Sweet Redemption: Tyler Hamilton Comes Full Circle at the 2008 US Pro Cycling Championship

This time one year ago Tyler Hamilton was preparing to ride his last race. He was racing in the national championship road race as an independent, and had resigned himself to fading away from the cycling scene, a martyr in the war against doping. Fast forward to this past Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina. Decked out in the fabulous chic gear of Rock Racing, Hamilton rolled up to the sign in stage ahead of the road race with a quiet confidence that bespoke his good form.

As he spoke to announcer Briggs Heaney, Hamilton, in his typical humble way, explained to the crowd that the day was "all for Freddy." Fred Rodriguez, three time US Pro champ, also made it known that his form was good and he was looking for his first US Pro title on the Greenville parcours. Hamilton, as he has been his entire career, was more than willing to take a back seat to his teammate for the betterment of the team.

Yet as he calmly spoke ahead of the race, one could sense that there was more to the situation than the naked eye could see. Hamilton had a quiet Tour of Utah, as he built his form for the US Pro title. He opted out of the US Pro time trial event on Saturday to the surprise of all in attendance, and unlike last year wasn't present the evening before for the kick-off press conference. Something was brewing in the 37 year old veteran's mind, and he had a master plan that no one else was privy to, except perhaps his teammates.

As the road race got underway Sunday, Rock's Mike Creed was able to represent the Rock contingent in the day's break. He shrewdly joined a group of twelve that stayed away for most of the race, and was he was attentive throughout. Although Creed had a mechanical going into the final approach to Paris mountain, he was able to bridge back up to the leaders and maintian Rock's presence at the front of the race. Creed's work in the early breakaway may have been the most important dynamic of the day as it allowed Hamilton to relax in the main bunch, biding his time.

Tyler stayed cool back in the main field, waiting for his opportunity. As the bunch hit the slopes of Paris mountain for the final time, Garmin's Danny Pate unwittingly played an important role in Hamilton's race. Pate looked down at Tyler's front wheel and noticed that the wheel clamp on Tyler's front wheel was completely open. He warned Tyler, who quickly tightened the clamp, hence saving himself from a possible disaster.

From then on, Hamilton was all business. As Garmin rider after Garmin rider attacked what remained of the field, Hamilton marked each rider, patiently waiting for the right wheel to follow. That moment wouldn't come until there were only seven miles to go in the race. Hamilton was a part of a powerful five man break featuring three Garmin riders (Lucas Euser, Danny Pate, Blake Caldwell), and BMC's Jeff Louder. The Garmin trio attacked the bunch multiple times in the penultimate lap, and it was young Blake Caldwell who was eventually able to escape. Unfortunately for Caldwell though, Hamilton was able to stick to his wheel, setting up the final showdown.

By now, most of us know what happened. Hamilton did the lion's share of work on the final lap, rarely looking for help from the 24 year old Caldwell, as the two time trialed toward the finish line. Coming into the final 500 meters, Caldwell pulled around Hamilton and gave it all he had. Tyler, in a super-human display of fortitude, poured every last ounce of energy into the pedals and threw his bike wildly at the line in search of the victory. By two one thousandths of a second (0.002), it was enough: Tyler had taken 1st place in the 2008 US Pro cycling road race championship.

Pandemoniam broke out in the crowd, and the raucous contigent held their hands to their heads in disbelief. A 37 year old everyman had beaten a sprightly 24 year old to take his biggest win in four years, and more importantly, he did it with his own legs, not by following someone else's wheel. Blake Caldwell would sit behind the award stage for several minutes after the race staring straight ahead, into the distance, realizing what had transpired, the opportunity he had let slip away. But it was hard to feel bad for the Garmin youngster. He'll have many other opportunities for glory, but Hamilton is running out of time as a pro cyclist. This victory no doubt was his sweetest.

The win for Hamilton truly takes the Marblehead, Massachusettes resident full circle. All of his suffering, both physically and emotionally, over the last four years suddenly seems to have been worth it, and all his perserverance, hard work and training out of the limelight have paid off in the most important one day race in America. As he waited to be called up on stage, drenched in sweat, Hamilton quietly spoke to his father via cell phone. We'll never know what was said, but it is a safe bet to assume that the words "how sweet it is" were uttered more than once.

The future for Tyler Hamilton suddenly looks blindingly bright. The newly-crowned champion will be able to look forward to next year's Tour of California, where he'll have a chance to show off his stars-and-stripes jersey on home soil for the first time in the nine day February event. His career can now be considered complete, as he has a Gold medal from the 2004 Olympics and a national road championship on his career resume. It certainly hasn't been easy for Tyler Hamilton over the years, but it sure has been worth it for the tiny diminutive climber . . . and his fans.