Marcotte New American Road Race Champion

Last updated : 26 May 2014 By Covsupport News Service

Eric Marcotte of Smart Stop is the new American Road Race Champion.

A 165.5km race starting and finishing in Chattanooga, saw Ben King (Garmin-Sharp) attack straight from the gun. More and more riders launched attacks and a break of Chris Jones and Brad White (UHC), Tyler Wren (Jamis Hagens Berman), Sam Bassetti and Jim Stemper (5 Hour Energy), Ben King (Garmin Sharp), Brad Huff (Optum), Julian Kyer and Eric Marcotte (SmartStop) and Kevin Gottlieb (Airgas) was able to be forme on the first of four downtown circuits before four long circuits around Lookout Mountain.

On the first descent of Lookout Mountain, there was a crash and down went Taylor Phinney who had been crowned the American Time Trial champion on Saturday along with UnitedHealthcare's Lucas Euser. Phinney's race was over and he was taken to hospital with what was later confirmed as a broken lower leg.

Riding up Lookout Mountain for a second time, the escapers had a lead of four minutes on a chasing group of Nathan Brown (Garmin-Sharp), Bjorn Selander (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Joseph Schmalz (Hincapie Sportswear Development). and five minutes on the rest of the peloton.

Ben King took the Mountain points as the gap went out to five minutes with 80kms to go and then took them for the third time.

The gap was now three minutes to the thirteen left in the main field as Ben King tried to distance himself from the breakaway on the climb up to Lookout Mountaun for the final time. Chris Jones and Julian Kyer went after him, followed by James Stemper.

King took the points for the fourth time and started on the descent into Chattanooga, to take on three closing 6.8km closing circuits.

Semper launched two attacks as Eric Marcotte (SmartStop),  Brad White (UHC) and Tyler Wren (Jamis Hagens Berman), Alex Howes (Garmin Sharp) and Travis McCabe (SmarkStop) joined the attack which was 1.10 clear of what was left of the peloton.

Stemper, Jones and Marcotte tried once again to lose their markers before a new breakaway group of Chris Jones (UHC), Jim Stemper (5 Hour Energy), Eric Marcotte (SmartStop), Julian Kyer (SmartStop), Brad White (UHC) and Tyler Wren (Jamis Hagens Berman), Alex Howes (Garmin Sharp) formed.

Going into the final five kilometres, Travis McCabe , Jim Stemper and Scott Zwizanski of Optum were ahead. Jones made it across to them as Stemper ran out of steam but before the final corner, all escapers were caught.

Eric Marcotte and his Smart Stop team mate McCabe went for the sprint and went over the line. it took a photo finish to decide the winner and Marcotte was awarded the win in a time of 4.17.59 with McCabe second and Alex Howes of Garmin Sharp third.