American Dominance!

Philadelphia, USA, June 5, 2005

2005 Champion: Chris Wherry (USA) Health Net-Maxxis 251kms (156 miles) in 6h01’16”
2005 USPRO National Champion: (1st) Chris Wherry (USA)

The USPRO Championships in Philadelphia is the most important one-day race on the national calendar.  Tough racing over 251 kilometers (156 miles) for the USA’s National Championship Jersey and a huge prize list brought some of the best professional cyclists in the World to compete.

Multiple breakaway attempts were featured on the fast paced first lap, but all were chased and caught.  The action started to heat-up on the second lap when an unusually large group of 40 riders formed and dropped the rest of the peloton.  Maintaining a very high tempo the breakaway gained over a minute per lap and at the halfway mark their lead had extended to seven minutes. 

As the temperatures began to rise into the upper 80’s, riders began to tire. The breakaway teams started to attack each other as the numbers in the breakaway began to fall.  Danny Pate launched a strong attack through the start finish line with 25 miles remaining and opened a 30 second gap by the top of the Manayunk Wall.  Saunier Duval’s Chris Horner jumped from the group with Health Net’s Chris Wherry on the final climb of the Wall and bridged to the solo Pate. 

Danny Pate attacked alone

Chris Horner drives the chase

Chris Wherry wth under 3 kms to go

The victory to Wherry

With only 3 “Lemon Loops” to go the three had gained a 1’30” lead.  The excitement began to grow as the huge crowd lined the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for a view of the finish.  Chris Horner tried several time to drop his two companions but each attempt failed.  On the last ascent of Lemon Hill a tiring Chris Wherry held tight to the other two and attacked on the descent.  Horner and Pate hesitated as Wherry escaped.  The gap was 7 second under the 1 Km to go banner.  At the roundabout at Logan Square Wherry could see Horner closing. Wherry fought off a cramp and held a 4 bike length lead for the victory.  For Wherry this was the biggest win of his career. 

“They let me go and I had some power on the flats. I was hurting over the climb but as soon as I got on the flat I didn't" said an elated Wherry after the race.  “I looked back with 500 meters to go, and they were coming, I put it in my 11 and my legs cramped up. I shifted it back in the 13 and just gave it absolutely everything to the line.” 

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