Air Force Cyclist Ian Holt Solos to Second National Championship

(Irvine, California, 10 Aug 08) Ian Holt made the winning attack 15km from the finish of the 195km, U.S. Military National Championship Road Race and held off the peloton to solo in for victory.  The effort also finished Holt 14th of 130 starters for the Elite National Championship.  This was Holt's second Military National Championship of the week after capturing gold in the Wednesday time trial.  Silver in the military event went to Steve Mlujeak, Coast Guard, and bronze to Marine Ken Young.

The military event was more than just a race within a race.  Additionally, Mlujeak and Army's Charles Hutcheson were the only two non-Armed Forces Team members vying for the military title.  Mlujeak rides for Herbalife-Bike America and Hutcheson for Battley Harley Davidson.  According to Team Manager, Debra Ponzio, "of course, our first priority was to put an Armed Forces Team member on the top spot of the military podium.  We had a plan that would give everyone on our team a chance at the title but also to ensure we met our team goal of winning the race.  The plan was executed well."

Early work of covering breaks by George Ganoung, Coast Guard, along with Bill Jacobus and Zach Garrett, both Air Force, paid off when Ganoung got in a break of about 30 riders on lap 2 of the 6 lap race, on one of the three steady climbs that the riders tackled on each circuit.  They gained more than a minute on the peloton over the next two laps.  Ganoung was hopeful, "when I looked around and saw the number of former national and even world champions in our group, I knew I was in the right move."   But, over the course of laps 4 and 5, this group broke apart with some continuing to the finish and others, including Ganoung, being absorbed back into the peloton. 

On the final lap, with Mljueak and Hutcheson still in the main group, along with Armed Forces riders Holt, Young and Coast Guard's Sean Coleman, Holt attacked with 15km remaining, "I knew we couldn't guarantee beating these two if we waited for the final sprint.  I took a chance knowing that I had teammates behind me also ready to go if I was caught.  It paid off and I was able to stay away, even passing a few guys from the original break."  Nearly a minute behind him, the main group rolled in with Mlujeak outsprinting both Young and Coleman.   Hutcheson was with this group but flatted with about 5km to go and did not finish.

Holt added that "our team tactics today worked well and, more importantly, we were able to execute our plan.  In hindsight, there are always things you wish you would have done a bit differently but, overall, our team performed well.  Throughout the race, I felt I was one of the strongest in the peloton and could win. I was happy that I was able to show my abilities in the end and come through for the team by winning the military title."  Holt has been a member of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program for the past year.  He's been training and racing full-time this season, representing both the Air Force and Armed Forces in national and international competition.  He spent three months of European cycling immersion earlier this year at the Johan Bruyneel Cycling Academy in Belgium. 

Final U.S. Military National Road Race Championship Placings:
U.S. Military National Road Race Champion, Ian Holt, Air Force, U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team
2nd – Steve Mlujeak, Coast Guard, Herbalife-Bike America
3rd – Ken Young, Marine Corps, U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team
4th – Sean Coleman, Coast Guard, U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team
5th – George Ganoung, Coast Guard, U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team
6th – Zach Garrett, Air Force, U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team
7th – Bill Jacobus, Air Force, U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team
DNF – Charles Hutcheson, Army, Battley Harley Davidson (in the main group but flatted with 5km to go)

U.S. Armed Forces Team Placings in the U.S. Elite National Road Race Championship (of 130 starters):
14th – Ian Holt
30th – Ken Young
38th – Sean Coleman
67th – George Ganoung
71st – Zach Garrett
74th – Bill Jacobus

The next major goal for the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team is the 2008 Military World Cycling Championships, 1-6 October, hosted by Slovenia.

Armed Forces Cycling is the elite cycling team of the Department of Defense.  Athletes are from the active duty military, reserve or national guard of all service branches.  Armed Forces Cycling competes in national and UCI events and represents the United States in international military competition.  Corporate sponsors include: Cervélo, Lifeforce, Shimano, 3T, Verge, PowerBar and FitLinxx.

Find out more information about U.S. Armed Forces Cycling at www.ArmedForcesCycling.org.