Stars-and-stripes jerseys emblematic of national championships went to two young Wood River Valley cyclists during the USA Cycling Junior, U-23, Elite and Paralympic Road National Championships July 28-Aug. 2 at Bend, Ore.
Ketchum's Max Durtschi, 18, won two gold medals in the Junior Men's 17-18 road race over 111 kilometers (68.8 miles) on Thursday, July 30 and the 50k (31-mile) criterium on the final day of Sunday, Aug. 2. He was a 35-second winner in the road race, and also finished seventh in the 24k time trial.
Sara Youmans, 14, of Ketchum, captured a national championship in the Junior Women 13-14 individual 12k time trial July 31. She crushed the 19-racer field, winning by 35 seconds. She also podiumed with a fifth place in the 30k (18.6-mile) road race on July 28.
In his road racing victory on a four-lap, 27k course, Durtschi was in the lead group that grabbed an 80-second lead on the rest of the pack entering the final lap. In the final kilometer Durtschi made the winning attack to solo over the finish line for a national title in the 122-rider Junior 17-18 field.
Sunday's aggressively-run criterium on a rectangular course in downtown Bend came down to a final sprint by Durtschi for his second national title of the week.
He went off the front with Alex Battles-Wood of Tulsa, Okla. in the first few laps, according to a report from usacycling.org. With eight laps to go Battles-Wood was reeled back in the field, leaving Durtschi all alone in the front.
And he was on his own until Morgan Ryan of Ventura, Ca. and Steven Black of Vienna, Va. bridged up to him to form a powerful trio at the front. But Durtschi attacked the leaders around the final corner to solo home for his second victory.
Durtschi said about the help he got from the other riders to stay ahead, "I didn't think I could win a sprint, but we were all working well together. Without them I wouldn't have been able to stay away."
Other Wood River Valley cyclists entered in the field were Taylor Benz, Colby Benz, Richard Feldman, Cody Peterson, Ryan Parnes, Joshua Berry and Brandon Lynch.
Among the other national champions was former Sun Valley Ski Team alpine ski racer Grace Alexander of Boise and BYRDS, in the Junior Women 15-16 criterium Aug. 1.
In all, 700 riders converged on the cycling-friendly town for the six-day competition, and 22 national titles were awarded in criterium, individual time trial and road race events.
Results for local riders:
Junior Men 17-18
Road race, 111k, 4 laps, July 30: 1—Max Durtschi, 18, of Sun Valley, Hammer/CMG, 2.43:35, a winner by 35 seconds. 78—Taylor Benz, 18, of Ketchum, Sun Summit Cycling Club, 3.01:30 (122 riders).
Criterium, 50k, Aug. 2: 1—Max Durtschi 1.10:43. DNF—Taylor Benz and Colby Benz (69 finishers).
Individual 24k time trial, July 31: 7—Max Durtschi 36:38 (1:18 back). 58—Taylor Benz 40:06. 88—Colby Benz, 17, of Ketchum, Sun Summit Cycling Club, 43:50 (94 finishers).
Junior Women 13-14
Individual 12k time trial, July 31: 1—Sara Youmans, 14, of Ketchum, BYRDS, 19:04, a winner by 36 seconds (19 finishers).
Road race, 30k, 5 laps, July 28: 5—Sara Youmans 1.00:07 (1:40 back) (20 finishers).
U-23
Individual 35k time trial, July 31: 42—Joshua Berry, 19, of Hailey, Team Bode, 51:54 (67 finishers).
Road race, 192k, 7 laps, July 29: 21—Joshua Berry 4.16:16 (15:34 back) (44 riders).
Note: In USA Cycling Mountain Bike Cross Country Nationals July 17 and 19 at Granby, Colo., Berry placed 40th in short track XC and 32nd XC with a time of 2.17:43.
Elite Men's 1/2
Individual 35k time trial, July 31: 13—Richard Feldman, 40, of Ketchum, Durance/Colnago, 48:02 (2:07 back). 21—Cody Peterson, 30, of Bend, Ore., Cole Sport, 49:13. 32—Ryan Parnes, 25, of Los Altos, Ca., 49:53 (62 finishers).
Road race, 192k, July 30: 35—Ryan Parnes 3.59:02 (8:32 back). DNF—Cody Peterson and Brandon Lynch, 31, of Hailey (55 finishers).
