The USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships moved to downtown Bend on Saturday for the first of two days of criterium racing. The technical one-kilometer course featured six turns and was lined with enthusiastic crowds throughout the day.
After winning the 45-49 criterium title in 2011, Corona Del Mar’s Rich Meeker (Breakaway from Cancer Masters) moved up an age group and continued his winning ways, donning the Stars-and-Stripes in the 50-54 race. In the highly-contested men’s 45-49 race, Jamie Paolinetti (Monster Media Racing/Southern California Velo) won in the finishing straight to take the win.
Solo breakaways punctuated the final two races of the day. Jason Walker (Reno, Nev./Team Specialized Racing Masters) rode on his own for nearly two-thirds of the men’s 40-44 criterium to shock the field and claim the Stars-and-Stripes. This was followed by Michael Easter (Ventura, Calif./Time Factory Team) breaking loose with about 10 laps to go and holding on to secure the national championship in the 35-39 age group.
With the completion of competition in several age groups, Best All-Around Rider (BAR) awards were handed out during tonight’s podium ceremony. By virtue of their crit wins today, Michael Easter (men 35-39), Richard Meeker (men 50-54) and Jason Walker (men 40-44) each earned a BAR trophy.
In the women’s crits, Anne Donley (Boulder, Colo./Boulder Orthopedics) lead the 35-39 field across the line. Bend’s own Brenna Lopez-Otero (Bend, Ore./Bend Memorial Clinic Total Care) defended her 2011 40-44 crown with a win in front of the hometown crowd. A strong surge out of the final corner gave Laurie Furman (San Jose, Calif./Sycomp Racing/Team Affinity) the 45-49 national title.
Aubrey Gordon’s (Reading, Penn./Liberty Cycle) victory by a bike length in the men’s 55-59 age group ushered in the men’s races.
Road race wins propelled Charles Holbrook (Oconomowoc, Wis./Lakes Area Physical Therapy — men 55-59), Felicia Gomez (Fresno, Calif./Pinnacle Women’s Racing — women 40-44), Lisa Campbell (Newbury Park, Calif./ Empower Coaching/Southern California Velo — women 45-49) and Brendan Sullivan (Atlanta, Ga./Iron Data Racing — men 45-49) to the top of their respective BAR standings.
On Friday, Ruth Clemence (Newport Beach, Calif./ Empower Coaching/Southern California Velo) showed the form that earned her a Best All-Around Rider award in 2011 by winning the women’s 50-54 race.
Photo © Christy Nicholson / EchelonDesignPhoto.com
2012 USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships
Bend, Oregon
September 5-9, 2012
Women’s 35-39 Criterium (40K)
1. Anne Donley (Boulder, Colo./Boulder Orthopedics) 1:06:03
2. Heather McWilliams-Mierzejewski (Louisville, Colo./Boulder Orthopedics) 1:06:04
3. Ann Koehler (Charlotte, N.C./Modry/Evergreen Partners) 1:06:04
4. Amy Thornquist (Reno, Nev./Stevens Bikes p/b Pactimo) 1:06:07
5. Tanya Grossman (San Leandro, Calif./Kovarus/Wells Fargo Racing Team/Contra Costa Cycling Club) 1:06:07
Women’s 40-44 Criterium (25K)
1. Brenna Lopez-Otero (Bend, Ore./Bend Memorial Clinic Total Care) 1:06:53
