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USA Elite National Track Championships - CN

USA, October 3-6, 2007

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Day 2 - October 4: Men Individual Pursuit, Scratch race, Sprint, Women Scratch race, Pursuit, Keirin

Action-packed second day at US track nationals

By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor in Carson, California

Phinney becomes youngest elite pursuit champion

Taylor Phinney in his new threads. Photo ©: Mitch Clinton
(Click for larger image)

Junior World Time Trial Champion Taylor Phinney (TIAA-CREF/5280) added another title to his name in the US elite men's individual pursuit championship on Thursday evening, besting his team-mate Brad Huff by 2.5 seconds. Right from the gun, Phinney had an advantage on the half lap, and made that gap grow and grow. Near the half way point, Huff had cut into the deficit, almost drawing even and making some wonder if Phinney had gone too early, but Huff never closed the deal. With less than a kilometer Phinney held about a second lead. With one lap to go he had grown the advantage back to 1.5 seconds, and he finished strong to become a national champion at seventeen.

"I wasn't sure what to expect but I could see him and knew I was ahead of him the whole time," said Phinney, who was doing his first track championships. "I based every lap off of that and then towards the end I decided to pick it up a little." He may be a novice at the pursuit, but he was able to follow the strategy his mother, Connie Carpenter-Phinney, used to win multiple US pursuit titles.

When asked if he thought he went too hard too soon, as opposed to his qualifying race, Phinney said, "A little, I wasn't thinking too early for the second and third laps so that was a mistake. But I had a nice little kick at the end, so it ended up good."

Huff said he tried to rely on equipment to improve his slight advantage over Phinney from qualifying. "I switched from a 52-15 to a 53-15 and I never got on top of it. It just backfired, horribly. I should have stayed in the same gear. But you have to at least go for it. But I am happy for Taylor he just proved he is a true phenomenon in the sport. And Slipstream has swept just about every elite category in the sport, especially if you count Zabriskie."

Phinney's time from the qualifying race put him inside the elite talent pool standard, something he was aiming for by coming here. "I'll be 18 next year and that is why I came out here, to test myself against everyone." But Phinney is not leaving the road for the track any time soon. When asked which he preferred, Phinney said, "Road definitely, but I love this event!"

In the third place race, defending champion Mike Friedman (Slipstream-Chipotle) jumped out to an early lead against Dan Harm (Rubicon-Orbea) and just kept going. Half way through Friedman was only 15 meters behind Harm on the track and 2.8 seconds ahead on time.

Bausch starts track career strong with pursuit win

Dotsie Bausch (Colavita/Sutter Home) sucking air. Photo ©: Mitch Clinton
(Click for larger image)

Top-seeded Dotsie Bausch (Colavita-Sutter Home) took home the gold in the women's pursuit, coming from behind to beat Christen King. 2002 pursuit champion Angie Vargas-Coggan was third, taking a close-fought battle against Neva Day. Bausch got off to a rough start in her gold-medal round pursuit race, wiping out in the first 10 meters while attempting to get a powerful start. The officials restarted the race after Bausch, an admittedly novice track racer, collected her thoughts. Her subsequent second start was noticeably more apprehensive, and it showed early on - allowing Christen King to begin with a comfortable lead early, and even maintain an advantage to late in the race. But slow and steady wins the race, and for Bausch, the words rang true as she rode to her first track national championship.

"I was a second or so slower, but it didn't matter," said Bausch. "She was killing me early on and I did get a little freaked out, but then the adrenaline kicked in. I listened to Andy every lap from there."

"I felt good about my chances in the last four laps after watching her qualifying ride, I knew I could be patient."

Bausch is one of many riders here this weekend that are converts from the road side of the sport. And like the others, she is enjoying her exposure to the track. "It's been really fun so far. It's new which is what makes it fun, and I love that there aren't as many variables than in the road. It's been amazing training with Sarah [Hammer] and Andy every week. This track is like 35 minutes from my house! I knew that in the second week that I was sticking with it!"

"I thought that might give me a little advantage," said King about Bausch's mishap. "But it didn't. She rode like an experienced pursuiter, and she's only been doing it this year!"

