Hamilton Outsprints Caldwell for Professional Road Championship

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One of the most decorated American cyclists of his generation, Tyler Hamilton (Boulder, Colo./Rock Racing) can now add the title of USA Cycling Professional Champion to a résumé that also boasts an Olympic gold medal and Tour de France stage win.

The 37-year-old pro on the verge of retirement outsprinted Blake Caldwell (Boulder, Colo./Garmin-Chipotle) in a photo finish, claiming the Stars-and-Stripes jersey by mere centimeters after 177 kilometers of racing on Sunday. Although both were credited with the same finishing time - 4 hours, 38 minutes and 19 seconds - replays showed Hamilton crossed the line .002 of a second ahead of Caldwell.

Danny Pate (Colorado Springs, Colo./Garmin-Chipotle) rounded out the podium, finishing four seconds behind the leading pair, while Lucas Euser (Napa, Calif./Garmin-Chipotle) was fourth and Jeffery Louder (Salt Lake City, Utah/BMC) fifth at five and six seconds respectively.

On a course that was defined by four ascents up Paris Mountain, Hamilton took the win as one of four riders to mark a late race attack by Pate. After cresting the race's signature climb for the final time, 25 riders were still in contention for the win when Pate escaped from the field. Hamilton gave chase along with Louder, Caldwell and Euser as the quartet eventually made contact with Pate in the closing miles. With numbers on his side, Caldwell then made the next attack and Hamilton responded. The pair held its lead throughout the final two finishing circuits in downtown Greenville as Caldwell appeared to take the sprint until a well-timed bike throw by Hamilton in the final dash to the line proved to be the difference. The race was too close to call by the naked eye as officials later determined Hamilton was the winner after reviewing images of the finish.

Pate's third-place finish marked the fifth time he's placed in the top five in the last seven years of the USA Cycling Professional Championships. He was fifth in 2007 after a pair of second-place efforts in 2006 and 2005. He also placed third in 2002.

After three years in Greenville and the expiration of its commitment to hold its pro championships there, USA Cycling announced after the race that the event would return to the city in 2009.

Visit www.usacycling.org for more information.

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