

CATCHING UPCATCHING UPWill this be the year a team other than Bissell dominates the headlines?

OFFICIAL PROGRAM OF THE 2013 MERCO CREDIT UNION CYCLING CLASSICPresENTED BY MERCY MEDICAL CENTER

Downtown Life Magazine February 2013 www.thedlm.com

When it comes to the

MERCO Credit Union Cycling Classic, it’s Bissell Pro Cycling and everybody else.

Last year it was Patrick Bevin who dominated the podium with two stage wins to go with his overall title and the year before it was Ben Jacques-Maynes who OHK�VUL�Z[HNL�^PU�HUK�ÄUPZOLK�in the Top 3 in two others. In each of those years Bissell took home the team title and

KVTPUH[LK�[OL�ÄLSK��Bissell will once again enter

this year’s Classic as favorites, but there is competition brewing with a handful of teams emerging as contenders.

Team Cash Call, already a team on the rise, added a new face this year that could have them squaring up against the big boys all season long.

Logan Loader, a 22-year-old veteran of the MERCO Credit Union Cycling Classic, joined the team during the offseason, leaving the Exergy team he competed with last year. Loader says he is anxious to compete in Merced with his new team.

“Any race I go to my goal is to help my team get a result. I train to the best of my abilities no matter what teams will be there

or what riders will be there,” says Loader, who has no doubt his Cash Call team will compete with )PZZLSS��¸0�HT�]LY`�JVUÄKLU[�PU�T`�team mates and truly believe we will be up for the job regardless of the competition.”

Loader reached the Classic Podium twice last year and ÄUPZOLK�ZLJVUK�V]LYHSS��^PUUPUN�the Hilltop Ranch Road Race HUK�ÄUPZOPUN�[OPYK�PU�[OL�McDonald’s Downtown Grand Prix.

Loader is a Monterey native, with family in Fresno who says he has been to Merced so many [PTLZ�P[�MLLSZ�SPRL�P[»Z�OVTL�ÄLSK�advantage.

“I have been racing the MERCO Cycling Classic since I was a junior and this is why I have come in the past with such

Photos by Wil MathewsPatrick Beven hoists the Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic trophy after finishing first overall at the 2012 race. Tom Zirbel (left) finished second and Logan Loader (right) finished third in the overall standings. All three cyclists will be back for the 2013 race.

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TEAM CASH CALLThis Southern California based team is a team on the rise. WIth an already stacked team, Cash Call added Mike Olheiser and Logan Loader this year, which many believe will allow them to compete with anybody this season.

motivation,” says Loader, who fully expects his success at the Classic to continue. “This year I will be coming with a full team and the goal is for either myself or one of my team mates to win GC. We have some really strong riders and they are extremely motivated for MERCO.”

Another cyclist likely champing at the bit for a chance for the top spot on the podium is Tom Zirbel, ^OV�ÄUPZOLK�[OPYK�V]LYHSS�H[�last year’s Classic.

Zirbel, 34, is a cycling veteran who has been riding professionally since 2006. In addition to his success at MERCO last year, he won a stage at the Tour of Elk Grove last year HUK�ÄUPZOLK�ZLJVUK�H�[OL�2011 USPRO Time Trial Championships.

“I think MERCO is a safe and well-run race which provides a great opportunity to get some early race Ä[ULZZ�¹�ZH`Z�APYILS��¸;OL�elite amateurs and pros who live in California are HS^H`Z�Å`PUN�PU�-LIY\HY`�and March and that makes for some challenging racing.”

Zirbel says you can always count on Bissell presenting a daunting challenge, especially at MERCO.

“They are a very strong team to begin with and often they come to MERCO directly from training camp ZV�[OL�YPKLYZ�HYL�Ä[�HUK�hungry for results,” says APYILS��¸;OL`�HYL�KPMÄJ\S[�H[�any point in the year, but they always seem to bring their ‘A’ game to MERCO.”

