We Blew It!

Philadelphia, USA, June 15, 1986

1986 Champion: Thomas Prehn (USA) 251 kms (156 miles) in 6h22’15” (39.49 k/h)
1986 US National Champion: (1st) Thomas Prehn (USA)

Philadelphia welcomed the second annual CoreStates USPRO Championships with great enthusiasm. The successes of 1985 brought an even more talented field to the streets of Philadelphia. The powerful 7-Eleven team returned with defending champion Eric Heiden, who was entering the race with great form. 

This year the race attracted a stellar international field of riders led by 1979 Liege-Bastogne-Liege winner Dietrich Thurau (Ger) and 1984 Tour of Flanders winner Johann Lammerts. 

This is June in Philly and weather conditions were hot and humid.  Predictions were for temperatures in the upper 80’s by race time.  The heat kept the peloton in a cautious mood for most of the first (of 10) large laps of the race. The usual early breakaway was allowed to roll off at the end of the first lap.  After the breakaway built a 6’16” lead on the fifth lap the lead group began to tire. One by one each rider dropped from the break. The Mexican climber from 7-Eleven, Raul Alcala, found himself alone with 4 and a half laps to go. 

Considering his options and with the King of the Mountains prize secured, Alcala chose to slow his tempo and rejoin the peloton.  Once back together Schwinn teammates Steve Speaks and Jeff Pierce count-attacked and opened a 1 minute lead by end of lap number seven. Team 7-Eleven led a hard chase which split the peloton. One lap later 18 riders had made the connection with the two leaders. 

An aggressive 7-Eleven team controlled the tenth lap, attacking and count-attacking multiple times. As they regroup the leaders entered the final large lap.  Through the start/finish line Jorgen Marcussen (Den) made a decisive move with Schwinn’s Thomas Prehn (USA).  Confidently the 7-Eleven squad chose not to immediately chase but to top-off fluids in the feed zone before getting concerned. 

“It was a mental mistake” said Mike Neel, 7-Eleven’s director sportif.  “We blew it!” added Davis Phinney. 

Aided by a strong tailwind the two rider breakaway flew down Kelly Drive toward the final ascent of the Manayunk Wall.  Phinney led the hard chase but the break entered the closing circuits with more than a 2 minutes lead. The two would not be caught.

The sprint opened up on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with Thomas Prehn easily taking the victory and the Stars and Stripes jersey as US National champion.

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