Super Domestique is the New US National Champion

Philadelphia, USA, June 6, 1999

1999 Champion: Jacob Piil (Den) Acceptcard 251 kms (156 miles) in 6h04’44” (41.30 km/h)
1999 US National Champion: (5th) Marty Jemison (USA)  +3”

At this year’s First Union USPRO Cycling Championships U.S. Postal’s main objective was to “keep the jersey!” Defending champion George Hincapie was their main hope to capture the 1999 National championship. The entire Postal team was dedicated to helping Hincapie defend his title.

For the first half of the race the peloton rode at a rather leisurely pace. Hincapie and Postal needed a harder pace; so on the 6th time up the Manayunk Wall Marty Jemison led his Postal teammate over the top with a gap. The energy in the field was too great and the race came back together on the decent. 

Remaining aggressive Postal tried again on the 7th ascent of the Wall. The strung out but vigilant peloton again answered the strong Postal move. The ultimate selection came on the final large lap when a five rider group escaped an already fast pace. Jemison had good legs and when the crucial moment came he was able to join the attack. A four rider group formed with Jemison (USA), Brain Walton (Can), Morten Sonne (Den), and Herm Jansen (Ned) moving steadily away. Acceptcard’s Jakob Piil (Den) later bridged the 30 second gap to complete the breakaway group.

Walton attacked the breakaway with 12 km to go. Walton was joined by Marty Jemison as the gap extended slightly. Into the finishing “Lemon Loops” the gap was closing. Finally the five riders came back together coming off Lemon Hill with 3 kms to go. With Freddy Rodriguez closing on the group, Jemison the only American in the breakaway launched the sprint at 250 meters. Brian Walton jumped at the same time with Piil on his wheel and at the line Jakob Piil slipped past Walton for the victory. 

After pulling his foot out of the pedal Marty Jemison rolled across the line fifth and as first American the Stars and Stripes of US National champion was awarded to the super US Postal Service domestique.

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