OTHERS TO WATCH:Team Cal Giant always

brings a team eager to

show the big pro teams what they are made of. A year ago Stephen Leece was a supporting rider to Evan Huffman in what turned out to be Evan’s breakout race in 2012 at Merco. This year Stephen has been given the green light to race for his own overall at Merco.

Ben Jacques-Maynes, a former winner at the MERCO Credit Union Cycling Classic and a former member of Team Bissell returns with some new digs.

Now a member of Jamis-Sutter Home, will be motivated racing against OPZ�MVYTLY�[LHT�MVY�[OL�ÄYZ[�time. Jacques-Maynes spent four years with Bissell, where he was a frequent winner.

TEAM OPTUM HEALTHOptum Health had two riders who with strong starts at MERCO last year, but VUS`�VUL�VM�[OLT�ÄUPZOLK��;VT�APYILS�ÄUPZOLK�ZLJVUK�V]LYHSS�HUK�[LHTTH[L��Chad Haga was placed high before crashing out. Optum placed six riders in the Top 10 last year.

TEAM GIANT STRAWBERRYGiant Strawberry is the David to Bis-sell’s Goliath. They have a dynamic team of young riders that can sneak up and surprise the big guys if they aren’t careful.

Downtown Grand Prix ScheduleThe Downtown Grand Prix takes place March 2. See race map for Downtown locations for events below.

Community Fair: 10 a.m. to 4p.m.Hospitality Tent: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. serving 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. (invite only)Beer Garden and band: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Pee Wee signup: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Pee Wee race time: 1 p.m.Tricycle Race: 10:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.EECU Breakaway Zone10 a.m. to 4 p.m.


Bringing State of the Art Healthcare to Merced CountyThe new seven-story medical center, with !"# licensed beds, features private rooms and state-of-the-art technology throughout. Next to the medical center is the Mercy Medical Pavilion which features outpatient surgery, lab, imaging and the Dignity Health Medical Group.www.mercymercedcares.org$%&'(#)'(%%%


STILL A CLASSIC AFTER 20 YEARS

“Susie Rossi came up with the idea. She thought it would be great to have a bike race at the Mercy Gulch Festival,” says Fluetsch. The Mercy Gulch Festival was a yearly event that kicked off the Merced County Fair in Downtown Merced. “Sounded like a great idea to me, not realizing that it would be in the middle of the summer time.”

When race day came, it was 106 degrees and only 150 riders showed up, most of whom did UV[�L]LU�ÄUPZO�[OL�YHJL�ILJH\ZL�of the conditions.

“It was a total disaster,” laughs Fluetsch.”Nobody came out,

nobody wanted to even go to Mercy Gulch because it was so hot. And for those who did want to go, the bike race was just an inconvenience because they had to drive around it.”

Fluetsch thought the race was done, but Rossi and the race’s ZWVUZVY�4J3HUL�7HJPÄJ�OHKU»[�lost faith.

They moved the race to March the next year and added a second day.

By the third year they were on the National Calendar, which listed them as one of the top 15 races in the country.

Now a four-day stage race,

MERCO is easily in the top 3 stage races in California, with the Tour of California and the Redlands Bicycle Classic and is one of the premier early-season races in the country.

Fluetsch laughs at the thought of all the mishaps and misfortune they’ve had to overcome to reach this point. ;OL`�VUJL�MVYNV[�[V�W\[�ÄST�

PU�[OLPY�ÄUPZO�SPUL�JHTLYH��[OL`�had an angry farmer dump cow maneuver over the road and they had a lightning storm that downed trees.

“I think the growth of Merco to what it is today is really a testament to the community and the engraved stick to it attitude Merced has,” says Fluetsch. ¸;OL�ÄYZ[�4J3HUL�L]LU[�Z[HY[LK�rough, we got bruised, thrown on and off, on again and then elected to stay off the National Racing Calendar yet we are still considered one of the best races in the country. I am proud of that.”

