Bruno Roy regains lost jersey

By Laura Weislo in Kansas City, Missouri

Maureen Bruno Roy blew apart the women's 30-34 national title race from the first lap in Kansas City, snagging the masters champion's jersey she took home last year but later lost when USA Cycling ruled that she had been ineligible to race. Riding for MM Racing/Seven Cycles, Bruno Roy took the lead coming off of the paved starting straight and quickly put daylight between herself and the rest of the field in the technical sections on the grass.

The Massachusetts native finished 1'36 ahead of Emily Van Meter (River City Bicycles) and nearly two minutes before Anna Milkowski (Velo Bella-Kona). Defending champion Josie Jacques-Maynes (Specialized) came in fourth.

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The result made the third time Bruno Roy crossed the line first in the masters championship, although only her second official title. She won the race in 2005 before placing third in the elite race. She rode the UCI World Championships in 2006, and was then not eligible for the masters category at the end of that season.

"This is the last year I qualify for this age group, so I decided to race and take back what I didn't get to keep last year," Bruno Roy said after the race, referring to the "snafu" which saw her give up the title to Jacques-Maynes.

In 2007, she won the 30-34 race but nearly two months later was informed by USA Cycling that because she raced a World Cup, she was not technically eligible to race masters, and she was forced to give up her jersey. "It was my fault for not reading the rules, and USA Cycling's fault for not stopping me! I wish someone had told me sooner, because Josie Jacques-Maynes [who was second behind Bruno Roy -ed.] didn't get to have a podium ceremony. It was really unfortunate, I felt bad for her and for my sponsors."