2025 BWR Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel Series
United States | Midwest | Ohio >> Rosskopf and Neben successfully defend their U.S. national time trial titles

Rosskopf and Neben successfully defend their U.S. national time trial titles

Joey Rosskopf and Amber Neben took victory on at the new time trial course at USA Cycling's road national championships

Rosskopf and Neben defended their titles in the individual time trial on a rainy, humid day just west of Knoxville. Rosskopf covered three laps of a seven-mile course in 39 minutes, 46 seconds, and Neben was among two women to break the 30-minute barrier in covering two laps in 29m 43s.

"It's super special. There's no way I can show up to a race and expecting it to happen," said Rosskopf, who edged Team Sunweb's Chad Haga and BMC Racing teammate Brent Bookwalter to take the gold.

"You saw the weather shape up the last lap, which was a big advantage for me," Rosskopf said. "It's hard to show up here and know that (Neilson) Powless, Haga and Brent have all done better time trials than me so far this season. So something special came together this year and last year at nationals."

Especially considering Rosskopf was coming off a hard race at the Criterium du Dauphine in France.

Rosskopf opened a 3-second gap on his nearest rivals after the first time check on the course, which was unique for a time trial in its 180-degree hairpin turns. The gap had doubled by the second time check before Rosskopf powered to a 28-second gap on Haga by the time he reached the finish line.

Rosskopf and Neben successfully defend their U.S. national time trial titles

Bookwalter was another six seconds back to finish on the podium for the fourth time in his career, "At nationals I've had a lot of seconds, a lot of thirds, fourths, fifth, just about everything except a win. It's bittersweet," he said. "The goal is always to come here and win. I'm always consistent, and that's kind of my trend. I've had a career of consistency. I will always be fighting and always in the hunt, even if I haven't gotten the big win, I'm proud of being right there and close."

The rain that slickened the tarmac held off for the women's time trial, where Neben - a two-time world champion in the discipline - only had a four-second edge on Tayler Wiles at the intermediate check.

The 43-year-old Neben showed off her experience over the second half of the ride, putting more time into the field despite having no updates on time splits. She wound up finishing 15 seconds ahead of Wiles and 38 seconds ahead of Emma White to win her second straight national title and third overall.

"I don't race with a radio. I go in with the strategy of racing my race, and riding the course the way I need to ride it," explained Neben, a two-time Olympian. "I have different strengths and different weaknesses than other riders, so my approach is different."

One of her weaknesses is accelerating out of near-dead stops, which made the U-turns that highlighted the course in Tennessee difficult. Neben had to make up the time on the long straights between them.

"I liked this course a lot better than last year. It's more of a pure time trial course where you have to really focus and stay in the moment and pace yourself really well," Wiles said. "I started to fade a little bit and really had to just push and mentally dig a little bit deeper. I had nothing in the last one-K and so I was just trying to get to the finish line as fast as I could. Amber Neben is world-class, a multi-world champion and I really respect her," Wiles added, "so losing to her is still pretty good."

The road cycling national championships resume Friday night with the men's and women's criteriums in downtown Knoxville, followed by the men's and women's road races on Sunday.

 
Tag: usprotour
 
Jun 24 2018 - NEWS: Jonathan Brown solo's to incredible win at the 2018 US Pro Road Championships
Jun 24 2018 - NEWS: Coryn Rivera wins womens American National Road Race Title
Jun 22 2018 - NEWS: Rosskopf and Neben successfully defend their U.S. national time trial titles
Jun 21 2018 - NEWS: 2018 U.S. Pro Road Championships LIVE on Sunday June 24
Jun 14 2018 - NEWS: 2018 USA Cycling Professional National Championships to be Live Streamed
Jun 25 2017 - NEWS: Larry Warbasse wins US Pro Road Race
Jun 25 2017 - NEWS: Neben wins US National Road Race and Time Trial
Jun 24 2017 - NEWS: Joey Rosskopf wins US National Time Trial Championship
Apr 03 2017 - NEWS: UCI Teams Announced for 31st Edition of the Tour of the Gila
Mar 24 2017 - NEWS: New American Road Calendar Announced
Mar 22 2017 - NEWS: Holowesko Citadel announce Joe Martin Stage Race Line Up
Jan 25 2017 - NEWS: Colorado Classic to revive Pro Cycling in Colorado
Dec 15 2016 - NEWS: Two Times U.S. National Champion Matthew Busche Retires
Dec 11 2016 - NEWS: Perfect Xmas Gift: Darrell Parks' 2017 Pro Cycling Calendar
Dec 07 2016 - NEWS: UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Confirm 2017 Team Roster
Apr 05 2025 - EVENT: Alabama Cycling Classic
Apr 09 2025 - EVENT: Redlands Bicycle Classic
Aug 29 2025 - EVENT: Gateway Cup
 
Tag: usproroad
 
Jun 24 2018 - NEWS: Jonathan Brown solo's to incredible win at the 2018 US Pro Road Championships
Jun 24 2018 - NEWS: Coryn Rivera wins womens American National Road Race Title
Jun 22 2018 - NEWS: Rosskopf and Neben successfully defend their U.S. national time trial titles
Jun 21 2018 - NEWS: 2018 U.S. Pro Road Championships LIVE on Sunday June 24
Jun 14 2018 - NEWS: 2018 USA Cycling Professional National Championships to be Live Streamed
Sep 28 2017 - NEWS: 2018 North American UCI Calendar Announced
May 03 2017 - NEWS: Tour of Battenkill UCI Race Cancelled
Apr 12 2017 - NEWS: Big Bear Lake to Host Cylance Pro Cycling for Altitude Training Camp Ahead of Tour of the Gila
Apr 06 2017 - NEWS: Cylance Pro Cycling Announces Roster for Alabama Cycling Classic
Apr 05 2017 - NEWS: Robin Carpenter Wins Joe Martin Stage Race
Apr 03 2017 - NEWS: Tour of the Battenkill Adds UCI Event for 2017
Mar 30 2017 - NEWS: Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank Captain Lauren Stephens: Her journey to her 9th Joe Martin Stage Race
Mar 29 2017 - NEWS: 40th Annual Joe Martin Stage Race Attracts Top Teams