Contributed PhotoAn archive photos from the second or third McLane Pacific Cycling Classic. Scott McKinley (Saturn) leads Trent Klasna (Chevrolet-LA Sheri!s) onto the narrow section of N Street at the Downtown Grand Prix.

The MERCO Credit Union Cycling Classic came from humble beginnings. Doug Fluetsch, the

L]LU[�KPYLJ[VY��ZH`Z�[OL�ÄYZ[�YHJL�^HZ�a one-day nightmare in the middle of the summer.


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MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICTMERCED BOOSTERSMCDONALD’SHILLTOP RANCHTHE COURSESTHE COURSESRACE SPONSORSRACE SPONSORS


FRESNO

MARIPOSA

Dos PalosFRESNO

MARIPOSA

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Le Grand

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MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICTMERCED BOOSTERSMCDONALD’SHILLTOP RANCHTHE COURSESTHE COURSESRACE SPONSORSRACE SPONSORS


THE PURPLE JERSEY Best young rider under 23 years old

THE PURPLE JERSEY Best young rider under 23 years old

THE JERSEYSTHE JERSEYSTHE Red Jersey

The Susie Rossi Most Passionate Rider

The YELLOW JerseyOVERALL LEADER ON TIME

The BLUE JERSEYBEST RIDER OVER 45 YEARS OLD

Susie Rossi is a pioneer of this cycling event. She was the director of the Merced Downtown Association and was a key element to the beginning of the race. Her job was to promote Downtown Merced and with no knowledge of cycling she embraced an event that she envisioned could become a true community celebration. :OL�^VYRLK�^P[O�[OL�L]LU[�MVY�[OL�ÄYZ[�[OYLL�VY�MV\Y�`LHYZ��WHZZPVUH[L�VM�something she knew nothing about. Sadly Susie passed away in 2003 after a battle with cancer and never really got to see the event become what it is today to the community of Merced.

The BLUE JERSEYBEST RIDER OVER 45 YEARS OLD

The GREEN JERSEYLEader on points

The GREEN JERSEYLEader on points

The YELLOW JerseyOVERALL LEADER ON TIME

“The Power of Local Radio”

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A race like the MERCO Credit Union

Cycling Classic doesn’t survive 20 years without the contribution and support of a community.

What started as a one-day event 20 years ago has now become a weeks-worth of entertianment and excicing cycling.

The race operates like clockwork, with assistance from dozens of organizations

and businesses. The Rescue Mission helps with race setup, the Police Explorer Scouts man the intersections and volunteers throughout the community serve as coordinators.

“It is humbling to see how it’s grown and some of the things we’ve seen happen,” says Mike Malone, CEO of MERCO Credit Union. “As an organization we are only as successful as our community.

“A community is more than a place to sleep, eat and work. People need to be engaged in quality of life such as the arts and events like this.”

The event gives back to the community in many ways, from Ä�SSPUN�V\[�YLZ[H\YHU[Z��OV[LSZ�HUK�shops throughout the four days of the race by drawing thousands of

MERCED’S RACE

Photo by Wil MathewsEach year hundreds of volunteers and thousands of community members turn out for the MERCO Credit Union Cycling Classic.


Sha!er Building Photo Courtesy Merced County Historical Society

100 years of thanks to you.

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out-of-towners or by donating all the proceeds to charity. Last year, more than $5,000 was raised and given back to the community through aid to the organizations volunteering in the event and through United Way. In 18 years Fleutsch estimates more than $150,000 has been raised.

Mary Bigelow, Director of Resource Development with United Way, says the race has become their biggest event of the year and is an example

of how community-minded folks can make a tremendous difference.

“Merced is such a giving community” says Bigelow, who credits Merced for its ZLSÅ�LZZULZZ�

” I see it every day through the way people volunteer their [PTL�VY�PU]LZ[�Ä�UHUJPHSS`�IHJR�to this county.”¸;OPZ�L]LU[�PZ�H�YLÅ�LJ[PVU�

of the hundreds of people, businesses, & organizations committed to the success of

this race and the betterment of our community.”

