U.S. National Criterium Championships - NE

Downer’s Grove Village, Illinois, USA, August 19-20, 2006

Photography

Stage 5 - August 20: USPRO National Criterium Championships, 100 km

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Images by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

• Hilton Clarke (Navigators Insurance) takes the win while Brad Huff (TIAA-CREF) gets the jersey.
• Chris Wherry (Toyota United) happy on the start line.
• The bunch comes through as fans look on.
• Jittery Joes on the climb.
• Ivan Dominguez (Toyota United) coming through fast.
• TIAA-CREFF leads on the back side climb.
• Sergey Lagutin (Navigators picks up the pace after the climb.
• Healthnet comes to the front.
• An AEG-Toshiba rider concentrating on that wheel in front of him.
• Frasier has left the building (this was Gord's last US race), thanks for the years!
• Emile Abraham (AEG-Toshiba-Jetnetwork) won todays mid-race sprint and came in 5th.
• Kirk Albers Jelly Belly tough guy.
• Jelly Belly working hard on the front.
• Ivan Dominguez (Toyota United) gets a little gap on the field.
• J.J. Haedo (Toyota United) was in town doing work for the US riders.
• Sierra Nevada making everybody work hard.
• The bunch flies past.
• The mid-atlantic based Rite Aid team was on hand for the championships.
• Rahsaan Bahati (TIAA CREFF) looking good early on but ended up not finishing.
• The group coming into the last turn.
• Another one of the Rite Aid riders.
• Coming down to the last laps.
• Hilton Clarke (Navigators) celebrates as he crosses the line.

Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com

• The professional men start.
• Jonathan Vaughters has an unconventional managerial style to motivate his riders -- which he says made the difference today.
• USPRO road champion Chris Wherry gets a change from the Toyota-United mechanic.
• The final turn has Tony Cruz (Toyota-United) sitting pretty with Hilton Clarke (Navigators Insurance) ready to pass on the inside and Brad Huff (TIAA-CREF) coming hard on the outside.
• Huff and Cruz bumped a little, but it was enough to give the advantage to Clarke.
• Kyle Gritters (Health Net-Maxxis) had too much speed and not enough road.

Images by Matthew Moses/www.moses-images.com

• Gord Fraser (Health Net pb Maxxis) at the line for his final US race.
• Elk Grove's big money winner Hilton Clarke (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team) in on a roll in August criteriums.
• An early break attempt had all the teams but just could't get organized.
• Mike Norton (Nerac/Outdoorlights.com) off the front in the hot spot sprint lap.
• Brad Huff and the TIAA-CREF boys were at the front all day long.
• Kirk O'Bee (Health Net pb Maxxis) tries a late race break with a few laps remaining
• Sergey Lagutin (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team) in hot pursuit of Kirk O'bee.
• Kyle Gritters (Health Net pb Maxxis) bounces into the hay bales, as the rest of the field sprints the last 100 meters.
• Brad Huff (TIAA-CREF) out-sprints Tony Cruz (Toyota United) for second place and the title of USPRO Criterium Champion.
• Once again a Downers Grove Champion Brad Huff (TIAA-CREF) upgraded his Elite Men's title to the USPRO Men's Championship title.

Images by Beth Seliga/

• TIAA-CREF team director Jonathan Vaughters gathers the troops before battle.
• Under-23 US Cyclocross Champion Troy Wells (TIAA-CREF) with teammate Brad Huff before the race.
• Brad Huff (TIAA-CREF) leads the field through a turn, with TIAA-CREF and Toyota-United massing at the front.
• Some of the Midwest scenery of Downers Grove.
• Mike Friedman (TIAA-CREF) did yeoman's work for his team today.
• The peloton takes another turn around the church.
• Brad Huff looked composed all day.
• Mark McCormack (Colavita - Sutter Home) took the crowd prime for his team.
• Former Under-23 national champ Ian MacGregor worked hard for his team all day.
• Team mechanics Damieon Shanks (TIAA-CREF) and Jordan Schware(Toyota-United) take a break from wrenching.
• US Road Champion Chris Wherry (Toyota-United) gets thrown back in after a puncture.
• Hilton Clarke (Navigators) had the right line through the final turn and avoided all the carnage behind to take the win.
• Brad Huff (TIAA-CREF) outkicks Tony Cruz (Toyota-United) for the national title.
• Huff shows the emotion of his team's first pro-level championship title.
• New National Criterium champion Huff is interviewed by the press.
• Out with the bubbly!

Stage 4 - August 20: USCF Men’s National Criterium Championship, 80 km

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Images by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

• Kayle Leogrande (Kahala LaGrange) shows his emotion after winning.
• The elite men take off.
• Kayle Leogrande (Kahala LaGrange) leads a break early in the day.
• Riders working in the bunch.
• Ed Beamon (Navigators) took a director/sportif break and raced the mens elite race.
• Reid Mumford and a rider from Mercy escaped in one of the day's most dangerous breaks.
• The elite field gets strung out.
• Riders come through the scenic side of Downers Grove.
• Bianchi-Grand Performance comes to the front with many laps to go.
• Kayle Leogrande (Kahala LaGrange) national elite mens champ celebrates.
• Kayle Leogrande (Kahala LaGrange)

Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com

• Kayle Leogrande (Kahala LaGrange) corners with only a few laps to go.
• The Bianchi-Grand Performance team made a strong showing in the final ten laps, except for the important final lap.
• Kayle Leogrande (Kahala LaGrange) has a big gap into the final turn ahead of Steve Tilford (Trek/Shimano.)

Images by Matthew Moses/www.moses-images.com

• Eventual race winner Kayle Leogrande (Kahala La Grange) positioned at the front in the early part of the 50 lap men's event.
• Ed Beamon (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team) - the Navigators team manager racing in the elite championship leads the field through turn one.
• Reid Mumford (ABD) was off the front several times with and without companions in an attempt to avoid a field sprint.
• With 10 laps to go the Bianchi/Grand Performance team asserted control at the front of the race.
• Kayle Leogrande (Kahala LaGrange) leads Steve Tilford (Trek VW) and the rest of the field to the line.
• Kayle Leogrande (Kahala LaGrange) celebrates his championship win.
• The men's podium - Eric Marcott (Bianchi Grand Performance), Steve Tilford (Trek VW), Kayle Leogrande (Kahala La Grange), Jamiel Danesh (RhVilla.com/Montano Velo), Chad Cagle (Mercy)

Stage 3 - August 20: USCF Women’s National Criterium Championship, 50 km

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Images by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

• Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway) comes around Laura Van Gilder (TEAm Lipton) after the dramatic crash for the win.
• The women get to the line.
• Tina Pic (Colavita) looking stong early in the day.
• Candace Blickem (Arron's Corporate Furnishing) fought hard today.
• Brenda Lyons (Victory Brewing) hammers on the back side.
• Lipton tries to get things going.
• The group looping back towards downtown.
• Lauren Franges (Victory Brweing) comes back to the front.
• Jen McRae (Conex Train) before her vicious last lap crash.
• The girls get strung out down the back stretch.
• Tina Pic (Colavita) getting into position later in the race.
• The bunch heads towards the finish.
• Kori Sheehafer (Lipton) gets to the front.
• Lipton leads on the last lap.
• Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducee-Breakaway) comes across the line.

Images by Dave Schneider/www.wheelandsprocket.net

• The elite women come towards the final turn with Tina Pic (Colavita-Cooking Light) on the left and Laura Van Gilder (TEAm Lipton) on the right.
• Van Gilder's foot gets caught in Pic's front wheel, sending the four-time defending champion in the air.
• Pic totally airborne.
• Pic hits hard on her shoulder but amazingly escaped serious injury while Van Gilder amazing stayed upright.
• Jen McrRae (ConexTrain) has no place to go but right into Pic.
• Van Gilder finds her pedal while McRae prepares to hit hard.
• Tina Pic (Colavita-Cooking Light) can only watch as Van Gilder (TEAm Lipton) and Theresa Cliffs-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway) ride towards the title.

Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com

• Katie Weber (Morris Trucking-Team Bloomington) corners inside of Laura Van Gilder (TEAm Lipton.)
• Coming out of turn eight with one lap to go it was TEAm Lipton on the front with Meredith Miller and Lara Kroepsch.
• Laura Van Gilder (TEAm Lipton) and Theresa Cliffs-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway) survived the crash and exited the final turn together.
• Allison Powers checks on teammate Tina Pic after the crash.
• Powers lifts her injured teammate to her feet.
• The women's podium.
• Ah, the bubbly.

