GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., August 29, 2008 –  With Tom Zirbel sitting in the hot seat, the US Individual Time Trial Championship came down to last man through the gate and a difference of  a mere five seconds.  That five second difference, however, came from defending US ITT Champion and one of the world’s best against the clock, Dave Zabriskie.

The resounding message of the day however, was that Zirbel – a two-year pro to Zabriskie’s nine - is a threat to win on any given day.

At the first time check of the 20.9 km three-lap course, Zabriskie held a seven second gap over Zirbel; at time check two that difference had grown to 13 seconds but at the line, Zirbel had pulled it back to within five, part of his overall strategy plan. “I planned to go out slower so that was all working to plan when the Glen [Mitchell, D.S.] radioed up,” Zirbel explained at the press conference. “This is really one of the only thirty plus minute time trials we do all year and I knew it was going to come down to which of us would be the toughest on the third lap.”

While Zirbel recognized that the only guy to beat him on this day is “one of the best in the world and it’s a significant step-up” he had nonetheless set his goals higher. “I expected to be on the top step; I had the opportunity but I didn’t quite capitalize on it,” he said, “but I have to contribute that to Dave’s class and his toughness.  At the moment, I’m a little bit disappointed, “Zirbel added, “but as time passes, I’ll be a little bit more content.”

Finishing out in the top ten today at 2’19” back with a superb effort that had him struggling to catch his breath when it was all over was BISSELL Pro Cycling’s super domestique Scott Swizanski.  “I’m happy with my effort; it was hot and humid and the course was relentless,” Swizanksi explained. “There just wasn’t really any place to catch a breath.”  He continued, “The team support and equipment was top notch.  We don’t get to do many TTs of this length during the season, so I feel like I have a lot of room for improvement for next years national TT but I’m definitely finishing this day with a positive feeling toward that improvement.”  Twenty-three seconds behind Zwizanski in fourteenth was his teammate and 2007 U-23 TT Runner-Up, Graham Howard.

 “It wasn’t an easy day in the humidity but even so the guys feel strong this weekend and it shows,” elaborated Director Sportif Glen Mitchell. “Tom’s been working incredibly hard for this day; we know he wanted that top step. But that’s bike racing, and if he didn’t want it that badly, he wouldn’t be doing his job a hundred percent. Someone has to be second but if you’re going to come in second only to Zabriskie, well, that’s a pretty awesome ride, we’ll take it and we are thrilled with his effort today.”