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RACE REPORTS: HAMILTON COMPLETES HIS COMEBACK, WINS US PROFESSIONAL ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIP
Road Bike Action
August 31, 2008
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Tyler Hamilton of the Rock Racing Team completed his comeback to the top of the sport by winning the 110-mile US Professional Road Race Championship in Greenville, South Carolina.
Hamilton made a late race break of five riders that included Blake Caldwell, Danny Pate, Lucas Euser all of Team Garmin-Chipotle and Jeff Louder of BMC Racing. With less than two laps of the finishing circuit remaining Caldwell and Hamilton broke clear of the other three riders. With Pate and Euser sitting on Louder, Hamilton and Caldwell were able to establish a narrow 13-second gap. They held their advantage until the finishing stretch where Hamilton out sprinted Caldwell in a photo finish.
Hamilton is having a strong season with several top five finishes and overall victory in the Tour of Qinghai Lake. For 37 year-old Hamilton this is his first professional national title, his biggest victory since serving a two-year suspension for blood doping. Garmin-Chipotle's Blake Caldwell lost to Hamilton in a photo finish by a tire width, while his Garmin-Chipotle teammate, 3rd place rider Danny Pate finished 10" behind.
In a post-race press conference, Pate observed the lack of drug testing at the US Professional Road Race Championship. “I’ve been in the top here five seven times, and I’ve never been tested,” Pate said. “I’m not making an implication about anyone racing here today, but I am disappointed.”
US Professional Road Race Championship
1. Tyler Hamilton (Rock Racing)
2. Blake Caldwell (Team Garmin-Chipotle)
3. Danny Pate (Team Garmin-Chipotle)
4. Lucas Euser (Team Garmin-Chipotle)
5. Jeff Louder (BMC Racing Team)
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