Local pro among world’s best in Tour of California

Northwest Portland resident Doug
Ollerenshaw competing in
the Tour of California.
(Photo: Stefan Heymanns/Flickr)

The Amgen Tour of California — a seven stage, 650-mile race that featured the world’s top teams and riders — wrapped up in Pasadena California on Sunday. Among the finishers were all the big names of elite international racing including the legendary sprinter Mario Cipollini, World Champion Paolo Bettini, and Paris-Roubaix winner Tom Boonen.

Also mixing it up in the Peloton was a name familiar to many Portlanders; our very own hometown hero Doug Ollerenshaw.

The Northwest Portland resident is a member of the controversial and star-studded Rock Racing team and he rode to a very respectable 37th place overall finish.

Still in California after the grueling event, Ollerenshaw said he had hoped to get into a breakaway, but missed two opportunities in the final stages. “Since I’m not a sprinter, and I can’t climb with the likes of [two-time winner of the race] Levi Leiphemer, breaks are my only chance for personal glory.”

Doug O at the Tour of California. He shaved his beard before the final stage, “Hoping it’d make me faster, but it didn’t really work.”
(Photo: Craig Swarthout/Flickr)

Ollerenshaw might have done better if it weren’t for some crashes early in the week. He went down twice, with a spill on Tuesday being “especially rough.”

As if the top-notch competition and dangerous riding weren’t enough, Ollerenshaw said the weather also proved challenging. “We did seven and a half hours [135 miles from Seaside to San Luis Obispo] in a driving rainstorm. You’d think I’d be used to that living in Portland, but it’s hard to race all day in heavy rain.”

When he’s not busy being a world
famous bike racer, Doug O likes to
dress up like Pac-Man and
race cyclocross.
(Photo © J. Maus)

But Ollerenshaw is not complaining, he’s known for his gritty performances and a tough, aggressive racing style that belies his humble, nice-guy demeanor.

That demeanor has made him popular with bike racing fans, some of which followed his efforts in California. “There were a fair number of Portland folks down here,” he said, “I heard my name being yelled quite a bit from the side of the road, and a lot of people took the time to say hi…It’s always great to get a little connection to home.”

Regardless of his results, Ollerenshaw said it was “a unique experience” to be with his famous teammates for a week, “It’s been sort of surreal having breakfast with Mario Cipollini. That guys a legend, obviously.”

Read more about Doug’s trip to California, and stay in touch with his season at DougOllerenshaw.com.