A Philadelphia Beginning with A Fairy Tale Results

Philadelphia, USA, June 23, 1985

1985 Champion: Eric Heiden (USA) 251 kms (156 miles) in 6h29’39” (39.04 km/h)
1985 US National Champion: (1st) Eric Heiden (USA)

Philadelphia in June 1985 presented a hot summer’s day for the first annual CoreStates USPRO Championships.  The excitement that accompanied this 251 km (156 mile) European style race included aerial pictures from a fleet of helicopters, a multitude television cameras capturing the action, a cadre of motorcycle police protecting the 66 rider peloton, a large number multi-colored convoy of team support vehicles, rock music blasting off the Wall, and enthusiastic crowds lining the 14.4 mile circuit.  At 8:33 am the starter’s flag dropped on the beginning of a historic event.

The heat of the day did not discourage early suicide style attacks.  On the opening laps Irishman Alan McCormack attacked with Matt Eaton as a four rider breakaway formed.  After four laps a chase group of ten riders started to close the gap on the breakaway. 

McCormack and Eaton gallantly held the lead until the seventh climb of the Manayunk Wall when the 7-Eleven led chase group caught McCormack and Eaton.  Immediately 7-Eleven’s Eric Heiden and Tom Schuler counter-attacked with Tom Broznowski (Schwinn), Jens Veggerby (Fanini-Wuhner), and Jesper Worre (Sammontana). 

The breakaway group worked well together and entered the closing “Lemon Loops” with more than a two minute lead.  Coming off Lemon Hill the two Danes, Worre and Veggerby drove the pace under the final kilometer banner and around the traffic circle at Logan Square. Onto the Benjamin Franklin Parkway Eric Heiden burst down the left side of the finishing straight.  Chased quickly by the two Danes Heiden dug deep and crossed the finish line for the first ever CoreStates USPRO victory.

For the victory Eric Heiden won the $20,000 first place prize and the Stars and Stripes as the US National champion.

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