June 28, 2009 (Louisville, Ky.) – The USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships got underway on Sunday by awarding 16 national titles in women’s and tandem road racing. Native Louisvillians were the stars of the women’s road racing, grabbing the Stars-and-Stripes in two of nine events before more than 40 tandems took the rolling five-mile course in Cherokee Park.
Julie Jerue (Lakeland, Fla./Florida Velo) won the day’s first national title sprinting to victory against a very evenly matched 30-34 women’s field. Louisville native Dotsie Bausch (Irvine, Calif./Jazz Apple) stole the show in the women’s 35-39 contest blasting to the win by nearly a minute over Leslie Jennings (Washington, D.C./Team Cyclelife) and Ainhoa Perez-Diez (Rockville, Md./Nvrc-cardio Sports Lab) who came in second and third in the 45-mile race.
The largest race of the day, the 40-44 women, turned into a slugfest between two powerhouse riders. Mid-way through the 35-mile event Susannah Gordon (Parker, Colo/Colorado Bike Law) and Debbie Milne (Belden, Miss./Absolut Racing) laid claim on the medal stand. It was Milne however, who began training just a few years ago by pulling her kids in a trailer behind her bike, who was able to break away inside the final two laps and ride into the Stars-and-Stripes. Gordon sprinted to the silver nearly 10 seconds later.
Louisville resident Tracy Tolson (Kentucky Flyers) earned her ninth national title in the women’s 45-49 contest. With most of the field sticking together the majority of the race, Tolson outsprinted four other riders to the line to win the gold.
“There were a lot of good women in our field today,” explained Tolson. “We tried to establish a break, but nothing would stick.”
In the 50-54 contest four ladies established themselves early but it came down to a sprint between Ann Marie Miller (New York, N.Y./Sanchez Houlihan Lokey) and Ruth Clemence (Newport Beach, Calif./Simple Green) with Miller kicking it into overdrive for the Stars-and-Stripes. Multiple-time national champion Elizabeth Tyrell (Annadale,N.J./Team Somerset) rode across the line by herself in the women’s 55-59 race, defeating a talented field including silver-medalist Jane Geisse (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) and the defending national champion Diane Ostenso (Cottage Grove, Wisc./Planet Bike) who won the sprint for the bronze.
The 60-64 women’s finish turned into one of the most exciting of the day with three competitors sprinting to the line for a photo finish. After riding together in an early race break Kay Tsui (Fairfax, Va./Hpc-list) earned the victory by the narrowest of margins over Patricia Roberts (Winston Salem, N.C./Pain Pathway-PVS) and Phyllis Olrich (Grass Valley, Calif./Webcor-alto Velo) in the 25-mile contest.
The 2008 60-64 road race champion Melinda Berge (Park City, Utah) graduated to the 65-69 ranks to face multiple-time national title winner Julie Lockhart (Dunstable, Mass./Nebc-cycleloft-devonshire Dent). After riding together much of the contest Berge was able to pull out the win by just over two seconds over the elder Lockhart.
“Julie and I couldn’t get rid of each other,” said Berge. “I’d take off, but she’d catch me. I was faster on the uphill and she was faster on the downhill and fortunately for me the finish was uphill.”
The women’s 70+ winner Patricia Baker (Laguna Hills, Calif./Lightning Velo) was truly in a class of her own showing the determination and skill of a true cyclist.
Five groups established themselves in the early going of the men’s tandem combined age class of 70+. After 2007 national champions Chris Demarchi (Chino, Calif./Amgen-Giant Masters) and Daniel Vinson (Lake Elsinore, Calif./5 Star Fish) dropped their chain mid-race the other leaders grabbed the opportunity to break away. After a nearly five-minute mechanical stop Demarchi and Vinson chased fiercely, closing the gap in the climb up to the finish. The group of strong young men however wouldn’t let them take the win as Nima Ebrahimnejad (Purcellville, Va.) and Rick Norton (Towson, Md./Lsv-kelly Benefit Strategies) poured it on to win the 50-mile contest.
