Saturday’s San Francisco Twilight Criterium to feature Olympians

When the start gun fires at the inaugural San Francisco Twilight Criterium on Sept. 13, it will unleash some of the most powerful racers on the continent onto Union and Fillmore Streets.

In the pro women’s race, Webcor Cycling Team has lined up its best talent for the challenge, including two Olympians and national champions.

Two-time Olympian and 2004 National U.S. Time Trial Champion Christine Thorburn (Sunnyvale, Calif.) who placed 5th in this summer’s Olympic Time Trial, will make the San Francisco Twilight one of her last races before she retires at the end of September to concentrate on her “other” full-time career as a rheumatologist.

Also riding for Webcor will be Gina Grain (Vancouver, British Columbia), a member of the Canadian Olympic Team, 2007 Canadian National Road Champion and 2008 U.S. Open Track Omnium Champion.

According to Andy Ball, president of Webcor Builders and owner of Webcor Cycling Team, the team is thrilled at the prospect of racing on their home turf and reviving a time when more people came to watch cycling than baseball or football.

“This is a great opportunity for our women’s professional team to race in front of locals,” said Ball. “The number of people who came to the San Francisco Grand Prix a few years ago was just amazing, so we expect the San Francisco Twilight to be a big draw, too.”

The start line for the men’s race will also have its share of stars, including 2008 National Criterium Champion Ken Hanson (California Giant/Specialized) of San Luis Obispo, Calif., 2008 Northern California/Nevada Criterium Champion Jesse Mendonca (Adobe/HDR) of Mountain View, Calif. and Jonathan Cantwell (Jittery Joe’s) of Queensland, Australia, who just won the overall at the 2008 International Cycling Classic, also called “Superweek”.

The next-to-last race in the USA CRITS series promises aggressive racing and team tactics as series leaders – Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) of Kansas City, Miss. and Yosvany Falcon (TOSHIBA-Santo) of Pinar de Rio, Cuba – defend their leads. Racers will also be fighting for a piece of the $15,000 cash purse.

The overall series winner will have the most points earned by the number of laps led, placement in a special mid-race “prime” lap during each race, and the racer’s finish in each race. The final race in the series will be held in Las Vegas, Nev. on Sept. 25.

“San Francisco is a feather in the cap for the USA CRITS series,” said Chad Andrews, race commentator and president of Totalcyclist.com. “If all the teams bring their best riders, it’s going to be a smackdown!”

For more information on the San Francisco Twilight Criterium, visit www.sftwilight.com.

For more information on the San Francisco Twilight Criterium, visit www.sftwilight.com.

About the San Francisco Twilight Criterium
The San Francisco Twilight Criterium signals the return of professional cycling to San Francisco, Calif. with a criterium race circling an eight-block stretch of the popular neighborhood of Cow Hollow, a stone’s throw from the Golden Gate Bridge. Professional women race at 6:40 p.m. and men at 8 p.m. The event is free, and includes kids’ races and a pro athlete village where spectators can collect signatures of their favorite racers. The San Francisco Twilight Criterium is part of the USA CRITS series and owned by Project Sport, LLC, in San Francisco.

About Project Sport, LLC
Project Sport, based in San Francisco, is a specialized sports management and marketing firm focusing on the running and cycling community. They own and operate numerous events including the US Race Series, Carrera de San Rafael and the San Francisco Twilight Criterium, and over the last seven years, have produced events in Atlanta, Napa Valley, Colorado, San Francisco & Idaho. Project Sport also manages the McGuire Cycling Team. For more information, visit www.projectsport.com.

About USA CRITS
USA CRITS National Criterium Series has been developed to feature a brand of cycling unique to the United States, the criterium. Criteriums are historically run on short laps through city streets. They offer spectators the opportunity to watch Olympians, world and national champions up-close as they ride at top speed. This has made the criterium format the most spectator-friendly form of cycling entertainment. Events on the USA CRITS series have the ideals that have made criterium racing an American legacy: Challenging courses that showcase arts and entertainment districts; a large and energized base of spectators; broad community support; and strong marketing opportunities for sponsors. For more information, visit www.usacrits.com.

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