Pro Road and TT Championships ready for Memorial Day weekend
Email
Print 
Taylor Phinney and Ben King (the youngest-ever champs) will ride in defense of their 2010 titles this Memorial Day weekend.
The pair of youngsters will be joined by a star-studded field, including Greenville’s own two-time USA Cycling Professional Road Race National Champion George Hincapie (Greenville, S.C./BMC), in pursuit of the right to wear the prestigious Stars-and-Stripes national championship jersey. Just over 100 of America’s top professional cyclists are expected in Greenville to compete for both the Individual Time Trial and Road Race National Championships.
Among those confirmed for the event are four-time USA Cycling Time Trial national champion and Tour de France stage winner Dave Zabriskie (Los Angeles, Calif./Garmin-Cervélo), recent Tour of California Best Young Rider Tejay VanGarderen (Fort Collins, Colo./HTC-Highroad), 2008 USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Champion, Furman University’s Chris Butler (Hilton Head, S.C./BMC) and second-place finisher in the 2010 Giro d’Italia’s opening stage and Lees-McRae College graduate Brent Bookwalter (Athens, Ga./BMC).
For the first time in the six-year history of the race in Greenville, the event will be contested over the Memorial Day holiday weekend to better align the event with the international calendar. The holiday weekend also allows for a valuable rest day between the Saturday’s time trial and Monday’s road race.
"Greenville continues to be an excellent host of this prestigious event. With the move to the Memorial Day holiday weekend we expect support for the event to grow and even more spectators to be on hand to witness America's top talent contest for the Stars-and-Stripes jersey," said Steve Johnson, USA Cycling’s Chief Executive Officer.
On Saturday, May 28, the 20.7-mile Professional Individual Time Trial Championship presented by Duke Energy will return to the Clemson University-International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). The race against the clock will begin at 11:30 a.m. with competitors contesting three laps of the 6.9-mile course. The USA Cycling Professional Road Race Championship presented by TD Bank will then take place on Monday, May 30, beginning at 11 a.m. in downtown Greenville. Over 100 competitors will contest three start circuits of 4.2 miles, four long laps over Paris Mountain and three downtown finish circuits of 4.2 miles. Race leaders are expected to begin the finishing circuits at approximately 3 p.m., returning to downtown Greenville to complete the 115-mile course.
The weekend marks the 26th anniversary of the one-day road race championship and the sixth year of American-only competition. Past winners include Olympic speed skating champion Eric Heiden (1985), Lance Armstrong (1993), Hincapie (2006, 2009) and Fred Rodriguez (2000, 2001, 2004).
Dozens of elite handcyclists will also compete in time trial and criterium contests, as the 2011 Roger C. Peace Hospital – Rehabilitation U.S. Handcycling Series presented by Paralyzed Veterans of America takes place in Greenville. Many of the top handcyclists are U.S. military veterans who were recently injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as accomplished athletes, including Matt Updike, six-time, U.S. National Champion.
Monday’s road race will be streamed live online at www.usacyclingchampionships.com. A one-hour wrap show will also air on the Versus network Sunday, June 5 at 4 p.m. EST.
View the complete start list for the USA Cycling Professional Road and Time Trial National Championships by clicking ‘view registrants’ here.For more information, including a complete schedule of events, course maps, volunteer information and more, visit usacyclingchampionships.com.
On behalf of USA Cycling and the Greenville Hospital System USA Cycling Professional Road and Time Trial Championships we would like to thank our Presenting and Gold sponsors for their continued support and generous contributions. It is with your support that the Greenville Hospital System USA Cycling Professional Road and Time Trial Championships remains a success!
Greenville Hospital System, title sponsor
TD Bank, presenting sponsor of the road race
Duke Energy, presenting sponsor of the time trial
GE Energy, presenting sponsor of the Preview show
City of Greenville, gold sponsor
Greenville County, gold sponsor
Michelob ULTRA, gold sponsor/Official beer of the 2011 Greenville Hospital System USA Cycling Professional Road and Time Trial Championships
Amgen, gold sponsor
Steadman Hawkins, gold sponsor/Official medical team sponsor
Sutter Home, Official wine
Gatorade, gold sponsor
Shimano, gold sponsor
Vision, gold sponsor
MAXXIS, gold sponsor
Friday, May 27
2011 Kick-Off Press Conference
2 p.m. — GHS Patewood Memorial Hospital (main atrium)
Saturday, May 28
Individual Time Trial Championships p/b Duke Energy (20.7 miles)
11:30 a.m. — Clemson Univ.- Int. Center Auto Research
Est. Finish: 1:30 p.m. (awards immediately following)
Ancillary Events
US Handcycling Series, Ind. TT: 8:30 a.m.
Stars-and-Stripes Challenge, ‘Ride Like the Pros” (top fundraisers): 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, May 29
Stars-and-Stripes Challenge – Fundraising ride (various dist., inc. century ride)
7:30 a.m. — Gateway Park, Traveler’s Rest
Benefits Greenville Hospital System Cancer Center
More info: www.p3ride.org
Monday, May 30
Road Race Championships p/b TD Bank (115 mi.)
11 a.m. — Downtown Greenville
Est. finish: 3:30 p.m. (awards immediately following)
Ancillary Events:
Stars-and-Stripes Challenge, “Ride Like the Pros” (top fundraisers:7:30 a.m.)
Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital US Handcycling National Criterium Championships: 11:30 a.m.
Duke Energy Kid’s Races: 12:30 p.m.
Greenville Hospital System Health & Wellness Expo: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Stars-and-Stripes Challenge – Fundraising ride (various dist., inc. century ride)
7:30 a.m. — Gateway Park, Traveler’s Rest
Benefits Greenville Hospital System Cancer Center
More info: www.p3ride.org
Monday, May 30
Road Race Championships p/b TD Bank (115 mi.)
11 a.m. — Downtown Greenville
Est. finish: 3:30 p.m. (awards immediately following)
Ancillary Events:
Stars-and-Stripes Challenge, “Ride Like the Pros” (top fundraisers:7:30 a.m.)
Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital US Handcycling National Criterium Championships: 11:30 a.m.
Duke Energy Kid’s Races: 12:30 p.m.
Greenville Hospital System Health & Wellness Expo: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
This Article Published May 26, 2011 For more information contact:
