'Maple Leaf' Celebrates First Union-USPRO Title
Philadelphia, USA, June 9, 2002
2002 Champion:  Mark Walters (Can) Navigators 251 kms (156 miles) in 5h54’24” (42.57 km/h)
2002 US National Champion: (2nd) Chann McRae (USA)
'Tired legs' is something the 251 km (156 mile) Wachovia USPRO Road Championships in Philadelphia offers the riders at the end of six hours of racing. There are 10 large laps of 23.2 kms (14.4 miles) going up Kelly Drive along the Schuylkill River with each lap climbing the 17% Manayunk Wall. For those riders who survive the ordeal at the front of the race they get the thrill of sprinting down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the cheers of huge crowds.
The favorites for the 2002 race were two former Philly champions George Hincapie and Freddy Rodriguez. But the surprise of the day came from Canadian national champion Mark Walters. Riding for the Navigators Cycling Team Mark Walters rode aggressively all day and took a well-deserved victory.
The “fireworks” of the race were reserved for the final lap. Several long early breakaway groups were caught when US Postal's George Hincapie launched a major attack on the final ascent of the Wall. Dropping the peloton a 13 rider group formed the winning breakaway. Attentively the Navigator’s placed two riders, Walters and American Kirk O’Bee, in the selection.
Aggressively the breakaway entered the final three “Lemon Loops” with a 30 second advantage. USPS’s Chann McRae working hard for his teammate George Hincapie started his lead out descending Lemon Hill for the final time. A moment of hesitation by Hincapie cost him a shot at the victory. A surprised McRae found himself with a gap and continued the attack. Most in the group were battling tired legs and only Walters and Danny Pate made the bridge up to McRae.
The breakaway rounded the traffic circle at Logan Square and headed down the final 600 meters. With the chasers closing fast Danny Pate took a massive turn of the front. The huge crowd along the finishing straight roared its approval as the sprint exploded. Fighting off cramps Mark Walters jumped past Chann McRae for the USPRO victory.
As the first US rider Chann McRae was awarded the coveted “Star and Strips” jersey of the National Champion.
Top 10 |
1. Mark Walters (Can) Navigators Cycling Team 5h54’24” (42.57 km/h) |
2. Chann McRae (USA) US Postal Service |
3. Danny Pate (USA) Prime Alliance Cycling Team |
4. Henk Vogels (Aus) Mercury |
5. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service |
6. Mark McCormack (USA) Saturn Cycling Team |
7. Mariano Friedick (USA) Jelly Belly |
8. Zbigniew Piatek (Pol) Mroz |
9. Damon Kluck (USA) Saturn Cycling Team |
10. Thomas Gronqvist (Swe) Amore & Vita Beretta |
USA National Championship Podium |
1. Chann McRae (USA) US Postal Service |
2. Danny Pate (USA) Prime Alliance |
3. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service |
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