NATS recap…NATS recap….NATS recap…..

Nationals 2018 for handcycling was cruel but for some the reward is so worth the sweat, hard work and family sacrifice to win a National Championship while for others achieving a personal goal is reward enough. This year Nationals added the team relay to the competition schedule. US Para-cycling used the event as part of their selection process for World Championships later this year. Congratulations to team relay National Champions Will Groulx, David Berling and Ryan Pinney. Earlier that day was the road race which took place on a moderate length 18 mile course. Race leaders did just enough work to separate themselves from the field but not enough to completely empty their tanks knowing that the relay was just a few hours after the RR and a difficult TT was early the next day. Travis Gaertner was the overall winner followed by a three way sprint between MH3 contenders Brandon “Bambino” Lyons, David Randall and Ryan Pinney. Pinney’s foot ejected during the sprint. This left Randall and the “Bambino” in a full on charge to the finish. Randall found the line first and claimed another National Road race title. Will Groulx finished right behind the MH3 winner claiming MH2 victory meanwhile Barry Wilcox staked a claim to the MH1 title. Jenna Rollman won the Woman’s side

National Road race champions are below:

MH5  Solomon Revils

MH4 Travis Gaertner

MH3 David Randall

MH2 Will Groulx

MH1 Barry Wilcox

WH3 Jenna Rollman

The out and back TT course was a ribbon of hills. No handcycle made national standard on the H5 long course or short course for long seat which is an indication of the level of difficulty. Tom Davis and Oz Sanchez were the top 2 against standard for handcycles.

Below are the National Champions in TT:

MH5 Oz Sanchez

MH4 Tom Davis

MH3 Matt Updike

MH2 Will Groulx

MH1 Barry Wilcox

WH3 Jenna Rollman

Criterium National Championships

Words cannot describe the thrill of criterium racing on a 6 corner course. Tour of America’s Dairyland was the host for this year’s Crit Nat’s. It took place 9 days after the TT wrapped up in Augusta and no less than 1000 miles north on I-65 to Grafton, Wisconsin.  The road warriors that showed were not disappointed. The venue and crowd was 2^nd to none and no doubt elevated the game of the competitors. David Randall and Brandon Lyons again duked it out for a national championship which found David on top for his 2^nd championship of the year. The H2/H1 category had Will Groulx on top and with a 4^th National championship for 2018. Relay, road race, time trial and criterium.