Bold Move is Rewarded with a Victory

Philadelphia, USA, June 9, 1996

1996 Champion: Eddy Gragus (USA) 251 kms (156 miles) in 6h02’32” (41.65 km/h)
1996 US National Champion: (1st) Eddy Gragus (USA)

The 1996 CoreStates U.S. Pro Cycling Championship was contested under hot and very humid conditions.  US Postal Service’s Eddy Gragus after 6h02’32” of racing executed a perfectly timed late attack and crossed the finish line for the prestigious victory.

The race didn’t start well for Gragus.  He was dropped on the first climb up the Manayunk Wall and seriously considered abandoning the race.  But after chasing back to the peloton he recovered.  Gragus, who was named most aggressive rider in last year's race, began to gain strength as the race continued.

The humid and hot weather sapped the energy of the riders and hindered breakaways all day.  For most of the race the peloton cruised steadily around the course, keeping the tempo high through the 10 large laps.  The race split on the second of the three short “Lemon Loops” when 12 riders escaped on Lemon Hill. 

The elite group included four Postal riders Gragus, Marty Jemison, Daren Baker and Tyler Hamilton; plus Chris Horner and Jeff Evanshine (Nutra-Fig), Roberto Gaggioli (Chevrolet), Fred Rodriguez and Bart Bowen (Saturn), Greg Randolph (Motorola), Phil Cable (Navigators) and Asier Guenetzea (Euskadi). One lap later, coming off Lemon Hill for the final time, it was evident that the breakaway would not be caught and the speed of the group slowed to a crawl. 

Halfway around the traffic circle at Logan Square Eddy Gragus made a bold move off the front. Still 600 meters to the finish line Gragus pulled away from the pack with a burst of speed that carried him across the finish line for the victory. 

Roberto Gaggioli of Chevrolet-L.A. Sheriff, the CoreStates champion in 1988, closed quickly but finished in second place. Saturn's Fred Rodriguez was a close third.

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