Gloucester Alumni

Published: 03/27/2007
By Dan Guttenplan
Staff writer, Gloucester Daily Times

Gloucester's Shawn Milne (GHS 2000) posted the lengthiest cycling victory of his professional career thanks to a teammate's broken hip.
The 25-year-old Gloucester High alumnus won the seven-stage Tour of Taiwan last week after serving as a last-minute replacement to Health-Net Maxxis teammate John Murphy. Milne had not planned on entering the race, but Murphy's injury just days before the race paved the way.

"I happened to have some free time, and it seemed like a good way to get in a lot of mileage for training," Milne said. "It turned out perfect. I've never won a seven-stage race before."

The 650-kilometer race, which ended in Tapei, Taiwan, included racers from 19 teams and 13 countries. Milne's overall time of 17:56.35 was 1:04 faster than second-place finisher Robert McLachlan of Australia.

Milne and his Health-Net Maxxis teammates split the prize for the overall winner of $2,500. It is Health-Net Maxxis team tradition to split all individual winnings. Milne's teammates also reaped the benefits of the $1,500 prize he received for winning Stage 1.

"Once you get a lead in cycling, the whole field marks you," Milne said. "That makes the win even more special."

It was Milne's fourth victory since becoming a professional just over two years ago. All four have come in the last eight months.

"I'm continually progressing," Milne said. "I'm coming off a good year, and I'm building off that. Part of the reason I'm doing well now is that I ended last season really fit. My starting point was higher than ever before."

Milne, who has enough credits to be considered a senior at Gordon College, trains in the mountains of Colorado during the winter. Like most professional cyclists, he does the majority of his training alone.

He changed teams in the beginning of the season, ending a two-year run with Navigator Insurance. The Taiwan victory was Milne's third race with his new team.

"I went from the second-best team to the best team," Milne said. "There's nothing wrong with the old team, but this seems to be working out really well."

The California-based team competes in Division 2 of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). Teams are split into divisions based on budget - D1 being the richest. Lance Armstrong competed in D1 when he won seven consecutive Tour de France titles.

Milne placed 10th in the individual standings last year. Health-Net Maxxis Director Jeff Corbett believes he can improve his ranking this season.

"(Shawn's) a strong guy with a very good finishing sprint," Corbett said.

Milne also rode for the United States Under-23 national team and was a member of the 2003 world championship team.

He was also a member of the 2000 Gloucester High national champion indoor track distance medley team along with Josh Palazola, Tristan Colangelo and Ngai Otieno. He attended the annual Gloucester High track alumnus reunion dinner at Dragon Light last Christmas Eve.

"I still use all of the principles I was taught in high school under (cross country coach Dave Dunsky and track coach Jim Munn)," Milne said. "The foundation of work-ethic translates to any activity in life, and understanding the need for rest is practical in any sport."

Milne will next compete at the U.S. Cycling Open in Richmond, Va., Oct. 7. He would like to cement his role as Health-Net Maxxis' top cyclist.

"I definitely have to earn it," Milne said. "My goal is to earn the right to be the go-to guy. Everyone's always competitive. We all want to win everything. I obviously want to win that race."

Shawn Milne's file

Birth date: Nov. 9, 1981

Hometown: Gloucester, MA

High school: Gloucester High

Profession: Professional cyclist

Current team: Health-Net Maxxis Cycling

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 160 pounds