The 2023 USA Cycling Masters & Para-cycling Road National Championships concluded on Sunday. Returning to the Augusta, Ga. area for its fourth time in the last two decades, the event saw 724 participants from as far away as Washington state. During the five-day event, over 90 national titles were awarded across various age groups and for para-athletes.
Day 1 – Road Races
Wednesday kicked off the event with two waves of road races for the para-athletes on the nearby Army base, Fort Gordon. In the first wave, athletes did either one or two laps of the 14.7-mile course, depending on their classification level. Dennis Connors (Beaverton, Ore.; Project Echelon Vanguard) in the Men’s T2 field was the first single lapper to cross the finish line. Of the riders doing two laps, Matt Tingley (Rochester Hills, Mich.) in the Men’s H4 was the first to cross the line. In the second wave of athletes, riders did three or four laps of the same course around Fort Gordon. Of the riders doing four laps, or 94.8 kilometers, Kyle Pitman (Lafayette, Colo.; Project Echelon Vanguard) was first over the line doing four laps, winning the Men’s C5. Pitman’s teammate, Justin Mathers (Fayetteville, N.C.), earned the top step of the podium in the Men’s C3, completing three laps the quickest.
Results
Men’s T2 Road Race National Champion:
Dennis Connors (Beaverton, Ore.; Project Echelon Vanguard)
Women’s T2 Road Race National Champion:
Amanda Kloepfer (Rockford, Ill.; Team CAF)
Men’s H2 Road Race National Champion:
Cody Wills (Harrisburg, Pa.; Carbonbike.USA)
Women’s H3 Road Race National Champion:
Gabrielle Platt (Tulsa, Okla.; Team CAF)
Men’s H3 Road Race National Champion:
Brandon Lyons (Saint Augustine, Fla.; EY)
Women’s H4 Road Race National Champion:
Ryen Reed (San Diego; Team CAF)
Men’s H4 Road Race National Champion:
Matt Tingley (Rochester Hills, Mich.)
Men’s H5 Road Race National Champion:
Roderick Sewell (Denver)
Men’s BVI Road Race National Champion:
Athlete: Branden Walton (Santa Rosa, Calif.)
Pilot: Chase Wark (Santa Rosa, Calif.)
Women’s C5 Road Race National Champion:
Kathleen Cleveland-Kennedy (Augusta, Ga.)
Men’s C2 Road Race National Champion:
Gregory Beene (Shorewood, Ill.; CCC Race Team)
Men’s C3 Road Race National Champion:
Justin Mathers (Fayetteville, N.C.; Project Echelon Vanguard)
Men’s C4 Road Race National Champion:
Kai Luan (Chicago; xXx Racing-Athletico)
Men’s C5 Road Race National Champion:
Kyle Pitman (Lafayette, Colo.; Project Echelon Vanguard)
Day 2 – Time Trial
The second day of the national championship saw athletes race against the clock in the Time Trial. Three different distances were used depending on the rider’s age or classification. Riders contested either a 16.1-, 20.9-, or 29.4-kilometer course. Setting the fast time on the shortest course for the men, Alfredo Delossantos (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.; Semper Fi & America) stopped the clock with a 24:12.06 for the Men’s H5. Elizabeth Neag (Medina, Ohio; Cleveland Cycling Ac) rode to a 25:44.08, making her the fastest woman over 16.1 kilometers. On the 20.9-kilometer course, James Dickerson (Fort Collins, Colo.; Great Divide Brewing) finished in 29:08.72, winning the Men’s 65-69. The Women’s 55-59 also contested this course, and Tracey Jacobs (Boulder, Colo.; Groove Subaru/Excel) won that age group with her time of 31:54.00. Jadon Jaeger (Wauwatosa, Wis.; Methods To Winning) successfully defended his Men’s 40-44 title from 2022 while setting the fast time on this course with his 39:46.16. The Women’s 40-44 winner, Leah Thorvilson (Little Rock, Ark.; 3T Q&M Cycling), stopped the clock at 46:33.71, putting her ahead of any other woman by over a minute.
Results
Men’s T2 Time Trial National Champion:
Dennis Connors (Beaverton, Ore.; Project Echelon Vanguard)
Women’s T2 Time Trial National Champion:
Amanda Kloepfer (Rockford, Ill.; Team CAF)
Men’s H2 Time Trial National Champion:
Cody Wills (Harrisburg, Pa.; Carbonbike.USA)
Women’s H3 Time Trial National Champion:
Jenna Rollman (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; Eliel Factory Team)
Men’s H3 Time Trial National Champion:
Brandon Lyons (Saint Augustine, Fla.; EY)
Women’s H4 Time Trial National Champion:
Ryen Reed (San Diego; Team CAF)
Men’s H4 Time Trial National Champion:
Matt Tingley (Rochester Hills, Mich.)
Men’s H5 Time Trial National Champion:
Alfredo Delossantos (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.; Semper Fi & America)
Men’s BVI Time Trial National Champion:
Athlete: Branden Walton (Santa Rosa, Calif.)
Pilot: Chase Wark (Santa Rosa, Calif.)
Men’s C2 Time Trial National Champion:
Gregory Beene (Shorewood, Ill.; CCC Race Team)
Women’s C3 Time Trial National Champion:
Jamie Whitmore (Mount Aukum, Calif.; Twenty24)
Men’s C3 Time Trial National Champion:
Justin Mathers (Fayetteville, N.C.; Project Echelon Vanguard)
Men’s C4 Time Trial National Champion:
Scott Buwalda (Dawsonville, Ga.)
Women’s C5 Time Trial National Champion:
Elizabeth Neag (Medina, Ohio; Cleveland Cycling Ac)
Men’s C5 Time Trial National Champion:
Kyle Pitman (Lafayette, Colo.; Project Echelon Vanguard)
Master Men 35-39 Time Trial National Champion:
Josh Lipka (Pittsfield, Mass.; Good Guys Racing p/b)
Master Women 35-39 Time Trial National Champion:
Ashley Schatz (Tucson, Ariz.; Bicycle Ranch Tucson)
Master Men 40-44 Time Trial National Champion:
Jadon Jaeger (Wauwatosa, Wis.; Methods To Winning)
Master Women 40-44 Time Trial National Champion:
Leah Thorvilson (Little Rock, Ark.; 3T Q&M Cycling)
Master Men 45-49 Time Trial National Champion:
Andrew Knight (Marietta, Ga.; NGCA p/b Tyler Perry)
Master Women 45-49 Time Trial National Champion:
Shannon Kaplan (Philadelphia)
Master Men 50-54 Time Trial National Champion:
Patrick Warner (Boulder, Colo.; Stages Cycling)
Master Women 50-54 Time Trial National Champion:
Karla Antonio (Stuart, Fla.; Team ISSN)
Master Men 55-59 Time Trial National Champion:
Daniel Casper (Saint Paul, Minn.; Donkey Label Racing)
Master Women 55-59 Time Trial National Champion:
Tracey Jacobs (Boulder, Colo.; Groove Subaru/Excel)
Master Men 60-64 Time Trial National Champion:
Brendan Sullivan (Atlanta; There's A Train Coming)
Master Women 60-64 Time Trial National Champion:
Suzanne Scoggin (Reston, Va.; Hefler Performance Cycling)
Master Men 65-69 Time Trial National Champion:
James Dickerson (Fort Collins, Colo.; Great Divide Brewing)
Master Women 65-69 Time Trial National Champion:
Pat Caldeira (Crofton, Md.)
Master Men 70-74 Time Trial National Champion:
Wayne Watson (Denver; Chalet/Celebrity)
Master Women 70-74 Time Trial National Champion:
Elizabeth Tyrell (Annandale, N.J.; TEAM SOMERSET)
Master Men 75-79 Time Trial National Champion:
Ed Chamberlin (Grand Junction, Colo.; Natural Grocers Cycling)
Master Women 75-79 Time Trial National Champion:
Camilla Buchanan (Williamsburg, Va.; Team Hampton Roads Cycling)
Master Men 80-84 Time Trial National Champion:
S Durward Higgins (Chattanooga, Tenn.; Hammer Super Masters)
Master Men 85-89 Time Trial National Champion:
Robert Paganini (Los Angeles; PAA)
Master Men 90-94 Time Trial National Champion:
Frederic Schmid (Waco, Texas; GeriAtrix)
Day 3 – Road Races
Racing was back to the 14.7-mile Road Race course on Fort Gordon on Friday. In the Master Men’s 70+ wave, 48 athletes across five age groups tackled three laps of the course. At the finish, a group of over ten riders sprinted for the line, with Olympian Kent Bostick (Knoxville, Tenn.; CTS NWN Cycling Team) taking the field sprint and winning the Master Men’s 70-74 national title. The oldest athlete participating in the event, Frederic Schmid (Waco, Texas; GeriAtrix), was also part of this group and added the Master Men’s 90-94 Road Race gold medal to his trophy case. Andrew Knight (Marietta, Ga.; NGCA p/b Tyler Perry Studios) secured the Master Men’s 45-49 title by breaking away from the rest of the field and pushing his lead to over a minute.
Results
Master Men’s 65-69 Road Race National Champion:
Matt Trethric (San Rafael, Calif.; Hammer/53x11)
Master Men’s 70-74 Road Race National Champion:
Kent Bostick (Knoxville, Tenn.; CTS NWN Cycling Team)
Master Men’s 75-79 Road Race National Champion:
Ken Milne (Norfolk, Mass.)
Master Men’s 80-84 Road Race National Champion:
S Durward Higgins (Chattanooga, Tenn.; Hammer Super Masters)
Master Men’s 85-89 Road Race National Champion:
Robert Paganini (Los Angeles; PAA)
Master Men’s 90-94 Road Race National Champion:
Frederic Schmid (Waco, Texas; GeriAtrix)
Master Men’s 55-59 Road Race National Champion:
Paul Bourcier (Eugene, Ore.; Elliston Coaching - Success through Knowledge)
Master Men’s 60-64 Road Race National Champion:
Brendan Sullivan (Atlanta; There's A Train Coming)
Master Men’s 45-49 Road Race National Champion:
Andrew Knight (Marietta, Ga.; NGCA p/b Tyler Perry Studios)
Master Men’s 50-54 Road Race National Champion:
David Richter (Georgetown, Ky.; Fount Cycling Guild)
Day 4 – Road Races
The final day of road races saw eleven titles awarded across all of the women’s age groups and the men’s 35-39 and 40-44. Due to a dangerous heat index in the afternoon, the final wave of racing, including the Master Women’s 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, and 50-54, was shortened to two laps of the course. Women’s 40-44 Time Trial winner Leah Thorvilson (Little Rock, Ark.; 3T Q&M Cycling) doubled up on jersey count, winning her age group’s Road Race handily and setting the course time for the afternoon’s waves.
Results
Master Women’s 55-59 Road Race National Champion:
Tracey Jacobs (Boulder, Colo.; Groove Subaru/Excel Sports Race Team)
Master Women’s 60-64 Road Race National Champion:
Tamara Bessette (Missoula, Mont.; MTCX MT ALPHA)
Master Women’s 65-69 Road Race National Champion:
Pat Caldeira (Crofton, Md.)
Master Women’s 70-74 Road Race National Champion:
Elizabeth Tyrell (Annandale, N.J.; TEAM SOMERSET)
Master Women’s 75-79 Road Race National Champion:
Camilla Buchanan (Williamsburg, Va.; Team Hampton Roads Cycling)
Master Men’s 35-39 Road Race National Champion:
Sebastian Cano (Miami; American Cycling)
Master Men’s 40-44 Road Race National Champion:
Greg Mccullough (Redwood City, Calif.)
Master Women’s 35-39 Road Race National Champion:
Lisa Houser (New Orleans)
Master Women’s 40-44 Road Race National Champion:
Leah Thorvilson (Little Rock, Ark.; 3T Q&M Cycling)
Master Women’s 45-49 Road Race National Champion:
Jeanine Seeger (Boynton Beach, Fla.; Alpha Cycling)
Master Women’s 50-54 Road Race National Champion:
Debbie Milne (Greenville, S.C.; Team SupraBars.com)
Day 5 – Criterium
The final day of the championship was for the exciting criterium events. A full schedule of events saw every category take to the .7-mile course at the Augusta Commons in downtown Augusta. A bit of adverse weather shortened the last three races of the day, but 21 criterium national titles were awarded.
Results
Master Men 35-39 Criterium National Champion:
Sebastian Cano (Miami, Fla.; American Cycling)
Master Women 35-39 Criterium National Champion:
Shannon Koch (Daytona Beach, Fla.; The Perpinan Project/Extra Sweet presented by HGR)
Master Men 40-44 Criterium National Champion:
Brendan Housler (Somerville, Tenn.; EVOQ.BIKE)
Master Women 40-44 Criterium National Champion:
Adonays Vera (Miami, Fla.; City Bikes)
Master Men 45-49 Criterium National Champion:
Charon Smith (Signal Hill, Calif.; Methods To Winning)
Master Women 45-49 Criterium National Champion:
Jeanine Seeger (Boynton Beach, Fla.; Alpha Cycling)
Master Men 50-54 Criterium National Champion:
David Richter (Georgetown, Ky.; Fount Cycling Guild)
Master Women 50-54 Criterium National Champion:
Debbie Milne (Greenville, S.C.; Team SupraBars.com)
Master Men 55-59 Criterium National Champion:
Jame Carney (Demorest, Ga.; Team Mako)
Master Women 55-59 Criterium National Champion:
Tracey Jacobs (Boulder, Colo.; Groove Subaru/Excel Sports Race Team)
Master Men 60-64 Criterium National Champion:
Brendan Sullivan (Atlanta; There's A Train Coming)
Master Women 60-64 Criterium National Champion:
Sarah Chubb Sauvayre (New York, N.Y.; CRCA / W.0 Racing)
Master Men 65-69 Criterium National Champion:
Lawrence Nolan (Fremont, Calif.; Creative Blue Monster Racing Speed Dpt)
Master Women 65-69 Criterium National Champion:
Doni Sulfridge (Knoxville, Tenn.; Knox Velo)
Master Men 70-74 Criterium National Champion:
Kent Bostick (Knoxville, Tenn.; CTS NWN Cycling Team)
Master Women 70-74 Criterium National Champion:
Diana Correa (Tampa, Fla.; West Coast Cycling)
Master Men 75-79 Criterium National Champion:
Ken Milne (Norfolk, Mass.)
Master Women 75-79 Criterium National Champion:
Camilla Buchanan (Williamsburg, Va.; Team Hampton Roads Cycling)
Master Men 80-84 Criterium National Champion:
S Durward Higgins (Chattanooga, Tenn.; Hammer Super Masters)
Master Men 85-89 Criterium National Champion:
Robert Paganini (Los Angeles; PAA)
Master Men 90-94 Criterium National Champion:
Frederic Schmid (Waco, Texas; GeriAtrix)
Photos by Craig Huffman
