Fourteen national titles awarded in Cherokee Park on Thursday
Louisville, Ky. (August 5, 2010) – After Wednesday became the hottest day Louisville had seen in 80 years, Thursday's cooler, wetter weather was very much welcomed by competitors and spectators alike on day three of the USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships.The day started off bright and early with the youngest groups of women (30-34 and 35-59) toeing the line within minutes of each other for what was supposed to be nine laps on the five-mile road race course. However, with one lap to go for the 30-34 group, thunderstorms rolled into Cherokee Park, prompting USA Cycling officials to cut both races short.
Sara Tussey (Winston-Salem, NC/Carolina Bicycle Company) rode into the first Stars-and-Stripes jersey of the day when she pulled ahead of silver medalist Colleen Cornelius (Lexington, Ky./Promotionalcycling.com) as they hammered toward the finish line. Trish Cohen (Tampa, Fla.) picked up the bronze while Julie Jerue (Lakeland, Fla./Outspokin Bicycles) and Anne Donley (Denver, Colo.) were fourth and fifth.
In the women’s 35-39 competition, five women rounded the final turn together and the race came down to a sprint. It was Rip Nicholson (Winston-Salem, NC/Carolina Flyers) who was able to speed up the pace at the last minute and get away long enough to claim the gold medal. Sprinting to the silver and bronze medals were Leslie Jennings (Washington DC) and Colleen Paine (Cumming, Ga./Pedal Right Cycling Team) as Michele Moulton (Albany, Ga./Project Cannibal Peloton) and Carol Flinchbaugh (Lawrence, Kan./Free State Racing) made the fourth- and fifth-place efforts.
Next up were the women in the 40-44 and 45-49 categories, lining up on a slippery course just after the rain let up. Debbie Milne (Belden, Miss./Absolute Racing Team) put forth an outstanding performance in the 40-44 event, racing solo off the front for nearly three-quarters of the race.
“It was a very slippery course and we were being very tentative on the first lap,” Milne explained after the race. “Despite that, four people went down right beside me. So the third time up the hill, I decided I would try to thin it out a bit. So I attacked on it and was actually able to just get away from the group and thought ‘Hey, I might as well go for it.’”
About two minutes after Milne crossed the line for the national title, Samantha Brode (Akron, Ohio/Carbon Racing) won the field sprint for the silver medal while Dianna Del Fante (Brea, Calif./OCW-Paramount) took the bronze and Antonia Leal (Waukesha, Wis./Planet Bike) and Lisa Tumminello (Littleton, Colo./Colavita Racing, Inc.) rounded out the podium in fourth and fifth.CLICK HERE to see a video of Ms. Milne talking about the race and the slippery course.
The women’s 45-49 group blew apart pretty fast with a group of five leading the entire contest after about two laps. Hometown racer Tracy Tolson (Louisville, Ky./Kentucky Flyers) won the sprint for the national title while Terrie Clouse (Monument, Colo./ColoBikeLaw.com) and Giselle Weekes (Greenville, SC/Greenville Spinners Bicycle Club) were second and third First-year bicycle racer Jennifer Martin (Erie, Pa./Team 53x11 Coffee) was fourth and Gina Kavesh (Bellevue, Wash./Union Bay Cycling) rounded out the podium in fifth.
CLICK HERE to see a video of Ms. Tolson taking the victory.
The women in the 50-54 field lined up under a pleasant cloud cover at about 1:00. By the sixth and final lap, eight women were riding together and it was destined to be a sprint for the finish. Pamela Schuster (San Diego, Calif./Southern California Velo) won that sprint, edging out second- and third-place riders Susan McDonough (York, Maine/Sports TEAM-TeamFuji) and Christine Schryver (Rochester, NY/Genesee Valley Cyclng. Laura Howat (Salt Lake City, Utah/Utah Permier-Ski Utah) was fourth while Ellen Guthrie (Spin Cycle Racing) was fifth.
In the 55-59 race, it was Ann Marie Miller (New York, NY/Century Road Club Association) to power her way to the top step of the podium. Miller had a comfortable two minute lead when she crossed the finish line in front of silver and bronze medalists Arrietta Clauss (Madison, Wis./MadCity Velo Club) and Barbara Grabowski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Steel City Endurance). Elizabeth Tyrell (Annandale, NJ/Somerset Wheelmen) and Glenda Taylor (Topeka, Kan./Free Stte Racing) rounded out fourth and fifth.
In the women’s 60-64 event, Kay Tsui (Arlington, Va./HPC) collected another gold medal while Marie DeRosa (New York, NY/VO2MaxOut.com) was second and Jo Johnson (Wilmington, Del./Team DRT-Deep Blue) was third. Julie Lockhart (Dunstable, Mass./Northeast Bicycle Club) claimed yet another national title for the women’s 65+ category.