Jack Bice (Huntsville, Ala./Sccc) and Randall Roland (Huntsville, Ala./Antarus-sccc) cruised to the title, competitionless in the men’s 90+ division as did Carolynn Berry (Lewisville, N.C./Painpathways-pvs) 02:24:28 Michael Berry (Lewisville, N.C./Carolina Masters) in the mixed 110+ tandem race.
The 70+ mixed tandem race however was a fierce battle between several powerhouse couples. In the end it was Gunnar and Betsy Shogren (Morgantown, W.Va./Cannondale Factory Racing) who took their first, long-awaited national title in this event over the Applegates and the Eppens.
After competing in the women’s racing earlier in the day, Jill Gass (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Sonia Ross (Santa Barbara, Calif.) contested their second race of the day, winning the 90+ tandem female national championship. Sherri and Mark Norton (Fullerton, Calif./Simple Green) wrapped up the day’s competition by winning the 90+ mixed tandem competition.
Tomorrow’s racing will feature the 30-34 men as well as the 50 – 70+ age divisions going head-to-head in the road race competition in Louisville’s Cherokee Park beginning at 8:00 a.m.
For full results, click here and to view photos from Sunday's racing, click here.
Check out video from the event on our You Tube page, here, incuding Louisville native and national champion Tracy Tolson's description of the Cherokee Park course.
30-34 Women’s Road Race
1. Julie Jerue (Lakeland, Fla./Florida Velo) 02:15:58
2. Evie Vilt-Boswell (Carboro, N.C./Bmw-bianchi) 02:16:00.3
3. Annajean Dallaire (Louisville, Ky./Barbasol/rapid Transit) 02:16:00.5
4. Jamie Bennion (Providence, Utah/Ice-rocky Mtn. Surgery) 02:16:00.5
5. Sara Tussey (Winston Salem, N.C.) 02:16:03.4
35-39 Women’s Road Race
1. Dotsie Bausch (Irvine, Calif./Jazz Apple 02:11:27
2. Leslie Jennings (Washington, D.C./Team Cyclelife) 02:12:40
3. Ainhoa Perez-Diez (Rockville, Md./Nvrc-cardio Sports Lab) 02:12:40
4. Abigail Lufkin (Santa Monica, Calif./Now- Ms Society) 02:13:11
5. Melissa Petty (Blacksburg, Va./Giordana Clif-Bar 02:13:14
40-44 Women’s Road Race
1. Debbie Milne (Belden, Miss./Absolut Racing) 01:31:48
2. Susannah Gordon (Parker, Colo./Colobikelaw) 01:32:02
3. Sonja Evers (Washington, D.C./Cyclelife) 01:38:59
4. Jane Evely (Kent, Ohio/Team Summa) 01:39:01
5. Kim Ciolli (San Antonio, Texas/Team Solar Eclipse) 01:39:02
45-49 Women’s Road Race
1. Tracy Tolson (Louisville, Ky./Kentucky Flyers) 01:38:17
2. Terrie Clouse (Monument, Colo./Title Nine) 01:38:18
3. Kris Walker (Pocatello, Idaho/Ice-Rocky Mountain Surgery) 01:38:18
4. Laura Laurenzi (Madison, Wisc./Madcity Velo) 01:38:19
5. Janet Gahagen (Mountain View, Calif.) 01:38:20
50-54 Women’s Road Race
1. Ann Marie Miller (New York, N.Y./Sanchez Houlihan Lokey) 01:20:16
2. Ruth Clemence (Newport Beach, Calif./Simple Green) 01:20:17
3. Laura Howat (Salt Lake City, Utah/Ski Utah Cycling Team) 01:20:26
4. Jill Gass (Santa Barbara, Calif./Unattached) 01:22:00
5. Marianne Holt (Matthews, N.C./Hincapie/Gary Fisher p/b Barkle) 01:22:03
55-59 Women’s Road Race
1. Elizabeth Tyrell (Annadale,N.J./Team Somerset) 01:27:26
