Weather and strong field make for epic race

April 07, 2007 - Richmond, Virginia - Saturday’s inaugural US Open of Cycling featured a strong field of top North American teams, a challenging 112 mile course, and surprise winter weather.

Overnight Friday, a cold front moved in to the area, dropping temperatures into the 30s and adding blowing snow. So much for springtime in Virginia! It was fitting however for US cycling’s return to same-day national TV coverage on NBC Sports, that the US Open would feature epic weather more appropriate for the Spring Classics in Belgium.

For those braving the elements along the course to catch a glimpse of professional racing in Virginia, and those watching from the warmth of home on TV, the race offered plenty of excitement.

After starting in Colonial Williamsburg and traveling 65 miles through historic eastern Virginia, being pounded by blustery winds and snow, the peloton entered downtown Richmond for eight laps of a technical 5.5 mile circuit which included a twisting cobblestone climb through Libby Hill Park.

Finally the sun came out in Richmond and on the circuit the racing action began to heat up. Several small breakaway groups formed in the early laps, but Team Slipstream/Chipotle’s Patrick McCarty put in the decisive move of the day with three laps remaining. Following Team Director Jonathan Vaughters’ advice, McCarty used an unexpected attack on the finish line hill to gain his advantage, rather than trying to break away on the harder cobblestone climb.

McCarty built a solid lead and was soon joined by Canadian strong-man Svein Tuft. The pair worked well together powering around the circuit, and increased their gap to over a minute over a small chase group that included Team Slipstream/Chipotle’s Lucas Euser sitting on the back as a security measure.

Tuft put in a huge attack on the final climb through Libby Hill Park and would stay away for the race win, and McCarty gave it everything he had to hold on to his second place ahead of a small group chasing in hot pursuit for the remaining podium finishes.

After the awards ceremony, McCarty reflected on his 2nd place finish in one of the hardest races (thanks to the demanding course and the epic weather) he has ever done: “On the last lap, I was bonking bad and just trying to hold on to what little speed I was turning over. I was almost blacking out on the finishing stretch and just barely held on for 2nd.”

With the US Open of Cycling being a stop on the UCI America’s Tour, McCarty’s 2nd place was an excellent result for the up-and-coming Team Slipstream/Chipotle. McCarty thought highly of the first-year event, and hopes it is able to remain on the UCI schedule. “It was a great race and a hard, worthy course for a top one-day event in the US.”