“It is has been a wonderful event to be a part of and watch grow these last 5 years.”

More than more than 500 people volunteer each year for the race, which has grown from two to four days and demands more than 10 hours of work each day of the race.

According to Bigelow one volunteer hour equates to $21.

“It is humbling to see how it’s grown and

some of the things we’ve seen happnen.

As an organization we are only as

successful as our community” — Mike Malone, CEO of Merco Credit Union


Davis Phinney was at the tip of the spear of USA Cycling’s

incredible growth spurt in the ’80s and ’90s. The Colorado native medaled in the 1984 Olympics and he won two stages at the Tour de France helping put a niche sport on the national stage.

But his greatest accomplishments might have come long after he retired from the sport and was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinsons in 2000. It was then, that this cyclist known for his sprinting ability, began the uphill battle against this devastating disease.

Phinney, founder of the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s will be a guest speaker at the MERCO Credit Union Cycling Classic’s Champoin’s Dinner at 6 p.m. on Feb. 28 at the Merced County Fairgrounds Pavillion.

“In 2000, I was covering a race in Australia for a TV network, and I was having trouble holding the microphone. I could not will my hand to stop shaking,” says Phinney, who enjoyed a career as a broadcaster after retiring in 1993. “That was the aha moment. It was 90 degrees outside but I couldn’t get my hand to stop tremoring.”

Contributed PhotoUSA Cycling legend Davis Phinney will speak at the MERCO Credit Union Cycling Classic’s Champions Dinner on Feb. 28 at the Merced County Fairgrounds Pavillion.

Legend Phinney to speak at dinnerWords by Tom [email protected]


Phinney would return to his hometown of Boulder, Colorado, and spend months visiting different doctors and neurologists all of ^OVT�^LYL�IHMÅ�LK�I`�his symptoms. Phinney ^V\SK�Ä�UK�[OL�HUZ^LY�himself one night while searching the internet.

“I had done some searching and found something on early on-set Parkinson’s and it had a checklist of symptoms. I checked 8 out of 10,” says Phinney. “I just had a feeling that was it.”

A neurologist in +LU]LY�^V\SK�JVUÄ�YT�his diagnosis.

“It was a sobering moment for both my wife and I,” says Phinney. “I was not familiar with Parkinson’s at all. “

Phinney’s busy post-cycling career came to a halt. At the time of his diagnosis he was working with a local clothing company, he was the VP of a ZWVY[Z�THYRL[PUN�Ä�YT�and he was a partner in a local bike shop all while doing TV work for ESPN and Outdoor Life Network.

“This is the kind of disease that the more stress you put on yourself the more your symptoms wreak havoc on you,” says Phinney, who says he essentially checked out of his previous life. “I basically stopped everything.”

He says the months following the diagnosis

^LYL�LZWLJPHSS`�KPMÄ�J\S[��He felt like everybody was watching him and the burden grew too strong.

“We ended up deciding to move to Italy and check out of life as I knew it,” says Phinney. “I wanted to get out from under the microscope of my friends in Boulder.”

His wife and two kids would spend three years in Italy before making the decision to return to the states. Phinney, who had been doing some work for the LiveStrong Foundation, realized he could direct his energy toward helping people with Parkinson’s.

“I saw that my voice could be used for greater good than hiding away in Italy,” says Phinney.

The Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s is committed to providing inspiration and education for the Parkinson’s community with ideas, tactics and strategies on how to live better with the disease.

Phinney also wrote a book about his life with the disease, titled “The Happiness of Pursuit,” which is available online through Amazon.com.

Tickets for the Champions Dinner are $25 each and are available by contacting Ellen Riggs at (209) 777-2765 or email at [email protected]. Space is limited.

Downtown Life Magazine February 2013

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