More action is on tap for Cherokee Park on Friday as the remaining four categories of men will line up for their road races. Stay tuned to www.usacycling.org for daily reports on all the action.
For more information about this event, including a schedule and course maps, click here to visit the event’s webpage.
Click herefor complete results.
CLICK HERE for a PHOTO GALLERY from the event
2010 USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships
Louisville, Ky.
August 3-8, 2010
1. Sara Tussey (Winston-Salem, NC/Carolina Bicycle Company)
2. Colleen Cornelius (Lexington, Ky./Promotionalcycling.com)
3. Trish Cohen (Tampa, Fla.)
4. Julie Jerue (Lakeland, Fla./Outspokin Bicycles)
5. Anne Donley (Denver, Colo.)
Women 35-39 Road Race
1. Rip Nicholson (Winston-Salem, NC/Carolina Flyers)
2. Leslie Jennings (Washington DC)
3. Colleen Paine (Cumming, Ga./Pedal Right Cycling Team)
4. Michele Moulton (Albany, Ga./Project Cannibal Peloton)
5. Carol Flinchbaugh (Lawrence, Kan./Free State Racing)
Women 40-44 Road Race
1. Debbie Milne (Belden, Miss./Absolute Racing Team)
2. Samantha Brode (Akron, Ohio/Carbon Racing)
3. Dianna Del Fante (Brea, Calif./OCW-Paramount)
4. Antonia Leal (Waukesha, Wis./Planet Bike)
5. Lisa Tumminello (Littleton, Colo./Colavita Racing, Inc.)
Women 45-59 Road Race
1. Tracy Tolson (Louisville, Ky./Kentucky Flyers)
2. Terrie Clouse (Monument, Colo./ColoBikeLaw.com)
3. Giselle Weekes (Greenville, SC/Greenville Spinners Bicycle Club)
4. Jennifer Martin (Erie, Pa./Team 53x11 Coffee)
5. Gina Kavesh (Bellevue, Wash./Union Bay Cycling)
Women 50-54 Road Race
1. Pamela Schuster (San Diego, Calif./Southern California Velo)
2. Susan McDonough (York, Maine/Sports TEAM-TeamFuji)
3. Christine Schryver (Rochester, NY/Genesee Valley Cyclng)
4. Laura Howat (Salt Lake City, Utah/Utah Permier-Ski Utah)
5. Ellen Gurthrie (Spin Cycle Racing)
Women 55-59 Road Race
1. Ann Marie Miller (New York, NY/Century Road Club Association)
2. Arrietta Clauss (Madison, Wis./MadCity Velo Club)
3. Barbara Grabowski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Steel City Endurance)
4. Elizabeth Tyrell (Annandale, NJ/Somerset Wheelmen)
5. Glenda Taylor (Topeka, Kan./Free Stte Racing)
Women 60-64 Road Race
1. Kay Tsui (Arlington, Va./HPC)
2. Marie DeRosa (New York, NY/VO2MaxOut.com)
3. Jo Johnson (Wilmington, Del./Team DRT-Deep Blue)
Women 65+ Road Race
1. Julie Lockhart (Dunstable, Mass./Northeast Bicycle Club)
Men's Tandem 110+
1. John Elgart (Sacramento, Calif./Alto Velo) and Jan Elsbach (Davis, Calif./VOS Racing)
Men's Tandem 70+
1. Matthew Lerner (Louisville, Ky./Scheller's Racing Team) and Larry Stickler (Louisville, Ky./Sonovelo)
Men's Tandem 90+
1. O'Brien Forbes (West Chester, Ohio/Cincinnati Velo Club) and John Gatch (Terrace Park, Ohio/Cincinnati Velo Club)
Mixed Tandem 110+
1. Sherry Berde Townsend (Mendota Heights/Gopher Wheelmen) and Charles Townsend (Mendota Heights/St. Paul Bicycle Racing Club)
Mixed Tandem 70+
1. Brian Eppen (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City Cycling Club) and Kim Eppen (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City Cycling Club)
Mixed Tandem 90+
1. Patrick Aimone (Belleville, Mich./Wolverine Sports Club) and Anne Marie Phillips (Northville, Mich./Wolverine Sports Club)
Photos: Larry Stickler and Matt Lerner compete in the tandem road race; Carol Finchbaugh gets ready for the women's 35-39 road race. (Photos courtesy of Craig Dooley/www/dooleymann.photoreflect.com)
About USA Cycling
Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including road, track, mountain bike, BMX and cyclo-cross. As a membership-based organization, USA Cycling comprises 66,500+ licensees; 2,200 clubs and teams; and 34 local associations. The national governing body sanctions 2,650 competitive and non-competitive events throughout the U.S. each year and is responsible for the identification, development, and support of American cyclists. To learn more about USA Cycling, visit www.usacycling.org.
This Article Published August 5, 2010 For more information contact:
