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U.S. National Criterium Championships - NE
Downer’s Grove Village, Illinois, USA, August 19-20, 2006
Main Page Results Overall standings Stage Details Next Stage
Stage 1 - August 19: Women’s Pro 1/2/3 International Challenge, 40 min + 2 laps
Fast preview for criterium nationals
by Mark Zalewski, North American Editor in Downers Grove, Ill.
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The pro-am races of the 2006 U.S. criterium nationals were half the distances of the real races, but arguably twice as fast. A surprise winner in the women's race and possible foreshadowing for the men took place while a strong storm system threatened to make things really interesting. In the end it was Mackenzie Dickey (Aaron's Corporate Furnishings) jumping out of women's field for her first major win. While in the men's race it was a Toyota-United one-two with Ivan Dominguez and Tony Cruz surfing the Health Net-Maxxis lead out train for the win.
With Sunday's championship race only open to U.S. citizens it was the only opportunity for any international women to earn some cash. The racing was quick and hard from the start, but a dangerous U.S. breakaway with Lauren Franges (Victory Brewing) and Laura Van Gilder (TEAm Lipton) staying away for multiple laps. It was up to teams like Colavita-Cooking Light to take up the chase which took quite a bit of energy.
After reeling in the pair the race settled into a rhythm until a prime launched what should have be the final selection late in the race, with all of the major teams represented, including TEAm Lipton with Kori Seehafer, an Aaron's and Colavita-Cooking Light rider and Victory Brewing's Rachel Heal.
However, the riders could not seem to agree on working after a couple of laps and the field was able to keep them in sight. "I tried a few moves to motivate them," said Seehafer. "Rachel worked a little but he other two were sitting on and didn't try to work. When I saw the peloton I jumped inside on Heal to try to stay near the front of the field when they caught us."
Most of the team managers in the pits were stumped why the break did not succeed, as were many riders in the field. "We thought that break was going to stick so we weren't even thinking about a field sprint," said Colavita-Cooking Light's Sarah Tillotson who will ride for teammate Tina Pic tomorrow.
The catch near the end of the race disrupted any chance for a long lead out for any team, but tomorrow's top contenders like Pic were content to stay safe. "I'm not keying up too much for this race," said Pic after the race.
Out of the final turn it was Victory Brewing's and Mackenzie Dickie (Aaron's Corporate Furnishings) battling to the line. "I got on Blickem's wheel for the final lap and she dropped me off in third place going into the last two turns," said Dickey. "I was behind a Victory and Lipton girl. I came out of the last turn even with the Litpon girl and once I straightened out I just went for the line."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
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.
Results
1 Mackenzie Dickie (Aaron's Corporate Furnishings) 2 Shannon Hutchinson-Krupat (Aaron's Corporate Furnishings) 3 Kori Seehafer (TEAm Liton) 4 Nicky Wangsgard (Colorado Premier Training / Colnago) 5 Lara Kroepsch (TEAm Lipton)
