US Professional Championships, Cat 1.2

Brief

Hincapie, three weeks shy of his 25th birthday, won a 32-rider field sprint at the end of the 156-mile race, erasing any memories of last year’s frustration.

A year ago, Hincapie was the first American across the line, apparently earning the USPRO jersey, but he was disqualified 45 minutes after the race’s conclusion for illegally pacing behind his team vehicle.

"That was last year and it’s over," Hincapie said. "This is this year and I won."

After an early five-rider breakaway built a lead of almost five minutes, the entire U.S. Postal team moved to the front to bring back the breakaway. Lance Armstrong drove the chase in the latter stages after Anton Villatoro had powered it earlier in the race.

As the field climbed the fabled Manayunk Wall for the 10th and final time, it was apparent that Hincapie was the focus for the USPS squad.

"You can imagine the pressure when you have Lance Armstrong and Frankie Andreu working for you and believing in you," Hincapie said. "I didn’t have any choice but to win."

As the field entered the last of the final three small-circuit laps, Italian Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco-Cannondale) attacked, but Postal’s Tyler Hamilton covered the attack. The Polish Mroz team then moved to the front of the chase to keep the pace as the other Postal riders finally started to fade. The field came together and set up the final sprint. Andreu gave Hincapie a final lead- out with about 300 meters to go.

"Two Saturn riders went to the left, a German went to the right, and a Saeco rider also went to the left," Hincapie said. "I came around him."

Hincapie cleared Massimiliano Mori (Saeco-Timex) by half a bike-length for the win, his first of 1998. Tomas Konecny (ZVVZ-Giant) of the Czech Republic was third.

"This is the U.S. National Championship and it’s Philadelphia," Hincapie said. "Any U.S. rider wants to win this race."

Philadelphia, 258 kms:

 1. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service 	   6.06.35 
 2. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale 
 3. Tomas Konecny (Cze) ZVVZ-Giant 
 4. Scott McGrory (Aus) Die Continentale 
 5. Miroslav Kejval (Cze) ZVVZ-Giant 
 6. Frank McCormack (USA) Saturn 
 7. Marco Giroletti (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave 
 8. Andrzej Sypytowski (Pol) Mroz 
 9. Jakob Pijl (Den) Acceptcard 
10. Mark McCormack (USA) Saturn
..
13 Czeslaw Lukascewicz (Can) Mroz 
14. Kirk Willett (USA) Mercury 
15. Chann McRae (USA) Saturn 
19. John Lieswyn (USA) Composite B 
20. Thurlow Rogers (USA) Mercury			s.t.
32. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service		0.19 
34. Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service 		0.23
39. Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service 		5.51

Starter 113
Finished 66