June 30, 2009 (Louisville, Ky.) – The road racing portion of the USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships wrapped up in Cherokee Park on Tuesday with Stars-and-Stripes awarded in the men’s 35-39, 40-44 and 45-49 age divisions. The time trial competition is set take place on Wednesday in Taylorsville, Ky. followed by three days of criterium racing in Churchill Downs.

The 35-39 master men’s race got things off to an exciting start on the final day of road racing in Louisville’s Cherokee Park with an early race break that held for the first five of 12 laps. The stacked young field including two-time, reigning national champion Paul Martin (North Royalton, Ohio/Texas Roadhouse), however reeled back the solo break, after a untimely mechanical. It was then that Martin saw an opportunity to make his move. Recognizing Martin’s strength however the field would not let him get away. Through a fast and furious last few laps it was Michael Onkels (Glendale, Calif./Sho-air-Sonace) who was able to put some distance between him and the pack. After racing for 22-years, the 39-year old secured his first national title, soloing to the gold 42 seconds ahead of the main group.

“I tried to make up time on the hills and by not braking in the corners,” said Onkels who was 15th in the road race here last year. “When we got close to the finish I just drilled it. It was perfect for me – that’s the way I like to win.”

Just over 100 riders took to the line in the 40-44 men’s road race making it the largest field of the competition. Mid-way through the 10-lap affair four riders, Roger Aspholm (Haworth, N.J./Westwood Velo), Nico Toutenhoofd (Boulder, Colo./Excelsports.com), David Harward (South Jordan, Utah/Porcupine-Specialized Racing) and David Henderson (Columbia, Mo.) were able to gain time on the field. As the contest moved into the final laps, a small group of chasers formed including Craig Romer (St. Helena, Calif./Team Specialized Racing), Stephen Spanbauer (Louisville, Ky./Calistoga Racing), Stephen Ferretti (Crestline, Calif./Sho-air-Sonace) and Daniel Casper (Northfield, Minn./Grandstay Hotels). They began slowly closing the gap but were unable to catch the leaders until some confusion ensued with the front group missing the turn into the finish. Tootenhoofd and Harward were able to quickly get turned around, but the chase group was surging. In the kick to the line Romer, Casper and Ferretti grabbed the medals in one of the event’s most interesting finishes. An officials’ jury was quickly formed and after thorough investigation, the results were deemed to stand as each rider crossed the line.

Janne Hamalainen (Tulsa, Okla./Tulsa Tough), Chris Halverson (Madison, Wisc./Nova Cycle Sports Foundation) and Troy Kimball (Randolph, N.J./Westwood Velo) were the story of the men’s 45-49 contest, breaking away multiple times before making it stick mid-way through the 10-lap affair. The pair slowly built on their lead throughout the final half of the race with Hamalainen kicking it up the hill to take the Stars-and-Stripes eight seconds ahead of Halverson.

Racing will continue tomorrow with the time trial for all masters categories and age divisions. The out-and-back course will start and finish at Spencer County High School and, depending on age division, will feature 20 to 26-miles of rolling hills.

Click Here for a full schedule of the event.

USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships
Louisville, Kentucky
June 28-July 4, 2009

Day Three

35-39 Men’s 60-mile Road Race
1. Michael Onkels (Glendale, Calif./Sho-air-Sonace) 2:20:12
2. Kevin Kremke (Houston, Texas/Bike Barn) 2:20:54
3. Kevin Attkisson (Louisville, Ky./Texas Roadhouse) 2:20:57
4. Chris Demarchi (Chino, Calif./Amgen Giant Masters) 2:20:57
5. Jonathan Eropkin (Fresno, Calif./Safeway Bicycles) 2:20:58

40-44 Men’s 50-mile Road Race
1. Craig Romer (St. Helena, Calif./Team Specialized Racing) 1:53:53
2. Daniel Casper (Northfield, Minn./Grandstay Hotels) 1:53:54
3. Stephen Ferretti (Crestline, Calif./Sho-Air Sonace) 1:53:57
4. Christopher Phipps (San Francisco, Calif./Morgan Stanley-Team Spine) 1:54:01
5. Rick Norton (Towson, Md./LSV-Kelly Benefit Strategies) 1:54:07

45-49 Men’s 50-mile Road Race
1. Janne Hamalainen (Tulsa, Okla./Tulsa Tough) 1:53:55
2. Chris Halverson (Madison,Wisc./Nova Cycle Sports Foundation) 1:54:03
3. Troy Kimball (Randolph, N.J./Weswood Velo) 1:54:15
4. Brendan Sullivan (Atlanta, Ga./Iron Data Racing) 1:55:02
5. Robert Dahl (Lafayette, Colo./Excel Sports) 1:55:04