JUNIOR NATIONAL CYCLING : He Wins Through the Desert on a Course With No Name

Matt Johnson came down from the plush Pacific Northwest last week to take part in the U.S. Cycling Federation Junior Nationals being held in San Diego County, only to find himself smack dab in the middle of the Southern California desert on two consecutive Fridays.

But you won’t find him complaining about the searing sun or blustery gusts. No, Johnson, who lives in Seattle, took nicely to the arid conditions.

Friday, he not only won the gold medal in the 20-kilometer individual time trials for boys 15-16 but also had the fastest time overall, 26:18.74.

It was Johnson’s second gold at the nationals. The previous Friday, he was a member of the Granny’s Gourmet Muffins club that won the team time trials in Borrego Springs, the only place in the county where organizers could find a lightly traveled road that met cycling standards.

And get this. After the individual time trial, Johnson said he started the race a little under the weather.

“I didn’t feel too good today,” Johnson said. “I’m kind of surprised I pulled it off.”

It’s really nothing new. Last year, he took the gold in the same event. But this year, he was the fastest overall by more than five seconds. The second-best time of the day was turned in by the winner of the boys’ 17-18 division, Mike Orr, also of Seattle and a Granny’s team member. He finished in 26:23.97.

Johnson started the race at 7:25 a.m.; Orr went off much later, at 8:55, when the sun’s heat was more intense--100 degrees--and the desert winds were blowing across the course.

Orr’s victory came as a surprise to Granny’s Coach Todd Starnes, who said Orr “didn’t know he was a time-trialist until today.”

Orr didn’t completely agree.

“I’m a good time-trialist,” he said. “But this was just a great ride.”

Orr appeared to have plenty incentive. The day before, he was bumped off a pursuit team he helped through qualifying rounds and that went on to take first place. Later, Orr lost first in the points race with a half lap to go.

But Orr said none of that played in his mind.

“I just wanted a road jersey,” he said, referring to the stars-and-stripes jersey given to the Junior National champion in each event.

Since he was given one for helping get champion Team Last Minute into the pursuit finals on Thursday, Orr now has two in as many days.

Jessica Grieco of Emerson, N.J., has six in as many days.

She won the girls’ 16-17 time trial with a time of 29:41.97 and now has more gold medals than any cyclist at the competition.

Cycling Notes

The Granny’s Gourmet Muffins team also had the third-fastest time of the day--Erich Kaiter’s 26:40.68. Kaiter, of Boxford, Mass., finished second in the boys’ 17-18 race. Heath Sandall of Loveland, Colo., won the boys’ 13-14 race in 27:59.93, and Susan George of Schnecksville, Penn., won the girls’ 13-15 race in 30:38.97.