TREXLERTOWN, Pa. – The first day of the 2021 USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships kicked off at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center with a blitz of sprints for athletes. The velodrome saw eight sprint tournaments with riders age 55 to 82.
The morning started with the 200-meter qualification for athletes with competitions for the Women’s 55-64 and 65+, and Men’s 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80+. Fast times of the day went to Lisa Nutter (Philadelphia; Team Alliance Environmental), who stopped the clock at 12.722 seconds, and Koh Annoura (Houston; Northwest Cycling Club), who finished in a time of 11.356. Both Nutter and Annoura proved dominant in their tournaments and won national titles without losing a single ride during the day.
Bonnie Woodbury (Solana Beach, Calif.) claimed the Women’s 75+ Sprint title. Sue Lloyd (Wheat Ridge, Colo.; Hammer Racing p/b Thorne) would dominate the Women’s 65+ Sprint tournament and take home the stars-and-stripes in the Women’s 65-69. Local rider Jo Johnson (Wilmington, Del.) took home the gold in the Women’s 70-74 Sprints. Paula Froke (Philadelphia; IAMIWILLICANIDO Racing p/b Vital Perform) was on the podium's top step for the Women’s 60-64 Sprints.
Masters Track Nationals mainstay, Earl Henry (Pinellas Park, Fla.; Guinness Cycling) moved up an age group this year to the Men’s 80+ and captured another jersey for his already extensive collection. From the Giordana Velodrome in Rock Hill, S.C., Gary Hoffman (Rock Hill, S.C.; Blue Ridge Cyclery p/b Reynolds GM) was the gold medal standard for the day in the Men’s 70-74 Sprints. John Petrakis (Sonoma, Calif.; Alto Velo Racing Club) overcame a strong Men’s 75-79 field to earn his gold medal. In the tightest race of the night, Mike Felling (Weston, Fla.; Alex’s Pro Bike Shop) and Ray Gildea (Emerald Hills, Calif.; Hammer Racing p/b Thorne) pushed their competition for the Men’s 65-69 Sprint title to a third ride, with Felling winning the final ride by just .028 seconds.
Tuesday sees the first endurance events of the championships take the track in T-town, with pursuits taking their turn against the clock.