Images by Matthew Moses/www.moses-images.com

• Tina Pic (Colavita Olive Oil) smiling and laughing before the start of the championship race.
• Yesterday's winner Mackenzie Dickey (Aaron's Corporate Furnishings) relaxed and smiling as she's called up to the front row.
• The gun goes and the women's fields starts their pursuit of the championship title.
• The peloton cruises down Main Street in downtown Downers Grove.
• Tina Pic (Colavite Olive Oil) with Laura Van Gilder (Team Lipton) close by going for the mid-race prime.
• A familiar sight in today's race Team Lipton rider Meredith Miller off the front with companion Catherine Power of Aaron's Corporate Furnishing.
• The race to the line - (L-to-R) Shontell Gauthier (Team Joy Riders), Laura Van Gilder (Team Lipton), Brenda Lyons (Victory Brewing), Mackezie Dickey (Aaron's Corporate Furnishings), and Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway Racing).
• The new women's criterium national champion - Theresa Cliff-Ryan of Verducci Breakaway Racing

Stage 2 - August 19: Men’s Pro 1/2 International Challenge, 50 km

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Images by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

• The men are off.
• Sierra Nevada putting the hammer down.
• Tight cornering
• Ivan Dominguez (Toyota United) todays eventual race winner.
• Ivan Stevic (Toyota United) working hard today.
• The cruiser crowd was out to watch the races.
• The men get strung out on the back side.
• Fans watch the action in small town Downers Grove.
• The huge mens field heads toward the land mark water tower.
• Healthnet-Maxxis winds up heading into the finish.

Images by Matthew Moses/www.moses-images.com

• Gord Fraser (Healthnet pb Maxxis) in one of his last races before he retires at the end of the season.
• The 150+ rider men's Pro-Am fields bolts from the line
• Chris Wherry (Toyota United) one of the many champions present today.
• The boys in blue from TIAA-CREF were always present at the front of the race.
• Third on the day , Karl Menzies (Healthnet pb Maxxis)
• Adam Bergman (Bianchi/Grand Performance) back to racing after having served out his two year suspension.
• The Healthnet train looking solid with 2 laps to go.
• The old guard , former USPRO criterium champ Dave McCook (Jelly Belly) with Steve Tilford (Trek/VW) fighting for position on the bell lap.
• The Pro-Am podium (L-to-R) Tony Cruz (Toyota United), Ivan Dominguez (Toyota United), and Karl Menzies (Healthnet pb Maxxis)

Stage 1 - August 19: Women’s Pro 1/2/3 International Challenge, 40 min + 2 laps

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Images by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

• Mackenzie Dickey (Aaron's Corporate Furnishings) takes the first race of the U.S. National Criterium Championships weekend; an international invitational for women
• Candace Blickem (Aaron's Corporate Furnishings) and Laura Van Gilder (Lipton) lead the field.
• Watching the races in Downers Grove.
• Laura Van Gilder (Lipton) hammers through a turn.
• Rachel Heal (Victory Brewing) leads the bunch.
• Shannon Hutchinson-Krupat (Aaron's Corporate Furnishings) does some mid-race work.
• Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing) tries to initiate a break.
• Tina Pic (Colavita) will be looking for another USPRO jersey tomorrow.

Images by Matthew Moses/www.moses-images.com

• Pileup in the Category 4 Men's Race
• Mark Tank (Team Mack) takes the win in the Category 4 Men's Race
• Andrew Daley (Team Clifbar Midwest) celebrates his win in the Category 3 Men's race.
• David Williams (West Mich-Coast Rider) won the Juniors 15-18 race.
• And they are off... the start of the Volkswagen International Women's 1/2/3 Race
• Rachel Heal and her Victory Brewing Team were active throughout women's race.
• The early break , Laura Van Gilder (Team Lipton) and Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing)
• A lone Diet Cheerwine rider tries to bridge the gap.
• Mackenzie Dickey (Aaron's) leads Laura Yoisten (Victory Brewing) through the start finish
• Kori Seehafer (Team Lipton)
• Brenda Lyons (Victory Brewing) wins one of the many primes
• Meredith Miller (Team Lipton) rode strong at the front to help control the pace.
• Last day in the Stars and Stripes? Tina Pic (Colavita Olive Oil) sits comfortable within the field.
• And the sprint begins...
• A smile from Mackenzie Dickey (Aaron's) as she realizes she's going to win.
• Arms up for the women's race winner Mackenzie Dickey (Aaron's) as her teamate Shannon Hutchinson finished second, with Kori Seehafer of Team Lipton in 3rd.