Prestige of Philly Carries the Day

Philadelphia, USA, June 11, 2006

2006 Champion: Gregory Henderson (NZl) Health Net-Maxxis 251kms (156 miles) in 6h13’53”

Since its inception in 1985 the Philadelphia International Championship has become the premier one-day race on the national calendar of the USA. A healthy prize list and the USPRO Championship provided the motivation for ProTour teams and national contenders to race. But in 2006 the promoters, Threshold Sports, were faced with the loss of the national title status, and the withdrawal of a major sponsor. The strength of Philly would be tested.

The dynamics of this year’s race will change with the absence of the national championship jersey for the top American. The top American team Discovery Channel chose not to send a team to Philadelphia; neither did Chris Horner’s Team Davitamon-Lotto, as well as the teams of two former winners Henk Vogels and Fred Rodriguez. Without the big stars the prestige of a Philly win would have to carry the day. 

The early laps of the 251 kilometer race did not lack for aggressive racing. The small American teams came to race. Ten different attacking groups tried to escape on the first trip out to the Manayunk Wall. All were covered and caught quickly by the stubborn peloton. 

The first successful breakaway was established at the end of the first lap. Health Net’s Mike Jones launched a massive attack, quickly Irish national champion David O’Laughlin and Dustin MacBurnie answered the move and gained a gap on the field. When TIAA-CREF’s Chad Hartley bridged the gap to the leaders, the four riders steadily put time on the peloton and opened a lead of over 9 minutes midway through the sixth lap. With four laps remaining the peloton began to increase the tempo.

(L to R): David O'Laughlin, Dustn MacBurnie, Chad Hartley, and Mike Jones on Lemon Hill

Toyota-United led by Chris Wherry chasing hard

The time gap began to tumble at the end of the seventh lap. The breakaway showed signs of distress when Jones began to cramp. On the eighth time up the Manayunk Wall MacBurnie, who was working for KoM points on the Wall and Lemon Hill, began to soft pedal once the climbing points were secured.  The Navigators’ David O’Laughlin topped the Wall alone and dropped his tiring breakaway companions. 

It was time for the teams of the sprinters to go to work. Toyota-United began to drive a hard chase and caught the solo O’Laughlin one lap later on the Wall. 

Into the final three “Lemon Loops” Toyota-United controlled everything. A single file peloton followed the Toyota-United lead-out train around the Logan Square traffic circle for the final time.  Into the final 600 meter finishing straight a strong headwind hit the riders. From the center of the pack Toyota-United's Ivan Dominguez jumped into the lead and appeared to be headed to the win. But along the barriers Health Net’s Greg Henderson powered up the left side and nipped Dominguez at the line. 

"Oh, this is ridiculous!" is all the New Zealand sprinter could say after the race. He had just beaten Ivan Dominguez, the fastest sprinter in America, and took away the Prestigious Philly WIN!

Full Results

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