Cyclists Charge Through 39th Annual Cat’s Hill Classic

More than 300 hundred cyclists pedaled through the Saturday, a course that took them several times round a 1-mile loop through the Almond Grove historic district.

Put on by the Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club and title sponsored by , the all-day event saw cyclists of all levels powering through Tait-Bean-Massol-Nicholson/Ellenwood-Belmont-Bachman-Tait in clockwise fashion, with the start/finish line at Tait and Nicholson avenues.

The highlight of the race is the 328-foot-long/100-meter Nicholson Avenue hill, which locals might know as "Cat’s Hill."

“Racers like the challenging 23 percent grade of Nicholson,” said Aldene Gordon, a member of the LGBRC.

Cyclists ranging in age from 15 to 60 participated in a variety of categories, from beginner to professional. Both men and women competed for first, second and third places.

A kids ride of 96 youngsters up to age nine also took off at 12:30 p.m.

"Watching and participating in the kids' ride, as many residents do, encourages children to ride bikes," Gordon said of the positive message of the race.

The community also turned out to support the cyclists, holding block parties for after-race revelry. Neighborhood children erected lemonade stands and all cheered on the racers.

"One resident of Nicholson said he has watched the race from his parents' house all 28 years of his life," Gordon said.

The nearly four-decades old race was originally organized by Bob Tetzlaff, a teacher and 1960 Olympian, and his wife, Lorine in 1974. The two were co-founders of the LGBRC.

The club initially held the Los Gatos Criterium, which started on University Avenue near , but soon racing through Los Gatos turned passé.

After teaming up with Tom Moore of Moore Buick, the Cat's Hill Classic was born. Bob designed the current course and Lorine christened it "Cat's Hill." It now stands as one of the longest running cycling races in the United States.

Moore, skeptical of the name, said, "It'll never last."

For complete race results, visit usacycling.com:

Men - Pro/Cat 1/2

1. James Laberge from Napa finished with 88.70 points
2. Benjamin Swedberg from Campbell finished with 90.92 points
3. Jared Barrilleaux from Petaluma finished with 93.14 points

Men - Cat 1/2/3 – Master - 35-99

1. Andres Gil from Stockton finished with 119.94 points
2. Jason Walker from Reno, Nev. Finished with 127.34 points
3. Christopher Phipps from San Francisco finished with 134.75 points

Men - Cat 1/2/3 - Master 45-99

1. Kevin Klein from Menlo Park finished with 135.88 points
2. Mike Pugh from Davis finished with 148.76 points
3. Lawrence Nolan from Fremont finished with 161.64 points

Men - Cat 3

1. Ricardo Moran from Oakland finished with 198.13 points
2. Cody Kaiser from El Dorado Hills finished with 203.97 points
3. Reese Levine from Orinda finished with 209.81 points

Men - Cat 4

1. Steven Sperling from Santa Cruz finished with 342.57 points
2. Chris Leibman from Palo Alto finished with 351.12 points
3. Daniel Green from Oroville finished with 359.67 points

Men - Cat 4/5 - Master - 36-99

1. Matt Adams from Fairfax finished with 372.41 points
2. Ronnie Leavitt from Rocklin finished with 379.28 points
3. Morgan Raines from Santa Cruz finished with 386.15 points

Men - Cat 5

1. Alex Wild from San Jose finished with 512.28 points
2. John Grube from Aptos finished with 515.27 points
3. Donald Lee from Fremont finished with 518.26 points

Men - Junior - 15-16

1. Matthew Valencia from Los Altos finished with 203.02 points
2. Jack Maddux from Fresno finished with 224.71 points
3. Robbie Farrens from Stockton finished with 246.40 points

Women - Cat 1/2/3

1. Jasmin Hurikino
2. Emily Collins from Pittsburg finished with 119.39 points
3. Rebecca Werner

Women - Cat 3/4

1. Sofia Marin from San Francisco finished with 246.88 points
2. Shannon Bhatia from San Jose finished with 269.85 points
3. Jennifer Kalich from Aromas finished with 292.82 points

Women - Junior - 15-16

1. Kristin Wolfe from San Jose
2. Emily Abraham from Santa Rosa

Women - Junior - 17-18

1. Brook Wenig from Mill Valley