Day three of the 2022 USA Cycling Amateur Road National Championships saw seven groups take to the road race course in Botetourt County on Friday. Races began at 7:00am and would continue into the evening.
The first race of the day was the 17-18 Junior Women. They competed on the 37.4-kilometer course and did a total of two laps. The group stayed together for the majority of the race, but the final climb to the finish shattered the field and Katherine Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; LUX-CTS p/b Specialized) pulled away for the win.
In the Junior Women's 15-16 race, Wednesday's Time Trial winner Lidia Cusack (Chevy Chase, Md.; dcDevo) would put on a show again and win big in the 48.3-kilometer race. After the women finished, the 17-18 Junior Men kicked off their day. After an early crash in the corner, riders were scattered all over the road. After consistent attacks, the field was shattered and the finish would come down to a three-way sprint with Viggo Moore (Herriman, Utah; LUX-CTS p/b Specialized) winning by a bike throw. Moore missed out on the podium on Thursday after finishing in the fourth position making today's victory extra sweet. "I was kind of a bit disappointed with how the time trial went, we had some issues with the bike, but I'm really happy with how today worked out. I had a slip up on the road but the adrenaline helped me get back in and make the winning break," said Moore after his win.
The Junior Men 15-16 took to the course at 1:45pm. In a sprint to the finish, winning his first-ever road national title, Alejandro Che (Torrance, Cali.; Team Velosport) would take home the stars and stripes jersey. When asked about his win, Che said, "I've been working all year and it all paid off, the team helps so much during training and team camps. We have great directors and I've learned so much from them."
The younger juniors would take to the 10.9-kilometer course later in the afternoon. Winning the Junior Women's 13-14 race would be last year's 11-12 podium finisher Tessa Beebe (Boise, Idaho; BYRDS Cycling). The youngest riders of the day would do two laps of the course. Finishing in first would be Aine Chen (Del Mar, Calif.; Virginia's Blue Ridge Twenty24) after a close sprint to the line with Lilliana O'Donnell (Delmar, N.Y.; Capital Bicycle Racing Club).
The last race of the day would be the 11-12 Junior Men. After an excellent sprint to the finish, John Papadakis (Ellicott City, Md.; Baltimore Youth Cycling) would seal the deal and earn the gold medal.
Racing continues tomorrow with the Criterium in downtown Roanoke.
Results:
Women 17-18
1. Katherine Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; LUX-CTS p/b Specialized)
2. Samantha Scott (San Diego, Calif.; Virginia's Blue Ridge Twenty24)
3. Homare Yamashita (Breinigsville, Pa.; Virginia's Blue Ridge Twenty24)
Men 17-18
1. Viggo Moore (Herriman, Utah; LUX-CTS p/b Specialized)
2. Artem Shmidt (Cumming, Ga.; Hot Tubes)
3. Henry Neff (Arlington, Va.; Kelly Benefits Strategies Elite Cycling Team)
Women 15-16
1. Lidia Cusack (Chevy Chase, Md.; dcDevo)
2. Alexis Jaramillo (Colorado Springs, Colo.; Virginia's Blue Ridge Twenty24)
3. Haylee Johnson (West Sand Lake, N.Y.; Capital Bicycle Racing Club)
4. Alyssa Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; dcDevo Racing)
5. Veronica Scott (San Diego, Calif.; Virginia's Blue Ridge Twenty24)
Men 15-16
1. Alejandro Che (Torrance, Cali.; Team Velosport)
2. David Thompson (New Canaan, Conn.; Hot Tubes)
3. Rye Christman (Austin, Texas; Team Cycle Progression)
4. Nolan Church (Owatonna, Minn.; LUX-CTS p/b Specialized)
5. Presley Evans (Crozet, Va.; Miller School of Abermarle)
Women 13-141. Tessa Beebe (Boise, Idaho; BYRDS Cycling)
2. Lily Edwards (Washington D.C.; Kelly Benefits Strategies - LSV)
3. Emma Jimenez Palos (Novi, Mich.)
4. Tatiana Sanchez (Shirley, N.Y.; Star Track Racing)
5. Maya Brothers (Wynnewood, Pa.; Team T-Town)
Women 11-12
1. Aine Chen (Del Mar, Calif.; Virginia's Blue Ridge Twenty24)2. Lilliana O'Donnell (Delmar, N.Y.; Capital Bicycle Racing Club)
3. Allison Workman (Baltimore, Md.; Baltimore Youth Cycling)
4. Kavya Srinivasan (San Jose, Calif.; San Jose Bicycle Club)
5. Abigail Oneil (Fairfield, Conn.; TT Endurance Junior Devo)
Men 11-12
1. John Papadakis (Ellicott City, Md.; Baltimore Youth Cycling)
2. Arjuna Burgos (Los Angeles, Calif.; BOOST Cyclesport Junior Team)
3. Sean Davies (Los Altos, Calif.; SJBC)
4. Lukas Young (APO; Project Echelon)
5. Devin Sommerville (Brooklyn, N.Y.; Verge Sport)