Reed dominates, Lang crashes in keirin final

The women's keirin was an exciting affair, with a few crashes in qualifying and a dramatic one in the final turn of the final race. Defending champion Jennie Reed and last year's runner-up Anna Lang went to battle again, and again it was Reed taking the jersey while Lang hit the pine after hitting traffic in the final turn.

"Sometimes everyone wastes their energy and I know I have superior speed over everyone so I can afford to sit back and relax," said Reed about her tactics.

Bobby Lea (Toyota-United) working hard. Photo ©: Mitch Clinton
(Click for larger image)

Both Reed and Lang sat at the rear of the group for every pace lap, watching each other patiently and making it look like the other four were just part of the pacing crew. Once the derny pulled off Reed jumped along the outside to pass the field, while Lang took an inside line. This was to be her undoing, as Reed had a clean line to the front and never looked back. Conversely, Lang had to weave in and out of traffic and was boxed in at third position coming around the final turn to hear the bell. By then it was too late as Reed took a four bike length lead and turned on the gas.

"There was no way on the inside so I took the outside," said Reed about the deciding move. "When I went I saw her go under and there wasn't much room. After that I didn't look back. I knew that my form was good so I just had to make one good effort."

"I was very happy with my positioning, with Jennie behind me," said Lang. "Really my goal was just to hang her up and be the first around. I didn't want her to pass me, so I thought I was sitting pretty. When the motor came off things slowed pretty quick and I got hung up. As soon as she saw me do that I heard the whistles and she jumped. I dove down because there was a hole open, but then it just closed."

"I'm pretty bummed about the crash but I'm riding the scratch later," Lang lamented. "I just want a jersey this weekend!"

But there are more than just jerseys on the line this weekend, as spots in the national track talent pool are also being determined -- something that both Reed and Lang and looking ahead to in tomorrow's 200 meter sprint.

"Tomorrow is the big goal for me," said Reed. "I want to go for a good time in the 200!"

McCook defends scratch title with drama

The track national championships could not end without a little drama, and the men's scratch race final was it. Rock Racing had the numbers in the race, but used them to control the race for a sprint finish for sprinter Rahsaan Bahati. Bahati did pull off an apparent sprint win, battling with defending champion David McCook (Kelly Benefits-Medifast) elbow to elbow in the final two laps of the race. However, this battling was a little too much for the officials. Bahati had been given a warning earlier in the race, and his sprint lane attack on the back stretch of the final lap caused him to be relegated, giving McCook his second national scratch title in two years.

"It was just good racing, to be honest," said McCook about the incident and subsequent judge's decision. "With two to go I still had Roman [Kilun] in front of me and I was waiting for the rush. It was three guys coming out of four and Rahsaan came down on me into bell lap. He waited too long and he had to go underneath. As soon as he did that I knew they were going to call it."

Michael Blatchford (Cody Racing) gives it his all. Photo ©: Mitch Clinton
(Click for larger image)

With so many riders in the race, the Rock Racing team had the ability to blow the race apart or control it for the sprint. Luckily for McCook, they chose the latter. "That was great for me, keeping things steady," said McCook. "Rock Racing had the same idea as me, that it would come down to a sprint. My plan was to read the race, and they were doing everything for Rahsaan in a sprint. I think I read that right!"

"My biggest threat were Bobby and Colby," said McCook. "They are the breakaway guys. They attacked several times but Rock kept it together."

King turns silver into gold in women's scratch race

Pursuit runner-up Christen King jumped off her pursuit bike, onto the podium to get her silver medal and then onto her scratch race bike (the same bike with different parts) Thursday evening because... well, she just had to have a gold medal. King patiently rode the scratch race until the breakaway came back with 6 laps to go. Then she made her move, going solo in full pursuit mode and riding the final five laps by herself to a national title.

"I was a little bummed, that close to getting the gold medal and a jersey," she said. "That gave me the motivation to throw it down and go for it."

"I do that a lot," said King, referring to her winning solo move. "That is my thing, to pursuit off the front. Yeah, my legs were tired from today, but going for the national championship gives you a little extra."

When asked what it was like to race, and medal in, two finals within an hour, complete with a podium in between, King said, "It was a little crazy, swapping ifferent gears and handlebars in between!"

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

Results

Men 10km scratch race
 
Heat 1
1 Zach Watson (ABD Cycling)                         
2 Sergio Hernandez (Rock Racing)                    
3 Mike Creed (Team Slipstream)                      
4 Bobby Lea (Toyota-United Pro Cycling)             
5 Rob Evans (BPG/Montano Velo)                      
1 lap down
6 Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing)                      
7 David Mccook (Kelly Benefit Strata)               
8 Ryan Luttrell (Cody Racing)                       
9 Scott Kasin (Matrix / RBM)                        
10 Alan Klug (Hagens-Berman LLP)                    
11 Daniel Holt (Nerac Pro Cycling)                  
12 Chris Lindensmith (PA Lightning/Merrill)         
13 Aron Gadhia (Kahala La Grange)                   
14 Steen Rose (Trek/VW/RBM)                         
15 Dana Alia (CyclingScience RT)                    
16 Tony Trattenero (Encino Velo Cycling)            
17 Joey Spragins (Trinity Bicycles)                 
DNF Stuart Press (Kahala-LaGrange)                  
DNF George Meilahn (International Christ)           
DNF Michael Gacki (Matrix / RBM)                    
 
Heat 2
1 Austin Carroll (Rock Racing)                      
2 Curtis Gunn (Successful Living)                   
1 lap down
3 Michael Garrett (Kahala-LaGrange)                 
4 Kenny Williams (Avanti TiCycles)                  
5 Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing)                    
6 Cody O'reilly (Kodak Gallery)                     
7 Mariano Friedick (Rock Racing)                    
8 Daniel Hollaway (VMG Racing)                      
9 David Wiswell (Nerac Pro Cycling)                 
10 Chris Kutach (Mirage)                            
11 Timothy Henry (Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling)        
12 Danny Finneran (Major Motion)                    
13 Kenneth Harris (CRCA / Empire Cycling)           
14 Wesley Pierce (Wines of Washington)              
15 Kevin Suhr (Cody Racing)                         
16 John Allen (Team Velocity)                       
17 James Keiser (GS Adams Avenue)                   
DNF Kurt Tromp (TURIN Racing IL)                    
DNF John Walsh (Factory Time)                       
DNF Dan Currell (Loon State Gp Blaine)              
DNF Randy Mclain (Hammer Racing Team)               
DNF Keith Miller (California Giant Ber)             
DNF Matt Tamel (Shaws' Garden City)                 
 
Heat 3
1 Ben Jacques-Maynes (Priorty Healthy)              
2 Roman Kilun (Health Net presented)                
3 Dirk Copeland (California Giant)                  
1 lap down
4 Andrew Armstrong (Matrix / RBM)                   
5 Kevin Schiller (Team 2)                           
6 Colby Pearce (Cody Racing)                        
7 Steve Pelaez (Adobe/Schwalbe)                     
8 Justin Williams (Team Rock)                       
9 Jackie Simes (PA Lightning/Merrill)               
10 Tyler Ofstad (Kahala La Grange)                  
11 Steven Beardsley (CMG Racing)                    
12 Guy East (CRCA/Sakonnet)                         
13 Adrian Hegyvary (Hagens-Berman LLP)              
14 Barry Miller (MikeFraysseSports)                 
15 Giovanni Rey (BPG/Montano Velo)                  
16 Iggy Silva (Team Rock)                           
17 Brian Crosby (University of Minnes)              
18 Brian Peterson (Webcor/Alto Velo)                
19 Todd Yezefski (Nerac Pro Cycling)                
20 Kayle Leogrande (Rock Racing)                    
DNF Jason Macom (Mercy Development)                 
DNF John Teal (Sibex)                               
 
Men 15km scratch race final
 
1 David McCook (Kelly Benefit Strata)               
2 Cody O'Reilly (Kodak Gallery)                     
3 Steve Pelaez (Adobe/Schwalbe)                     
4 Curtis Gunn (Successful Living)                   
5 Bobby Lea (Toyota-United)                         
6 Ryan Luttrell (Cody Racing)                       
7 Ben Jacques-Maynes (Priorty Healthy)              
8 Kevin Schiller (Team 2)                           
9 Daniel Hollaway (VMG Racing)                      
10 Colby Pearce (Cody Racing)                       
11 Michael Garrett (Kahala-LaGrange)                
12 Zach Watson (ABD Cycling)                        
13 Rob Evans (BPG/Montano Velo)                     
14 Mike Creed (Team Slipstream)                     
15 Dirk Copeland (California Giant)                 
16 Kenny Williams (Avanti TiCycles)                 
17 Mariano Friedick (Rock Racing)                   
DNF Sergio Hernandez (Rock Racing)                  
DNF Austin Carroll (Rock Racing)                    
DNF Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing)                  
DNF Roman Kilun (Health Net)                        
DNF Andrew Armstrong (Matrix / RBM)                 
DNF Justin Williams (Team Rock)                     
DSQ Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing)                    
 
Men 200m TT
 
1 Adam Duvendeck (Momentum Cycling)          0.10.59
2 Michael Blatchford (Cody Racing)           0.00.12
3 Ryan Nelman (T-Town Express)               0.00.34
3 Ben Barczewski (T-Town Express)                   
5 Stephen Hill (East Point Track)            0.00.44
6 Giddeon Massie (T-Town Express)            0.00.51
7 Angelo Martorell (South Bay Wheelman)      0.00.55
8 Ryan Watson (TEAM WATSON)                  0.00.63
9 Ryan Cornell (Unattached)                  0.00.76
10 Taylor Olson (Loon State Gp Blaine)       0.00.87
11 Timo Budarz (NOW MS)                      0.00.90
12 Kelyn Akuna (Unattached)                  0.00.93
13 Nelson Li (Global Locate)                 0.00.95
14 Andrew Lacorte (Unattached)               0.00.98
15 Joshua Ryan (White Mountain)              0.01.20
16 Dan Currell (Loon State Gp Blaine)        0.01.25
17 Chris Nekarda (Leader Bikes)              0.01.32
18 Raja Audi (Unattached)                           
19 Jonathan Fraley (VC Bikesport)            0.01.34
20 Wesley Pierce (Wines of Washington)       0.01.36
21 Brent Stein (Egoistas)                           
22 Chris Ferris (Sub11)                      0.01.39
23 Dean Tracy (Team Rubicon-ORBEA)           0.01.42
24 Matias Elgart (Montano Velo)                     
25 Tc Valentine (Eddie Boyz)                 0.01.50
26 Ted Schmid (Loon State Gp Blaine)         0.01.51
27 Eric Manuel (Planet-X Masters)            0.01.64
28 Tim Montagne (Easton/Specialized)         0.01.70
29 Brent Kay (OUCH Sports Medical)                  
30 Kevin Mansker (Unattached)                0.01.99
31 Kevinn Matthews (PowerBar Elite)          0.02.18
32 Randy Clark (Leader Bikes)                0.03.07
 
Men 4000m TT final
 
1 Taylor Phinney (Team TIAA-CREF/5280)       4.38.40
2 Brad Huff (Team Slipstream)                0.02.50
3 Mike Friedman (Team Slipstream)            0.03.10
4 Dan Harm (Rubicon/Chinook)                 0.09.20

