John Murphy

John had a break-out season in 2008, earning the overall and points competition titles at the Tour of Taiwan, and finishing 5th in the NRC Individual Points Competition. Murph continues to improve his sprinting and will be looking for more opportunities in 2009.

Date of Birth/Location:
12.15.84; Jacksonville, FL

Height:
6′1″

Weight:
176 lbs

Current Residence:
Athens, GA

Education (include years):
Two years of college

Years Racing:
11 Years

Years as a Pro:
3

Previous Team(s)/Year(s):
Health Net Presented by Maxxis, 2007-08
USA U23 National Team, 2005-06
Jittery Joe’s, 2004
Krystal Elite Cycling Team, 2003
Colorado Altitude Training MTB Team, 2001-02
Gary Fisher Grassroots MTB Team, 2000
J&J Schwinn Cycling Team, 1998-99

Strengths on the bike:
Sprinting, Break-aways, Time Trials

Strengths off the bike:
Relaxing, Sleeping

Nickname:
Murphdog

Family Status:
Single

Favorite Movies:
Borat, Talladega Nights, Old School, Anchorman - Will Ferrell is the man.

Currently on my iPod:
Incubus, Bloc Party, Hard-Fi, Staind, Panic At the Disco, Funeral For a Friend, Seether, and much more.

Little known fact about John:
Although I have been racing for 10 years, I spend the first six years racing mountain bikes. Just my 4th season of road racing coming up.

Website/blog:
www.jpmurph.com

Palmares

Career Highlights:
2008 1st Overall, Tour of Taiwan
5th NRC Individual Points Competition, 2008
2005 U23 World Championship Team Member
2005 Superweek U23 Overall Winner
2002 Sea Otter MTB Junior X Winner

Wins:

2008
1st Overall, Tour of Taiwan
1st Points Competition, Tour of Taiwan
1st Overall, Tour of Atlanta
1st Stage 4, Fitchburg Longsjo Classic
1st Stage 1, Georgia Cup Stage Race
1st Stage 1, Tour of Atlanta
1st Stage 2, Tour of Atlanta

2007
1st Stage 4, Tri Peaks Challenge
1st Health Net Twilight Criterium
1st Stage 2, Edgar Soto Memorial Stage Race

2006
1st Vinkt-Deinse Kermesse (Belgium)

2005
1st Overall Super Week U23
1st Valley of the Sun Road Race

2004
1st Georgia Cup Overall and Most Aggressive Rider
1st Georgia State Time Trial Championship
1st Brooks Criterium (GA)
1st Cherry Blossom Road Race GA Cup #2
1st The Southend Crit (N.C.)
1st Morganton Cycling Classic Time Trial- (Tenn.)
1st Bishop Classic Criterium (GA)
1st LaGrange Georgia Cup Finals Time Trial

2003
1st Shelby County Stage Race Criterium (AL)
1st Stage 7, Tour of Ohio
1st Velo Clips Road Race

Other Major Results:

2008
2nd Overall, Nature Valley Grand Prix
2nd Garrett Lemire Memorial Grand Prix
2nd Stage 3, Tour of Atlanta
2nd Stage 4, Tour of Atlanta
2nd Stage 6, Tour of Atlanta
3rd Stage 4, Tour of Taiwan
3rd Stage 7, Tour of Taiwan
3rd Stage 2, Nature Valley Grand Prix
3rd Stage 3, Nature Valley Grand Prix
4th Overall, Georgia Cup Stage Race
5th Sea Otter Classic
6th Stage 5, Tour of Taiwan
6th Stage 6, Tour of Taiwan
7th Stage 1, Tour of Taiwan
7th Stage 3, Tour of Taiwan
8th Stage 8, Tour of Taiwan
10th Stage 2, Tour of Taiwan

2007
2nd Stage 1, Edgar Soto Memorial Stage Race
3rd Overall Edgar Soto Memorial Stage Race
5th Stage 3, Nature Valley Grand Prix
6th Stage 3, Edgar Soto Memorial Stage Race
7th Stage 4, Edgar Soto Memorial Stage Race
10th Stage 1, Elk Grove

2006
2nd Buckhead GA Cup finals Criterium
3rd Roeselare Criterium (Belgium)
3rd Highland Rim Road Classic
4th Izegem Kermesse
5th Zillebeke 1.12
6th Vuelta Tolledo Stage 1 (UCI 2.12)
8th Bertem (UCI 1.12)
8th Stage 3, Trois Province (UCI 2.13)
16th Stage 3, Herald Sun Tour
19th Troffee Van Haspengouw
20th U23 Paris-Roubaix (UCI 1.2)

2005
3rd Wakkin Kermesse
4th Stage 4, Tour of Antwerp (2.12)
5th Superweek Beverly Hills Cycling Classic
6th Athens Twilight Criterium
6th Stage 2, Tour of Orlean (France UCI 2.12)
10th Stage 1, Tour of Orlean
10th Stage 2, Tour De L’Avenir (UCI 2.1)
13th U23 Paris-Roubaix (UCI 1.2)

2004
4th Stage 4, Tour Del Sol Mexico
7th Univest Criterium
8th Stage 2, Tour De ‘Toona
8th Stage 4, Tour De ‘Toona
9th Festival of Speed
11th US 100k Classic
15th Captech Classic

2003
2nd Stage 3, Tour of Ohio
3rd Stage 2, Tour of Ohio
3rd Stage 5, Tour of Ohio
4th Stage 6, Tour of Ohio
6th Stage 8, Tour of Ohio
11th Overall, Tour of Ohio
20th Elite Criterium National Championships

In his own words

Your performance in 2008 surprised a lot of people, though perhaps not so many people who have been close observers of your career. Were you at all surprised by some of your results, in particular the Tour of Taiwan?

Well, I would be lying if I said I was surprised, but more over I was happy to finally prove myself at the level I knew I was riding at.  Also, it takes a breakthrough result for people to start believing, as well.  I saw that on many fronts.

What areas do you see needing to improve on heading into the 2009 season?
I’m gonna be working on my sprinting way more for ‘09. What took me to the next level in ‘08 was deciding that I needed to spend my time working my strengths rather than just trying to become a better climber.  So I began to hone my sprint and things snowballed.

Do you expect continue to get more opportunities to ride for yourself in 2009?
My goals for 2009 are to be the go-to guy in some races, like Philly for example.  The only way I can have those opportunities is to be riding strong.

What are your goals or expectations for the 2009 season?
As I said before, Philly is a big goal.  Also I want to get in the mix in the big U.S. tours like Cali and Missouri. As well, I want to win as many races for OUCH as possible. Whether it’s me or a teammate, it’s the same.

How did you spend this off-season?
Bowling

When did you start racing, and why?
I started racing in 1997. I love the adrenaline rush of racing.

Who were/are your cycling mentors and/or influences?
My coach, Jason Tullous. He is a master’s world champ who has done it all.  Thanks Jason. I also couldn’t do this without my parents’ support. They have always supported me in cycling.

What was your first bike? When/how did you get it?
The first bike I owned was a 1997 Raleigh M400 mountain bike. Thanks again Mom and Dad. It was dark blue and I replaced every part on it while racing my first two years.  And by doing that I learned to take a bike apart and put it back together. Self taught.

What was your first win?
My first race, ha-ha. It was in Newnan, GA, and I was doing the first-timer’s race.  Maybe that is what actually gave me the motivation to keep on racing. Junior mountain biking was so much fun.

What would you consider your finest moment on the bike?
I would have to go back to 2005 when I made the break at the Athens Twilight Crit. I had started in the very back and it took me 45 minutes just to catch the chase group. It was raining and racers were getting dropped one after another.  After almost an hour in I made it to the front group, and then bam, the break went. I went to bridge up alone and made it. I think only 30 people finished. It’s one of the craziest races in the world and all the college kids and spectators get so into it.  Maybe it’s all the beer they drink. With Athens being my home town now, it’s a special race for me. It’s one I plan on winning in the future for sure.

What was your worst or most embarrassing moment on the bike?
Breaking my Pelvis in Merced, CA.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen on a bike ride?
I was riding with my best bud Todd Henriksen on some local roads where we grew up in Marietta, GA. He was ahead of me and I saw a bird fly right into his rear wheel. Poof, feathers went everywhere. We stopped immediately, but there was no sign of the poor bird. Moments later, it fell from the sky right next to us. It must have been airborne for 20 seconds. It was unreal.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve done on a bike ride?
I rode a wheelie all the way up this climb out in San Diego. It was like a 15 minute climb, so it was tough riding it up all the way. Not that strange, but you don’t do something like that everyday. Matt Crane was there, ask him about it.

What’s the one thing you’ve done on a ride (training or race) that you will absolutely never do again?
A no-handed wheelie.

When you’re not on your bike, what do you like to do?
Update my blog, www.jpmurph.com

If you weren’t a professional cyclist, what would you be doing?
Pursuing some career to make a paycheck…