Roman Sprinter Wins the Battle of Philly

Philadelphia, USA, June 17, 1990

1990 Champion: Paolo Cimini (Ita) 251 kms (156 miles) in 6h01’54” (41.72 km/h) Record Time
1990 US National Champion: (3rd) Kurt Stockton (USA)

American powerhouse teams 7-Eleven and Coors Light returned to Philadelphia for an all-out battle but the 1990 CoreStates USPRO Championships would be a day for an underdog to shine.

With the drop of the starter’s flag the riders headed out to the tough parcours of the Philly race course.  The weather forecast called for heat and humidity to rise significantly during the race.  The power teams rode the early laps cautiously, while five riders formed an early breakaway and built a six and a half minute lead.

There was still no panic during the early phase of the race, but the tempo in the peloton began to increase under the impetuous of 7-Eleven.  In the breakaway Crest’s Steve Speaks secured enough points for the King of the Mountain prize with the time gap falling quickly.  On the seventh lap the last two escapees were caught.  No sooner did the breakaway get caught than a strong counterattack was launched.  Four riders broke way from the peloton.  With no rider in the break three Coors Light riders drove the chase.  The peloton wilted in the heat and humidity as the numbers slowly diminished.  When the final three short laps (Lemon Loops) began only a three rider group remained off the front.  Quickly closing, a chase pack merged with the lead breakaway to form a group of twelve riders.

The hard charging chase group led by Coors Light's Michael Zanoli

As the leaders came around the traffic circle at Logan Square and onto the long finishing stretch of Benjamin Franklin Parkway Spago’s Gary Muldar led out the sprint.  Alexi Grewal (Coors Light) closed the gap with the pack close behind.

Aggressively second year pro Laurent Jalabert (Toshiba) jumped off the front and held a five bike length lead with 150 meters to the line.  From behind unknown Paolo Cimini came off his teammate’s wheel and caught Jalabert at the 50 meter mark.  Cimini surged forward and then past Jalabert.  The Frenchman found more speed and came back on the Italian.  At the line Jalabert and Cimini threw their bikes for the victory.  After viewing the photo the officials announced Paolo Cimini the winner.

Italian Paolo Cimini won a wild sprint over Laurent Jalabert

A second photo was needed to determine the US National champion.  Pushing a huge gear Kurt Stockton nipped 7-Eleven’s Andy Bishop for the Stars and Stripes Jersey.

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