2. Jane Evely (Carnation, Wash./Slalom Consulting Racing) 1:06:54
3. Felicia Gomez (Fresno, Calif./Pinnacle Women’s Racing) 1:06:54
4. Kristin Drumm (Novato, Calif./Cycles FANATIC Factory Racing) 1:06:54
5. Ginny King (Dallas, Texas/KingRacingGroup) 1:06:54
Women’s 45-49 Criterium (25K)
1. Laurie Furman (San Jose, Calif./Sycomp Racing/Team Affinity) 39:06
2. Kimberly Ford (Mill Valley, Calif./Tri Valley Velo) 39:06
3. Belinda Eschenwald (Huntington Beach, Calif./Velo Club LaGrange) 39:06
4. Kim Wik (Fremont, Calif./Mellow Motors) 39:07
5. Pam Massey (Seattle, Wash./Union Bay Cycling/Bikesale.com) 39:09
Men’s 55-59 Criterium (40K)
1. Aubrey Gordon (Reading, Penn./Liberty Cycle) 55:50
2. Mark Hoffenberg (Ladera Ranch, Calif./Sho-Air/Rock ‘n Road/Team Velosport Club) 55:50
3. Robert Downs (Madison, Wis./Planet Bike) 55:50
4. Daniel Nicolette (Los Alamitos, Calif./Sho-Air/Rock ‘n Road/Team Velosport Club) 55:50
5. Glenn Schneider (Lake Worth, Fla./GS Palm Beach) 55:51
Men’s 50-54 Criterium (40K)
1. Richard Meeker (Corona Del Mar, Calif./Breakaway from Cancer Masters) 53:34
2. Joseph Paulson (Boulder, Colo./Boulder Orthopedics) 53:34
3. Michael O’Rourke (Auburn, Calif./SAFEWAY/GA PRC Group/Team Bicycles Plus) 53:34
4. Alan Flores (Newport Beach, Calif./Spy Blue) 53:34
5. Lawrence Nolan (Fremont, Calif./Team Specialized Racing Masters) 53:34
Men’s 45-49 Criterium (40K)
1. James Paolinetti (Brea, Calif./Monster Media Racing/Southern California Velo) 54:55
2. David Klipper (Portland, Ore./Guinness Cycling Team) 54:56
3. Barton Bowen (Bend, Ore./Bicycle Ruidoso Inc.) 54:56
4. Allen Abell (New Braunfels, Texas/Joes Pro Bikes) 54:58
5. Byron Nix (Centennial, Colo./Groove Subaru-Alpha Bicycle Co) 54:59
Men’s 40-44 Criterium (50K)
1. Jason Walker (Reno, Nev./Team Specialized Racing Masters) 1:06:17
2. Chris DeMarchi (Chino, Calif./Monster Media Racing/Southern California Velo) 1:06:36
3. Maikey Lopera (Eugene, Ore.) 1:06:36
4. Dean LaBerge (Napa, Calif./Team Specialized Racing Masters) 1:06:37
5. Andres Gil (Stockton, Calif./Michael David Winery Cycling Team/Delta Velo) 1:06:37
Men’s 35-39 Criterium (50K)
1. Michael Easter (Ventura, Calif./Time Factory Team) 1:05:15
2. Charon Smith (Signal Hill, Calif./Surf City Cyclery/STERLING BMW) 1:05:21
3. Kayle Leogrande (Upland, Calif./Monster Media Racing/Southern California Velo) 1:05:21
4. Russell Stevenson (Boulder, Colo./Cycling Northwest) 1:05:23
5. Judd Van Sickle (Sacramento, Calif./Folsom Bike/Mercedes Benz Elite) 1:05:23
Best All-Around Riders
Men 35-39: Michael Easter (Ventura, Calif./Time Factory Team)
Men 40-44: Jason Walker (Reno, Nev./Team Specialized Racing Masters)
Men 45-49: Brendan Sullivan (Atlanta, Ga./Iron Data Racing)
Men 50-54: Richard Meeker (Corona Del Mar, Calif./Breakaway from Cancer Masters)
Men 55-59: Charles Holbrook (Oconomowoc, Wis./Lakes Area Physical Therapy)
Women 35-39: Amy Thornquist (Reno, Nev./Stevens Bikes p/b Pactimo)
Women 40-44: Felicia Gomez (Fresno, Calif./Pinnacle Women’s Racing)
Women 45-49: Lisa Campbell (Newbury Park, Calif./ Empower Coaching/Southern California Velo)
