AT&T USA Cycling Pro Criterium Nationals Saturday in Glencoe
Glencoe, Ill. (August 10, 2010) — The nation’s top sprinters will head to Glencoe, Illinois, on Saturday to contest the AT&T USA Cycling Professional Criterium National Championship. Nearly 100 of the nation’s top professional criterium racers will take to the line to vie for the Stars-and-Stripes jersey that will be awarded to the first American across the line at the conclusion of the 100-kilometer affair.
Crowds should expect another exciting sprint finish this weekend in Glencoe.
Ten of 11 U.S. Continental teams will be represented in Glencoe and with reigning USA Cycling Professional Criterium National Champion John Murphy (Athens, Ga./BMC) overseas racing the Pro Tour circuit, a new champion will be donned with the Stars-and-Stripes this year. That is unless former champion Rahsaan Bahati (Carson, Calif./Bahati Foundation) re-claims his 2008 title. Last year’s fourth-place finisher Jake Keough (Sandwich, Mass.) will also be taking aim at the jersey with the help of his full United Healthcare p/b Maxxis squad. Currently sixth in USA Cycling’s National Racing Calendar standings Scott Zwizanski (Mill Valley, Calif./Kelly Benefits) is a favorite to bring home the jersey; along with Team Type I’s Ken Hanson (Santa Barbara, Calif.) who was the 2008 elite criterium national champion and Olympian Michael Friedman (Broomfield, Colo./Jelly Belly p/b Kenda), among others.
A full slate of activities will take place in conjunction with the Glencoe Grand Prix throughout the weekend beginning with a professional team development seminar, August 13 at 4:00 p.m. at the Glencoe Village Hall. This session is aimed at amateur teams looking to take the next step into the professional arena and will be hosted by a panel of experts including USA Cycling’s Managing Director of National Events and former Jittery Joe’s General Manager, Micah Rice. The event press conference will follow at 6:00 p.m. at the Glencoe Village Hall where top athletes will be on hand to answer questions from the media. The press conference will be streamed live, on-line at http://www.ustream.tv/glencoegp.
Saturday’s festivities, including amateur and kids races, will kick-off in downtown Glencoe at 7:15 a.m. A hospitality tent and shower facilities will be provided for racers, and beginning at 11:00 a.m. Goose Island will sponsor a beer garden and block party with live music, food and games. A women’s pro/1/2 race will be contested just before the pro men’s race featuring a $7500 purse and riders from Team Vera Bradley Foundation, TIBCO and Colavita/Baci.
Visit the event’s webpage for more information on the AT&T USA Cycling Professional Criterium National Championship and the Glencoe Grand Prix. Follow the race on Twitter using the hashtag #glencoegp.
Photo courtesy: Casey B. Gibson
This Article Published August 10, 2010 For more information contact:
