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USA CRITS Series heads to Pennsylvania for Iron Hill Twilight Criterium

by VeloNews.com

• July 09, 2009
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Top professional and amateur men’s and women’s teams will take to the streets of West Chester, PA for the 5th Annual Iron Hill Twilight Criterium on July 11, 2009, the second event on the USA CRITS National Series calendar.

In attendance will be last year’s winner, Mark Hekman, riding for Team Mountain Khakis. The 2009 season for this professional bassoonist turned pro cyclists has been spectacular, with top 5 finishes at Tulsa Tough and the Kelly Cup, as well as a 2nd place finish at the Athens Twilight Criterium. The illusive win, however, has escaped him thus far.

Hekman noted, “The Ironhill Twilight is a rising icon in American criterium racing with a great enthusiastic crowd that makes racing this event electric. I would like to be the first 2-time winner of the 5th Annual event. The course is well suited to my strengths and an Ironhill brew tastes even better after a win.” So hungry he is for his first win in 2009, Hekman has opted to start off his honeymoon in West Chester.

Also in attendance will be the 2007 and 2008 USA CRITS Series champions, Frank Travieso and Yosvany Falcon, both racing for Miami-based Champion Porsche presented by Racer’s Edge. The Cuban duo have both had their own set of wins lately and will be ready against their former teammate Hekman. Travieso jokingly stated, “After the race he will be wishing he was still a bassonist.”

These will not be the only riders to watch, as Olympic team member Bobby Lea racing for OUCH presented by Maxxis, Cheyne Hoag, Clay Murfet, and Shane Kline of Kelly Benefit Strategies, Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light and the New Zealand National Team will all be in attendance.

The start finish line is located at the Ironhill Brewery in the heart of downtown West Chester. The one-kilometer course is ideal for America’s criterium racing. This event has seen tactical racing at its best, as the event has been won from a pack sprint to solo breakaways.

Racing starts at 5:15 pm with the feature women’s event at 6:45 pm and the men’s race at 7:45 pm.

Schedule of races
Amateur 5:15 pm
Kids Criterium 5:45 pm
Elite Women 1/2/3 6:45 pm
Men’s Pro/1/2 7:45 pm

USA CRITS National Series Schedule
Athens Twilight Criterium Athens, GA April 25, 2009
Iron Hill Twilight Criterium West Chester, PA July 11, 2009
Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Charlotte, NC August 8, 2009
Capital Criterium* Washington, D.C. August 23, 2009
Chris Thater Memorial Binghamton, NY August 30, 2009
Austin International Criterium Austin, TX September 5, 2009
TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX Dallas, TX September 17, 2009
USA CRITS Finals Las Vegas, NV September 24, 2009