Tina Pic gave the United States Cycling Team its ninth medal and sixth continental title with a victory in the elite women's road race at the 2007 Pan American Road and Track Championships on Saturday.
Pic won the 72-kilometer road race to conclude competition for the American squad by outsprinting silver medalist Yumari Gonzales of Cuba and bronze medalist Gina Grain of Canada.
Pic's victory gave the American women a sweep of the road events after Alison Powers won Friday's time trial.
Given the relatively flat course and short distance of the road race, Pic was designated as the team leader prior to the start. Midway through the race, Pic suffered a flat tire, but was able to regain contact with the peloton after just five kilometers with the support of teammate Dotsie Bausch, who finished 15th. Powers finished 28th, 15 seconds back. A four-time USA Cycling elite women's criterium champion, Pic was delivered to the line by Powers and Bausch before sprinting to a bike's length victory over Gonzales.
Without any entries in Sunday's elite and U23 men's road race, the U.S. concludes the 2007 Pan American Road and Track Championships with nine medals, currently ranked third behind Colombia (14) and Cuba (14).
Joining Pic as 2007 continental champions are Powers, Brad Huff in the men's omnium and madison, Colby Pearce in the madison, Jennie Reed in the women's keirin and Michael Blatchford in the men's sprint. Silver medalists included Reed in the women's sprint and Blatchford, Adam Duvendeck and Kevin Selker in the men's team sprint. Bausch won the sole bronze medal for the U.S. with a third-place effort in the women's time trial.
2007 Pan American Road and Track Championships
Valencia, Venezuela
May 21-27Women's Road Race
1. Tina Pic (Dahlonega, Ga.) 1:55:48
2. Yumari Gonzales (CUB) s.t.
3. Gina Grain (CAN) s.t.Americans
15. Dotsie Bausch (Irvine, Calif.) s.t.
28. Alison Powers (Boulder, Colo.) +0:15