Published July 3, 2013 01:46PM
Bontrager teammates Tanner Putt and Nathan Brown put on a show for their hometown sponsor on Wednesday when they finished 1-2 in the men’s U23 road race at the USA Cycling Amateur and Para-cycling Road National Championships in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin.
The pair attacked in the final two kilometers of Wednesday’s race to land the opening title of the men’s U23 championship races.
Ty Magner (Hincapie Sportswear Development) edged Sam Bassetti (California Giant-Specialized) for third. Along with Robin Carpenter (Hincapie), the four were part of a five-man breakaway that rode clear on the final lap of a tough circuit near Madison.
“The five of us rotated and worked really well. Everyone was pulling through, and we decided that we’d just get the gap up and keep it, and then race the last time up the climb,” Putt said in a press release. “On the last lap, I attacked at the bottom again and everyone went with me, and then immediately after that Nate Brown attacked and no one could follow him. I waited for him to get a little gap and then I went again and bridged up to him going up the top of the climb. And then he just rode his heart out for me to get to the finish. We crossed the line 1-2, and I couldn’t ask for a better teammate.”
Later in the day, Hannah Arensman (Exergy-Twenty16) won the women’s 15-16 race over Madeleine Boutet. Chloe Dygert (Midwest Development Cycling Inc.) was third, just four seconds down.
“On the last hill we all were really tired and a few of us broke off,” said Arensman. “And then when we hit the 1K to go, me and another girl just soloed away and it came down to the sprint, and I was able to get across first!”
In the women’s 17-18 race, Janelle Cole (West Michigan Coast Riders) won solo ahead of Kelly Catlin (Gopher Wheelmen), who was 12 seconds in arrears. Hannah Swan (Strive Racing) was third.
The USA Cycling Amateur and Para-cycling Road National Championships continue Thursday with more than 30 time trial categories to race in Waterloo, the hometown for Trek Bicycle Co.