2. Jane Geisse (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) 01:27:49
3. Diane Ostenso (Cottage Grove, Wisc./Planet Bike) 01:29:27
4. Margaret Thompson (Clinton, N.Y./Team Hammer Nutrition) 01:29:30
5. Carolynn Berry (Lewisville, N.C./Painpathways-pvs) 01:29:37
60-64 Women’s Road Race
1. Kay Tsui (Fairfax, Va./Hpc-list) 01:17:53
2. Patricia Roberts (Winston Salem, N.C./Pain Pathway-PVS) 01:17:53
3. Phyllis Olrich (Grass Valley, Calif./Webcor-alto Velo) 01:17:54
4. Martha Iverson (Durango, Colo./Durango Wheel Club) 01:20:06
5. June Froh (Mystic, Conn./Mystic Velo Club) 01:26:14
65-69 Women’s Road Race
1. Melinda Berge (Park City, Utah) 01:25:17
2. Julie Lockhart (Dunstable, Mass./Nebc-cycleloft-devonshire Dent) 01:25:19
3. Elena Patterson (New York, N.Y.) 01:40:24
70+ Women’s Road Race
1. Patricia Baker (Laguna Hills, Calif./Lightning Velo) 01:46:43
70+ Men’s Tandem Road Race
1. Nima Ebrahimnejad (Purcellville, Va.) 02:06:23
1. Rick Norton (Towson, Md./Lsv-kelly Benefit Strategies)
2. Erik Faberberg (Louisville, Ky./Calistoga Racing Team) 02:06:25
2. Michael McShane (Louisville, Ky./Calistoga Racing Team)
3. John Gatch (Terrace Park, Ohio/Huntington Bank) 02:06:25
3. Obrien Forbes (Huntington Bank)
4. Stephen Spanbauer (Louisville, Ky./Calistoga Racing Team) 02:06:27
4. Wiliam Crecelius (Louisville, Ky.)
5. Chris Demarchi (Chino, Calif./Amgen-Giant Masters) 02:06:29
5. Daniel Vinson (Lake Elsinore, Calif./5 Star Fish)
90+ Men’s Tandem Road Race
1. Jack Bice (Huntsville, Ala./Sccc) 02:16:34
1. Randall Roland (Huntsville, Ala./Antarus-sccc)
110+ Men’s Tandem Road Race
1. David Pretchl (Norco, Calif./Edge Cyclesports Racing Team) 02:11:11
1. P. Fritz Tomasello (Dana Point, Calif./Edge Racing)
2. Chip Berenzy (Easton, Pa./Bike Line-Lwa) 02:11:11
2. Andrew Buck (Bike Line-Lwa)
3. Steven Zoumaras (San Deigo, Calif./Liberty Cycle) 02:11:28
3. Thomas Zoumaras (Kirksville, Mo./Acquaal2-sdbc-Michelob Ultra)
90+ Tandem Female Road Race
1. Jill Gass (Santa Barbara, Calif.) 02:39:39
2. Sonia Ross (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
70+ Mixed Tandem Road Race
1. Gunnar Shogren (Morgantown, W.Va./Cannondale Factory Racing 02:12:05
1. Betsy Shogren (Morgantown, W.Va./Cannondale Factory Racing)
2. Andy Applegate (Black Mountain, N.C./Kenda-spinergy) 02:12:11
2. Cara Applegate (Black Mountain, N.C./bmw-bianchi)
3. Kim Eppen (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City Cycling Club) 02:12:54
3. Brian Eppen (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City Cycling Club)
4. Daryl Rains (Winston Salem, N.C./Mob Racing) 02:13:13
4. Sara Tussey (Winston Salem, N.C)
5. Scott Aimone (Divide, Colo.)
5. Christina Moore (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
90+ Mixed Tandem Road Race
1. Sherri Norton (Fullerton, Calif./Simple Green) 02:25:35
1. Mark Norton (Fullerton, Calif./ Simple Green-cv)
2. Matt Wind (Cincinnati, Ohio) 02:25:36
2. Nicolette Warr
110+ Mixed Tandem Road Race
1. Carolynn Berry (Lewisville, N.C./Painpathways-pvs) 02:24:28
1. Michael Berry (Lewisville, N.C./Carolina Masters)