U23 men 4000m TT
 
1 Sam Jurekovic                                     
2 Sergio Hernandez                                  
3 Barry Miller                                      
 
U23 women 3000m TT
 
1 Julia Lafranchise                                 
   
Men 4000m TT qualifying
 
1 Brad Huff (Team Slipstream)                4.35.00
2 Taylor Phinney (Team TIAA-CREF/5280)       0.00.60
3 Dan Harm (Rubicon/Chinook)                 0.02.90
4 Mike Friedman (Team Slipstream)            0.04.10
5 Tom Zirbel (Priority Health)                      
6 Curtis Gunn (Successful Living)            0.05.10
7 Mike Creed (Team Slipstream)               0.06.30
8 Roger Rilling (Team Stoller)               0.08.40
9 Roman Kilun (Health Net)                   0.09.00
10 Todd Yezefski (Nerac Pro Cycling)         0.10.40
11 Karl Bordine (5 Star Fish)                0.11.70
12 James Stangeland (Wines of Washington)    0.11.80
13 Marco Hellman (AMD-Discovery)             0.13.30
14 Dirk Copeland (California Giant)          0.13.70
15 Kenny Williams (Avanti TiCycles)          0.14.00
16 Michael Garrett (Kahala-LaGrange)         0.14.20
17 Sam Jurekovic (U23 National Team)         0.15.10
18 Ben Jacques-Maynes (Priorty Healthy)      0.15.20
19 Devon Vigus (California Giant)            0.15.40
20 Mariano Friedick (Rock Racing)            0.15.80
21 Shawn Olin (DeWalt Racing)                0.16.70
22 Kirk Winters (Bicycle Johns)              0.18.20
23 Matthew Johnson (5 Star Fish)             0.20.00
24 Steve Pelaez (Adobe/Schwalbe)             0.21.00
25 Jamiel Danesh (Kodar Gallert)             0.21.30
26 Sterling Magnell (Rock Racing)            0.23.10
27 Keith Miller (California Giant)           0.23.80
28 Andrew Armstrong (Matrix / RBM)           0.24.20
29 Sergio Hernandez (Rock Racing)            0.24.50
30 Barry Miller (MikeFraysseSports)          0.24.70
31 Daniel Holt (Nerac Pro Cycling)           0.25.60
32 John Allen (Team Velocity)                0.27.30
33 Zach Watson (ABD Cycling)                 0.28.60
34 Matt Tamel (Shaws' Garden City)           0.30.50
35 Danny Finneran (Major Motion)             0.30.90
36 Alan Klug (Hagens-Berman LLP)             0.32.30
37 Tom Rieber (LAMBDA Cycling Found)         0.32.70
38 Scott Kasin (Matrix / RBM)                0.33.70
39 Stuart Press (Kahala-LaGrange)            0.45.40
40 Mark Dragovan (PA Lightning/Merrill)      0.58.20
41 Alfred Nash (Pasadena Athletic As)        1.14.20
 
Men sprint
 
Quarterfinal heat 1 - race - 1
1 Adam Duvendeck                             0.11.70
2 Ryan Watson                                       
Quarterfinal heat 1 - race - 2
1 Adam Duvendeck                             0.11.74
2 Ryan Watson                                       
Quarterfinal heat 2 - race - 1
1 Michael Blatchford                         0.11.58
2 Ryan Cornell                                      
Quarterfinal heat 2 - race - 2
1 Michael Blatchford                         0.11.21
2 Ryan Cornell                                      
Quarterfinal heat 3 - race - 1
1 Giddeon Massie                             0.11.26
2 Ryan Nelman                                       
Quarterfinal heat 3 - race - 2
1 Ryan Nelman                                0.11.63
2 Giddeon Massie                                    
Quarterfinal heat 3 - race - 3
1 Giddeon Massie                             0.11.31
2 Ryan Nelman                                       
Quarterfinal heat 4 - race - 1
1 Ben Barczewski                             0.11.40
2 Stephen Hill                                      
Quarterfinal heat 4 - race - 2
1 Ben Barczewski                             0.11.66
2 Stephen Hill                                      
 
Men 1/8 sprint final
 
1/8 Final heat 1
1 Adam Duvendeck                             0.11.63
2 Kelyn Akuna                                       
1/8 Final heat 2
1 Michael Blatchford                         0.11.67
2 Timo Budarz                                       
1/8 Final heat 3
1 Ryan Nelman                                0.11.63
2 Taylor Olson                                      
1/8 Final heat 4
1 Ben Barczewski                             0.11.79
2 Ryan Cornell                                      
1/8 Final heat 5
1 Stephen Hill                               0.12.12
2 Ryan Watson                                       
1/8 Final heat 6
1 Giddeon Massie                             0.11.53
2 Angelo Martorell                                  
 
