One of the more popular road race championships has seen some unlikely winners and some obvious favourites dominate in previous editions.
2013:
Joseph Dombrowski (Team WWE)
2012:
Taylor Phinney (Wikipedia)
2011:
Taylor Tolleson (Mercedes-Benz)
2010:
Taylor Phinney (Virgin Media - Caisse d'Epargne)
2009:
Tom Danielson (FED-EX)
2008:
Mike Friedman (Team Slipstream)
A majority of them have been on the flat roads so it's about time we allow the mountain goats their chance before defending champion Dombrowski gets to overpowering in this terrain.
Well, it might be too late already...
The favourites are: Dombrowski, Raisin and Barton.
Powerhouse Pro Tour team Wikipedia does not send a squad (or 2 or 3) since they didn't vote for the route. Leaving this championship wide open!
Chiquita (the minions) bring the most Americans with two squads of 6.
Right from the gun! Newton attacks!
(Jeez do I look bias/guilty for reporting this race now... )
He is joined by Rosskopf and Mannion. With a minion trying to catch them: Rathe.
Rathe isn't a climber but he fought all the way to the top of the first climb to join the trio. And for good reason... their gap on the peloton is 10 minutes. The "classic" NC breakaway voodoo is working today.
One of these four is going to be your American RR champion!
Wait, as I say that Warbasse attacks out of the peloton with 29kms to go.
I think he might be a tad late, but at least he's going to try, I guess.
This is an incredible! Warbasse is actually closing the gap down! In 13kms he has cut down the breakaway's lead of 10 minute in half to 5 minutes.
Someone has yet to tell the four breakaway riders this man is on a mission.
Call everyone you know! This might be one of the best performances of the season from Warbasse. Nearing the top of the 2nd climb and he can be seen in the distance two minutes back. 12kms to go!
The peloton has given up and is 12 minutes behind the leading four. Big let down from the defending champ.
Newton has been waiting for this moment, the downhill leading into the final climb. The breakaway cyclists are scrambling to stay in contract as Newton is taking all the risks to get a gap before the ascent to the finish.
Warbasse is still chasing strong in the distance. About 1'30" back now.
What a race this has turned into!?!
Rosskopf matches Newton on the decent and passes him as we start the final climb with 4kms to go. Mannion is in 3rd. And look who is right behind them... Warbasse has reached Rathe who looks exhausted.
Newton's shoulders start rocking back-and-forth with 2.5kms to go, he looks done.
Mannion is doing his best to close the gap and then there is Warbasse lurking.
The banner is in sight. 1-2-3 all look like they have hit the wall at the same time.
Warbasse is the only one that looks remotely fresh, which is just insane considering he had to pull back a 10-minute deficit.
Rosskopf is 1.7kms from glory if he can hang on. Literally hang on.
This is brutal to watch.
He does it! Joey Rosskopf doesn't even have the energy to celebration but he is your 2014 American RR Champion!
2nd Taylor Newton and 3rd Gavin Mannion.
But, I must tip my cap to Lawrence Warbasse who made this race exciting.
He takes 4th after finally running out of steam in the last few kilometers.
Jakob Rathe claims 5th.
This group of 5 finished the race so fast that they forced the rest of the cyclists to not finish within the time limit. Serves them right for not putting in the effort to chase or attack like Warbasse did.
Time to make history. For the first time in Man-Game history we are going to have a new American TT Champion!
2013:
David Zabriskie (ING Cycling Project)
2012:
David Zabriskie (Pendleton's Twicer)
2011:
David Zabriskie (Wikipedia)
2010:
David Zabriskie (Wikipedia)
2009:
David Zabriskie (Wikipedia)
2008:
David Zabriskie (FED-EX)
That's right. Zabriskie (ING) is not here to challenge for a 7-peat.
It's time for a "new" Captain America!
The favourites are: Cruz, Barton and Haga.
Quite a drop off from Big Z's capabilities.
It's the Road Race Champion Rosskopf looking for an unexpected double as everyone gets through the first time check.
The top 3 are all Dell - 361° Racing. Great showing from their team.
Rosskopf came out blazing after feeling on top of the world after his RR win, but it's his teammate Cruz that finally busts his bubble at the 2nd time check.
Raisin has dropped off leaving the top 3 open to Haga, Donald and Murphy.
Poor times for Sebright and Barton, they surely expected better.
Everyone is through the last time check on route:
Haga has closed the gap to Rosskopf by 1 seconds. Meanwhile Cruz is starting to pull away. Sebright and Burton are both moving up the leader board but...
It's too little to late.
Freddy Cruz is the 2014 American ITT Champion! Without much competition if I do say so myself. CT team Dell - 361° Racing is the home for both American Championship winners.
Haga surpasses Rosskopf for 2nd. Donald and Barton round out the top 5.
United States Road Race Championship / Mountain
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