Crystal City, Va. – In a race that Shawn Milne said he simply hoped to finish, the fifth-year pro from Beverly, Mass., delivered much more in Sunday’s Air Force Cycling Classic.

Milne pulled off one of the most high profile victories in the two-year history of the Team Type 1 men’s professional program by out-sprinting four breakaway companions at the end of the 109.2-mile (175 km) USA Cycling Professional Tour series event in Crystal City, Va.

It was the 20th win of the season for the Team Type 1 men and the third in just one week’s time.

“I didn’t feel good all day,” an overjoyed Milne said. “In fact, I felt miserable. With two laps to go, I was supposed to be ready to lead out Ken (Hanson) and I told him I didn’t think I had it in me.”

Despite the inclination to pack it in, Milne forged on and soon found himself and teammate Matt Wilson riding in the decisive break. But once again, he wasn’t thinking about his own chances.

“Matt was feeling well, so I was taking more pulls, trying to keep everyone working together,” Milne said.

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The podium for the Cannondale Incycle Old Town San Dimas Classic criterium (from left): Cody O’Reilly (fourth place), Lucas Sebastian Haedo (second), winner Jonathan Cantwell, John Murphy (third) and Shawn Milne (fifth).

San Dimas, Calif. – Shawn Milne added to Team Type 1’s polka dot jersey collection by winning the King of the Mountains classification Sunday at the San Dimas Stage Race.

The Beverly, Mass., resident scored the seventh King of the Mountains (KOM) title in the 15-month history of the men’s professional team program. Last week, it was teammate Jesse Anthony who earned KOM honors at the Tour de Taiwan.

Milne also registered his second top 10 finish of the three-day, three-stage event by placing fifth in Sunday’s Cannondale Incycle Old Town San Dimas Classic criterium. He finished sixth and Fabio Calabria was seventh in Saturday’s 84-mile (135 km) San Dimas Hospital Road Race.

Calabria was the only one of the 150 starters in the race who had Type 1 diabetes. The 21-year-old had to closely monitor his blood sugar level before, during and after racing because his body does not naturally produce insulin.

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There’s a new professional continental team in the pro cycling peloton this year. But this team is different, it has a message. Team Type 1 was created by Type 1 diabetes racers Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge to inspire people living with diabetes to take a proactive approach to managing their health and overcoming the obstacles often associated with the condition. The 15-rider professional roster includes four riders with Type 1 diabetes.

Phil Southerland starts the Redlands TT; photo c. Lyne Lamoureux

The team is serious about the racing, and big guns were recruited, General Manager Tom Schuler and Directeur Sportif Ed Beamon, two of the most established names in domestic cycling, having previously directed the longtime Saturn and Navigators Insurance teams, respectively.

Team Type 1 finished third in the team classification at the Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T, second on team classification at the Tour of Langkawi in February and in March, Shawn Milne finished second overall at the Tour de Taiwan.

It all started with a bet. During the college days, Southerland noticed that his friend Eldridge was not taking care of his diabetes and started placing bets on whomever had higher blood sugar paid for dinner.

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