Americans head to Downers Grove

By Ben Delaney

The first red, white and blue USPRO jersey of the year will on the line Sunday at the national criterium championships, and it will be U.S. cycling’s Big Three — Health Net-Maxxis, Toyota-United and Navigators Insurance — throwing the heaviest blows. But many of the men likely to win the100km race in Downers Grove, Illinois, are not eligible for the U.S. national jersey, which will go to the first American across the line.

Gord Fraser, Health Net’s Canadian sprinter, will be retiring at the end of the season and will surely be looking to go out on a high note. His New Zealander teammate Greg Henderson — still likely on the good form that earned him wins in Philadelphia and Reading — will be right alongside. Either man could ride as the lead-out or the deal sealer.

Toyota-United’s first-class fast man, J.J. Haedo, could also take the victory but not the jersey, as he hails from Argentina, as could Cuban Ivan Dominguez. And rounding out the Big Three’s leading closers, the Navigators’ Hilton Clarke from Australia has recently shown off his finishing legs, winning the August 12-13 Tour of Elk Grove, and Russian Vassili Davidenko can never be ruled out in a crit.

While only Health Net, Toyota-United and Navigators have the firepower to control the race, other teams will certainly be looking for their shot at the win. Americans in the hunt for the jersey include Alex Candelario (Jelly Belly) and his teammate Dave McCook, who last year narrowly missed out on the win to Tyler Farrar (then Health Net, now with Cofidis). Kodakgallery.com-Sierra Nevada will be looking to set up underdog sprinter Dan Schmatz.

In the women’s race, four-time defending champion Tina Pic (Colavita Olive Oil-Cooking Light) is the overwhelming race favorite.

Also on tap Sunday are the men’s and women’s elite criterium championship, with a stars-and-bars jersey apiece to the American victor in Downers Grove.

Check VeloNews.com for full reports.

FILED UNDER: Road

Steve Frothingham

VeloNews.com editor Steve Frothingham joined the gang in bike-crazy Boulder in early 2008. He is the former executive editor of the trade magazine Bicycle Retailer & Industry News. He also was a reporter and editor for The Associated Press, where he covered three presidential primaries in politics-crazy New Hampshire. His racing career began on a BMX track in 1980 and reached its zenith with several miserable road races as a category 2 in the early 90s. He subsequently retreated to cat. 3, where he has had a consistently mediocre (at best) record ever since, in road, mountain bike and cyclocross events. Follow him on Twitter at @steve_froth

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