The U.S. Postal Service cycling team has the national champion’s jersey in its stable for the fourth time in the last seven years, but the stars-and-stripes will be modeled by a rider no one expected to win.
Chann McRae, edged by Canada’s Mark Walters of the Navigators team in the final sprint of the 156-mile U.S. Pro Cycling championships, crossed the line second overall to claim the honor.
A childhood friend of triple Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong from Plano, Texas, McRae toiled in the service of Postal’s George Hincapie for most of the race. The riders take 10 laps over mostly flat terrain, with two exceptions–the short, steep climb through the historic neighborhood of Manayunk, where fans overflow front porches, sidewalks and driveways to cheer them on, and another gentle ascent in Fairmount Park close to downtown.
McRae and teammate Michael Berry executed their instructions to wear out the lead group on the last climb up the Manayunk Wall, but when McRae looked for Hincapie on the last descent, he wasn’t there, and McRae found himself in the best position to go for the U.S. title.
“I didn’t think I had a chance to win until about 150 meters to go,” said McRae, 30.
Hincapie, one of the prerace favorites, said riders from other teams hung on his wheel instead of making their own moves toward the finish. “It was unbelievably negative,” said Hincapie, who finished fifth. “I’m happy for Chann, but I would have liked to have won.”
The race wasn’t even on McRae’s schedule until recently. He had planned to stay in Europe this spring but came home after fracturing his arm a month ago.
He recovered in time to be slotted in as a last-minute substitution, but assumed he would play his usual role of worker bee.
Instead, he will celebrate his title with a couple of Shiner Bock beers back in Austin, Texas.
Armstrong, who has known McRae since grade school, was instrumental in getting him under contract with Postal for this season.
“He’s a superstar, and I’m a domestique (support rider),” McRae said. “He’s made millions in this sport, and I’ve made thousands. But through thick and thin, we’ve been friends. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be on this team, and here I am in the jersey.”
Two-time defending U.S. champion Fred Rodriguez of the Domo-Farm Frites team, hampered by bronchitis, dropped out after about 130 miles.
