A Cool Dane on a Hot Philly Road
Philadelphia, USA, June 8, 2008
2008 Champion:  Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC 251kms (156 miles) in 6h14’47” (40.19 km/h)
The weather predictions called for temperatures in the upper 90’s. The race started with 80 degree temperatures and as the mercury climbed the heat doomed most of the early breakaways.
The first lap (of 10) was much slower than usual for the 190 starters. Caution due to the expected temperatures later in the race. Approaching the Manayunk Wall the peloton was spread curb to curb. The action started in earnest on the fourth lap when a 7 rider breakaway group containing Bissell’s Ted King, Colavita’s Davide Frattini, Brad White, Daniel Ramsay , Benjamin Kneller, Richard Geng, and Rock Racing’s Tyler Hamilton escaped and built a solid lead.
The breakaway gained a maximum of 8’30” before the heat took its toll. Slowly the group dwindled to 5 riders and the time gap fell to 4’00”. Under the impetuous of Team High Road and Slipstream the lead began to plummet. By the ninth time up the Wall all but Italian Davide Frattini had been caught.
The early breakaway lead by Tyler Hamilton Photo ©: Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed |
Sven Tufts leading a serious late breakaway Photo ©: Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed |
After Frattini gained the climbing points he was caught as the fild split the pack on the climb. A serious three rider group then escaped and opened a 1’30” gap. The strongman in the group was Symmetrics’ Sven Tufts. One lap later and the last time up the Wall the gap had fallen below 1 minute. Led by Team High Road the group was captured with three short “Lemon Loops” remaining.
After more than six hours of racing the remaining peloton hit the 1 kilometer to go banner together and on the Logan Square roundabout the jockeying for position became intense. Into the final straight Health Net’s John Murphy led out teammate Kirk O’Bee with 600 meters to go.
As Murphy ran out of gas at the 200 meter mark CSC's Matti Breschel jumped around the fading lead out man. The move forced O'Bee to follow Breschel to the line. The 23 year old Matti Breschel held off O'Bee's late charge to take the victory. The young Dane called Philadelphia his biggest win.
TOP 10 |
1. Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC 6h14’47” (40.19 km/h) |
2. Kirk O'Bee (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis |
3. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing |
4. Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team High Road |
5. Alex Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast |
6. Tyler Farrar (USA) Slipstream/Chipotle p/b H30 |
7. Moises Aldape (Mex) Team Type 1 |
8. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota United Pro Cycling Team |
9. Yosvany Falcon (Cub) Toshiba - Santo p/b Herbalife |
10. Ciaran Power (Irl) Pezula Racing |
Full Results
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