Gary Painter Four-Peats as National Champ!!!

Coached by Steve McGregor.

Gary Painter entered this year's Masters National Championships with a huge target on his back.  He had won the Stars and Stripes in the time trial for three years in succession and this year was his last in the 55- 59 age group. So, the major contenders were hungry to knock him off the top step before he moved up an age group.

Despite the target on his back, he had just returned on a 13 hour flight from Denmark days before, where he had earned an impressive 5th place at the Masters World TT Championships, only 8 seconds out of the medals.  So, he was hungry to show his form and defend his championship.

As the defending champion, Gary was last out of the gate.  As the top times were posted, 8 riders came in faster than his time on the same course last year.  Gary would have to fight to keep the jersey.  At the end of the day, he beat his time from last year by 1:26 and won the Stars and Stripes jersey for the fourth year in a row.