Tomac 9th in Individual Time Trial : Chatsworth Cyclist Off to Slow Start in National Championships

COALVILLE, Utah —  John Tomac, a Chatsworth cyclist who was among the favorites in the men’s individual time trial at the U. S. National Cycling Championships, finished ninth in Wednesday’s race, 1 minute, 33 seconds behind winner Nathan Sheafor.

John Wordin of West Hills finished 14th, 2 minutes, 33 seconds behind Sheafor, a Boulder, Colo., competitor who was not listed among the seeded riders.

Sheafor brushed aside rainy weather and slick streets to finish the 24.8-mile course in 49:54.

Jim Copeland of Cary, N.C., placed second in 49:59, the only other rider in the field of 143 to finish in less than 50 minutes. Kent Bostick, of Albuquerque, N.M., was third in 50:20.

“I was pretty nervous. I didn’t know what to expect,” said Sheafor, who finished second in the event in 1985. “I rode in the rain after the first three miles. The course was very slick. I almost fell and crashed into a wall.”

John Frey, the defending champion, was the final entrant to begin the course and rode in the worst conditions.

Despite falling at the turnaround, he still placed 12th in 51:57.

Wordin said he was encouraged by his ride, despite the miserable conditions.

“It was absolutely the most brutal time-trial course I’ve ever raced on,” Wordin said.

Jeanne Golay of Hollywood, Fla., third overall in the recent Tour of Texas, won the early 47-rider women’s division in 54:51.

Jane Marshall of Albuquerque, who holds the national time-trial record of 54:27, placed second in 54:56. Marion Clignet of Bethesda, Md., finished third in 55:56.

Defending women’s champion Phyllis Hines of Atlanta missed the event because she is competing in the Tour de France.

Dara Rogers of Van Nuys was eighth, 4:13 behind Golay.

After a rest day today, the men’s and women’s divisions will resume racing Friday with the team time trials, also in Coalville.