Tyler Gough Takes
Victory in the Valley of the Sun Criterium

Phoenix, AZ (February 19, 2008)- The Adobe/HDR presented by Lombardi Sports elite cycling team scored their first victory of the year when Tyler Gough won the Men’s Category 2 Criterium at the Valley of the Sun Stage Race. The Criterium capped a successful weekend of racing for the team.

Tim Redus, Team Director for the Adobe/HDR U-23 team, took Ben Barsi-Rhyne, JP LeClair and Tyler Gough to The Valley of the Sun Stage Race. "Valley of the Sun is a great place for our U-23 riders to work together against some good competition" Redus said "We didn¿t bring our guys here with their peak condition, we are very happy with the results and excited about what the rest of the season will bring."

Stage 1 at Valley of the Sun was a flat 22-kilometer Individual Time Trial. The riders gave solid efforts, but were saving their energy for the upcoming stages. The team came out to play in the Stage 2 Road Race with Tyler finishing 11th. "We were happy with the results from the first two stages" Tyler said "but Tim told us to race to win in the Stage 3 Criterium." Based on the results from the Criterium, this group of riders are very good listeners.

Conditions for the Criterium were ideal- nice and sunny. Ben, Tyler and JP raced conservatively through the first part of the race- maintaining their position in the group and preparing for the sprint finish. With only two corners to the finish line, Ben was in an ideal spot- 6 riders from the front with a clean view. Tyler and JP were back a bit in the group, looking for an opportunity. Tyler found it, carrying loads of speed through the last two corners and hitting the final straight in third position. Tyler jumped out of the saddle, turned on the speed and won by a full bike length. Ben finished just behind Tyler in twelfth position.