Men sprint repercharge
 
1/8 Final rep 1
1 Ryan Cornell                               0.11.60
2 Angelo Martorell                                  
3 Kelyn Akuna                                       
1/8 Final rep 2
1 Ryan Watson                                0.11.20
2 Timo Budarz                                       
3 Taylor Olson                                      
 
Women 3000m TT
 
Final

1 Dotsie Bausch (Colavita/Sutter Home)       3.46.40
2 Christen King (Young's Training)           0.01.10
3 Angela Coggan (Unattached)                 0.08.50
4 Neva Day (South Bay Wheelmen)              0.08.80
 
Qualifying
 
1 Dotsie Bausch (Colavita/Sutter Home)       3.44.40
2 Christen King (Young's Training)           0.02.60
3 Neva Day (South Bay Wheelmen)              0.11.00
4 Angela Coggan (Unattached)                 0.12.00
5 Kele Murdin (Team UltraLink)               0.14.10
6 Heather Albert (America's Dairyland)       0.17.70
7 Bri Kovac (Texas Roadhouse)                0.18.00
8 Jennifer Triplett (Ti Cycles/Avanti)       0.18.50
9 Carrie Eller (Ti Cycles/Avanti)            0.28.30
10 Julia Lafranchise (Leader Bikes-Big)      0.28.80
11 Megan Hottman (Defined Fitness)           0.30.60
12 Deborah Kidd (TVG Hammer)                 0.35.90
13 Julia Cross (South Bay Wheelman)          0.54.80
14 Renee Zajac (PA Lightning/Merrill)        1.37.00
DNS Kathryn Wilder (Bicycle Johns)             

 
Women keirin
 
1st - 6th final
1 Jennie Reed (Momentum Cycling)                    
2 Liz Reap (T-Town Express)                         
3 Cristin Walker (Northwest Cycling)                
4 Cari Higgins (Cody Racing)                        
DNF Anna Lang (SDBC/Karl Strauss)                   
DNF Shelby Allen (Unattached)                       
 
7th - 12th final
1 Becky Lang (Home Depot Center)                    
2 Heather Vanvalkenberg (Vanvalkendaca)             
3 Kara Vidaca (Bicycle Johns)                       
4 Emily Charbonneau (Therapeutic)                   
5 Kacey Manderfield (Lee McRae)                     
DNS Mindi Martin (Dent Wizard)                      
 
Final classification
1 Jennie Reed                                       
2 Liz Reap                                          
3 Cristin Walker                                    
4 Cari Higgins                                      
7 Becky Lang                                        
8 Heather Vanvalkenberg                             
9 Kara Vidaca                                       
10 Emily Charbonneau                                
11 Kacey Manderfield                                
 
Women scratch race
 
1 Christen King (Young's Training)                  
2 Becky Quinny (South Bay Wheelmen)                 
3 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci/Breakaway)           
4 Cassandra Holman (Home Depot Center)              
5 Anna Lang (SDBC/Karl Strauss)                     
6 Shelley Olds (PROMAN/Paradigm)                    
7 Kacey Manderfield (Lee McRae)                     
8 Catherine Fiedler (Home Depot Center)             
9 Kele Murdin (Team UltraLink)                      
10 Heather Albert (America's Dairyland)             
11 Megan Hottman (Defined Fitness)                  
12 Neva Day (South Bay Wheelmen)                    
13 Katharine Lundby (Karl Strauss/SDBC)             
14 Valerie Brostrom (xXx Racing/AthletiCo)          
15 Jennifer Triplett (Ti Cycles/Avanti)             
DNF Emily Charbonneau (Therapeutic Associat)        
DNF Carrie Eller (Ti Cycles/Avanti)                 
DNF Norrene Godfrey (Team Rubicon-ORBEA)            
DNF Julie Granshaw (Morgan Stanley/24HR)            
DNS Kathryn Wilder (Bicycle Johns)